Mays Financial

Free Resources for Financial Independence

You are here: Home / 2011 / Archives for June 2011

Archives for June 2011

Posted By Mays Financial

Quest for Money: Budget & Savings Game (Age: Middle/High School)

Quest for Money is a fun game developed by Mint.com and Scholastic that teaches young people to manage their money and achieve financial goals through budgeting and saving. Games are a great way to make learning fun.  The lessons taught in this game are extremely valuable to young people and will help build good financial habits.

If you enjoy the game, watch The Quest for Credit, a fun an educational video on credit from Mint.com. Also check out Mint’s Education site for more free resources.

Play the Game!

Posted By Mays Financial

Mint.com: Free Money Management Software & More

As we get older our financial lives becomes more complex and more difficult to keep track of. There are many tools available to help manage your money–some are free, some aren’t. I’m a big believer that you can get most, if not all, of the tools you need for free.

A free option for money management is Mint.com’s personal finance software. Once setup, it pulls all of your financial information into one place making it easier to understand your situation and make better financial decisions. Mint even has a free application for smartphones that allows you to stay on top of your finances wherever you are. The goal is to make money management easier and help you reach your financial goals. Security is an important factor, so Mint.com uses similar encryption to banks as well as VeriSign and TRUSTe verification. Additionally, Mint.com is only a tool to view and understand you financial data–money can’t be transferred with it.

If you could use a tool to help manage your money, develop a budget, track investments and get back on track with your financial goals, Mint.com is probably the best free option out there.

Check out Mint.com

Posted By Mays Financial

Gen i Revolution: Online Personal Finance Game (Age: Middle/High School)

During middle school and high school we are often first exposed to making, managing and spending money.  Development of financial skills during these years is crucial and will significantly contribute to habits that will stick around the rest of our lives.  The goal of this online personal finance game is to teach important personal finance concepts and shape good habits. Some great topics are covered like wealth building, choosing a job, education, credit, investing and more.

Play the Game!

Posted By Mays Financial

Free Military Resources

Military specific issues including military pay, living on/off base, education, programs and more. Many fail to take full advantage of opportunities available. Learn to make the most of the benefits you’ve earned.

Note:  Before paying for any financial service, consultation or advice, consult your command/base financial specialist. Most if not all of financial services you need can be obtained for free at a discount. Your command/base financial specialist should also have a list of free local financial classes like money management, debt, credit, buying a home/car, etc.

Pay & Benefits

Money Management

Credit Management

  • Credit game, learn about managing your credit: www.ControlYourCredit.gov
  • Request a free credit report annually from each of the three credit bureaus, totaling three free credit reports per year. www.AnnualCreditReport.com

Retirement

  • Thrift Savings Plan, an excellent retirement savings plan for military personnel and other federal employees: www.tsp.gov

Investing Resources

VA Loans

Education

Deployment

PCS Moves

Military Housing

Consumer Awareness, Assistance and Tips

Misc. Family Resources

Leaving Active Duty (Transition/EAS)

  • EAS soon? Here is the DOD’s official website on transitioning from military service: www.TurboTAP.org

Insurance

Legal Assistance

Taxes