Financial Literacy: Money
Money: General
USA.gov: Money and Taxes:
The US Government publishes enormous amounts of information pertaining to various subjects. Use their USA.gov portal to find information on Money and Taxes. You will find included in this site information on banking, personal finance, and of course, tax tips.
MyMoney.gov
This site in particular offered by the US Government contains an abundance of information, how-to guides, calculators, budget worksheets and adult money management programs. This is an invaluable resources worth reviewing for your financial needs.
Pratt Guides to Information on Money and Financial Health
Banking
Use this how-to guide when needing to find information on banking-related issues; for example, bankrate.com offers current data on which institutions are offering the best mortgage or CD rates, investment or retirement planning.
Finding Consumer Information Online
This consumer resources guide is an excellent listing of the many organizations as well as Federal, state and international agencies that offer the consumer information online. Everything from links to product reviews to Federal consumer assistance agencies, such as consumer.gov, are available here.
Recession Busters
A wide range of resources on saving money are available on this “recession busters” guide. How to be fiscally savvy at the gas pump, getting better credit card APR rates, or lowering your utility bills are covered here and much more
Taxes
Find links to both State and Federal tax forms and instructions on this page, including past years from 1990 to present. Included in this guide is also Homeowner's and Renter's Tax Credit forms.
How to Get a Free Credit Report
You may have heard companies offering free credit reports on television or online, however there is only one government mandated Web site offering a no-strings attached way to get your credit report. This guide discusses the process.
Identity Theft
With identity theft so prevalent, it is important that one be informed on how to protect oneself from becoming a victim or how to proceed if one has become a victim of identity theft. Use this guide to navigate the numerous online resources devoted to this issue.
What You Can Do to Avoid Foreclosure
This guide provides links to Baltimore City and Maryland resources for those who are in danger of foreclosing. Your rights concerning mortgages and foreclosure proceedings are included.
Real Estate: A Guide for Homebuyers and Renters
Whether you are a homeowner or renter, this comprehensive guide outlines the many online resources available. Use this guide to find information on tenant's rights, finding the funds to buy a home, or searching for properties.
Money: Banking
Saving and Investing
The Web site, mymoney.gov, has put together this comprehensive listing of information about smart investing. It provides links to other Federal government Web sites, how-to guides, brochures, and videos designed to cover every financial base you may need to lead a financially successful life.
Bankrate.com
Use bankrate.com as a means to make better financial decisions, such as choosing a better rated mortgage or CD, investments or retirement planning. This Web site also contains an excellent and broad array of articles on personal finance as well as how-to guides on financial-related topics.
How Stuff Works: Banks
Learn about the types of banks, how they make money, and what different kinds of accounts are available to the consumer. Be sure to follow the useful links offered by this Howstuffworks article to find even more additional information.
MSN Money
Microsoft's financial news page provides up-to-date information on banking investments, personal finance, and real estate among other money-related subjects.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is the agency responsible for insuring deposits in banks and thrift institutions. All sorts of banking information is located here, from banking tips, real estate sales, to about obtaining a lien release and consumer financial rights information. Industry information, regulation information and banking regulation is also available.
Find a Credit Union
Find a Credit Union near you and learn about its offerings.
Maryland Office of the Commissioner on Financial Regulation: Banking
The Department of Labor, Licensiing, and Regulation offers this guide on Maryland state-chartered banks, including a list of their locations.
Maryland Office of the Commissioner on Financial Regualtion: Credit Unions
The Department of Labor, Licensiing, and Regulation offers this guide on credit unions in Maryland, including a list of their locations.
Money: Consumer
Maryland Attorney General: Consumer Protection
This agency is one of the first resources you want to access if you are having a problem with a business or vendor and are unable to resolve it. File a formal complaint against any business engaged in fraudulent practices or seek out mediation assistance here.
Consumer Actions Web Site: Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC)
Order a print version of the Consumer Action Handbook from this Web site. Inside this handbook, you'll find helpful tips about preventing identity theft, understanding credit, filing a consumer complaint, and much more.
US Food and Drug Administration: Consumer Health Information (FDA)
The Food and Drug Administration runs this consumer Web site for tips on keeping healthy on a number of issues, including medications and food handling.
Federal Reserve Board: Consumer Information
Use this Web site for up-to-date information concerning credit and mortgage issues.
Federal Trade Commission: Bureau of Consumer Protection (FTC)
Fraud is as popular as ever! This Web page provides information on how to avoid them.
eConsumer.gov
This Web site is part of an international initiative called International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) developed by governments around the world in order to manage consumer complaints against fraud with international companies, particularly online ones.
Greater Maryland Better Business Bureau (BBB)
The Better Business Bureau offers free access to their databases for anything related to a business and fair practice. Use this Web site to lodge a complaint against a business or find out if a business has complaints lodged against it.
National Consumer League
"NCL provides government, businesses, and other organizations with the consumer’s perspective on concerns including child labor, privacy, food safety, and medication information."
National Fraud Information Center
This Web site contains a lot of information on fraudulent behavior whether found online or against the elderly. You will also find information pertaining to counterfeit drugs and telemarketing scams.
Federal Reserve Board: Credit Cards
This Web site is produced by the Federal Reserve Board and contains concise explanations about credit cards and terms related to credit cards such as APR, finance charge and variable-rate. This site answers questions for people new to credit cards and people who already have credit cards. Specific topics include: what are APRs, types of cards, what liability limits are, and what to do about billing errors.
Federal Reserve Board: Consumer Information
Use this Web site produced by the Federal Reserve for information on managing your credit cards, improving your credit score as well as dealing with mortgage and foreclosure issues.
How Stuff Works: Credit Cards
Use this article to find information pertaining to the meaning of credit card numbers, the history of credit cards and how to benefit from using credit cards without getting into troublesome debt.
Organizations Dedicated to Financial Literacy
SmartAboutMoney.org
"The National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) is an independent, nonprofit foundation committed to educating Americans on a broad range of financial topics and empowering them to make positive and sound decisions to reach their financial goals." This site contains a great amount of information for those wanting to learn more about money and how to manage it. The "Resource Library" alone is well worth a visit to this site as it holds educational materials on how to budget, invest, deal with a sudden loss of employment and dealing with crises.
Espanol
El futuro en tu manos
[Need translator to write a description of this site]
Money Smart Week @ Your Library - April 21 - 28 2012
