Courses

From setting goals to paying off loans, the basics of effective budget management.

• Introduction to Budgeting
  Why and how to budget.
• Income and Expenses
  A big part of budgeting is identifying income and listing expenses.
• Making Sense of Your Budget
  After you've identified your income and tracked your spending, it's time to compare the numbers, gain perspective, set priorities, and make changes.
• Tracking Your Spending
  A simple way to get the most from your monthly budget.
• How to Improve Cash Flow
  Cash flow is a key indicator of your financial health.
• Money Saving Ideas
  Looking for ideas for ways to save money now? Almost everyone can find a way to save using at least one of these tips.
• Nudging Yourself Toward Your Goals
  No matter what your financial goal, it's important to have an accountability system in place.
• Generic Post-Course Survey
  This survey collects general course satisfaction ratings and self-reported learning gains.

From choosing a make and model to financing a purchase, topics every consumer should understand when buying a car.

• Buying a Car Introduction
  An introduction to the basics of this major purchase and responsibility.
• Choosing a Make and Model
  A look at four important factors to consider when choosing a car: fuel consumption, insurance rates, reliability, and depreciation.
• The Total Cost of Ownership
  Understanding the many costs associated with owning a car - from financing to taxes.
• Buy or Lease?
  Understanding the pros and cons of vehicle leasing.
• Financing a Car Purchase
  How a loan affects the total cost of buying a car.
• Evaluating a Used Car
  How to "do your homework" before buying a used car.
• Negotiating Your Car Purchase
  Effective negotiation could potentially save you thousands on your next car purchase.
• Setting a Target Price
  How to set a realistic target price for both new and used vehicles.
• Negotiating Price
  Know what to expect when negotiating the best deal.
• Avoiding Surprises
  Think the negotiating is finished when you agree on a price? Here's how to negotiate dealer extras and extended warranty pitches.
• Common Mistakes When Buying a Car
  Twelve common mistakes to keep in mind when shopping for a car.
• Generic Post-Course Survey
  This survey collects general course satisfaction ratings and self-reported learning gains.

What to consider if you're in trouble with debt, from creating a debt reduction plan to your rights when dealing with debt collectors.

• Signs of Financial Trouble
  Spotting the warning signs of excessive debt.
• Dealing with Financial Trouble
  If you ever find yourself experiencing financial trouble, there are steps you can take to get back on track and to minimize the damage to your credit.
• Debt Reduction Plans
  Whether you do it yourself or work with a credit counselor, creating a debt reduction plan is an important first step for those with financial trouble.
• Credit Counseling
  The role of credit counseling organizations and how a debt management plan works to restore credit over time.
• Choosing a Credit Counselor
  The best way to find a good credit counselor is to know what questions to ask.
• Credit Repair Scams
  There's a big difference between a non-profit credit counseling service and a credit repair scam. Learn how to tell the difference.
• Debt Collection
  Your rights and responsibilities when dealing with debt collectors.
• Debt Collection and Legal Actions
  What to expect if you are sued over debt.
• Understanding Bankruptcy
  The types of bankruptcy and why bankruptcy should be used only as a last resort.
• Repairing Credit
  There are no quick fixes when it comes to removing negative items from your credit report or raising your credit score. Only consistent efforts and payments on your debts will improve your credit.
• Generic Post-Course Survey
  This survey collects general course satisfaction ratings and self-reported learning gains.

This course covers the basic concepts required to effectively manage money while in college.

• Financial Basics Introduction
  A brief introduction to course goals and resources.
• Financial Health
  The concept of financial health, including smart decision-making.
• Introduction to Budgeting
  Why and how to budget.
• Tracking Your Spending
  A simple way to get the most from your monthly budget.
• Choosing a Bank or Credit Union
  Types of financial services accounts.
• Checking and Savings Accounts
  Checking and savings accounts strategies for minimizing fees.
• Credit vs. Debit Cards
  Credit and debit cards each have pros and cons. When should you use each?
• Credit Reports and Scores
  Credit reports and scores determine the rates you pay when borrowing and can affect your ability to get certain jobs.
• Managing Accounts
  Account management strategies for checking and savings.
• Students and Credit Cards
  Special challenges for students with credit cards.
• Building Credit
  Understanding the decisions and behaviors that can lead to improved credit scores.
• Identity Theft
  Understanding ID theft and how to prevent it.
• Signs of Financial Trouble
  Spotting the warning signs of excessive debt.
• Real World Calculator
  Calculates after-college income scenarios.
• Personalized Feedback
  Personalized feedback based on pre-course survey answers.
• Financial Goals
  All short and long-term financial goals.
• Post Course Survey
  Post-course survey to gather feedback on your learning experience.

What you need to know to start making a long-term financial plan, from getting married to planning for retirement.

