Financial Resources
Low-Cost Health Coverage: Medicaid, CHIP, and the Marketplace
A plain-English guide to Medicaid, CHIP, and Health Insurance Marketplace coverage, including when you can apply and where to start.
· 4 min read
The Knowledge Center
All Guides
25 original, plain-English guides. Newest first.
Save Money
Holiday Savings Checklist: Celebrate Without the January Regret
A practical holiday checklist for setting a spending number, planning gifts, food, and travel, and starting the new year without a pile of bills.
· 5 min read
Savings Goals
The New Year Financial Reset: A Weekend Checklist
A relaxed two-day checklist to review your accounts, bills, budget, and goals so you can start the new year with a clearer picture of your money.
· 5 min read
Financial Resources
Tax Credits Worth Knowing: EITC, the Child Tax Credit, and Free Filing
A plain-English guide to the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, and free IRS filing options like Free File, VITA, and TCE.
· 5 min read
Budgeting
Tax Season Organization: A Simple Folder System
Set up a simple folder system for tax documents so filing feels calmer, records are easy to find, and nothing important gets lost along the way.
· 5 min read
Financial Resources
Help With Energy Bills: Understanding LIHEAP and Weatherization
How LIHEAP and the Weatherization Assistance Program work, who runs them, how to apply in your state, and how to steer clear of utility scams.
· 5 min read
Credit & Debt
A Beginner's Guide to Managing Debt
A calm, step-by-step guide to listing your debts, comparing the snowball and avalanche methods, talking with creditors, and finding nonprofit counseling.
· 5 min read
Financial Resources
Food Assistance Programs: How SNAP, WIC, and School Meals Work
A plain-English overview of SNAP, WIC, school meals, and summer food benefits: what each program does, who it's for, and where to apply.
· 5 min read
Financial Resources
Housing Stability Resources: Where to Start When Rent Is a Struggle
A calm, step-by-step look at where renters can turn when rent gets hard: public housing agencies, HUD-approved counselors, 211, and local programs.
· 5 min read
Budgeting
Understanding Your Spending: A 30-Day Look at Where It Goes
A simple 30-day spending review to see where your money really goes, sort it into categories, and find small changes that fit your goals.
· 5 min read
Credit & Debt
Credit Card Basics: APR, Grace Periods, and Minimum Payments
Learn how credit card APR, grace periods, and minimum payments work in plain English, plus simple habits that may help you avoid paying more interest.
· 5 min read
Financial Resources
How to Search for Unclaimed Property in Your State
Learn how to search official state unclaimed property databases for free, what kinds of money end up there, and how to spot unclaimed-funds scams.
· 5 min read
Credit & Debt
Understanding Credit Scores Without the Confusing Jargon
A plain-English look at what a credit score is, what usually shapes it, how to check your credit reports, and small habits that may help over time.
· 5 min read
Save Money
Understanding Affordable Insurance Options: A Plain-English Primer
A plain-English look at auto, renters, and home insurance: how deductibles work, how to compare quotes, and why a yearly review is worth it.
· 6 min read
Savings Goals
Setting Savings Goals You Can Actually Reach
How to turn vague hopes into clear savings goals with a target, a deadline, and a weekly amount, plus simple ways to stay on track when life gets busy.
· 5 min read
Save Money
Taming Monthly Subscriptions Before They Add Up
A friendly, step-by-step way to find, review, and trim monthly subscriptions so you only pay for the services your household truly uses and enjoys.
· 5 min read
Financial Resources
Job Training and Education Support: Where to Look
Where to find job training help: American Job Centers, CareerOneStop, Registered Apprenticeships, and federal student aid, explained in plain English.
· 5 min read
Budgeting
Budgeting When Your Income Changes Month to Month
Practical ways to budget on irregular income from gig work, tips, commissions, or seasonal jobs, including a baseline budget and a smoothing fund.
· 5 min read
Save Money
How to Review Your Mobile Phone Plan in 20 Minutes
A simple 20-minute walkthrough to check your data use, compare plan options, and decide whether your mobile phone plan still fits your household.
· 5 min read
Savings Goals
Building an Emergency Fund When Money Is Tight
A gentle, step-by-step way to start an emergency fund on a tight budget, from a first small cushion to a buffer that can absorb life's surprises.
· 5 min read
Save Money
Saving on Groceries Without Clipping Every Coupon
Practical grocery habits like meal planning, smart lists, and using what you already have that may help lower your food costs without extra hassle.
· 5 min read
Budgeting
How to Create a Monthly Budget That Actually Works
A simple, step-by-step way to build a monthly budget around your real income and bills, with a worked example and tips for sticking with it.
· 5 min read
Save Money
How to Lower Your Utility Bills, Season by Season
Simple, low-cost habits for heating, cooling, water, and electricity that may help lower your utility bills in every season of the year.
· 5 min read
Budgeting
Back-to-School Budget Planning for Every Grade
Plan back-to-school spending for every grade with a simple list, a set budget, and smart timing that can help keep the season from straining your budget.
· 5 min read
Save Money
10 Everyday Expenses You May Be Able to Reduce
Ten common household costs, from groceries to subscriptions, that you may be able to trim with small, realistic changes that fit a busy life.
· 5 min read