The Jim Casey Youth Initiative, Keys to Your Financial Future is designed to help young people plan how to get, manage and use money now and in the future so they can have the life they envision for themselves.

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More information on Jim Casey Youth Initiative

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ASSET BUILDING

• Setting goals for different stages of life including:  videos, worksheets, and stories from others at different stages of life.  People can also contribute their own “stage of life stories” to the site. http://www.stageoflife.com/GoalSetting.aspx

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• SmartyPig is a free, online piggy bank for people saving for specific financial goals like a wedding, a vacation or a flat-screen TV. Even if your goal is saving for a rainy day, https://www.smartypig.com/

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• Savings Goal Calculators:

  1. http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/savings/saving-goals-calculator.aspx

  2. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/calculators/savingsInvestment.php?calcCategory=saving

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• Emergency Fund Calculator:http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/calculators/calculate/emergencyFund.php?calcCategory=budget

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• Net Worth Calculator: http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/networth/networth.html

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• Game/Simulation—Road Trip to Savings: http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/games/

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• Game/Simulations and Videos: http://www.channelone.com/generation-money/

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GOOD CREDIT—A PRODUCTIVE ASSET

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• Getting Your Free, Annual Credit Reports: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports

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• Protecting Your Credit (and Identity):

  1. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/guide-protecting-foster-kids-credit

  2. http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/foster_children-id_theft-1270.php

  3. http://kids-alliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ID-theft-manual.pdf

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• Disputing Errors on Credit Reports: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0151-disputing-errors-credit-reports

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• Placing a Fraud Alert or Credit Freeze:

  1. http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0279-extended-fraud-alerts-and-credit-freezes

  2. http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/1245/should-i-use-credit-monitoring-service-protect-myself-identity-theft.html?utm_source=GoogleAd&utm_medium=CreditReportsandScores&utm_term=creditfreeze&utm_content=SecurityFreeze&utm_campaign=ASKCFPB2014

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• Understanding Credit Scores – FICO Scores: https://www.myfico.com/Downloads/Files/myFICO_UYFS_Booklet.pdf(downloadable booklet from FICO)

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• Understanding Credit Card Offers: http://www.federalreserve.gov/creditcard/flash/offerflash.html

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• Credit Card Comparison Sites:

  1. http://www.nerdwallet.com/credit-cards/

  2. http://www.creditcards.com/

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• Understanding Your Credit Card Statement: http://www.federalreserve.gov/creditcard/flash/readingyourbill.html

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• Credit Card Payoff Calculator: http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/credit-cards/credit-card-payoff-calculator.aspx

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• FICO Calculators—Credit Cards, General Mortgage, New Home Purchase, Home Refinance, Home Equity Loans, Auto Finance, College Planning, Budgeting and Banking: http://www.myfico.com/CreditEducation/Calculators/

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• The Credit Card Game (Video): http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/creditcards/view/

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• Games/Simulations–Credit Score Simulators (NOTE:  These are NOT your actual credit scores; just estimates based on the information you provide.):

  1. https://www.creditkarma.com/myfinances/simulator/index/ref/tools

  2. http://www.credit.com/calculators/score/

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• Games/Simulations—Credit Card Simulator: http://www.channelone.com/credit-card-simulator/

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• Games/Simulations—Celebrity Calamity: http://financialentertainment.org/play/celebritycalamity.html

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• Games/Simulations—FarmBlitz: http://financialentertainment.org/play/farmblitz.html

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MONEY MANAGEMENT

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• How to Read and Get the Most from Your Paycheck: https://www.kansascityfed.org/community/workforce/paycheck.cfm

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• Online Bill Paying Services Review: http://bill-paying-services-review.toptenreviews.com/

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• Online Banking: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/online/safe.html

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• Online Banking and Bill Paying: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/checking/online-banking-1.aspx

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• Comprehensive Information about Budgeting and Money Management:

  1. http://www.themintgrad.org/ (for young people in their 20s)

  2. http://www.themint.org/teens/ (for young people not yet 20)

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• Online Budgeting Sites (Note:  Many of these sites offer mobile apps, too.)

  1. https://www.mint.com/

  2. https://my.mvelopes.com/

  3. https://www.powerwallet.com/

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• Games/Simulations—Spent: http://playspent.org/

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• Games/Simulations—Groove Nation: http://financialentertainment.org/play/groovenation.html

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• Games/Simulations—Reality Check: http://www.jumpstart.org/reality-check.html

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• Game/Simulations and Videos: http://www.channelone.com/generation-money/

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EDUCATION AND TRAINING

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• Career and Post-Secondary Education Planning: http://mappingyourfuture.org/

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• Learning about Careers

  1. https://www.careeronestop.org/

  2. http://www.bls.gov/k12/students.htm

  3. http://www.mynextmove.org/

  4. http://www.educationplanner.org/

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• Paying for College Information

  1. http://studentaid.ed.gov/

  2. https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college

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• Paying for College Tool: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/paying-for-college/

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• Comparing College Costs: http://collegecost.ed.gov/scorecard/index.aspx

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• State IL Coordinator List (contacts to learn more about state Chafee ETV Program): http://www.nrcyd.ou.edu/state-pages/coordinators

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• Paying for Student Loans: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/paying-for-college/repay-student-debt/#Question-1

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• College, Inc. (Video): http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/teach/collegeinc/

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• Paying for College and Training After High School Calculators: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/

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• Games/Simulations—Show Me the Future: http://showmethefuture.org/

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• Games/Simulations—Reality Check: http://www.jumpstart.org/reality-check.html

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• Game/Simulations and Videos: http://www.channelone.com/generation-money/

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HOUSING

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• Rent or Buy Calculators

  1. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/business/buy-rent-calculator.html

  2. http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/mortgages/rent-or-buy-home.aspx

  3. http://www.realtor.com/home-finance/financial-calculators/rent-vs-buy-calculator.aspx?source=web

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• Renter’s Rights

  1. http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13108370

  2. http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/renters-rights

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• Researching Neighborhoods: http://www.realestate.com/

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• Housing Using Chafee Funds: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/12/chafeefostercare/rpt.shtml

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TRANSPORTATION

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• Steps for Buying a Car: http://www.kbb.com/car-advice/car-buying/step-1-know-your-shopping-style/?r=538829698705537660

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• Buying a Used Car: http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/10-steps-to-buying-a-used-car.html

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• Laws to Protect You When Buying a Used Car: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0055-buying-used-car

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• How Much Car Can I Afford?

  1. http://www.edmunds.com/calculators/affordability.html

  2. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/calculators/calculate/howMuchCarCanYouAfford.php?calcCategory=auto

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• Auto Loan Information

  1. http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/5-car-loan-mistakes-that-cost-you-money-1.aspx

  2. http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/How-to-Finance-a-Car/

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• Avoiding Car Title Loans: http://www.responsiblelending.org/other-consumer-loans/car-title-loans/tools-resources/how-to-avoid-car-title-loans.html

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• Consumer Reports Car Buying Calculators: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/03/car-buying-calculators-and-worksheets/index.htm

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INVESTING

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• Investor Education: http://www.finrafoundation.org/resources/education/index.htm

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• Beginner’s Guide to Asset

• Allocation: http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/assetallocation.htm

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• Asset Allocation Calculator: http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/retirement/asset-allocation.aspx

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• Game/Simulation—Wall Street Survivor: http://www.wallstreetsurvivor.com/

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• Game/Simulation—How the Market Works: http://www.howthemarketworks.com/