• Financial Planning
  Learning the "how" and "why" of short, medium, and long-term financial planning.
• Estate Planning
  Wills, trusts, and other end of life issues.
• Creating a Will
  A will is the cornerstone of the legal framework of an estate plan, and everyone should have one.
• Powers of Attorney
  Everyone faces the possibility of temporary or permanent incapacitation. Make sure your wishes are followed.
• Medical Care Planning
  How to make sure your wishes are followed in a medical crisis.
• Talking About Money
  A look at some of the financial considerations of getting married.
• Planning for the Unexpected
  Planning for unexpected events, including accidents, death, and even the possibility of divorce, are all part of a responsible marriage.
• Generic Post-Course Survey
  This survey collects general course satisfaction ratings and self-reported learning gains.

A look at the financial challenges of raising a child.

• Introduction
  Having a baby is not just a family decision, it's a financial decision too.
• Babies and Budgets
  How to get your finances in shape before a baby arrives, including a budget review, paying down debt, making sure you're getting the best on any long-term debt, and creating an emergency fund.
• Paying for the Baby Years
  The non-childcare costs you can expect when having a baby, from cribs to health insurance.
• Childcare Choices
  An overview of different childcare choices and the financial implications of each.
• Managing Risks
  Life is filled with unexpected events. Learn how to ensure the financial security of your child in the worst case scenario.
• Children and Taxes
  A review of the tax benefits that can help you manage the expenses incurred with children.
• Growing Up - Childhood and Beyond
  A look at the additional costs of raising a child beyond the first few years including the indirect costs.
• Generic Post-Course Survey
  This survey collects general course satisfaction ratings and self-reported learning gains.

An overview of identity theft, including strategies for preventing it and what to do if it happens to you.

• Identity Theft
  Understanding ID theft and how to prevent it.
• Avoiding Identity Theft
  The three Ds of identity protection: Deter, Detect and Defend.
• Protecting Your Digital Information
  There are many data backup solutions available designed to protect personal information that vary in their security and ease of use.
• Dealing with Identity Theft
  Understanding the different types of identity theft and what to do in each scenario.
• Generic Post-Course Survey
  This survey collects general course satisfaction ratings and self-reported learning gains.

Credit reports and scores, credit vs. debit cards, reading your credit report, plus more.

• Credit Reports and Scores
  Credit reports and scores determine the rates you pay when borrowing and can affect your ability to get certain jobs.
• Reading Your Credit Report
  A detailed description of what to expect and look for when viewing a credit report.
• Students and Credit Cards
  Special challenges for students with credit cards.
• How Interest Works
  Why understanding interest is crucial for comparing loans and for investing for your future.
• Understanding Daily Simple Interest
  How lenders charge interest can have a big impact on your interest charges - and how you should manage the loan.
• Credit vs. Debit Cards
  Credit and debit cards each have pros and cons. When should you use each?
• Cutting Credit Card Interest and Fees
  With credit cards, interest on your purchases is only part of the equation - late payment fees, annual fees, and cash advance fees could cost you money too.
• Building Credit
  Understanding the decisions and behaviors that can lead to improved credit scores.
• Generic Post-Course Survey
  This survey collects general course satisfaction ratings and self-reported learning gains.

An introduction to student loan repayment choices and strategies. Visit the Library for in-depth coverage of repayment plan options.

• Making Smart Repayment Decisions
  Flexible federal student loan repayment plans can help you avoid financial trouble and reach your financial goals.
• Repayment Strategies
  To repay your student loans, you need a comprehensive strategy to put your education debt in a larger financial picture that includes your income, non-education debt, and long-term goals.
• How Repayment Plan Choices Affect Loan Cost
  Your repayment plan choice can greatly affect your monthly payment and the total cost of your student debt.
• Grace and Deferment Period Strategies
  Federal education loans all offer a grace or deferment period – a set amount of time during which repayment is not required. How you manage loans during your grace period can make a big difference.
• Deferment and Forbearance Options
  Both deferment and forbearance can help you avoid financial trouble. If you think you might qualify, reach out to your loan servicer as soon as you first experience financial difficulty.
• Finding Your Loans
  The National Student Loan Data System, commonly referred to as NSLDS, stores your federal loan information.
• Loan Consolidation
  Loan consolidation can simplify the loan repayment process, but you must review the loans you plan to consolidate carefully – once consolidated, there’s no going back.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
  If you work in certain fields or for certain employers, a portion of your Direct Student Loan debt may be eligible for forgiveness.
• Avoiding Delinquency and Default
  “Delinquent” and “Default” are similar words. Both refer to late payments, but the consequences of each are very different.
• Managing Loans in Times of Financial Distress
  You can’t always prevent financial stress, but how well you manage it will make all the difference in how successful you’ll be in meeting your repayment obligation.
• Generic Post-Course Survey
  This survey collects general course satisfaction ratings and self-reported learning gains.

