The Best Deals in Online Shopping Score a great deal this holiday season with our list of the best money-saving online shopping sites. Read more

How to Avoid the Holiday Overspending Trap It's easy to go over budget during the holidays. Avoid the urge to splurge with our simple tips and suggestions to stay in control of your holiday spending this year. Read more

A Quiz to Grade Your Level of Financial Distress It’s time for a quiz. The results will help determine your level of financial and debt distress. Read more

Five Ways to Improve Your Credit Score We all know the importance of a credit score rating. It can make the big difference in securing a loan, being able to purchase goods and services or even getting a job. Here are five easy ways to improve your credit score. Read more

12 Tips for Surviving a Job Loss The National Foundation for Credit Counseling, a longtime NEA Member Benefits partner, offers 12 practical tips on how to keep your life on track after a job loss. Read more

NEA Member Assistance Program NEA Member Benefits is working with our benefit partners to negotiate special services and concessions for members facing tough economic times. Learn about the special programs and services that may be available to you. Read more

Simple Ways to Start Investing How can you invest when you don't know where to start and funds are scarce? The first step is recognizing the importance of the process. Though the market is indeed volatile, investing savings for the long term is a sensible way to create wealth and secure your future. Read more

Get Salary Smart The economic forecast has teachers nervous, but you can weather the storm. Read more

Turn Recession Into Recess In these difficult times, frugality is fashionable for shoppers, and businesses are eager to attract customers. This can mean bargains for you. Here are six ways to stretch your hard-earned paycheck. Read more

Investment Tips for a Turbulent Market It has been a difficult year for investors, but that doesn't mean you should abandon the market. These tips can help you make the most of a difficult economic situation and determine if you are pursuing the best investment strategy for you. Read more

Put Your Debt in Detention The beauty of student loans is that they help you achieve your goal of becoming a teacher by financing your own education. They can get pretty ugly, however, if you don't treat them right. Here's how you can borrow and repay at the lowest possible cost. Read more

Investigating the Stimulus Bill We've gone through and found the stimulus bill tax breaks that may put cash back in your pocket. Read more

Green Mutual Funds: Trend or Time-Tested? When gas prices rose, "green" mutual funds rose as well. But the economic downturn has taken a toll on "green" investments. Read about the background on "green" investing to determine if it is the right investment path for you. Read more

Retirement Checklist Are you ready for retirement? Use this checklist to make sure you're ready for the transition. Read more

Mary Rowland Personal Finance Column: Living Smart, Living on Less Financially stable despite the economy? Get the most out of your income with these tips. Read more

Debt Settlement May Be Too Good to Be True When you're deep in debt, it's tempting to look to a debt settlement company, but beware! Read more

Who Is Allowed to See Your Credit Report? Learn the basics of keeping your credit report in order. Read more

Don’t Let the Grinch or Anyone Else Steal Your Identity Use these tips to protect yourself from identity theft. Read more

Investing in a Volatile Market Use this strategy and get the most out of your 403(b). Read more

The Rewards of Refinancing Thinking about refinancing? Here’s what you need to know. Read more

Fair Debt Collection: Protections for Consumers You do have rights when it comes to debt collection. Here’s what you need to know. Read more

Tax Related Q & As Learn about deductions you may be able to take as a teacher. Read more

Mary Rowland Personal Finance Column Follow these tips to get back into the financial markets. Read more

Mary Rowland Personal Finance Column Should you get help with your 2008 taxes? These tips will help you decide.  Read more

Mary Rowland Personal Finance Column What is an American homeowner to do if the price of his or her home has plummeted? Read more

How to Make a Budget and Stick to It Learn how to navigate these tough times from Nolo.com, and how to make a budget you can stick to. Read more

Protect Your Security Deposit When You Move In Ensuring the return of your security deposit means thinking about moving out the day before you move in. Read more

Estate and Gift Tax FAQ Don’t guess about your estate and gift tax obligations. Get answers to frequently asked questions. Read more

Probate FAQ Find answers to frequently asked questions about the probate process and discover how best to plan. Read more

Living Trust FAQ Get answers to frequently asked questions about living trusts and how they can be used to avoid probate and reduce estate taxes. Read more

