Guide from USA.gov. Learn some of the basics about mortgages.
Guide from USA.gov. Learn about government programs that make it easier to purchase a home.
Calculator from 360Degrees of Financial Literacy. This calculator collects these important variables and determines your required income to qualify for your desired mortgage amount.
Calculator from 360Degrees of Financial Literacy. The Home Rent vs. Buy calculator helps you weed through the fees, taxes and monthly payments to help you make a decision between these two options.
Calculator from 360Degrees of Financial Literacy. Use this mortgage calculator to determine your monthly payment and generate an estimated amortization schedule. Quickly see how much interest you could pay and your estimated principal balances.
Calculator from 360Degrees of Financial Literacy. The mortgage payoff calculator helps you find out how much interest can you save by increasing your mortgage payment.
Calculator from 360Degrees of Financial Literacy. Use this calculator for a comparison of a 15- vs. 30-year mortgage.
At this point, you have likely already taken advantage of some form of credit or loans options. Maybe you have taken out a student loan, or perhaps you have a credit card for emergencies or to spread out large and small expenses. Typically, credit comes in two forms: installment loans and revolving credit.
Installment Loans: Loans taken out for a specific purpose that must be payed back in regularly scheduled payments. Examples of this include auto loans, student loans, mortgages, and personal loans.
Revolving Credit: A line of credit that allows the account holder to repeatedly borrow money, just so long as they do not exceed their credit limit and regularly pay a minimum balance on their account. Examples of this include traditional credit cards (Mastercard or Visa) or store credit cards.
Both forms of credit can be useful for individuals because they are able to manage large expenses while also establishing a credit history, which can improve your credit score if you make your payments on time. A high credit score, also known as a FICO score, gives lenders a picture of your credit worthiness and level of risk. This can negatively or positively impact your ability to receive loans and credit in the future.
There are three credit reporting agencies, also know as credit bureaus, that collect information on your credit and financial history: TransUnion,Experian, and Equifax. Credit reports are a summary of your personal credit history. You are entitled to free annual credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies. To access your FICO credit score, you may have to pay additional fees.
Video developed by 360degrees of Financial Literacy. Video Description: A credit report is like a personnel file for your finances. Michael Eisenberg, CPA/PFS, explains why you need to know what’s in it and make sure it’s accurate.
Authorized by Federal law, AnnualCreditReport.com is the only source for free credit reports.
Learn about credit reports and how to access your free credit reports from the three national credit bureaus.
Information from USA.gov. Learn how to access your credit report, make corrections, and freeze credit accounts.
Video developed by 360degrees of Financial Literacy. Video Description: Credit cards can make your financial life easier and more convenient. Michael Eisenberg, CPA/PFS, talks though how to choose one that’s right for you.
Guide by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Learn key terms, common issues, your rights, and ways to take action.
Resource from the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer.gov guide. Includes information on Using credit, payday loans and cash advances, car titles loans, and managing debt.
Calculators from 360Degrees of Financial Literacy. Includes calculators to determine how much you owe, how to pay it off, and credit card optimization.
Provides tools to help control credit, dig yourself out of debt, improve your credit score, choose a credit card, and more.
Video developed by 360degrees of Financial Literacy. Video Description: Student loans provide a way for you to pay for college – but do you know how they can impact your future? Check out this video featuring Kem Washington, CPA and member of the AICPA’s National CPA Financial Literacy Commission to learn more.
Video developed by 360degrees of Financial Literacy. Video Description: The average cost of college among public and private institutions continues to increase at a slow and steady pace each year. Want to go to college but not sure how to fund it? Check out this video featuring Sean Stein Smith, CPA, CGMA and member of the AICPA’s National CPA Financial Literacy Commission to learn more.
Developed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in cooperation with the Department of Education. Explains the ins and outs of student financial aid and repaying loans to help students make smarter decisions about how to pay for school.
This guide by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau covers the basics of student loans, including key terms, common issues, your rights, ways to take action, repaying student loans, student loan borrower options.
Resource by the Federal Student Aid Office, through the U.S. Department of Education. This resource allows you to explore how financial aid works, learn about the types of aid, and find out if you’re eligible.
Resource from USA.gov. Get answers to the most common questions about student loans.
Calculator from 360Degrees of Financial Literacy. Use this calculator to help develop or fine-tune your education savings plan.
Calculator from Bankrate. Using a student loan calculator can help you create a student loan repayment strategy that’s right for you. With some basic information about your existing or prospective student loan, the Bankrate student loan calculator shows you the monthly loan payment you can expect, how long it’ll take you to repay your entire loan and how much interest you’ll pay overall.
Loan Simulator helps you calculate student loan payments and choose a loan repayment option that best meets your needs and goals. You can also use it to decide whether to consolidate your student loans.
This guide by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau covers the basics of auto loans, including key terms, common issues, your rights, and ways to take action.
Information from the Federal Trade Commission. Learn about buying a new card, trading your old car, financing, and service contracts.
Learn about car title loans, including ways to borrow money, how they work, and what you should do before getting a car title loan.
Provided by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Consumers can use this worksheet to compare loan offers, see the total cost, and negotiate the best deal on an auto loan.
Use our auto loan calculator to estimate your monthly car loan payments. Enter a car price and adjust other factors as needed to see how changes affect your estimated payment.
