Personal Finance Help (2024)

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Home » Personal Finance Help

Free financial advice to help you craft better strategies for your money and credit.

Challenges with debt can make it tough to maintain a budget and save effectively, but these financial skills are often the key to achieving stability. The more you know about how to manage your money, the less reliant you’ll be on credit cards.

Personal finance doesn’t have to be so confusing. Here’s a simple, 60-second overview of everything you need to know about managing your money.
Good finance is essentially a really skillful balancing act. You have to make sure you’re spending, debt, and savings are proportional to your income level. Otherwise, you wind up with debt problems and can’t reach your financial goals, like retiring on time, buying a house, or sending your kids to college without the burden of high student loan debt.
Savvy finance also means taking steps to maximize your credit score. As the most important number in your financial portfolio, an excellent credit score means less money spent on interest and the best terms on loans, including your mortgage.
So whether you’re just starting out or you’re already enjoying your golden years, good finance is essential for a stable and successful life.

This guide is designed to help you develop the skills you need to overcome challenges with debt. If you have questions or you need help balancing your budget, call (844) 276-1544 to get a free no-obligation debt and budget evaluation.

Building a successful budget

Budgeting is essential for avoiding debt and achieving your financial goals. It’s the cornerstone of a stable financial outlook. This guide will teach you how to build and maintain a budget step-by-step.

Budgeting made easy »

Free budgeting worksheets

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Income Worksheet

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Expense Worksheet

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Debt Worksheet

More budgeting resources

Budgeting for Kids

Teaching your kids how to budget sets them up for success later in life.

Learn More

College Students

Learn how to build a budget that will help you get through school.

Get Started

Vacation Budgets

Take a debt-free vacation with a budget that doesn’t break the bank.

Learn How

Wedding Budget

Make a practical spending plan so you don’t start your relationship in debt.

Start Planning

Back to School

Send your kids back to school without sending your finances into a tailspin.

Set a Budget

Holiday Budgeting

Make a plan to get through the most expensive time of year without debt.

Deck the Halls

What’s your money mindset?

The way you think about your finances, debt and budget can have a huge impact on your ability to manage your money successfully. Learn how your mindset affects your ability to achieve your goals.

Get a good money mindset »

Finding smart ways to save money

Saving money is essential for achieving your long-term goals, but it can be challenging to save when you have debt. The good news is that even with limited income, you can craft a saving strategy that will help you build momentum, so you can start saving consistently.

Start saving »

More resources for saving

Retirement Planning

Learn how to save money for your golden years while you’re in debt.

Retire on Time

Emergency Fund

Build an adequate financial safety net, so you can maintain stability.

Save Strategically

SMART Goals

Set goals that give you a roadmap to success and milestones to target.

Be SMART

Investing Basics

Investing is essential if you want to stop living paycheck-to-paycheck.

Get Started

Shop Smart to Save

Find easy tips that can help you cut costs and save on everyday expenses.

Shop Wisely

Organize Your Savings

Learn how to divide and allocate your savings to achieve your goals.

Get Organized

If debt is holding you back from balancing a budget and achieving your goals, we can help.

Financial Advice for Specific Households

Some financial situations require specialized advice. Whether you’re a single mom trying to support two kids or you’re a Service Member trying to manage your money on active-duty, these guides can help you achieve stability. Learn how to overcome the unique challenges that you face.

Finance for Women

Learn how to overcome the unique financial challenges women face.

Take Charge

Finance for Couples

Get tips to successfully merge your finances with your significant other.

Work Together

Family Finance

Find a range of resources to help you manage your family budget.

Achieve Stability

Single Parents

Manage your money as a single parent to support your household.

Prosper on 1 Income

Military Families

Navigate the unique challenges that come with serving your country.

Military Money

Learn how to make college affordable and manage student loans.

Gain Independence

Financial Planning for Major Life Events

Certain life events can seriously derail even the best-laid financial plans. Events like these often require a specialized strategy. In addition, planning for the unexpected can help you weather any financial storm that may come. These financial planning guides help ensure that you’re ready.

Financial planning to maintain stability »

Unemployment Guide

Learn how to survive a layoff without creating serious debt problems.

Navigate unemployment

Disaster Planning

Learn how to protect your finances and assets during a natural disaster.

Weather a storm

Have the right conversations with your fiancé about money and credit.

Merge Your Finances

Separate your finances and protect your credit following divorce.

Move Forward

Death of a Spouse

Get tips to help you achieve stability after the death of a loved one.

Cope Financially

Talk to Aging Parents

Understand what issues you need to cover as your parents get older.

Start a Conversation

Still have questions about your finances? Ask our certified financial coaches!

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Dear ##first_name##,

Thank you for submitting your details. A certified credit counselor will be calling you soon at the number you provided.

Consolidated Credit has helped over 10.2 million people find relief from debt. Now we’re here to help you.

Your counselor will help you complete and review your debt and budget analysis, then they’ll discuss the best options for getting you out of debt. If a debt management program is right for you, your counselor can also help you enroll as soon as you’re ready.

If you’d like to speak with a counselor now, please call:

(844) 276-1544

Our office hours are:

Monday - Thursday 8am to 10pm (EST)

Friday 8am to 8pm (EST)

Saturday 9am to 5pm (EST)

Sunday closed

This program has helped my husband and I save so much money and actually get out of debt instead of continuing to make minimum monthly payments! If you’re thinking about trying it, don’t wait any longer! Their customer service is friendly, knowledgeable, and fast to respond and get you answers to your questions and worries.

