Online Resources

Here are a few of the many financial management websites on the Internet. These sites offer a range of resources to assist individuals in better managing their money. These resources include educational materials, articles offering financial management advice, regular updates on financial markets, and interactive financial management tools.

Topics:

Budgeting/Spending

Texas AgriLife Extension Service — Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) is part of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M System. AgriLife Extension offers practical information for families: raising children, housing and environment, eating well, managing money, and staying healthy.

Budgeting Tools

• Texas Agrilife Extension Service: Managing Money in Tough Times
• 66 Ways to Save Money
• Wi$eUp How to create a budget
• Wi$eUp Keeping track of your spending
• Budget Calculator
• My Money- Budgeting and Taxes

Federal Reserve Board Resources- Bank Accounts and Services

• When Is Your Check Not a Check? Electronic Check Conversion
  Español — ¿Cuándo no es su cheque un cheque? Intercambio electrónico de cheques
• Consumer Guide to Check 21 and Substitute Checks
  Español — Guía del consumidor sobre Check 21 y cheques sustitutos
• How to File a Consumer Complaint About a Bank
  Español — Cómo puede un consumidor presentar una queja sobre un banco
• Protecting Yourself from Overdraft and Bounced-Check Fees
  Español — Protéjase de los cargos por cheques rebotados y sobregiros
• What You Should Know about Your Checks
  Español — Lo que usted debería saber sobre sus cheques

Calculators

Choose to Save is sponsored by ASEC (the American Savings Education Council) and EBRI (Employee Benefit Research Institute).

Kiplinger.com

Debt Management Calculators

How Long Will it Take to Pay My Credit Card?

Credit

National Foundation for Credit Counseling — "The NFCC promotes the national agenda for financially responsible behavior and builds capacity for its members to deliver the highest quality financial education and counseling services." (from their website)

Bankrate provides tools and information in order to help consumers make more informed decisions about their finances. They collect information on more than 100 financial products including mortgages, credit cards, various loans, and banking fees.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — Protecting America’s Consumers, this government agency sponsors financial education projects that include free publications providing unbiased consumer information available for free online.

Other FTC Publications:

• Co-signing a Loan
• Credit and Divorce
• Credit Cards & Consumer Loans
• Building a Better Credit Report

Federal Reserve Board Resources- Consumer Credit

• Choosing a Credit Card
• Consumer Handbook to Credit Protection Laws
• Your Credit Report: What it Says about You
  (Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco)

Department of Labor

The Employee Benefits Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor provides many publications and reports, including Women and Retirement Savings and Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future (PDF).

Women's Bureau Publications - various publications from the Women's Bureau of the United States Department of Labor

Disaster Preparedness

Financial Planning - A Guide for Disaster Preparedness, from the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts (AICPA).

Disaster:Are You Financially Prepared? - FDIC Consumer News Winter 2005-2006

Disaster Preparedness Makes Sense for Finance Too - Information on the importance of disaster preparedness from the Financial Planning Association (FPA).

Recovering Vital Documents - Information on How to Replace Your Vital Documents

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita - Information and updates for consumers

Financial/Educational

MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education.

The financial security website of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture provides financial education resources with an overall goal for people to acquire the knowledge, skills, and motivation to build financial security.

Kiplinger's provides financial management information targeting a broad audience with varying financial education needs. They offer information on money basics, trends, taxes, investment products, and financial news.

MSN Money, which is a part of the MSN News website, MSN Money offers articles, tips, and tools for improving your financial management skills. News items include regularly updated information on financial markets and the economy.

As part of the United States Department of Agriculture, the land-grant university system in every state, Cooperative Extension Programs offer publications, online resources, and community programs on financial and consumer education as well as a variety of other topics. Please visit the financial security website of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service for more information.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is the national, professional organization for all Certified Public Accountants. Its mission is to provide members with the resources, information, and leadership that enable them to provide valuable services in the highest professional manner to benefit the public as well as employers and clients. At the AICPA's new financial literacy Web site, 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy , consumers can find information to help them make sound financial decisions at every stage of their lives, from childhood to retirement. For information targeted to the financial planning needs of women visit 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy for Women.

