Personal Finance: Websites
Guide to research and library resources relevant to Personal Finance
Personal Finance Tools
- 360 Degrees of Financial LiteracySet up by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, with guides for all life stages and personal finance
- AnnualCreditReport.comThe official site to request your annual credit report, for free: find your "credit score", check for errors and set up fraud alerts if necessary
- Budgeting and SavingA channel on How Stuff Works.com, with lots of helpful guides on personal finance
- Center for Digital DemocracyLearn about how to protect yourself in terms of personal privacy and consumer savvy
- Clark HowardConsumer advocate and commentator: site features articles and links to recommended services
- Consumer Financial Protection BureauTrouble with creditors, debt collection, or need information for major finance decisions like a mortgage? This government agency is an advocate for consumers. Submit a complaint easily.
- Credit KarmaFree credit score and other services to track changes to your score
- Dave RamseyCommentator and author provides advice and resources for those striving to be debt-free
- Dinkytown.netLots of calculators for estimating credit card debt, savings, loan costs, and more
- Dollar Cost AveragingBrief introduction to the concept
- Economics and Personal Finance Education ResourcesFederal Reserve Bank of St. Louis provides a suite of tools, information, and tutorials for educators and students for money skills, handling credit, and financial literacy.
- eXtensionConnecting university resource specialists and consumers, with articles and tools to learn about personal finance
Personal Finance Tools
- Frugal Living NWLocal deals on groceries and entertainment. Join to receive the Price Point Guide
- How Interest Rates WorkBasic guide to the essentials about cumulative interest, from How Stuff Works.com
- Loan CalculatorFrom Bankrate.com, an easy way to visualize how interest accrues and affects your loan payments
- MINT.comSet up a family budget, track progress on your personal financial goals
- Money (from AARP)Tax tips; manage debt; save money; create a financial plan
- Money SmartPersonal finance training modules and curriculum, from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Seven languages available
- Motley FoolThe Motley Fool exists, they say, to "educate, amuse and enrich." Several helpful sections for the beginning investor
- MyMoney.govReliable financial information, current news, articles from government agencies for consumers. Available in Spanish
- Net Price CalculatorEstimate the full price of your education at Portland Community College
- SchollyApp and web platform for a coordinated search for college scholarships
Protect Yourself! Identity Information Data Breach
- Annual Credit ReportRetrieve your credit history each year, from each of the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion), to review for possible fraud or account inaccuracies
- Credit KarmaSign up for free credit monitoring. Also, track your credit score for free.
- Equifax. "Cybersecurity Incident & Important Consumer Information"Check if you were affected by the data breach at the Equifax credit bureau.
- Equifax Data Breach FAQAlex Thomas Sadler, on Clark.com, provides details about how the data breach by the Equifax credit bureau potentially affected consumers. He also discusses strategies to use to protect yourself.
- Fraud Alert, FTCLearn how to place a fraud alert on your credit reports. Information from the Federal Trade Commission
- How Credit Reports WorkIntroduction from How Stuff Works -- what are credit reports, or credit bureaus? What do they do, and why do they matter?
- How to lock down your money after the Equifax breach.Prioritized tips and links from the independent, nonprofit Consumer Reports organization
- Identity Theft RecoveryGovernment resources to help avoid, or recover from identify theft
- Kim Komando: Don't sign up for Equifax's Free Credit Monitoring-- Here's What to Do InsteadTechnical expert and consumer advocate Kim Komando advises all credit holders to be proactive
Credit Freeze
One option for consumers to protect themselves from identity theft or fraud is to place a "Freeze" or "Security Freeze" at each credit bureau or consumer reporting agency. Doing so would prevent any new loans or credit accounts being opened, unless you "unfreeze" (release) the credit report in advance. There may be a fee required both for setting up the Freeze, and, for unfreezing each time.