Table of Contents 1. What is a Yacht? 3 History 3 How Are Yachts Made? 5 Classifications of Yachts 6 Day sailing yachts 6 Weekender yachts 6 Cruising yachts 7 Luxury sailing yachts 7 Racing yachts 8 Hull types 10 Motor yachts 10 Hull types 11 How to Buy a Yacht 12 Used or New? 13 Gasoline & Diesel Engines 14 “Vintage” Vessels 15 Ownership Costs & Maintenance 15 Purchase Agreements 16 To Review 18 How to Rent a Yacht 19 Popular Yachting Events 21 America’s Cup 21 How To Get A Free Yacht! 22 Yacht and Boat Safety Tips! 23 Private Yacht Safety 23 General Boating Safety Advice 24 1. Be Weather-Wise 24 2. Follow A Pre-Departure Checklist 25 3. Use Common Sense 26 4. Designate An Assistant Skipper 27 5. Develop A Float Plan 27 6. Make Proper Use Of Lifejackets 27 7. The Facts About Boating And Alcohol 27 9. Take A Boating Course 28 10. Children's Safety 28 11. Carry A Marine Radio 29 12. Night Safety 30 Sample Content Preview Yachts Aren’t for Everyone! Owning a yacht is by no means a small financial venture. Yachts can range in price from a few thousand dollars to basically unlimited. It’s not rare to see them auctioning for more than a few million dollars. Even if you opt for a less expensive yacht you have to consider maintenance. Every year you can expect to spend about 10% of the total price of your yacht in maintenance. A Yacht is a type of boat; as such it will be in the water for most of its life. Constant contact with the elements and with water takes its toll. This is amplified ten-fold if you have your yacht on sea water. Salt and other minerals wreak absolute havoc on the exterior of the yacht as well as the mechanical components inside. Aside from initial cost and maintenance, you get to worry about licenses and permits to use your yacht depending on where you live. If you’re yacht is bound for sea, you’ll probably want to have a port to keep it at. Most of these places will have a monthly rate of around $15/ft. and usually have a minimum (such as 30 ft. minimum). For an average-sized yacht of 45ft you’re looking at $675 a month, just for your yacht to have a place to stay! Before you decide if owning a yacht is really for you, make sure you consider the financial and logistical challenges that lay ahead. Owning a yacht is an extremely fun and rewarding experience that you’ll enjoy for years to come. All the same, if you’re not financially or mentally prepared to own and maintain a yacht, it could be a decision you end up regretting some time down the road. If you’re sure that you are fully prepared to enter the world of yacht ownership, or at least yacht enthusiasm, then let’s get started! We’ll start at the bare-bones basics and before you know it you’ll be a veritable expert on what a yacht is, how you can buy or rent one and where you should take it once you get it!

Table of Contents What are my Legal Options? 4 Do You Need Legal Services? 5 Will A Free Attorney Be Provided? 6 Can You Handle the Problem Alone? 7 If you Get Sued 8 Always Collect Information! 9 Consider a Prepaid Legal Service 10 The Advantages of Prepaid Legal Services 11 The Disadvantages of Prepaid Legal Services 11 Finding a Great Prepaid Legal Service 12 Where to Look 12 Top Rated Prepaid Legal Companies 12 Do You Need a Lawyer? 13 How Attorneys Charge 13 Low-Income Opportunities 16 Client and Attorney Expextations 17 How to Find a Good Lawyer 19 Go To An Attorney You Trust, And Seek A Referral 19 Referral Services & Membership Organizations 19 On-Line Directories 20 Overview: 20 Advertising Does Not Mean Quality 22 Attorneys Have Specialties just like Doctors 23 You Don’t Have to Hire the First Attorney You Meet 23 Question Your Attorney before Hiring 24 Ask for a Written Retainer Agreement 25 Your Attorney doesn’t ALWAYS Have to Represent You 25 If You’re Unhappy with Your Lawyer 26 Sample Content Preview What are my Legal Options? These days most people can’t really afford to hire a lawyer when they really need to. Luckily there are actually quite a few alternative options that you can take depending on your situation. One of the most flexible options is getting a prepaid legal plan, which we’ll talk about later on. Prepaid legal plans can be lifesavers in many situations but they’re far from being for everyone. There are restrictions on what they cover and how they work so sometimes they won’t fit your scenario very well. The purpose of this book is to help you decide whether you need a lawyer, should invest in prepaid legal services or take some other legal route as well as to inform you about exactly how to go about these processes and what they mean. By the final chapter you should have a pretty firm grasp on how to handle your current and future legal situations. Sometimes you know you need a lawyer—you have just been involved in a major traffic accident or your business is being hounded by creditors and you think you may want to file for bankruptcy. Other times you think you may need a lawyer—you want to buy a house, or something you paid a lot of money for is not working properly—but you are not sure whether you need a lawyer or some other type of help.

