You're no idiot, of course. You're financially independent: You pay rent, utilities, and loans all out of your own paycheck. You realize that your parents had to cut the cord sooner or later, and you're proud of how well you've adjusted. But when it comes to saving money for the long haul, you feel like an astronaut whose oxygen cord has been cut. Don't drift into a financial black hole yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s gives you an edge so you can get through financial hardships now, invest for the future, and even afford a luxury item once in a while.