COVID Resources/Loss of Income
- 211 Helps – Region-wide social services resource directly
- CBA COVID-19 Resources: Guidance for Credit – Scam protection resources and free credit reports
- COVID-19 Financial Resilience Hub – Step-by-step resources on how to manage personal finances during COVID
- Monster Career Advice – Managing your finances when unemployed
- The Muse – How to prepare financially for a layoff
- University of Illinois Extension: Getting through Tough Times – Money management strategies
Banking/Bank On
Benefits
Blogs
- Money Smart St. Louis – Timely personal finance articles
- Get Rich Slowly – Articles on getting out of debt and retirement
- MintLife Blog – Financial guides and resources
- MMI’s Personal Finance Blog – Weekly articles on personal finance, credit, and debt
- Money Talks News – Tips and advice from money reporters
- On the Money Magazine – Personal finance publication by and for STL teens
Borrowing Money / Lending
Children and Youth
- EconEdLink – Economics and personal finance lessons for K-12 teachers
- Economic Lowdown Podcast Series – Audio series for youth
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Education – Free economics and personal finance lessons, activities, and readings
- IRS: Understanding Taxes – Explainer of taxes for high school students
- Junior Achievement – Financial literacy curricula for elementary through high school students
- Kids and Money: Teaching Children to Manage Their Finances – Discussion prompts for families
- Money As You Grow – CFPB help for parents and caregivers
- Money Math – Curriculum supplement for middle school math classes
- Money Smart Kids – Free FDIC curriculum for children
- Money Smart for Young People – Free FDIC curriculum for teens and young adults
- MyMoney Youth Resources – Games and activities about money
- Page One Economics – Timely economic articles for middle schoolers
- Parent Q&A Resources for Teaching Economics and Personal Finance – Discussion guides for children’s books about money
- Youth.Gov Financial Empowerment Toolkit – Resource for youth in foster care
College & Student Loans
- Bright Start 529 Plan – Illinois child college savings account
- CFPB: Paying for College – Resources to explain options for paying for college
- FDIC Student Loan Basics – Info on different types of student loans and consumer protections
- Federal Student Aid – Resources on preparing for college or career school, applying for aid
- FINRA: Saving & College – Info on tax-advantaged ways to save for education
- FSA Budgeting for Students – Money management guide for college students
- MMI – Student loan counseling
- Missouri MOST 529 Plan – Missouri child college savings account
- National Consumer Law Center – Student Loan Borrower Assistance
- NFCC – Certified student loan counseling
- Saving and Investing for Students – Intro to saving and investing for college students
- Vision Board Long Term Planning Activity – Activity for long-term financial planning for college students
Consumer Issues
- Better Business Bureau – Company Directory & Reviews
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – Guides for financial decisions and resources to submit a complaint
- Direct Marketing Association – Opt-out of advertising mailers
- Federal Trade Commission – Resources to report fraud and identity theft
- National “Do Not Call” Registry – Opt-out of scam and advertising phone calls
Credit
- CardRatings – Credit card reviews, ratings, and comparisons
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – How can I tell a credit repair scam from a reputable credit counselor?
- Credit Scores – Free access to credit score
- Federal Reserve System: Credit Reports – Consumer guide to credit reports and credit scores
- Free Annual Credit Report – Access to free credit report
- FTC: Free Credit Reports – Information on how to access credit reports and monitor your credit
- FICO – FICO scores from all three credit bureaus (paid)
Debt
- Chestnut Credit Counseling – Assists with financial planning, money management, and planned debt repayment
- Debt.org – Resources to learn more about credit cards, mortgages, and other loans
- FDIC: Debt Collection – Resources and rights for dealing with a debt collector
- Justine PETERSEN – Local resource for credit counseling
- Money Management International – Help with developing a budget and identifying the debt repayment strategy
- National Foundation for Credit Counseling – Debt management to improve credit health
- Operation HOPE – St. Louis City resource for free credit counseling
- Power Pay – Tools to create your own debt elimination plan
General Financial Education
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – U.S. government agency that makes sure financial companies treat you fairly
- FDIC Money Smart – Free financial literacy curriculum
- Federal Financial Literacy and Education Commission – Education and resources to make informed financial decisions
- Financial Web – Financial education article portal
- NPR Life Kit: Money – Radio stories and podcasts about money management
- Office of the Comptroller of the Currency – FAQ about banking
- Smart About Money – Online self-directed courses and calculators
- Office of Financial Empowerment – St. Louis City resource to help make better financial decisions
- University of Missouri Extension – Personal finance programs and resources
Homeownership
- CFPB: Mortgages – Tools and resources for homebuyers
- FDIC: Mortgages – Guide to mortgage terms and consumer protections
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis – Foreclosure Resource Center
- FTC: Homes & Mortgages – Info about home loans and improvement
- HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agencies – List of organizations providing advice on buying a home, renting & foreclosures
- HUD: Avoiding Foreclosure – Programs to assist homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure
- HUD: Buying a Home – Steps for buying a home affordably and knowing rights
- Mortgage Relief Scams – Info on scams and how to protect rights
- Mortgage Loan – Tools to calculate mortgage payments and tax breaks
Online Curriculum & Training
- Better Money Habits – Bank of America’s personalized portal
- How Money Smart Are You? – Free game-based curriculum with 14 modules
- Khan Academy – Free video-based personal finance course
- MoneyManagement International University – Customized online financial education program
- No Frills Money Skills – Simple personal finance videos from the St. Louis Fed
Relationships and Money
Retirement
Savings
- America Saves – Resources on how to reach different savings goals
- CFPB: Start Saving – Guides for creatings savings accounts and emergency funds
- Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings (HSA) Accounts – IRS resources on health care saving
- FTC: Saving – Shopping tips to save money
- Missouri Saves – University of Missouri Extension resources
- MyMoney Save & Invest – Hints and tips to create a savings habit
Spending / Budgeting
Taxes
- IRS Free E-file Resources – Certified free online tax preparation resources
- IRS: Need someone to prepare your tax return? – Choosing a tax preparer
- Gateway EITC Community Coalition – Local free tax preparation provider
- Metro St. Louis Community Tax Coalition – Local free tax preparation provider
- National Association of Black Accountants – Local free tax preparation provider
- Saint Louis Tax Assistance Program – Local free tax preparation provider
- Earned Income Tax Credit – Requirements for EITC
Tools and Calculators
Veteran’s Resources
- Debt.org – Debt relief options for veterans
- Misadventures in Money Management – Interactive graphic novel about financial literacy
- Office of Service Member Affairs – Educational resources from the CFPB
- Senior Veterans Service Alliance – Senior Veterans Service Alliance
- The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act – Info about veteran-specific consumer protections
- USA Cares – Emergency and housing assistance for veterans
- VA Home Loans – Homeownership resource for veterans
- Veterans Financial – VA’s Aid and Attendance Pension eligibility and application
Women & Finance
- Cash Chat – Blog from leader of local Women’s Financial Education Series
- Clever Girl Finance – Free financial courses for women
- Money Talk: A Financial Guide for Women – eBook on financial basics, insurance, investing, and retirement
- Ms. Money – Content from women personal finance experts
- Savvy Ladies – Free financial advisors & educational programming
- Women and Retirement Savings – FAQ booklet
- Women’s Institute for Financial Education – Women-focused financial empowerment articles