Table of Contents 1. Is Buying a Boat for You? 5 Experience Boating First Hand 5 Get Your Priorities Straight 6 Consider a Boating Course 8 Types of Boats 10 Unpowered or human-powered boats 10 Sailing boats 11 Motorboats 11 What’s Your Boat For? 11 What Activities Can You Handle? 12 Where Will Your Boat Be Used? 12 Popular Boats to Choose From 13 Kayaks 13 Row Boats & Skiffs 13 Personal Water Crafts 14 Runabouts 14 Pontoons 14 Sailboats 15 Jet Boats 15 Speedboats 15 Cabin Cruisers & House Boats 16 Yachts 16 Financial Planning 17 Docking and Storage 17 Insuring your Boat 18 Determining Your Prices 19 Know Who Your Insurer Is 20 Agreed Value vs. Actual Cash Value 20 Step By Step: 22 Purchasing Your Craft 25 Should I Buy New or Used? 25 Buying a Used Boat 26 Buying a New Boat 27 Alternative Options to Buying 28 Consider Co-Buying 28 Lease a Boat 29 Rent 29 Inspecting Your Boat Before Purchase 30 Calculate Your Annual Costs 32 Boating Safety & Maintenance 34 Basic Safety Guidelines 34 Maintenance and Upkeep 36 Bi-Annual Equipment Checklist 37 Cleaning Your Motorboat 41 Links 44 Enjoy Your Boat 45 Sample Content Preview Is Buying a Boat for You? Riding around on the water in a boat has been a pastime (and often a trade or necessity) for humans for thousands of years. There’s nothing more rewarding than setting out on the open water, felling the wind rush through your hair and enjoying the life aquatic. Before we delve into the actual process of buying a boat we have to make one very important decision: Is buying a boat the right choice for you? I know that seems silly; you bought this book because you want to buy a boat right? Do you? Really? You have to be completely committed once you dive into the world of boat ownership. This book cost a few bucks but a boat is a substantial financial investment with ongoing costs. If buying this book for a few bucks helps you avoid thousands of dollars of debt then it was well worth it even if you ultimately decide not to buy a boat. Probably the biggest concern for most people is the finances. In many ways a boat can be quite a bit more expensive than a similar large item like a luxury car. Then again it depends entirely on what type of boat you get. If you just want to fish out on the lake you might get a simplistic little aluminum row boat; aside from cleaning it and protecting it from rust there’s virtually no maintenance. Then again, you may want to sale the high seas on a yacht; you’ll have quite a bit of maintenance and storage related fees there.

