Product Description

Stuck with a boss from hell? Trying to escape a bad date? Looking for a way to fix a friendship, or make it through your next family reunion? Believe it or not, the solutions to each of these dilemmas (and many more!) can all be found in this book.

You'll also pick up tips on scoring a table for two at the swankiest spots in town, redecorating your place on a shoestring budget, and getting your hands on a super cheap plane fare. You'll even learn how to get out of credit card debt once and for all, how to shake a devastating break-up -- and, of course, how to pee standing up.

Packed with loads of advice that every hip chick needs to sail through those sticky situations, How to Pee Standing Up is your must-have guide to life. In fact, we don't know how you've made it this far without it!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #341532 in Books
• Published on: 2003-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter One: Beat the Bank

So there you are, swinging through life buying a teensy bauble here, an itty-bitty new purse there, and occasionally taking that hottie down the hall to a nice little din-din to cheer him up after a lousy audition. "Everyone deserves a little pampering now and then," you tell yourself. Your friends tell you the same thing, sympathetically -- especially when you're picking up the check. And that's when you get the call. You know the one -- it's usually from a Mr. Green or a Ms. White, and it almost always begins with something misleadingly polite like, "We'd like to speak to you right away about your credit card balance." "Why are they bothering me?" you ask. "It was just a pair of shoes!" you think. And finally: "What's with the color-coded pseudonyms?"

We hate to inform you, but you've fallen into the dreaded Deadly Debt Trap. All credit cards should come with a label: Warning! Warning! Credit cards are not free money! But they don't, and before you know it, you're maxed out and have zero money left over after paying your bills. How's a person supposed to lead a fabulous life with a budget of nada?

Stupid Reasons for Going into Credit Card Debt

1. Gucci brings out my green eyes.
2. With a big-screen TV like that, who needs a boyfriend?
3. My honey may be a deadbeat, but he's my little deadbeat!
4. Bloomingdale's is on my way to work. Like that's my fault.
5. By buying those Ralph Lauren sheets on sale, I'm actually saving money!

Having credit card debt is like wearing a heavy ankle bracelet (we're talking house arrest, not a fashion accessory) 24/7. It keeps you from building any kind of savings, including your See Ya Sucker Stash (see Hit the Road), and can make it harder for you to rent apartments, get loans, or buy a house.

Proper Credit Card Conduct

1. Transfer your balances to cards that earn you freebies, like airline mileage.

2. Transfer your balances to a card that has an extremely low APR* (like no interest for a year), then try to pay it off before that introductory APR is raised.

3. Always pay more than the minimum, but not so much that you don't have enough to pay other bills.

4. Finally, screen your calls -- no need to let "Mr. White" ruin your night. Just be sure to pay the bill the next day.

Tips for Getting out of Debt

1. Don't live in denial. Figure out everything and everybody you owe.

2. Lower your expenses. Tap into your inner Disciplinarian, who can slap down your inner Princess from time to time. When you start to whip out the plastic, ask yourself: "Oh, fabulous one, is this a need or an indulgence?" Learn to tell the difference between the two; indulge when you have the cash in hand, but try to do it cheaply. (See Blue-Chip Babes.)

3. Increase your income. Get two jobs (it can be done) or a higher-paying gig until your debt is paid off.

4. Get help. Call the Consumer Credit Counseling Services at (800) 577-2227.

Copyright © 2003 by 17th Street Productions, an Alloy Company

Customer Reviews

A very funny book
A very funny book and well written. I couldn't help but laugh at some of the situations the author described, and I picked up some tips on a few things. what I've found helpful in the book was identifying the looser boyfriend, managing money, breaking up, traveling and more.
It gave some great info that I already knew and a lot that I didn't know. I would recommend this book for college students as a must read, and would have to say that Its not just for women.

I'm looking into more titles from the author.

This book is great!
I love the advice this book gives & it gives it in a fun, stylish & humorous way, which makes it hard to put down. There's tips in this book that are really valuable. Especially when it comes to social situations & how to get over heartbreak & be resiliant. Another thing about this book that I loved was it's compact size which makes it conveniant to carry around, especially when you're on vacation & you want a good read on the plane or by the pool. It was definitely worth the money I spent.

Bad advice
Though this book has some good advice and it written in a fun style, I'm giving it two stars because I'm very disappointed in some of the unethical and illegal advice that it recommends:

* Lie to the cop if you've been drinking
* Sneak to better seats during a theater intermission
* Buy tickets online so you can get the child's price
* Buy clothes, wear once, and return them

I'd prefer to learn to be a hip chick without scamming, cheating, or lying.