Executors FAQ Get answers to frequently asked questions about estate executors including how to choose an executor. Read more

The Durable Power of Attorney: Health Care and Finances Get the facts about how to arrange for both medical and financial powers of attorney. Read more

Tips on Buying and Using Gift Cards Not all gift cards are the same. Get some useful tips on how to efficiently and effectively buy what you want without getting burned. Read more

Things to Look Out for When Shopping for a Credit Card Interest rates offered by competing credit card companies are not the only things to consider when choosing a credit card. Read more

Recovering in a Financial Crisis Get useful tips on how best to recover from the economic crisis regardless of whether you just joined the workforce or are about to retire. Read more

Surviving Tough Economic Times Discover how best to navigate these tough economic times and keep control of your personal finances.   Read more

Keep Records of Your Charitable Donations Get the facts on how to deduct charitable donations when you file your taxes. Read more

How to Avoid Foreclosure Follow these tips and know your options before you decide to foreclose on your home. Read more

Tips on How to Survive a Recession The National Foundation for Credit Counseling recommends taking these steps to guard against becoming a victim of the recession. Read more

Understanding Your Credit Score Here are some tips to help you understand your credit score, one of many factors lenders consider before making a loan offer. Read more

Deciding to Refinance Making the decision to refinance is never easy. Here are some tips to help you determine when to refinance and which plan is right for you. Read more

How to Select a Credit Counseling Agency Before you choose a credit counseling agency, make sure they’re reputable.  Follow these steps and get answers to these key questions before you decide. Read more

Consolidate Your Debt Consolidation is a popular choice for those burdened by high-interest debt. Learn more about your options and the potential benefits of debt consolidation. Read more

Should I Renovate My Home or Move? Deciding to renovate your home or move isn’t easy. Here are some tips to figure out which option is best for you. Read more

Getting Ready to Buy a Home Here are some tips to help you decide if now is the right time for you to buy a house. Read more

Seeking Preapproval for a Mortgage Mortgage preapproval can take some of the guess-work out of buying a home. These tips can help you determine whether a preapproval is right for you. Read more

Why Buy a Home Now? Many factors go into deciding when to buy a home. Here are four reasons why now may be a good time to buy. Read more

NEA Dues Allocation Pie Chart: 2008/2009 Have you ever wondered where your NEA dues go? This pie chart details how your dues are spent within the organization. Read more

Mary Rowland Personal Finance Column Financial expert Mary Rowland answers an NEA member’s question about how to get through the “holiday blues.” Read more

Mary Rowland Personal Finance Column Financial expert Mary Rowland discusses lessons for responsible spending and smart credit card use. Read more

Mary Rowland Personal Finance Column Financial expert Mary Rowland explores pension plan borrowing and how it works. Read more

Mary Rowland Personal Finance Column Financial expert Mary Rowland discusses how parents can train their college freshmen about financial responsibility. Read more

Mary Rowland Personal Finance Column Financial expert Mary Rowland addresses the important elements of personal finance that are neglected most often. Read more

Mary Rowland Personal Finance Column: “Saving” the Holidays Financial expert Mary Rowland discusses how best to navigate the financial pressures of the holiday season. Read more

Buying a Car Financial expert Mary Rowland provides advice on negotiating February’s popular purchase: buying a new car. Read more

Plan Now for a Stress-Free Summer Vacation Financial expert Mary Rowland provides helpful tips on how to plan a stress-free summer vacation for those new to the workforce and those preparing to retire. Read more

Planning for Caring Caring for an elderly parent isn’t easy.  Financial expert Mary Rowland offers some helpful tips to navigate these potentially difficult times. Read more

Planning for College: Consider All Your Options Financing a college education can be difficult. Financial expert Mary Rowland helps you navigate your options. Read more

Your Best Investment Whether your are just starting out or ready to retire, financial expert Mary Rowland walks through what it takes to make your best investment. Read more

Why Avoid Probate? The popular recommendation is that you avoid probate.  But here are some reasons why, and situations in which probate might be necessary. Read more

How Living Trusts Avoid Probate Discover the ways in which a living trust can help you avoid the potentially costly probate process. Read more

