Funding

Most of us found out from our parents that money doesn't grow on trees, but very few learned much more except by trial and costly error. What if we'd had a book in college that clearly explained how to get, save, and spend money intelligently? Not only would our debt--and our stress--likely be lower, but we'd have developed smart money habits that would serve us well for the rest of our lives. Dollars & Sense for College Students is that book, and no young man or woman should leave home for the first time without it or a trust fund.

Ellen Braitman's experience as an assistant editor for Consumer Reports shows: the book is very well organized, the writing is simple and straightforward, and each section is peppered with tips and examples from real people. With chapters such as "Banking 101," Smart Shopping," and "How Not to Run Out of Money," Braitman lets the savvy reader test out of the school of hard knocks.

Some of the advice in Dollars & Sense is especially helpful for those planning their college funding, so it would best be obtained a year or so prior to high school graduation. Still, it is so useful for making it day by day through life on your own that it would help anyone who wonders where the money went at the end of each month. --Rob Lightner