Table of Contents 1. Introduction to Leasing 4 Common Misconceptions 4 The dealer is not the leasing company 6 You can find your own leasing company 7 What it means to lease 7 The Basic Facts 8 Know When To Buy & When to Lease 10 Why is car leasing popular? 12 Leasing a Car vs. Buying a Car 12 Purchase Price 13 Down Payment 13 Monthly Payment 13 Totals after 36 Months 14 Residual Value of Vehicle 14 Real, Final Cost 14 So, How Do I Lease? 15 How to Shop Around for a Car Lease 16 Overview 17 Lease Advantages 17 Lease Disadvantages 18 Taxes, Credit and Payments, Oh My! 20 Taxes & Leasing 20 Hidden Pitfalls 20 Your Credit Score & Leasing 22 Lease Negotiation Tactics 24 Understanding the Fine Print of a Car Lease 25 Take Over a Lease Instead 26 Getting Auto Insurance 27 Types of Auto Coverage 28 What Type of Insurance do You Need? 30 Clarify Your Options 30 State Laws 30 Have a Budget 30 Know Your Vehicle 31 Know About Your Other Insurance 31 Insurance Pricing 32 What’s a Deductible? 34 Important Terms to Know 36 The Final Thought 37 Sample Content Preview 1. Introduction to Leasing The concept of leasing is fairly simple, yet many automotive consumers don't completely understand. People are quite often skeptical and even afraid of leasing. A lot of people see it as being similar to a “rent-to-own” scenario but, for some reason, on a much more sinister level. There are even well-meaning but misinformed "experts" who are quick to advise against leasing, denouncing it as a scam, professing that it’s a waste of money like renting or suggesting that it only really benefits the businesses. While leasing certainly does have similarities to renting and rent-to-own plans it’s far from sinister or cheating. In fact, leasing is a well-respected and common financial concept that has been used in the commercial world for decades as a method of financing buildings, equipment, and vehicles—although it is still relatively new to most automotive consumers. Car leasing is not the same as renting, as many people mistakenly believe. Because many consumers still are not sufficiently informed, there have certainly been cases in which mistakes have been made and in which customers' lack of knowledge has been taken advantage of, sometimes fraudulently. But for every horror story that’s told there are 1,000 success stories that don’t get told. Think of it this way: If you buy an item from an online store, are you more likely to give that item a review if you have a good experience with it or a bad experience? If you loved the item and enjoyed it then you probably don’t care about the online store and likely never thought to review the item. If you had a bad experience with the item you’re very likely to want to let everyone know about it and have the problem resolved by the manufacturer or store; you’ll be far more likely to leave a review. Thus the horror stories are more commonly publicized simply because more people are willing to tell them.

Table of Contents 1. Moving Around 4 2. Finances and Expenses 5 Your Method of Travel 5 Bicycling 5 Driving 6 Buses 6 Trains 7 Airplane 7 Boats and Ships 7 3. The Law of the Land 8 Driving Your Car 8 The Good 8 The Bad 9 Taking the Bus 11 The Good 11 The Bad 12 5 13 Train Travel 13 The Good 13 The Bad 14 The Subway 14 4. Amazing Air Travel 16 Overview 16 The Good 16 The Bad 17 Airport Security 18 5. The Superior Sea 21 6. Cities of Interest 22 Los Angeles, California (USA) 22 New York, New York (USA) 22 Paris, France 22 London, England 23 Berlin, Germany 24 Tokyo, Japan 24 Beijing, China 25 7. Traveling Tips & Tricks 27 21 Basic Travel Tips 27 Jet Lag: A Detailed Look 32 8. Some Interesting Travel Ideas Bring the Family 34 Sample Content Preview 1. Moving Around Depending on what type of business you’re in it may be necessary to move around a lot. Whether it’s taking frequent bus trips, flying to far off places or just driving to the next county, traveling can take its toll on anyone. In this book we’re going to discuss travelling tips for just about every occasion. We’ll cover everything you need to know about travelling on land (Trains, cars, buses), by air (planes, helicopters) and even by sea (boats, yachts). The only thing we’re not going to cover in this book is travel by teleportation (and believe me if I thought I could get away with it I’d throw in a chapter about it anyway). Who is this book for? Really it’s a beneficial guide for anyone who’s traveling more than twenty or thirty miles or anyone who’s going somewhere they’ve never been before. That being said this guide is specifically geared towards people who are travelling for business reasons. Because of this you’ll find that the book is light on tourism and sightseeing and focuses on utilitarian locations and important travel information. Travelling can be a stressful venture for a lot of people. This is amplified when you’re traveling for business reasons because you can’t afford to get lost or held up. Even so, travelling can also be extremely rewarding and fun, if you know what rules to follow and which paths to take. A few simple decisions while traveling can be the difference between frustrating failure and gratifying success.

