Personal Finance Publications
| We have developed numerous articles on a wide variety of topics that should be helpful in your efforts to improve your personal financial situation.
The following is a list of financial education publications. Electronic document titles are available for viewing or downloading. A brief description follows each title. To open a title, click on it. Printed copies of these documents are available to appropriate audiences without charge. Contact any counselor for very small quantities, or our Outreach Department for quantities of more than 100. |
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Spending | Credit & Debt | Home Ownership | Life Events | Privacy & Fraud | Saving |
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Budget/Spending Plan |
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Checks Have Changed: Living With Check 21 Check management tips in light of the recent law allowing your checks to be replaced with electronic copies. |
Seven strategies for avoiding a holiday debt-hangover, many seasonal money-saving ideas and a simple Holiday Spending Planner. |
Transportation options, steps to buying a vehicle, buy vs lease considerations, and ways to minimize post-purchase costs. |
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Six steps for minimizing holiday stress, gift ideas that are inexpensive, activity ideas for making memories instead of debt, and a simple Holiday List Planner. |
Basic tools for money management – checking, savings, electronic banking – and questions to ask when choosing providers. |
Five key strategies with dozens of suggestions for dealing with reduced income. |
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Six steps for defining your financial goals and turning them into concrete plans. |
Reasons to file, organizational tips, what’s new, filing methods, and finding help. |
Explanations of basic financial measurements, warning signs of debt trouble, and guidance for shaping up. |
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Enlightening information on taxes, ways to minimize the burden, and where to get help. |
 The Spending Plan: Simple Steps To Financial Wellness
A complete budgeting packet: important facts, clear worksheets, and simple step-by-step directions for creating a successful spending plan.
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 66 Ways To Save Money[FTC pdf]
Practical ways to cut everyday costs on transportation, insurance, banking, credit, housing, utilities, food, and more.
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Credit & Debt |
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The definition of credit, the aspects lenders consider before extending credit, 10 steps for building credit and rebuilding credit. |
Defines debt repayment plans, explains the differences between secured and unsecured debt, and offers questions to ask credit counseling agencies if you consider using their services. FTC text. |
Education about the different types of plastic money, potential benefits and pitfalls, key terms, and seven tips for using wisely. |
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Critical information for anyone considering settlement: detailed explanation of the process and consequences as well as other options to consider. |
How To Check Your Credit Reports Critical information on how to obtain and understand your credit reports. |
How To Dispute Errors On Your Credit Reports Clear directions for disputing errors on your credit reports. |
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Information on how your score is calculated and 21 tips for raising your scores. |
The Biting Price Of Payday Loans The truth about the real cost of these quick loans as well as a list of better options. |
Your Rights In Fair Debt Collection Answers to commonly asked questions about your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. FTC text. |
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Credit And Your Consumer Rights Practical ways to cut everyday costs on transportation, insurance, banking, credit, housing, utilities, food, and more. |
Getting Credit: What You Need To Know About Your Credit Provides tips on shopping for credit cards, using cards carefully, and keeping your credit record clean. Also explains credit reports and credit scores, how to protect your identity, improve your credit record, and what to do if you are a victim of identity theft. A good source of information for people learning about credit. |
If you or someone you know is in financial hot water, consider these options: realistic budgeting, credit counseling from a reputable organization, debt consolidation, or bankruptcy. Tips on getting back in the black. |
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Identity Theft: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You Clear definitions and facts about identity theft along with warning signs, tips for protecting yourself, and what to do if you become a victim.
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The Spending Plan: Simple Steps To Financial Wellness A complete budgeting packet: important facts, clear worksheets, and simple step-by-step directions for creating a successful spending plan
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Practical ways to cut everyday costs on transportation, insurance, banking, credit, housing, utilities, food, and more.
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Practical ways to cut everyday costs on transportation, insurance, banking, credit, housing, utilities, food, and more. Please click on a selected topic to the left for a list of documents that may be of interest to you.
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Home Ownership |
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Descriptions of the two basic forms of home equity borrowing, typical uses, potential benefits and dangers, alternatives, and pointers. |
Considerations for buying or renting, 9 steps to homeownership, types of financing, and where to find live help. |
Education about the foreclosure process, options you may have, things to watch out for, and how to find help. |
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Home Equity Loans: Borrower’s Beware Explains common abusive lending practices and how to avoid becoming a victim, and possibly losing your home. |
Looking For The Best Mortgage? Shop, Compare, Negotiate Use these three steps to save money on a mortgage or home loan. Includes a mortgage shopping worksheet. |
Explains how reverse mortgages (RMs) work and how they can help older homeowners who are “house-rich but cash-poor” remain in their homes and still meet their financial obligations. |
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Life Events |
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Guidelines for finding assistance during hardships with a resource list of social services (disaster, employment, food, clothing, shelter, health & medical, justice, charities). |
Explanations of life, disability, and health insurance, as well as tips for saving on insurance. |
Practical ways to cut everyday costs on transportation, insurance, banking, credit, housing, utilities, food, and more. Please click on a selected topic to the left for a list of documents that may be of interest to you. |
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Privacy & Fraud |
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Clear definitions and facts about identity theft along with warning signs, tips for protecting yourself, and what to do if you become a victim. |
Identity Theft: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You Clear definitions and facts about identity theft along with warning signs, tips for protecting yourself, and what to do if you become a victim. |
Avoiding Credit And Charge Card Fraud Tips for guarding against this type of fraud and for reporting losses. |
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Getting Purse-onal: What To Do If Your Wallet Or Purse Is Stolen Steps to take if your wallet or purse is stolen.
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How Not To Get Hooked By A ‘Phishing’ Scam Tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of this type of fraud.
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Saving |
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Motivation for saving, six steps to saving, and information on America Saves. |
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Spending | Credit & Debt | Home Ownership | Life Events | Privacy & Fraud | Saving |
