BALANCE ~ Financial Education

These educational tools are designed to assist you in mastering your money – no matter how much you have or what stage of life you’re in. In the Publications page you'll find many educational articles on topics from money management to identy theft. New articles are added every month. Sign up for our free email newsletter, Quick Tips, or read our seasonal newsletter, Dollars and Sense. Want to know how long it will take to pay off your credit card, or how much you need to save per paycheck to get a down payment for a house? Check out the financial Calculators page and learn more. The Checklists and Charts page contains financial worksheets that you can print and fill out. The Resources page lists some of our favorite sites for financial education.

Dealing With the Current Financial Crisis

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008
The federal Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) created several programs designed to help homeowners facing foreclosure and encourage homeownership. Read More

Financial First Aid Workbook
Many circumstances in life can derail even the best money management plan. If you have found yourself in a situation where you can’t keep up with your bills, you’ll need to take an inventory of your resources and prioritize your financial obligations. PDF Download

Early Delinquency Intervention: Saving Your Home from Foreclosure
There are many reasons homeowners face difficulty in making mortgage payments: unexpected expenses, loss of overtime, unemployment, overspending, illness/injury, disability, death, marriage, childrearing, divorce, education, and relocation. Whatever the reason, it is important to be informed of all available options and to act quickly. Read More

Renters' Rights in a Foreclosure
Compared to other homes, rental properties are especially vulnerable to foreclosure. The renters, who are paying their rent on time, may not know that there is a problem until a notice of sale is placed on their doors. Usually a foreclosure invalidates an existing lease (unless the lease was signed before the mortgage was taken out), but if you are renting a property that is foreclosed on you still have some rights. Read More

Preparing for a Financial Setback
Living on less is never easy, but with a little planning and a positive attitude, you should be able to weather most financial storms. So, take a deep breath, relax, and review the following tips that you can help make any setback smooth and (almost) painless. Read More

How To Manage Your Finances in a Slow Economy
In periods of economic decline many people find themselves squeezed from both sides – facing both rising prices and a loss of income. With constant media reports on how the economy is heading towards a recession you may be worried about how you are going to pay your own bills. While you may not have control over the economy you do have control over the actions that you take to prepare for possible financial difficulty. Read More

What to Do if Your Income is Reduced
Its challenging enough to make a paycheck last when it comes on a regular basis - but what happens when you have to take mandatory vacation, or are paid for some months out of the year but not others? With planning and a careful look at your finances, you can survive the times when the checks are on hold but the expenses march on. Read More