Personal Finance Publications
We have developed numerous in-depth 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.
Spending | Credit & Debt | Home Ownership | Life Events | Privacy & Fraud | Saving
Budget/Spending Plan
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.
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.
Six steps for defining your financial goals and turning them into concrete plans.
Enlightening information on taxes, ways to minimize the burden, and where to get help.
Seven strategies for avoiding a holiday debt-hangover, many seasonal money-saving ideas and a simple Holiday Spending Planner.
Basic tools for money management – checking, savings, electronic banking – and questions to ask when choosing providers.
Reasons to file, organizational tips, what’s new, filing methods, and finding 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.
Transportation options, steps to buying a vehicle, buy vs lease considerations, and ways to minimize post-purchase costs.
Five key strategies with dozens of suggestions for dealing with reduced income.
Explanations of basic financial measurements, warning signs of debt trouble, and guidance for shaping up.
Practical ways to cut everyday costs on transportation, insurance, banking, credit, housing, utilities, food, and more.
Credit & Debt
The definition of credit, the aspects lenders consider before extending credit, 10 steps for building credit and rebuilding credit.
Critical information for anyone considering settlement: detailed explanation of the process and consequences as well as other options to consider.
Information on how your score is calculated and 21 tips for raising your scores.
Credit And Your Consumer Rights
Practical ways to cut everyday costs on transportation, insurance, banking, credit, housing, utilities, food, and more.
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.
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.
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.
How To Check Your Credit Reports
Critical information on how to obtain and understand your credit reports.
The Biting Price Of Payday Loans
The truth about the real cost of these quick loans as well as a list of better options.
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.
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.
Education about the different types of plastic money, potential benefits and pitfalls, key terms, and seven tips for using wisely.
How To Dispute Errors On Your Credit Reports
Clear directions for disputing errors on your credit reports.
Your Rights In Fair Debt Collection
Answers to commonly asked questions about your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. FTC text.
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.
Practical ways to cut everyday costs on transportation, insurance, banking, credit, housing, utilities, food, and more.
Home Ownership
Descriptions of the two basic forms of home equity borrowing, typical uses, potential benefits and dangers, alternatives, and pointers.
Home Equity Loans: Borrower’s Beware
Explains common abusive lending practices and how to avoid becoming a victim, and possibly losing your home.
Considerations for buying or renting, 9 steps to homeownership, types of financing, and where to find live help.
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.
Education about the foreclosure process, options you may have, things to watch out for, and how to find help.
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.
Life Events
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.
Privacy & Fraud
Clear definitions and facts about identity theft along with warning signs, tips for protecting yourself, and what to do if you become a victim.
Steps to take if your wallet or purse is stolen.
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.
How Not To Get Hooked By A ‘Phishing’ Scam
Tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of this type of fraud.
Avoiding Credit And Charge Card Fraud
Tips for guarding against this type of fraud and for reporting losses.
Saving
Motivation for saving, six steps to saving, and information on America Saves.