Bankrate's Financial Literacy Index Page

	The simple art of budgeting
	Learning to live within your means creates opportunities for financial growth. Organize your income and expenses with a budget.

Keys to budgeting

•	Would a budget improve your life?
•	7 secrets to creating a budget
•	6 budget bombs

Spotlight

•	Q&A: Anna Cabral signs our currency
•	On budgeting: Celebrities speak out
•	Celebrity spending power

Poll: Americans relationship with budgeting

•	National results: Who believes in budgets
•	Experts react to poll
•	Take our poll: How important is a budget?

Money Makeover

•	Problem: Single mom worries about future
•	Plan: Change spending/saving patterns

Tools

•	Tools and resources

	Mastering credit cards
	Americans revolve nearly $900 billion in debt, mostly credit cards. Virtually everyone can learn to use credit cards better.

Tips & tricks for mastering your cards

•	Take charge of your cards
•	Kick the debt habit
•	4 types of credit cards
•	The card best for your age

Take action

•	6 steps to credit card serenity
•	5 balance transfer trip-ups
•	Improve credit scores
•	Smart ways to use credit
•	The card best for your age

Spotlight

•	Robert Manning: Our love affair with plastic
•	Susan Keating: Get help with debt early
•	Celebrities and credit
•	Diana DeGarmo's ID theft issue

Poll: Americans' credit card habits

•	National results: America's credit card habits
•	Take our poll: How are you handling credit?

Money Makeover

•	The problem: Drowning in balances
•	The plan: Debt-free in 18 months

Tools

•	Tools and resources

	Understanding mortgages
	Purchasing a home is the biggest investment most of us ever make. Choose your mortgage wisely.

Financial value of buying a home

•	Why buy a home?
•	Match a mortgage to your lifestyle
•	Credit scores and mortgage rates
•	3 steps to the best loan

Take action

•	5 types of mortgage loans
•	Finding a mortgage lender
•	5 mortgage mess-ups
•	Some surprises found in mortgage contracts
•	Refinancing an exotic mortgage

Spotlight

•	'Millionaire' author: David Bach
•	Celebrities & real estate
•	Oprah's fitness guru: Bob Greene

Poll: Homeowners and their mortgages

•	What Americans say about mortgages
•	Poll: Are you a homeowner or renter?

Money Makeover

•	The problem: Option ARM
•	The plan: Refinance to fixed rate

Tools

•	Tools and resources

	Mapping a retirement plan
	Retirement saving strategies for people of all ages, incomes and lifestyles: Decide your goal, put a plan into action and enjoy the journey.

What's your retirement sweet spot?

•	Retirement: Why you need to save for it
•	10 ways to hit your goal
•	5 steps to figure your 'big number'

Take action

•	5 ways to jump-start savings
•	20-somethings: Start now and be rich
•	Retirement savings tips for 30-somethings
•	Retirement savings tips for 40-somethings
•	Retirement savings tips for people 50 & over
•	Impact of divorce on retirement accounts
•	Juggling retirement when buried in debt
•	Feeding savings while on caregiver leave
•	10 golden rules for your 401(k)
•	Interactive: Retirement planning 101

Spotlight

•	Christopher Cox: Seniors & scams
•	Ed Slott: IRA guru
•	Stephen Pollan: 'Die Broke' author
•	Jennifer Openshaw: 'Millionaire Zone' author
•	Famous folks & retirement plans
•	How does a star plan for retirement?

Poll: American's retirement attitudes

•	Retirement attitude and planning
•	Poll: What's your retirement attitude?

Tools

•	Tools and resources

	Dealing wisely with home equity
	As your home grows in value and your loan principal slowly shrinks, your home builds equity. Treat it with respect.

Financial value of home equity

•	Trends in home equity
•	Types of home equity loans
•	Other ways to tap equity

Take action

•	Hurdles facing new borrowers
•	4 steps for getting a loan
•	Pluses & pitfalls of tapping equity
•	FAQ on home equity uses
•	Making home equity work for you
•	Understanding cash-out refinancing
•	5 bad equity-borrowing moves

Spotlight

•	Barbara Corcoran's line of credit
•	Dave Ramsey on home equity loans
•	Richard F. DeMong on home equity

Poll: American's retirement attitudes

•	Homeowners & their home equity
•	Poll: How do you value home equity?

