A personal finance reference that compares and provides simple decisions for financial dilemmas, covering such topics as shelter, automotive, investing, family matters, and retirement.

Includes index.

Introduction: how dare we have fun with the dismal science -- Section 1: Getting started -- My own personal hot tub time machine -- Credit vs. debit -- Student loan vs. skipping college -- See the world vs. get a job -- Spend it vs. save it -- Credit union vs. bank -- The rule of 72 -- Date the cutie in the next cubicle vs. anyone else -- Live with mom and dad vs. go solo in squalor -- YMCA vs. luxurious health club -- Section 2: Shelter -- The biggest investment you'll ever make -- Rent vs. buy/the rule of 15 -- US cities where it is cheaper to buy -- Old house vs. new house -- Real estate agent vs. for sale by owner -- Fixed rate vs. adjustable mortgage -- Renovate the kitchen vs. refinish the basement -- Section 3: Automotive -- The real blind spot -- New vs. used -- Lease vs. buy -- Open the windows vs. crank the AC -- Take or decline the insurance -- Diesel vs. hybrid -- Section 4: Investing -- Flavors of risk -- The ultimate no-brainer portfolio -- Broker vs. financial advisor -- Buy and hold vs. timing the market -- Stocks vs. mutual funds -- Load vs. no load funds -- Company stock vs. mutual fund in your 401K -- Hot fund vs. cheap fund -- Want an extra $507, 480 in retirement savings? -- Cap weighted vs. fundamental indexing -- Individual bonds vs. bond fund -- ETFS vs. mutual funds -- Leveraged vs. unleveraged ETFS -- 2-year vs. 7-year CD -- Gold vs. timber -- Section five-family matters -- This is your brain on childcare -- Plans vs. UGMAs -- Term vs permanent life insurance -- Disability insurance vs. life insurance -- Cash back vs. travel rewards cards -- Annual vacation vs. new car -- Travel insurance vs. save the cash -- Extended warranty vs. self-insure -- Mary Ann vs. Ginger -- Long term care insurance vs. fly solo -- Allowance vs. pay for chores -- Organic vs. regular -- Work out with a trainer vs. go it alone -- Section 6: Retirement -- Just put me on an ice floe is not a strategy -- Save for your kids' college vs. your retirement -- Roth IRA vs. traditional IRA -- Fixed annuity vs. variable annuity -- Fixed annuity vs. managed payout fund -- Social security at 62 vs. 70 -- Your own social security benefits vs. your spouse's -- Florida vs. Nicaragua.