For Women

MsMoney
While MsMoney's information can apply to a general audience, they pay particular attention to the needs of women striving to achieve financial security. They offer a variety of innovative online tools and content covering topics such as investing, life purchases, and career.

Women's Financial Network at Siebert (WFN) provides access to financial services and information tailored to women's unique needs and interests. This website features a learning center that covers a range of financial topics. Each section includes worksheets, vocabulary, and financial management tools.

WISER , the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement, is a non-profit organization wholly devoted to providing women with skills and information to improve their economic circumstances and plan for a financially sound retirement. The website offers publications and information on topics related to retirement.

Women in the Labor Force: A Databook— ed. 2006 — Published by the DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics

Generation X women: They spend, they save — Canton Repository (subscription), OH - Jul 20, 2006 — Even though Generation X women understand the importance of saving for the future, most are still battling debt, according to one survey. ...

Women in the Labor Force in 2005 - Statistics, from the Department of Labor-Women's Bureau, on the increasing participation of women in all aspects of the labor force.

Homeownership

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
HUD's mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. HUD Glossary.

Making Home Affordable
Mortgage statements come in many different forms. However, most contain similar terms and information. Here are some commonly used terms and their definitions that may help you better understand your mortgage statement the Making Home Affordable program.

Federal Trade Commission
The FTC deals with issues that touch the economic life of every American. It is the only federal agency with both consumer protection and competition jurisdiction in broad sectors of the economy. The FTC develops policy and creates practical and plain-language educational programs for consumers and businesses in a global marketplace with constantly changing technologies. The Real Estate Marketplace Glossary is a great tool to help you become familiar with real estate terminology before you start looking for your new home.

Guide to Avoiding Foreclosure (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)
Whether you're in foreclosure now or worried about it in the future, they have information that can help.

Is Homeownership Right for You?
Buying a home is the largest purchase most people will ever make. Homeownership has great benefits. Homeownership also comes with certain responsibilities.

The Real Estate Marketplace Glossary: How to Talk the Talk
The Federal Trade Commission, the agency that promotes competition and protects consumers, has prepared this glossary to help you better understand the terms commonly used in the real estate and mortgage marketplace.

Federal Reserve Board Resources- Leasing

• Keys to Vehicle Leasing: A Consumer Guide
  Español — Arrendar un vehículo: Guía del consumidor

Federal Reserve Board Resources- Mortgages

• A Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Lock-Ins
• A Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Settlement Costs
• Consumer Handbook on Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARM)
  Español — Guía para el consumidor sobre hipotecas a tasa ajustable (ARM)
• Home Mortgages: Understanding the Process and Your Right to Fair Lending
• Interest-Only Mortgage Payments and Payment-Option ARMs--Are They for You?
• Looking for the Best Mortgage: Shop, Compare, Negotiate
  Español — Buscando la hipoteca más favorable: Compare, Verifique, Negocie
• Online Mortgage Calculator
  (Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta)
• Putting Your Home on the Loan Line Is Risky Business
  Español — Utilizar su hogar como garantía para un préstamo es arriesgado
• What You Should Know about Home Equity Lines of Credit
  Español — Lo que usted debería saber sobre las líneas de crédito con garantía hipotecaria

Identity Theft

National Resource for Identity Theft (Federal Trade Commission)

Identity Theft (Federal Reserve Bank of Boston)

Internet Pirates Are Trying to Steal Your Information (Office of the Comptroller of the Currency)

When a Criminal's Cover Is Your Identity (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)

Investing

CNN Money is produced by the editors of CNN and Money magazine, CNN Money offers news and articles on financial markets and the economy. For the individual investor and consumer, the website provides online tools, tips, and related articles.

