Finance and Money Management

Resources to help with bill-paying, credit management assistance, banking issues, investments, taxes, and more

General Resources

Federal Reserve Board: Mortgage Foreclosure Resources
If you are having difficulty making your mortgage payment, one of the most important things you can do is seek assistance.

Consumer.gov
Consumers face many challenges in the marketplace.  Use these resources to help you solve your consumer problems.  This page can help you prevent identity theft, find out how and where you can check your credit, show you resources for managing money, and much more.

Institute for Financial Literacy
The mission of the Institute for Financial Literacy is to make effective financial literacy education available for all American adults.

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

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: Corporate Bankruptcy
Information for investors in companies filing for bankruptcy protection.

Washington Financial Education Clearinghouse
The Washington Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has developed this Web site for Washington residents who are looking for information and resources about managing finances. This Web site serves as a clearinghouse for financial education information and resources.

Washington State University - eXtension: Financial Security for All Approved Resources
A list of approved resources and articles, vetted by financial security experts at WSU. Includes articles on financial planning, protecting credit information, early retirement, tax refunds, and more.

Change Counts! Your Money Helpline: A Resource Guide for Cast Managers, Counselors & Advocates
Your Money Helpline is a resource sharing opportunity to help you assist clients with banking, credit, debt management and reduction and preparing for their short and long term financial goals.

Financial Preparedness
Americans at all income levels have experienced the challenges of rebuilding their lives after a disaster or other emergency. Having access to personal financial, insurance, medical, and other records is crucial for starting the process of recovery quickly and efficiently. This webpage will help you identify, collect and secure these critical records so that in the event of an emergency, you have the documentation needed to start the recovery process without delay.

Financial Literacy

Financial Beginnings
Financial Beginnings offers a variety of programs serving youth, educators, and the community at large. Program categories include Youth Programs, Community Education & Outreach, and Advocacy.

Choose to Save: Resources
Financial security is one of the most important issues for most Americans. Whether it is putting kids through college, saving for an emergency, buying a house, or saving for retirement - having enough money for life's demands is among our biggest concerns. And yet, many Americans have not taken even the first steps toward a secure financial future. The Choose to Save® national public education and outreach program is dedicated to raising awareness about the need to plan and save for long-term personal financial security.

Council for Economic Education
The Council for Economic Education offers comprehensive, best-in-class K-12 economic and personal finance education programs, including the basics of entrepreneurship, consisting of teaching resources across the curriculum, professional development for teachers, and assessment instruments. Each year, the Council's programs reach more than 150,000 K-12 teachers and over 15 million students in the United States and in more than 30 other countries.

National Endowment for Financial Education
The National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) is the only private, nonprofit, national foundation wholly dedicated to improving the financial well-being of all Americans. The mission of the National Endowment for Financial Education is to help individuals acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to take control of their finances. NEFE’s mission is grounded in the belief that financially informed individuals are better able to take control of their circumstances and improve their quality of life.

SmartAboutMoney.org
The  National Endowment for Financial Education reaches out to all Americans who want to learn how to improve their financial well-being by providing them with information and resources, such as this Web site, to reach their goals. This Web site was designed to help you get quick tips on budgeting, reducing debt, setting financial goals, and much more; Find a wealth of information to help you with all of life's financial challenges  and locate information on a broad range of financial topics contributed by many organizations throughout the U.S.

 

Savings and Investment Information

Federal Trade Commission
Get free credit reports, information on credit and loans, tips to prevent identity theft, ways to avoid internet fraud, and more useful resources and information.

TreasuryDirect
TreasuryDirect is a financial services website that lets you buy and redeem securities directly from the U.S. Department of the Treasury in paperless electronic form. You enjoy the flexibility of managing your savings portfolio online as your needs and financial circumstances change, and your money is backed by the U.S. government.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
The mission of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation.

Your Money: A Guide to Reaching Your Financial Goals
An information guide that can help you prepare to invest, teach you key investment concepts, help you understand common types of investments, and much more. Made possible by a grant from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation through Smart Investing @ your library®, a partnership with the American Library Association. Available in English and Spanish as a free online resource courtesy of the Timberland Regional Library.

 

Budget and Debt Management

Debt.org
A free news and educational resource provided to anyone trying to get out of debt or prevent themselves from going into debt.  With an expanding Jobs and Unemployment section, visitors are educated on how to manage their finances and avoid debt.

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. Offers online tools, but focuses on connecting you to a live credit counselor in your area.