Money Makeover

•	The problem: Upside down in home
•	The plan: Strategically create equity>

Tools

•	Tools and resources

	Credit scoring demystified
	Knowing the importance of your credit report and credit score.

Understanding the value of good credit

•	ABCs of credit reports
•	Credit scores made simple
•	What you don't know can hurt you
•	How much would you save with a better score

Take action

•	Maximizing free resources
•	Correcting credit reports
•	5 tips to improve your credit score
•	4 smart ways to tame debt
•	Credit scoring no-nos

Spotlight

•	Craig Watts
•	Evan Hendricks
•	Bobby Braddock

Poll

•	National poll
•	Online poll

Money Makeover

•	The problem: Bride-to-be needs help
•	The plan:

Tools

•	Tools and resources

	Creating an emergency fund
	It's not a luxury vessel; it's the ballast that keeps your financial ship from capsizing. Learn how to keep your finances afloat.

Do you have an emergency fund?

•	Why you need an emergency fund
•	6 ways to sabotage savings

Take action

•	7 small steps to big savings
•	Lucky 13 savings strategies
•	Making money real to you
•	28 ways to build an emergency fund
•	Top 10 money drains

Spotlight

•	Sharon Epperson on couples and money
•	Q&A with "Oprah's" Jean Chatzky
•	Author Ian Rankin's special-needs son
•	Celebs share their money challenges

Poll

•	National poll: Men save more than women
•	Online poll: How do your savings compare?

Money Makeover

•	Problem: Single mom's savings are scattered
•	Plan: Prioritize and build emergency fund

Tools

•

Tools and resources

	Understanding insurance needs
	Insurance needs change with age and lifestyle. We help you discern the essentials from the superfluous.

Insurance overview

•	5 insurance must-haves
•	7 common insurance mistakes

Take action

•	5 easy steps to finding an agent
•	Denied insurance. What now?
•	Slash insurance costs
•	Test your insurance knowledge

Spotlight

•	Q&A: Insurance commissioner Sandy Praeger
•	Comic Kathy Buckley on insurance
•	Expert Stephen Pollan likes certain insurance
•	Celebrities not ambivalent about insurance
•	Nascar drivers' spending power

Poll

•	National poll: Americans love/hate insurance
•	Online poll: How do you feel about insurance?

Money Makeover

•	Problem: Filling the health-insurance gap
•	Plan: Work part-time to get benefits

Tools

•

Tools and resources

	Collge funding
	Nearly two-thirds of American high school students enroll in college, but paying for it is an issue for all. This chapter will offer some smart ways to fund your education.

Keys to financing college

•	How to pay for college: the savings route
•	How to pay for college: the loan route

Take action

•	Make it a family affair
•	Go to school for free
•	13 financial aid traps
•	25 can't-miss funding tips

Spotlight

•	Tamara Draut: Trouble with debt-based aid
•	Joe Hurley: 529 plans make the most sense
•	On college financing: Celebrities speak out

Poll

•	National results: We sacrifice for college
•	Take our online poll: What matters to you?

Money Makeover

•	The problem: Retirement or college?
•	The plan: Prioritize your saving

Tools

•

Tools and resources

	Time for an investment tuneup
	To a certain extent, you can set things up on auto-pilot. But occasionally you need to examine whether your investments and goals are on course.

Overview

•	Use investments to reach your goals
•	Building blocks for successful investing
•	How to build a sound portfolio

Take action

•	10 top investment blunders
•	Investing shortcuts for the DIY investor
•	Finding a financial planner
•	Quiz: What is your risk tolerance?

Spotlight

•	John Bogle shares his wisdom
•	Gail MarksJarvis: Investing is simple
•	Keith Cameron Smith on millionaires
•	Phil Town's rules on investing
•	Celebrities talk about money, investing

Poll

•	National poll: Investing is confusing
•	Online poll: How do you stack up?

Money Makeover

•	Problem: Couple faces multiple decisions
•	Plan: They need to reposition their portfolio

Tools

•	Tools and resources

	Planning for your loved ones
	Don't give your family more grief than they can handle. Make it a priority to organize your financial affairs.

