This booklet provides some practical guidelines for determining total insurance needs, examining options, and comparing costs. It discusses how to fit insurance costs into an overall financial plan, the necessity of adequate liability coverage, and the importance of keeping policies up to date. The next four sections highlight the basic types of insurance. The section on health insurance introduces conventional and prepaid plans, health maintenance organizations, and government programs. Information on disability insurance and tips on cutting health care costs are included. The section on life insurance describes the various types of policies--term, whole life, and universal. It shows how to read a policy, select a beneficiary, and shop for the best value. The section on auto insurance discusses the kinds of coverage offered in a standard policy, why auto insurance rates vary, and comparison shopping. The section on homeowners and tenants insurance tells how to take a household inventory and includes descriptions of the features found in a basic policy and the factors affecting premium costs. Other sections focus on other types of insurance, shopping for insurance, how to handle a claim, and handling insurance complaints. A glossary and a listing of suggested resources are appended. (YLB)