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Bankrate's Financial Literacy Index Page
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| PART 1: | The simple art of budgeting |  | January 2007 |  | |
| | Learning to live within your means creates opportunities for financial growth. Organize your income and expenses with a budget. | | | | | Keys to budgeting | | | Spotlight | | Poll: Americans relationship with budgeting | | Money Makeover | | Tools | | | | |
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| PART 2: | Mastering credit cards | | February 2007 | | |
| | 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 action | | | Spotlight | | | Poll: Americans' credit card habits | | | Money Makeover | | | Tools & resources | |
| PART 3: | Understanding mortgages | | March 2007 | | |
| | Purchasing a home is the biggest investment most of us ever make. Choose your mortgage wisely. | | | | | Financial value of buying a home | | Take action | | | Spotlight | | | Poll: Homeowners and their mortgages | | | Money Makeover | | | Tools & resources | | |
| PART 4: | Mapping a retirement plan | | April 2007 | | |
| | 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? | | Take action: Ways to hit your goal | | | Spotlight | | | Poll: American's retirement attitudes | | | Tools & resources | |
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| PART 5: | Dealing wisely with home equity | | May 2007 | | |
| | 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 | | Take action: When to hold, when to tap | | | Spotlight | | | Poll | | | Money Makeover | | | Tools & resources | |
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| PART 6: | Credit scoring demystified | | June 2007 | | |
| | Knowing the importance of your credit report and credit score. | | | | | Understanding the value of good credit | | Take action: Tips for improving your credit score | | | Spotlight | | | Poll | | | Money Makeover | | | Tools & resources | |
| PART 7: | Creating an emergency fund | | July 2007 | | |
| | 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? | | Take action: Creating an emergency fund | | | 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 | | |
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| | | Poll | | • | National poll: Men save more than women | | • | Online poll: How do your savings compare? | | |
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| | | Money Makeover | | | Tools & resources | • | Tools and resources |
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| | PART 8: | Understanding insurance needs | | August 2007 | | |
| | Insurance needs change with age and lifestyle. We help you discern the essentials from the superfluous. | | | | | Insurance overview | | Take action: Insurance | | | Spotlight | | | Poll | | | Money Makeover | | | Tools & resources | | | | |
| | PART 9: | Collge funding | | September 2007 | | |
| | 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 | | Take action: Where to find the money | | | Spotlight | | | Poll: Where does college rank as a priority? | | | Money Makeover | | | Tools & resources | | | | |
| | PART 10: | Time for an investment tuneup | | October 2007 | | |
| | 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 | | Take action: | | | Spotlight | | | Poll | | | Money Makeover | | | Tools & resources | • | Tools and resources |
| | | | | | PART 11: | Planning for your loved ones | | November 2007 | | |
| | Don't give your family more grief than they can handle. Make it a priority to organize your financial affairs. | | | | | Overview | | Take action: | | | 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 | | |
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| | | Poll | | | Money Makeover | | • | Problem: Woman faces life event | | • | Plan: She gets help to gear up for the future | | |
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| | | Tools & resources | • | Tools and resources |
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| | PART 12: | Get a handle on taxes | | December 2007 | | |
| | Some people would rather face the jaws of a mad beast than tackle a tax return. No worries. Bankrate helps you conquer taxes. | | | | | Overview | | Take action: | | | Spotlight | | | Poll | | | Money Makeover | | | Tools & resources | | | | |
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| | PART 13: | Out of the red and into the black | | February 2008 | | |
| | 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 | | |
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| | Take action: | | | 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 | | |
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| | | Poll | | | Money Makeover | | | Tools & resources | • | Work sheets, video clips, glossary and more |
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| | PART 14: | Protecting your identity | | April 2008 | | |
| | Your identity is sacrosanct. Don't let a fraudulent twin take over your life. | | | | | Overview | | Take action: | | | 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 | | |
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| | | Poll | | • | National poll: Americans worry about ID theft | | • | Online poll: Is ID theft on your radar screen? | | |
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| | | 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 | | |
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| | | Tools & resources | • | Work sheets, glossary and much more |
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| | PART 15: | Securing a comfortable retirement today | | June 2008 | | |
| | Learn a life-stage-focused approach to investing in your future. Are you saving enough? | | | | | Overview | | Take action: | | | Spotlight | | • | 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 and realities | | • | Celebrities talk about money, retirement | | |
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| | | Poll | | | Tools & resources | • | Work sheets, glossary and much more |
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| Art by Paul Zwolak / Marlena Agency | | | | |
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