Table of Contents 1. Who is this Book For? 4 2. The Virtual Background Check 5 Social Network Scoop 5 Facebook Following 6 MySpace Mayhem 7 Twitter Tailing 8 LinkedIn Listening 9 DeviantArt Discoveries 10 Background Search Websites 12 The Scoop on Snoop Station 12 Sex Offender Registries 13 US Search Power 13 Services to Avoid 15 Classmates.com 15 Friendster 16 3. Online Location Searching 18 Telephone Searching Techniques 18 Area Code Lookup 18 Telephone Number Lookup & Reverse Lookup 19 “People Search” Websites 20 ZabaSearch 21 Pipl 21 Intelius 22 4. “Old Fashion” Research 24 The Good Old Telephone Book 24 5. Hire a Private Investigator 25 Check Out the Website 26 See If They’re Part of a Trade Organization 26 Always Get it in Writing 27 Is Your P.I. Armed and Dangerous? 28 Know What Your P.I. is Up To 28 How Complicated is the Work, Really? 28 Get Information Legally 29 Rates and Fees 29 Services Offered 30 Divorce and domestic cases 30 Locating People 31 Surveillance Jobs 31 Computer Forensics 32 6. The Wrap Up 34 Sample Content Preview 1. Who is this Book For? All of us (at one time or another) have had a reason to research someone. Either we forgot an important phone number and couldn’t reach the person or we want to connect to a loved one who hasn’t been seen in years. Sometimes you just like to get to know someone a little better before you get into a relationship with them. There’s a thin line between research and stalking but there’s no argument that a little background information can go a long way. When you’re trying to find someone, or find out about someone, there are a ton of resources at your disposal. The internet is the most common resource and we’ll be discussing it heavily in this book. You also have libraries, public records offices and libraries at your disposal. Whether you’re looking for long lost family members or just trying to get to know a potential new friend, researching people is extremely easy and affordable (especially in the 21st century.) One thing I must make very clear about this book is that it’s intended for people who are searching for lost family members and friends, wanting to look up contacts they missed or trying to do their own background checks on people they might be working with. This is not intended as a guide for stalking and, honestly, if that’s what you’re into you’ll find only a very limited amount of valuable information here. This book does not contain any tips or tricks for illegally stalking people or circumventing personal security measures. These are simple steps that anyone can use to find people and find out public information that people have explicitly posted for the world to see. Public information is everywhere but not everyone knows how to actually use it to their advantage; with this book I hope to shed some light on that problem.

Table of Contents What Is Credit Debt? 4 Types of debt 4 A Debt Obligation 4 Private Debt 4 A Basic Loan 4 Bonds 5 Credit Card Debt 7 How To Prevent Credit Card Debt 7 1. Don’t Get A Credit Card 7 2. Pay As You Go 7 3. Get A Card With Strict Limits 7 4. Pay What You Really Can Afford 8 Getting Rid of Credit Card Debt 8 1. Make Cut Backs To Increase Income 8 2. Try Snowball Payments 9 3. Snowflake Payments 9 Student Loans 10 Federal Loans 10 Direct Loans and Federal Family Education Loans – FFEL 10 Federal Student Loan Amounts and Terms for 2010-2011 10 Private Loans 15 Working on Student Loan Debt 16 Mortgages 18 Prioritize 18 Consult Your Lender 18 Refinancing Options 19 When it’s a Good Idea 19 When it’s a Bad Idea 20 Bankruptcy Facts 21 History 21 Bankruptcy in the U.S. 22 Student Loans & Bankruptcy 26 How to Discharge Student Loans in Bankruptcy 26 Chapter 13 and Student Loans 27 Key Points 28 Bankruptcy in the U.K. 30 Credit Score Facts (U.S.) 33 Credit reporting agencies 34 NextGen score 34 VantageScore 35 Your Path to Success 35 Sample Content Preview What Is Credit Debt? Simply put: Debt is that which is owed; usually referencing assets owed, but the term can also cover moral obligations and other interactions not requiring money. In the case of assets, debt is a means of using future purchasing power in the present before a summation has been earned. Some companies and corporations use debt as a part of their overall corporate finance strategy. A debt is created when a creditor agrees to lend a sum of assets to a debtor. In modern society, debt is usually granted with expected repayment; in most cases, plus interest. Types of debt A company uses various kinds of debt to finance its operations. The various types of debt can generally be categorized into: 1) secured and unsecured debt, 2) private and public debt, 3) syndicated and bilateral debt, and 4) other types of debt that display one or more of the characteristics noted above. A Debt Obligation A debt obligation is considered secured if creditors have recourse to the assets of the company on a proprietary basis or otherwise ahead of general claims against the company. Unsecured debt comprises financial obligations, where creditors do not have recourse to the assets of the borrower to satisfy their claims.

