DENVER - For many households, April means the end of tax season. But experts say filing a federal return shouldn't be the only financial review families do this month.
That's because April is Financial Literacy Month, and experts say the intent is to educate consumers about their financial rights and help families learn to make the most of their money.
To do that, several organizations offer free tools. The Federal Trade Commission has several resources for consumers including their Money Matters website which offers tips, videos, and links to information on topics such as credit repair, debt collection and job hunting. The FTC also encourages consumers to access their yearly free credit report to help deter and detect identity theft for both parents and children, and offers additional resources for kids through their You Are Here site where children can learn more about the agency's mission.
Several nonprofit groups such as ClearPoint Credit Counseling also offer resources for consumers. The organization has established a website encouraging consumers to take the debt free pledge. The site also offers calculators designed to help consumers save for major financial expenses such as buying a home or vehicle, paying for a college education, and funding retirement. However ClearPoint's Bruce McClary says anyone, regardless of their current financial situation, can benefit from the information on the site.
"We're trying to encourage people who might be doing okay without even paying attention to a budget to start looking at the details," McClary told 9NEWS. "Because it's those people that end up with an unexpected emergency that go from being okay to being not so okay. The time to start budgeting is when things are going well not after things go down the tubes."
For more information on Financial Literacy month please visit the FTC's website at www.ftc.gov or head to ClearPoint Credit Counseling's Financial Literacy Month page at http://clearpointfinancialsolutions.org.
(KUSA-TV © 2011 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)