You don't, says Ted Miller, editor of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine. As a journalist with more than two decades of experience at the pioneer magazine of personal-finance journalism, Miller understands that many otherwise knowledgeable adults have a hole in their education: They've never been taught the basics of money management, saving or investing. And they've never learned how to address so many important financial decisions that come their way.

Not that there isn't plenty of financial information out there. In fact, Miller believes, there's so much that people are often frozen into inaction because they can't get what they need when they need it. Kiplinger's Practical Guide to Your Money cuts through the excess and provides the essential information you need to make money-smart decisions throughout your life. You'll learn how to:

*Figure out how much you have, and how much you owe, to determine your personal bottom line
*Avoid (or eliminate) excessive debt and use credit wisely
*Set ambitious financial goals
*Invest to reach those goals
*Make the best deals when you buy a car or a home
*Develop sound plans for building the nest eggs you'll need for your kids' college education and your own retirement
*Teach kids the value of money and help aging parents with their money and living arrangements
*Protect yourself and your family with the right amounts of life and health insurance at every stage of your life

In short - how to be a competent, confident, smart money manager. 

About the Author

Ted Miller has been the editor of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine since 1987. He is the author of Make Your Money Grow and Invest Your Way to Wealth. He appears frequently on television, discussing money management and investing topics.