Worth It . . . Not Worth It? demystifies complex, real-world dilemmas and breaks the answers down into simple solutions.

Credit or debit? Rent or buy a house? Buy or lease a car? Take or decline the rental car insurance? Renovate the kitchen or finish the basement? Buy stocks or mutual funds?

Every day we are forced to make financial decisions, but the right answers all seem to require complicated, mind-numbing research. And who has time for homework when you're paying for a bag of Fritos at 7-11? Or filling out a payroll form on the first day of a new job? Thankfully, there's Worth It . . . Not Worth It? Organized around six basic topics-Getting Started, Shelter, Automotive, Investing, Family Matters, and Retirement-this handy book is the Swiss Army knife of personal finance.

Jack Otter is the editor of Barrons.com. Formerly the executive editor of CBS Moneywatch.com, he has more than a decade of experience as a business journalist, having been on staff at Newsday and SmartMoney. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and two children. Follow him on Twitter @JackOtter.