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Money management skills are critical for students of all ages. College students need reliable, unbiased information in order to make smart financial decisions. This research guide provides some of the best resources for getting started in saving, avoiding and managing debt, and planning your financial future.
Money Management
- Feed the Pig
- http://feedthepig.org/
Interactive site designed to improve spending and saving habits.
- Money 101
- http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/money101/
A step by step guide to gaining control of your financial life.
- MyMoney.gov
- http://www.mymoney.gov/default.shtml
U.S. government site dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics of financial education.
- The Basics of Money
- http://www.kiplinger.com/basics/
How to invest, manage your money and spend wisely from Kiplinger's.
- 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy/College
- http://www.360financialliteracy.org/Life+Stages/College/
Important money management tips for college students.
- Start Smart: Money Management for Teens
- http://www.fdic.gov/CONSUMERS/CONSUMER/news/cnsum06/
Tips from the FDIC on how to save, spend and protect your cash.
- Smart About Money
- http://smartaboutmoney.org/
Practical help and resources for making sound financial decisions.
- SaveandInvest.org
- http://www.saveandinvest.org/Military/manageMoney/
Learn smart money management tips on saving, credit, car buying, and protecting your money.
Savings Basics
- America Saves
- http://americasaves.org/
Savings tips, strategies, and resources to help built personal wealth.
- Choose to Save
- http://www.choosetosave.org/
Award-winning national financial education program.
- Get More Money Now
- http://bbbmoneynow.org/
Savings basics from the Better Business Bureau.
- Treasury Direct®
- http://www.treasurydirect.gov/tdhome.htm
Basics of saving and investing in U.S. Treasury securities.
- Bankrate
- http://www.bankrate.com/
Information on the best CD, money market, mortgage, and college loan rates. Check out the "Life and Money" section for useful information on saving, buying a car, building credit, and ways to stretch a dollar.
Credit and Debt
- AnnualCreditReport.com
- https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/
Request a free credit report once every 12 months from the only authorized online source for free credit reports under federal law.
- Getting Credit
- http://www.ftc.gov/gettingcredit/
Identity theft, credit scams, lost wallets, credit fraud, with information about maintaining, improving and protecting good credit.
- Credit and Loans
- http://www.ftc.gov/credit
Information on all aspects of credit for making educated financial decisions.
- Choosing a Credit Card
- http://www.federalreserve.gov/Pubs/shop/
Consumer information from the Federal Reserve.
- Managing Your Credit
- http://www.saveandinvest.org/Military/manageMoney/managingCredit/
Tips for establishing and maintaining good credit.
- Payday Loans
- http://www.saveandinvest.org/Military/manageMoney/paydayLoans/
Learn the dangers of payday loans and lenders.
- Get More Money Now
- http://www.bbbmoneynow.org/?lid=1&page=intro
Credit and debt basics, credit management, and Earned Income Tax Credit information from the Better Business Bureau.
- Debt Reduction Challenge
- http://www.treasurer.il.gov/programs/financial-education/debt-reduction.aspx
Start your own personal debt reduction challenge from the Illinois State Treasurer's Office.
- Know the Score: How Your Credit Score Impacts Your Financial Future
- http://www.saveandinvest.org/Military/manageMoney/managingCredit/P036754
Explanation of credit score calculations.
- What Will it Take to Pay Off My Balance?
- http://partners.leadfusion.com/tools/kiplinger/card04/tool.fcs
Interactive calculators from Kiplinger’s, with inputs, results, graphs, and tables.
- Federal Trade Commission Fair Debt Collection
- http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm
Commonly asked questions about your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, with information about filing a complaint with the FTC.
Getting Through Tough Times
- Recessionary Survival Links
- http://www.360financialliteracy.org/Life+Stages/Life+Crisis/Articles/Unemployed/Recessionary+Survival+Links.htm
Suggestions on coping with job loss, paying for college, and managing your finances.
- Getting Through Tough Financial Times
- http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/toughtimes/
Sound advice on coping with financial stress.
- Money Matters: Tips from the FTC
- http://ftc.gov/moneymatters
Get help weathering tough economic times and tackling money issues.
- Weathering Tough Financial Times: 9 Tips for 2009
- http://www.finra.org/Investors/ProtectYourself/BeforeYouInvest/P117720
Suggestions for debt management, saving and investing during the recession.
- Health and Retirement Benefits After a Job Loss
- http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/joblosstoolkit.html
Fact sheets and publications covering job loss, pensions, and health coverage from the Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration.
Protect Yourself
- Fighting Back Against Identity Theft
- http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
One-stop resource to learn how to deter, detect and defend against identity theft.
- OnGuardOnline.gov
- http://www.onguardonline.gov/
Practical tips from government and the technology industry sources to help protect yourself against Internet fraud.
- Money Matters: Tips from the FTC
- http://ftc.gov/moneymatters
Get help weathering tough economic times and tackling money issues from the Federal Trade Commission.
