Other Financial Education Resources
Want more information about money management? The following is a sampling of publications and websites that have useful information for you and your apprentices.
Financial / Money Management Websites
Bankrate®
A website with lots of short articles and calculators on mortgages, auto loans, CDs and Investments, credit cards, checking and savings accounts, college finance, insurance and taxes.
Credit
Official Annual Credit Report Website
This is the official website for requesting free credit reports from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Apprentices can request their credit reports online through this website, or instructors can download forms so that apprentices can request them by mail.
Credit Repair: How to Help Yourself
Discusses credit repair agency scams, consumer rights regarding credit repair, how to dispute inaccurate information on your credit report, and where to go for help. Also includes a credit report request form on back page. From the Federal Trade Commission.
Getting Through Tough Times: Strategies for Talking with Creditors
Provides advice on how to contact creditors when someone can’t make payments. Includes detailed instructions on what to say, a sample form letter to use, and more. From University of Minnesota Extension.
Sample Credit Report
This sample helps consumers understand how to read a credit report. From Experian.
Dealing with Debt
Debt Collection FAQs: A Guide for Consumers
Covers your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. From the Federal Trade Commission.
Monthly Auto Loan Payment Calculator
Enter auto loan amount, loan term and interest rate to calculate monthly loan payment. This calculator can show the full cost of buying a car and how much will be spent on interest. From Bankrate.com.
PowerPay
This website allows you to put in your debts and shows you how long it will take you to pay off using the “power payments” concept. It also allows you to choose which debts to prioritize (i.e., pay off high interest debt first; pay off low balances first). From Utah State University Extension.
Taking Control of Your Debt – Port Jobs Trainer Toolkit
Covers the basics of understanding debt, how to identify warning signs of debt problems, how to avoid debt traps, debt dos and don’ts, steps for getting out of debt, and when and where to get outside help.
True Cost of Paying the Minimum: Credit Card Calculator
This online calculator calculates how much interest you will pay and how long it will take to pay off a credit card when making only the minimum payment. You can also see how much time and money you could save by paying a fixed amount each month. From Bankrate.com.
Guide to Surviving Debt
Ebook resource providing detailed information on dealing with debt, including understanding options, responding to debt collectors, home foreclosures, student loans, evictions, repossessions, bankruptcy and more. From National Consumer Law Center. Note: The book costs $20. You may be able to check out a copy at the library.
Money Management
Strategies of Spending Less
Concrete methods for controlling spending in areas such as food, utilities and household maintenance, transportation, medical expenses, clothing and more. From University of Minnesota Extension
Developing a Spending Plan – Port Jobs Trainer Toolkit
Learn the basic steps to creating a spending plan, tracking expenses, plugging spending leaks and more.
Spending Plan Worksheet – Port Jobs Trainer Toolkit
Download to use electronically or print. Formulas are in place in Excel when used electronically.
Saving for Your Future – Port Jobs Trainer Toolkit
Provides guidance and tips for creating short and long-term goals, building an emergency fund, creating a savings plan, and paying yourself first.
Action Plan worksheet
Use this worksheet to make a step-by-step action plan to meet your goals. Calculate how much you need to save each month, what publications or websites you need to review, steps you need to take, and track progress.