Table of Contents 1. The Battle against Weight Gain 4 What are My Options? 4 2. Diet Plans to Avoid at All Costs! 5 The Truth about Diet Pills 5 Lousy Laxatives 5 Deadly Eating Disorders 7 Body Dysmorphic Disorder 7 Bulimia Nervosa 8 Anorexia Nervosa 8 Pica 9 Common Food Myths 10 Myth: Artificial Sweeteners are Dangerous or Cause Cancer 10 Myth: Diet Sodas Help You Lose Weight 11 Myth: Eating At Night Makes You Fat 12 Myth: Carbs are the Enemy 12 Myth: Natural Flavor is better than Artificial 13 3. Lifestyle Diet Changes 14 Things to Remove from Your Diet 14 Trans-Fats 14 High-Sugar Energy Drinks 15 Things to Keep in Moderation 15 Soda 16 Sugar, Certain Dairy Products, Fat and Oils 17 What Should Make Up the Bulk of Your Diet 18 Whole Grain Breads 19 Beans and Legumes 19 Brown Rice & Whole Grain Pasta 19 Vegetables 19 Fabulous Fruits! 19 Chicken and Fish 20 Delightful Dairy Products 20 4. Exercise: The Key to Fitness 21 Aerobic Exercise 21 Anaerobic Exercise 22 An Exercise Routine 23 Planning 23 Predefined Plans 24 5. Commercial Weight Loss Plans 28 Weight Watchers 28 Jenny Craig 29 Nutrisystem 30 6. Plastic Surgery and Then some 31 Plastic Surgery 31 The Lap Band 32 Gastric Bypass Surgery 33 Putting it All Together 34 Make a Lifestyle Change 34 Don’t Give Up 35 Sample Content Preview 1. The Battle against Weight Gain A lot of people throughout the world are concerned about gaining weight. Millions of people everywhere are obese and suffering many different health consequences because of it. Most people have trouble deciding which weight-loss plan is going to work for them. They can’t make a solid plan or they fall victim to “snake-oil” cures like diet pills and ridiculous fad diets. In this book we’re going to tell you the truth about weight gain, weight loss and what you can do to choose the perfect plan for you. What are My Options? When it comes to losing weight there are a myriad of proven and viable options. There are also a ton of ineffective methods that you should avoid. We’re going to show you the primary effective methods which include: exercise, nutrition, lifestyle changes, surgical procedures and counseling. We’re also going to discuss some of the pitfalls associated with weight loss: diet pills, eating disorders, ridiculous food myths and lack of support. It’s essential to understand the potential consequences to every one of these weight-loss plans and, more importantly, learn how to cope with them. Let’s start by examining what does NOT work; many of you may be trying out a weight loss plan while you’re reading this book so I want you to know what to avoid as early as possible.

