Power Up: Taking Charge of Your Financial Destiny

Stop being a slave to debt and money anxiety—and take control of your financial destiny "If you've ever wondered how you got into a debt problem, or more important, how to get out of one, this book is a must-read. From learning how advertising influences your spending to teaching your kids to become responsible money managers, Power Up covers the bases. Nice work, Howard!" —Stacy Johnson, CPA, President, MoneyTalksNews.com In Power Up , Howard draws on his years of experience helping thousands of people overcome devastating financial hardship. He provides you with time-tested strategies and powerful tools to rebuild your financial life on a solid and enduring foundation. A survival guide for these economically rocky, debt-ridden times, Power Up delivers: Guidelines for creating a realistic budget and sticking to it Budgeting tools, worksheets, and other valuable forms A look at the tricks that lenders and credit card companies use to make you a slave to debt Tips on how to learn to live without credit cards—and love doing it Help in understanding the difference between what you want and what you need Ideas on how to redirect your urge to shop into activities that satisfy your deeper needs and methods to improve your fiscal psychology Priceless advice on how to educate your kids about money and personal finance A chance to start over again with a clean slate? The peace of mind that comes with knowing you're in charge of your financial destiny? Power Up!

Introduction Chapter 1: The Path that Led You Here Who the Heck Are the Joneses and Why Are You Trying to Keep Up With Them? Adding to the Cart Emotional Buying Buying What You Can’t Maintain The Influence of Advertising Chapter 2: Start to Become Empowered Crafting a Budget Examples of Budget Sheets Worksheets for Expenses Fixed Expenses Flexible Expenses Discretionary Expenses Time to Calculate The Frugal Philosophy Chapter 3: Discovering a New Outlook on Life and Money Identify Your Values: Work, Friends, and Family The Value of Money The Value of Living for Tomorrow Chapter 4: Staying on the Right Path Find a Hobby A Life without Credit Cards Differentiating Needs from Wants Chapter 5: Teach Your Children Well Talk to Your Kids about Money Kids and Values Prepare Your Teenagers Intro to Banking Chapter 6: Continuing on Your Freedom Quest Find your Green It’s Time to Step Out on Your Own About the Author Index