Personal Finance

Budgeting & Saving (Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago)

Building Wealth: A Beginner's Guide to Securing Your Financial Future
Español — Cómo Crear Riqueza: Una Guía para Alcanzar sus Metas Financieras
(Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas)

Mymoney.gov (Federal government educational web site)

Personal Financial Education (Federal Reserve Education)

Privacy Choices for Your Personal Financial Information

66 Ways to Save Money (Federal Citizens Information Center)

Retirement

WISER , the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement, is a non-profit organization wholly devoted to providing women with skills and information to improve their economic circumstances and plan for a financially sound retirement. The website offers publications and information on topics related to retirement.

A New National Retirement Risk Index — A team at Boston College from the Center for Retirement Research gives us insight into the retirement conditions and expectations of the Baby Boomers and Generation Xers. The newly developed National Retirement Risk Index from the Center for Retirement Research measures the share of working-age households who are at risk of being unable to maintain their pre-retirement standard of living in retirement. But there is hope... read on!

401k Plans Are Still Coming Up Short — Alicia H. Munnell and Annika Sunden of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College discuss retirement benefits, specifically 401(k) and the risks people take with their retirement accounts. Are you making wi$e choices with your 401(k)?

The full report Saving for Your Golden Years: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities is available on the Department of Labor's Web site, on the Wi$eUp web site, or by calling the toll-free number (866) 444-3272.

Taking the Mystery out of Retirement Planning - This pamphlet, from the United States Department of Labor- Employment Benefits Security Administration, seeks to unravel retirement planning mysteries, and also offers positive changes that can be made today to secure a sound financial future.

Top 10 Ways to Save For Retirement - This pamphlet, from the United States Department of Labor- Employment Benefits Security Administration, outlines the Top 10 things you could be doing to prepare for your retirement. Printer friendly version.

Why Women Need Retirement Planning More Than Men Do - Outlines characteristics specific to women that make retirement planning for them uniquely different than for men.

It is Never Too Early To Start Planning For Your Retirement - Information on how to get an early jump on retirement planning.

EBRI is a nonpartisan research institute that has been focusing on retirement and health benefits for the past 30 years.

Saving

The Money Links — Saving page on the Federal Citizen Information Center website has many links related to finance, including the very informative brochure 66 Ways To Save Money.

Choose to Save is sponsored by ASEC (the American Savings Education Council) and EBRI (Employee Benefit Research Institute). Choose to Save promotes saving in order to achieve financial security in retirement. This site includes a link to the Ball Park Estimator, a one page worksheet that will provide a quick estimate of how much money you will need to save in order live comfortably in retirement.

WISER , the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement, is a non-profit organization wholly devoted to providing women with skills and information to improve their economic circumstances and plan for a financially sound retirement. The website offers publications and information on topics related to retirement.

Student Debt/Loans

National Endowment for Financial Education®(NEFE®) is non-profit dedicated to helping Americans develop the skills necessary to take control of their personal finances. They primarily partner with other organizations to provide financial education to the general public with an emphasis on those populations whose financial education needs are not being addressed by others.

The Office of Financial Education of the U.S. Department of the Treasury is a leader in promoting financial education. Visit the Directory of Federal Financial Education Resources to view the wide range of programs that are conveniently organized by program name, subject area, and organization.

Consolidating Student Loans — CNN Money takes a look at the rising interest rates for consolidating student loans, and advises you to keeping an eye on changing government policies.

New Report: Student Debt Means Many New Graduates Cannot Afford to Be Teachers or Social Workers - This report from the State Public Interest Research Groups' Higher Education Project looks at the negative impact student debt has on public service career opportunities.

Quick Facts About Student Debt - Facts About Student Borrowing from The Project on Student Debt

Twenty-somethings

Twenty Something: A Guide for Being a Grown-Up — U.S. News & World Report offers a financial planning website for people in their twenties. The website covers subjects such as career building, financial tips, grad school information and other relevant topics.

Disclaimer for external websites listed on this page:

The Women's Bureau and Wi$eUp partners do not endorse, take responsibility for and exercise no control over any external organizations and websites or their views or contacts, nor does it vouch for the accuracy of the information contained on the destination server.