The basics of financial aid, including the types of aid, applying for aid, borrower responsibilities, and repayment strategies.

• Financial Aid Introduction
  Whether you're considering higher education for yourself or starting to plan for the education of your kids, understanding the financial aid process is the first step to meeting your education goals.
• Types of Financial Aid
  The main types of financial aid are education loans, grants and scholarships, work-study, and service programs.
• Creating an Aid Strategy
  Considerations when planning to pay for school, including school choice, employment options, accounting strategies, and the importance of borrowing wisely.
• Understanding Financial Need
  Some aid is based on financial need and some is not. What exactly is "financial need?"
• Applying for Aid
  The aid application process, including descriptions of the FAFSA and CSS Profile forms.
• Education Loans
  A description of the main types of student loans, including government loans, consolidation loans, and private loans.
• Choosing the Right Loan
  Questions every student should be able to answer before taking on a student loan.
• Selecting a Private Loan Lender
  When federal loans are not enough, private lenders such as banks, credit unions, and non-profit lenders can help to fill the gap.
• The Master Promissory Note
  An introduction to the agreement that specifies your rights and responsibilities when accepting a student loan.
• Repaying College Debt
  A look at common repayment plans, including how different plans affect your monthly payment and overall cost.
• Borrowing Wisely
  Making smart choices about student loans, including a description of the impact of loan capitalization.
• Independent Student Status
  Understanding your financial aid dependency status, including a discussion of what to do if the parents of dependent students refuse to help them pay for college.
• Dealing with Too Little Aid
  Why some students find themselves with too little aid and what can be done to make ends meet.
• Generic Post-Course Survey
  This survey collects general course satisfaction ratings and self-reported learning gains.

Why and how to invest, including how to save money now.

• Saving and Investing
  The difference between investing and saving, and how to tell what's the best option for your needs.
• Types of Investments
  The pros and cons of stocks, bonds, and cash. The concept of asset allocation is explained.
• Investment Accounts
  The types of accounts available to investors, including both taxable and tax advantaged accounts.
• Saving for Retirement
  Why save for retirement and the impact of fees on investment performance.
• Retirement Saving Strategies
  How to develop a comprehensive retirement savings strategy.
• Retirement Savings Ideas
  A few simple things to keep in mind when starting a retirement savings plan.
• Individual Development Accounts
  Understanding the benefits of IDAs, how to qualify, and where to find a program.
• Money Saving Ideas
  Looking for ideas for ways to save money now? Almost everyone can find a way to save using at least one of these tips.
• Generic Post-Course Survey
  This survey collects general course satisfaction ratings and self-reported learning gains.

Understanding the common types of insurance, including auto, renters, health, plus more.

• Insurance
  Understanding how insurance plays an important role in our financial lives.
• Auto Insurance
  A review of the major types of auto insurance, factors influencing cost, and choosing a policy that's right for you.
• Life Insurance
  Who needs life insurance, types of policies, and how to determine coverage.
• Renter's Insurance
  Understanding the benefits (and potential pitfalls) of this type of inexpensive insurance.
• Health Insurance
  The various health insurance choices.
• Disability Insurance
  The benefits and costs of these often complex policies.
• Generic Post-Course Survey
  This survey collects general course satisfaction ratings and self-reported learning gains.

An introduction to key financial and workplace skills needed for a successful transition from school to work.

• Workplace Transition Introduction
  An overview of topics covered in our Workplace Transition material.
• Money in the Real World
  No matter what your financial outlook is after leaving school, the concept of financial health is an important step towards long-term financial success.
• Salary Expectations Versus Reality
  Most young people tend to overestimate their starting salaries.
• Employer Benefits
  There are four main types of employee benefit programs: health insurance, retirement plans, tax-advantaged savings, and supplemental benefits such as life and vision care insurance.
• Creating Healthy Spending Habits
  No matter how much or how little you earn, your spending habits play a major role in your financial health.
• Managing Student Loan Debt
  Repaying student debt responsibly helps you establish good credit and helps you qualify for the best-possible interest rates on future loans.
• The Concept of Professionalism
  Being a “professional” paves the way for both current and future success, no matter what career you choose. Professionalism requires you to draw upon a set of skills that may seem outside the specific skills required for your job.
• Day One of a New Job
  First impressions are important. New employees should take the time to prepare for the first day to ensure that they start off on the right foot.
• Communication Skills
  Strong communication skills are essential to success in the workplace, but mastering these skills takes time and practice.
• Time Management
  To be successful in today’s workplace, you need to know how to manage the limited amount of time you have to accomplish all of your tasks.
• Networking in the Workplace
  Effective networking can lead to success in your career both now and in the future.
• Generic Post-Course Survey
  This survey collects general course satisfaction ratings and self-reported learning gains.