"A direct, incisive guide for consumers to know how to protect and handle their money in the face of a financial crisis. There are always going to be unexpected financial crises in our lives. Whether we're facing an economic recession, a pandemic, a bear market, or energy worries, we have to immediately know what to do with our money. We start to ask: What bills need to be paid first? Should we dip into our savings? Are there better methods to protect a nest egg? Michelle Singletary provides a hands-on guide to all of your debt concerns, credit card issues, cash-flow problems, medical coverage questions, and the dozens of other common financial issues that crop up with all of us when money suddenly becomes tight"-- Provided by publisher.