What to Do with Your Money When Crisis Hits

The Washington Post columnist tells how to keep calm and carry on through economic downturns: "Outstanding . . . no-nonsense, let's-get-to-it advice." —Ric Edelman, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The New Rules of Money Life is full of financial setbacks. The important question is: How do you prevent a crisis from turning into a full-blown catastrophe? Drawing on years of experience as an award-winning personal finance columnist, Michelle Singletary shares her expert advice for weathering financial storms—from bear markets to pandemics—in a simple question-and-answer format. In this book, she answers the most pressing questions that crop up when money suddenly becomes scarce, like: What bills need to be paid first? When is it right to dip into savings? What are the best ways to cut back on spending? How do you keep from panicking when the stock market is down? Is this "opportunity" a scam in disguise? This hands-on guide covers debt concerns, credit card issues, cash-flow problems, and dozens of other common financial matters. Whether you're in the midst of one crisis or preparing for the next, Singletary provides the tools to secure your wealth and your future. "Straightforward and practical . . . She takes a deep dive into health care flexible spending accounts . . . perhaps most useful is the thorough discussion of what to do when adequate housing and food are at stake: triaging bills, understanding SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps), navigating COBRA and Medicaid, applying for unemployment, and filing for bankruptcy are covered." — Publishers Weekly

From pandemics to recessions, bear markets to energy crises, life is full of financial setbacks. The hard truth is that it's not a matter of if there will be another economic downturn, but when. The important question to ask is this: how do you prevent a crisis from turning into a full-blown catastrophe? Drawing on years of experience as an award-winning personal finance columnist, Michelle Singletary shares her expert advice for weathering a financial storm. In this book, she answers the most pressing questions that crop up when money suddenly becomes scarce, like: What bills need to be paid first? When is it right to dip into savings? What are the best ways to cut back on spending? How do you keep from panicking when the stock market is down? Is this 'opportunity' a scam in disguise? This hands-on guide covers debt concerns, credit card issues, cash-flow problems, and dozens of other common financial matters. Whether you're in the midst of one crisis or preparing for the next, this book provides the tools to secure your wealth and your future.