Table of Contents 1. Is Online Education For You? 4 2. The Benefits of Online Education 7 Work on Your Own 7 Better Payment Options 8 Freedom! 8 Much Less Stress 8 3. The Obstacles You’ll Face 10 Financial Furry 10 Time Trouble 11 Computer Catastrophe 12 4. System Requirements 14 Step 1: Purchasing a Personal Computer 14 Step 2: Learning To Use Your Computer 16 5. Financial Planning 19 FAFSA 19 How do I Know if I’m Eligible? 20 Loans: Less Loved but Still Effective 21 6. Reputable Online Schools 24 University of Phoenix Online 24 The Art Institutes Online 26 I.T.T. Technical Institute 29 DeVry University Online 29 Don’t Underestimate Local Schools! 30 Decide and Conquer! 31 7. Profitable & Fulfilling Careers 32 Becoming an R.N. (Registered Nurse) 32 A Career in Law 33 Graphic Design: A Great Degree! 35 Exceptional Education Training 36 8. Post-Graduate Advice 38 Sample Content Preview 1. Is Online Education For You? A lot of people are on the fence about where and how to get their education. Everyone knows that you practically need a good education to have a successful career (at least without having to work for 30 or 40 years first) but getting an education is harder than ever in the U.S. and other areas. The costs are extremely high and so many people are going back to school that even college classrooms are becoming over-crowded. Universities and state schools are primarily for kids right out of high school who can qualify for scholarships. Private schools are very commercial and can charge upwards of $450 per credit! Junior colleges are affordable but offer limited courses and really just set you up for an expensive university. And if all that wasn’t bad enough, you’ve got to have time for those types of schools. Where does that leave everyone else? What about the people who already have families and jobs and responsibilities? What about those of us who didn’t get the chance to go to school when we were teenagers who just want to better our chances of getting a great job and kick-starting our careers? For the rest of us there’s online education. You’ve probably seen commercials for private online schools on television or even a banner ad on a website. It’s these very ads that tend to give people negative attitudes towards for-profit institutions and online schools in general. Many people say things like, “If it was a good school they wouldn’t need to advertise!” Unfortunately that’s just not an educated answer. The reason these schools have such commercialistic advertising is simply because they are for-profit institutions.

Table of Contents Contents 1. What is Craigslist? 3 The History of Craigslist 3 Craigslist Today 5 2. How Do I Use Craigslist? 7 Getting Started 7 Searching for Ads 12 Posting your Ads 12 Tips on Ad Writing 14 General Writing Tips & Using Copy for Advertising 15 Keywords are Killer! 18 Organize Your Listing 20 3. Sell Your Junk! 22 What you can and cannot sell 22 How to Market Your Items 24 Using Advertising Language to Market 24 Combos, Bonuses and Best Offers, Oh My! 25 To Sell, or to Toss? That is the Question. 25 Obsolete & Out of Sight 26 Family Treasures 27 Is it Seasonal? Timing is Key 27 Safety Tips for In-Person Exchanges 28 4. Selling Digital Content 29 Ideas for Products 29 Methods of Distribution 29 Copyright Info and Things to Watch Out For 30 5. Sell Your Services 32 What You Can and Cannot Offer 32 Popular Areas of Service 32 How to Market Yourself 34 6. To Conclude... 35 Sample Content Preview 1. What is Craigslist? The History of Craigslist The popular website, Craigslist.com, was created by Craig Newmark in 1995 as an email distribution list of friends, featuring local events in the San Francisco Bay Area, before becoming a web-based service in 1996. It was incorporated as a private, for-profit company in 1999 and has been expanding to cover more and more different cities since then. Craigslist founder Craig Newmark observed people helping one another in friendly, social and trusting communal ways on the Internet via the WELL, MindVox and Usenet, and felt isolated as a relative newcomer to San Francisco. He decided to create something similar for local events. The first emailed San Francisco event listings debuted in early 1995. The initial technology encountered some limits, so by June 1995 new software was installed to handle the expanding website better and the mailing list "Craigslist" resumed operations. Newmark submitted most of the early posting himself and they were notices of social events of interest to software and Internet developers living and working in the San Francisco Bay area.