Melinda of Clearfield, PA

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Thank you for submitting your question!

Our financial coaches will review it and reach out to you directly with the answer at the email you provided. If you prefer not to wait, please call (844) 276-1544 to speak with a certified credit counselor for a free consultation.

For immediate assistance, please call:

(844) 276-1544

Hours of Operation:

Monday - Thursday 8am to 10pm (EST)

Friday 8am to 8pm (EST)

Saturday 9am to 5pm (EST)

Sunday closed

Headquarters:

5701 West Sunrise Blvd.

Fort Lauderdale FL 33313

Personal Finance Help (46)

Personal Finance Help (2024)

FAQs

How is personal finance helpful? ›

It involves a broad spectrum of financial aspects, including budgeting, saving, investing, and planning for the future. At its core, personal finance is about understanding and efficiently managing your income, expenses, investments, and savings to achieve financial stability and security.

What is the #1 rule of personal finance? ›

1. Spend less than you make. This may seem obvious, and boring, but spending less than you make is by far the biggest key to financial success. If you struggle with spending, focus on this one rule until you're at a point where you have positive cash flow at the end of the month.

What are the 5 basics of personal finance? ›

There's plenty to learn about personal financial topics, but breaking them down can help simplify things. To start expanding your financial literacy, consider these five areas: budgeting, building and improving credit, saving, borrowing and repaying debt, and investing.

How can personal finance help you right now? ›

A financial plan can lead to better habits

Financial planning isn't just about investing; it's about what money can do for your confidence, security, and quality of life—such as the protection that life insurance offers or the peace of mind that an emergency fund can provide.

How does finance help individuals? ›

Importance of Personal Finance

Personal finance is an important aspect of a person's life as it helps him/her to meet personal goals through budgeting. It encompasses spending, investing, saving, and personal protection (estate planning and insurance). The goals can be short-term, long-term or retirement planning.

What is personal finance for? ›

According to Investopedia, “Personal finance defines all financial decisions and activities of an individual or household, including budgeting, insurance, mortgage planning, savings and retirement planning.” Understanding these terms can help you better control your funds and prepare for future financial success.

What is the golden rule of personal finance? ›

Pay Yourself first; The golden rule of personal finance, known as “Pay Yourself First,” introduces a critical tweak to the traditional approach. The expression “pay yourself first” refers to the investor attitude of automatically routing a specified savings contribution from each paycheck at the time it is received.

What are the 5 P's of finance? ›

The 5P's represent - People, Philosophy, Product, Process, Performance. In finance, the 5P's served as a rule-of-thumb guide for our evaluation of whether to invest in a particular fund - hedge funds or private equity funds in my context.

What is the 50 20 30 rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings.

What are the five F's of finance? ›

To be truly wealthy, you've got to find a way to convert those figures into experiences and memories. A smart way of doing this is to split your life into five categories: Family, freedom, fitness, fun and fortune. These are known as the Five Fs.

What are the 5 C's of personal finance? ›

The five C's, or characteristics, of credit — character, capacity, capital, conditions and collateral — are a framework used by many lenders to evaluate potential small-business borrowers.

What are the 3 personal finance strategies? ›

Three primary categories are the foundation of personal finance: income, spending, and saving. Simple strategies include: budgeting expenses. creating an emergency fund.

Why do people struggle with personal finance? ›

The reasons that most people struggle financially will vary on the individual case but can include a lack of financial literacy, a scarcity mindset, self-esteem issues leading to overspending, and unavoidable high costs of living.

How do I change my life financially? ›

These 8 simple steps can help better your finances in less than a...
  1. Start an emergency fund. Time to open a savings account: 15 minutes. ...
  2. Use a budgeting app. ...
  3. Check your credit score. ...
  4. Set goals. ...
  5. Automate your savings. ...
  6. Contribute to your retirement account. ...
  7. Start using your credit card like a debit card. ...
  8. Begin investing.

How do I help myself financially? ›

7 Money Management Tips to Improve Your Finances
  1. Track your spending to improve your finances. ...
  2. Create a realistic monthly budget. ...
  3. Build up your savings—even if it takes time. ...
  4. Pay your bills on time every month. ...
  5. Cut back on recurring charges. ...
  6. Save up cash to afford big purchases. ...
  7. Start an investment strategy.
Jun 27, 2023

What are the personal benefits of finance? ›

The key benefits of effective and efficient personal financial planning include reduced stress and anxiety, financial security, the ability to reach financial goals, improved decision-making, and increased confidence and control.

Why is it important to manage personal finances? ›

When you start managing your finances, you'll have a better perspective of where and how you're spending your money. This can help you keep within your budget, and even increase your savings. With good personal finance management, you'll also learn to control your money so you can achieve your financial goals.

How can personal finance benefit me as a student? ›

Students can better manage their money, avoid common financial pitfalls, and plan for long-term goals, ultimately setting a foundation for a more prosperous and independent future. It also fosters responsible financial behaviors and helps students contribute positively to their communities and the broader economy.

What is the impact of personal finance? ›

As a result of having education about personal finance, that personal finance savvy can bring about financial wellness. For example, another valuable impact of personal finance education is that it can provide better access to credit.

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