Overview

•	What you need to know about wills
•	Components of an estate plan
•	Trusts can save time and money
•	8 types of trusts for everyday people

Take action

•	8 ways to leave a mess for your heirs
•	Accidental disinheritance a common problem
•	Tricks to keeping life insurance in force

Spotlight

•	Suze Orman likes revocable living trusts
•	Cass Warner shares her family's legacy
•	Ted Kurlowicz says you should see a pro
•	Celebrities discuss their future plans

Poll

•	Poll: Americans don't act on convictions
•	Take our online poll: Is a will vital?

Money Makeover

•	Problem: Woman faces life event
•	Plan: She gets help to gear up for the future

Tools

•	Tools and resources

	Get a handle on taxes
	Some people would rather face the jaws of a mad beast than tackle a tax return. No worries. Bankrate helps you conquer taxes.

Overview

•	Understanding your tax bracket
•	Legal ways to reduce your tax bill
•	Avoid these 10 common tax-filing mistakes

Take action

•	Do taxes yourself or hire a pro?
•	Withhold the right amount from your paycheck
•	Making payment arrangements with the IRS

Spotlight

•	Rep. Charles Rangel's new tax reform bill
•	Tax policy expert: Tax code is too cluttered
•	OMB Watch says get engaged in taxes
•	Kinky Friedman doesn't mess with taxes
•	Celebrities talk taxes

Poll

•	Poll: Americans feel duty-bound to pay taxes
•	Take our online poll: Are taxes necessary?

Money Makeover

•	The problem
•	The plan

Tools

•	Tools and resources

	Out of the red and into the black
	Debt can be a distant friend or enemy, but savings is always a dear friend.

Overview

•	Tallying the true costs of debt
•	Impact of debt over a lifespan
•	Why we spend and what we can do about it

Take action

•	Money management 101
•	6 powerful debt-paydown strategies
•	Tackling debt as a family
•	7 deadly sins that lead to debt
•	Borrowing options that offer a lifeline
•	Bankrate readers: How to dump debt

Spotlight

•	Radio host Clark Howard disses debt
•	Dave Ramsey's advice: Be abnormal
•	Greed causes debt, says Howard Dvorkin
•	Gerri Detweiler: Save, even while in debt
•	Celebrities talk debt, savings

Poll

•	National poll: What, us worry about debt?
•	National poll: Americans want to save more
•	Online poll: Gauge your debt comfort level

Money Makeover

•	Profile: The Kellys racked up major debt
•	Problem: They live paycheck to paycheck
•	Plan: They should use a systematic approach
•	Lauren Heller improves her savings efforts
•	Wendy Reck makes big progress against debt

Tools

•	Work sheets, video clips, glossary and more

	Protecting your identity
	Your identity is sacrosanct. Don't let a fraudulent twin take over your life.

Overview

•	Costs of ID theft to consumers, society
•	Safeguard your Social Security number
•	8 tips to limit your exposure to ID theft
•	Risks of online public records
•	Identity theft risks in a lifetime
•	New red flag rules to stem ID theft
•	26 red flags revealed
•	Filing a police report: futile exercise?

Take action

•	10 tips to computer security
•	How to surf and shop safely
•	Already a victim? Follow these 12 steps
•	7 easy ways to lose your identity
•	Do-it-yourself vs. ID theft protection services
•	Readers tell ID theft tales
•	3 more ways thieves exploit identities
•	ATM and debit card fraud on the rise

Spotlight

•	Linda Foley: former victim helps others
•	Chris Jay Hoofnagle wants banks to fess up
•	Bob Sullivan blames the credit card industry
•	Expert Steve Gibson won't open attachments

Poll

•	National poll: Americans worry about ID theft
•	Online poll: Is ID theft on your radar screen?

Money Makeover

•	Profile: "Mike" suffers a security breach
•	Problem: An ID thief uses Mike's information
•	Plan: Mike follows steps to restore his name
•	Update: The Flemings get a new mortgage

Tools

•	Work sheets, glossary and much more

	Securing a comfortable retirement today
	Your retirement vessel can be a dinghy, yacht or ocean liner. What's your preference for a voyage?

