| 1. Pay bills on time to avoid late fees.
Tips
for eliminating late fees; 16
rules for paying your bills; Your
credit card statement made simple 2. Pay more
than the minimum on your credit cards.
Calculate
the true cost of paying the minimum; Pay
biweekly to bring down balances; 15
credit card terms 3. Read your bank statement
regularly.
Anatomy
of a bank statement; 7
ways to keep your account in check; Find
the best account for you; 10
most common checking account terms 4. Build
an emergency fund of at least three months' living expenses.
FAQ
about emergency savings; Kick
off a savings plan; 17
easy ways to save more; Calculate
what it'll take to save for a goal 5. Prepare
a will.
Everything
you need to know to write a will; What's
a living will?; More
personal finance advice 6. Shop around for
the best insurance rates and coverage.
Comparison
shop for coverage online; Cut
costs with combined coverage; Tips
for cutting auto insurance costs 7. Look around
for and switch to credit cards with lower rates.
How
to transfer a balance safely; Ask
for a lower credit card rate; Form
letter to request a lower rate 8. Follow a
monthly budget.
Develop
your own spending plan; What's
your spending style?; Money-saving
tips 9. Adjust your W-4 annually to make
sure you are not giving the government too much money.
Understanding
withholding ; Open
a flexible spending account;
How to adjust your withholding; More
on taxes 10. Check your credit report annually
for accuracy.
Why
you should check your credit report; Understanding
your credit report; FAQ
about identity theft; Credit
report form letter 11. Contribute to a retirement
account.
FAQs
about 401(k)s; The
ABCs of IRAs; Retirement
savings reduce taxes; 401
(k) calculator; How
much will I need to retire? 12. Comparison shop for the
best deal on your mortgage or refinancing.
Is
refinancing right for you?; Estimate
your savings with refi calculator; Save
time and money by shopping online first; More
on mortgages
Financial
Literacy Home | 