- Investor.gov: Avoid Fraud
- http://investor.gov/avoid-fraud/
Tips from the SEC on avoiding scams.
- Investor Protection
- http://www.finra.org/Investors/ProtectYourself/
The tools you need to be an informed investor and avoid problems in today's complex world of investing, from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
- FINRA BrokerCheck
- http://www.finra.org/Investors/ToolsCalculators/BrokerCheck/
Check the professional background of current and former FINRA-registered securities firms and brokers.
- Protect Yourself Online
- http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/onlinebrokerage.htm
Safeguard your money and personal information in online accounts.
College Financing
- College Savings Plans Network
- http://www.collegesavings.org/
A nonprofit association dedicated to making a college education affordable and accessible.
- Smart Saving for College
- http://apps.finra.org/investor_Information/Smart/529/000100.asp
College costs, savings options, tax credits, and savings tips.
- 529 Plans vs. Other College Savings Options
- http://www.360financialliteracy.org/Financial+Topics/Education+Planning/Articles/529+plans/529+Plans+vs.+Other+College+Savings+Options.htm
Overview of college financing options from the 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy site.
- College Savings Resources
- http://www.finra.org/Investors/InvestmentChoices/CollegeSavingsPlans/P005962
Learn about 529 Plans and other college savings options.
- Saving for College
- http://www.savingforcollege.com/
Top performing 529 plans, financial aid basics, comparisons, and calculators.
- SaveandInvest.org Saving for College
- http://www.saveandinvest.org/Military/saveCollege/
Guides, alerts, 529 Plan analyzer, tools and resources.
- Student Aid on the Web
- http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp
Federal student aid information from the U.S. Department of Education.
- FastWeb
- http://www.fastweb.com/
One of the oldest and largest scholarship sites.
- FinAid! Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid
- http://www.finaid.org/savings/taxbenefitcoordination.phtml
Comprehensive source of student financial aid information, advice and tools.
- 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy/College
- http://www.360financialliteracy.org/Life+Stages/College/
Important money management tips for college students.
Getting Started in Investing
- Dollars from Sense
- http://www.dollarsfromsense.com/
Designed by experts to help college students understand the basics of personal finance, reach their financial goals, and learn how to invest.
- Getting Ready to Invest
- http://www.finra.org/Investors/SmartInvesting/GettingStarted/PreparingToInvest/
Assess your current situation and create goals.
- Choosing Investments
- http://www.finra.org/Investors/SmartInvesting/
Learn the advantages, disadvantages, risks and costs of different types of investments.
- FINRA Investor Education Modules
- http://www.finrafoundation.org/resources/education/modules/
Accurate, unbiased educational materials from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation.
- Investor.gov: Invest Wisely
- http://investor.gov/
The resources you need to learn the basics, protect yourself, and stay informed.
- Yahoo Finance
- http://finance.yahoo.com/
Comprehensive free financial site, featuring economic news, personal finance topics, and information about investing.
Calculators
- Emergency Savings Calculator
- http://www.forefieldkt.com/kt_dt/dt_trns.aspx?xd=Emergency&il=ai
Determine how much you may need in emergency savings and how to start saving for that goal.
- Choose to Save
- http://choosetosave.org/calculators/
Wide range of budgeting and financial planning calculators.
- Microsoft Excel Budget Templates
- http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/CT101172321033.aspx
Over 30 downloadable free budget templates.
- Personal Finance Calculators
- http://www.icmarc.org/xp/rc/planning/tools/budgeting.html
Helpful budget and financial calculators.
- Should I Pay Off Debt or Invest in Savings?
- http://partners.leadfusion.com/tools/kiplinger/budget04/tool.fcs
Debt reduction calculator from Kiplinger's.
- What Will It Take to Pay Off My Balance?
- http://partners.leadfusion.com/tools/kiplinger/card04/tool.fcs
Interactive calculators from Kiplinger's, with results, graphs and tables.
Retirement Planning
- Smart 401k Investing
- http://apps.finra.org/Investor_Information/Smart/401k/000100.asp
Step by step guide to starting, investing and managing your retirement account.
- Get Your Finances Ready for Retirement
- http://www.pbs.org/nbr/site/features/special/retirement-good-friday-special/
View videos and podcasts for retirement planning resources.
- Plan Well, Retire Well
- http://www.retirewell.uiuc.edu/
Retirement planning site developed by financial experts at the University of Illinois Extension.
- Ballpark Estimate®
- http://choosetosave.org/ballpark/
Worksheet for calculating how much you need to save to fund a comfortable retirement.
- Retirement Savings Education Campaign
- http://www.dol.gov/EBSA/savingmatters.html
Information about retirement from the U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration.
- Retirement Confidence Survey
- http://www.ebri.org/surveys/rcs/2009/
Latest retirement research from the Employee Benefits Research Institute.
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