The nation's go-to expert on financiat matters，Suze Orman， believes that 2009 is a critical year for your money．There are safeguards to put in place，actions to take，costly mistakes to avoid，and even opportunities to be had，so that you are protected during the bad times and prepared to prosper when things take a turn for the better．No matter what situation you're in，you will find a plan of action and the answers to your questions about．

The credit crunch，the stock market freefatt，the staggering tort of home forecLosures and job tosses：The economic crisis that struck in 2008 has Left no one untouched and everybody reeLing．SuddenLy you have all kinds of questions：Are your savings safe？Shoutd you continue to invest in your retirement account？Should you keep your home if it's worth less than what you owe or should you it？How do you pay your bitts if you've just been raid off？

1 2009: The New Reality

2 A Brief Historyof HowWe Got Here

3 Action Plan: Credit

 Falling credit lines

 Rising interest rates

 FICO scores under pressure

 Repayment plan

 Debt consolidation

 Borrowing from 401(k)

 Borrowing from home equity line of credit

 Bankruptcy

 Collection agencies

4 Action Plan: Retirement Investing

 The case for stocks

 Allocation strateies

 401(k) loan/early withdrawal

 IRA rollover

 Retiree income strategy

 Roth IRA conversion

5 Action Plan: Saving 

 FDIC insurance

 Money market deposits

 Eight-month emergency fund

 Credit squeeze

6 Action Plan: Spending

 Expense/income worksheet

 Finding ways to save

 Needs vs. wants

 Insurance savingtips

 Car loans

 Difficult choices

 A challenge from Suze for 2009

7 Action Plan: Real Estate

 Mortgage-modification options

 Short sales

 Foreclosure

 Home equity line of credit

 Home values

 First-time-buying tips

 Pre-retirement strategy

 Vacation homes

8 Action Plan: Payingfor College 

 529 allocation strategy

 What you can afford

 Federal loan strategy

 Stafford student loans

 PLUS parent loans

 HELOC loans/401(k) loans

 Private student loans

 Repayment

 Consolidation

9 Action Plan: Protecting Your Family and

 Yourself 18s

 Job-loss strategies

 Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

 Health insurance

 Life insurance

10 The Road Ahead