Overview

•	Retirement planning by life stages
•	Rethinking retirement in tough times
•	The 411 on 401(k) accounts
•	Investments that outsmart inflation
•	Where are you on the retirement road map?
•	Retirement is different for women
•	A simple primer on Medicare
•	Asset allocation helps you sleep nights
•	6 keys to retiring overseas

Take action

•	How to wreck your chances to retire
•	Smart ways to downsize your life
•	Next job: Convert your savings to income
•	Protect your surviving spouse
•	Savings for millennials
•	Is an IRA rollover right for you?
•	Cutting health care costs in retirement
•	Spotting 401(k) abuse
•	Readers share retirement strategies

Spotlight

•	Olivia S. Mitchell: Work longer, retire later
•	Barbara Corcoran on ideal retirement locales
•	Nancy Schlossberg: Assess your other portfolio
•	Dave Ramsey says debt is deadly in retirement
•	Bud Hebeler on retirement myths
•	Celebrities talk about money, retirement
•	Jean Chatzky's advice for Bankrate readers

Poll

•	Poll: Most Americans have low expectations
•	Online poll: Will retirement distress you?

Money Makeover

•	Profile: Young investor has health concerns
•	Problem: Assessing her risk exposure
•	Plan: Investments and insurance are key

Tools

•	Work sheets, glossary and much more

	Smart borrowing
	Loans can help you get ahead. But if not used judiciously, they can also help you fall behind.

Overview

•	The cost of borrowing from your 401(k)
•	Borrowing terms improve for college students
•	How to get the best rates on various loans
•	Are reverse mortgages a big rip-off?
•	All about conventional, FHA, VA mortgages

Take action

•	Comparing loan options for big-ticket items
•	7 brainless borrowing behaviors
•	How to be a savvy credit cardholder
•	10 dos and don'ts for borrowing money
•	Borrowing from family, friends
•	Consumers share bad lender experiences

Spotlight

•	Chris Farrell on consumer loans
•	Alan Corey made a million using loans
•	Ellen Frank, Ph.D.: Policies favor the rich

Poll

•	Poll: Americans oblivious to their mortgages
•	Online poll: Do you feel the credit squeeze?

Tools

•	Work sheets, glossary and much more

	Growing your bottom line
	Getting ahead involves pruning expenses and taxes as well as growing savings and investments, no matter how inclement the markets may be.

Overview

•	4 steps to a simpler, frugal lifestyle
•	What if your home is upside down?
•	Long-term investing strategies of the pros
•	Relatively safe places to park your cash

Take action

•	Boost your balance sheet
•	3 savvy savings strategies for success
•	Smart ways to trim big-ticket expenses
•	Tax breaks designed to help you get ahead
•	10 ways to shrink your bottom line
•	How ordinary people grow their wealth

Spotlight

•	Liz Pulliam Weston: Create your wealth
•	Larry Winget says follow your money trail
•	Millionaire's views on augmenting bottom line
•	PBS' WealthTrack host is bullish on stocks
•	Celebrities share their savings secrets

Poll

•	National poll: Americans have faith in future
•	Online poll: What's holding you back?

Money Makeover

•	The profile: Blended family, finances
•	The problem: Coordinating goals, debts
•	The plan: Pay debts, save systematically

Tools

•	Work sheets, glossary and much more

	Fast track to becoming credit savvy
	Three-quarters of Americans have at least one credit card. Exploit them to your advantage and enhance your life.

Overview

•	All credit cards are not created equal
•	The fascinating history of credit cards
•	ABCs of credit reports
•	How credit reports and scores evolved

Take action

•	7 ways to trash your credit score
•	Dealing with lower credit limits
•	The credit score you need to score a loan
•	How to be a savvy credit cardholder
•	How to build a credit score from scratch
•	Boost your credit score post-bankruptcy

Spotlight

•	Author Amelia Warren Tyagi's formula
•	Expert Emily Peters: credit changes not fair
•	Ruth Susswein on credit pros and cons
•	Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., looks out for you

Poll

•	National poll: Americans dislike credit cards
•	Online poll: How important is credit to you?

Tools

•	Work sheets, video, glossary and much more