Wills FAQ Get answers to frequently asked questions about the most basic estate planning document. Read more

What Happens When a Person Dies Without a Will? Financial expert Mary Rowland walks through what happens when someone dies without leaving a will. Read more

Guardianship for Your Children Read about how to appoint a guardian to take care of your children when you cannot. Read more

Get Organized Now Read about the key decisions your executor will have to make, and how to ensure that they have the guidance they need. Read more

The Simple Will: No Frills, No Fuss, No Anxiety Writing your will doesn’t have to be daunting.  Here are some tips on how to make a legally-binding will. Read more

Leaving an Inheritance for Children Learn about how best to ensure that the property you leave your children is managed according to your wishes. Read more

Do I Need a Lawyer to Make My Will? There are many different types of wills. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether to hire a lawyer to help prepare yours. Read more

Is It Time to Change Your Will? Here are some points to consider when deciding whether or not it’s time to change your will. Read more

Helping Your Widowed Parent It takes more than careful planning to help a widowed parent. Follow this checklist to make sure you have the paperwork you need when the time comes. Read more

Keeping Tax Papers The IRS has up to six years to complete an audit of your tax return depending on your circumstances. Find out which documents to keep and for how long. Read more

Haven't Filed an Income Tax Return? If you haven’t filed an income tax return, learn about the resources available to you and potential penalties if you fail to file. Read more

Your Home as a Tax Shelter Your home is more than a place to live. It can help reduce the amount you owe in taxes. Discover the top ten tax deductions you can take for owning your home. Read more

Deduct Your Student Loan Interest Many college graduates’ first financial obligation is to pay back student loans.  Read tips on how to deduct student loan interest from your taxes. Read more

It’s Important to Pay Taxes in Full Learn about the different ways to resolve your tax debts and why it’s important to pay your taxes in full. Read more

File Electronically for a Faster Tax Refund Filing your taxes electronically can lead to speedy returns.  Learn more about how to file your taxes online. Read more

It's Never Too Late to Start Saving Financial expert Mary Rowland discusses the benefits of saving for retirement, whether you start saving early or later in your career. Read more

Certificates of Deposit: Tips for Investors Learn more about Certificates of Deposit, or CDs, and the benefits and drawbacks of this investment option. Read more

Financial Advice for a Single Mom Financial expert Mary Rowland offers advice to a single mom who plans to retire in ten years. Read more

The Roth IRA: Advantages for Your Children Discover the advantages of taking out a Roth IRA for your children. Read more

Choosing the Right IRA Choosing how to save can be complicated.  Read about the different types of IRA savings plans available and find the IRA that’s right for you. Read more

Understanding Retirement Plans: 403(b), 457, 401(k) Most people are familiar with the 401(k) retirement savings plan. Read about four others, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Read more

Women and Retirement Savings Read more about the specific questions women should be asking as they prepare and save for retirement. Read more

Student Loan Repayment Options There’s more than one way to pay down your student loans.  Read about the variety of available options and decide which one is right for you. Read more

Financial Planning Checklist Whether you’re in your early twenties or you just turned sixty, here are some important points to consider at the different stages of your financial life. Read more

Keys to Vehicle Leasing Leasing has become a popular alternative to buying a car. Here are some key points to consider before deciding to lease. Read more

College Students: Make a Budget for Your Expenses College living expenses are more than tuition and fees. Read through the list of expenses your college student can expect. Read more

Income Protection Insurance Individuals have a one-in-five chance of being disabled. Learn more about ways in which you can insure your income. Read more

Long-Term Care vs. Long-Term Disability vs. Critical Illness Insurance Confused about insurance? Learn the basics of long-term care, long-term disability and critical illness insurance programs and how they differ. Read more

Know What to Expect When Closing on a New Home Don’t let closing costs catch you off guard. Here’s what you need to know about closing on your home. Read more

Make the Most of Your Retirement With a Reverse Mortgage Are you at least 62 years old with little mortgage debt? If so, you can tap the equity in your home with this flexible mortgage program. Read more

Paying for Home Improvement Projects Learn to leverage the equity in your home to help pay for home improvement projects. Read more

Refinancing Checklist Use this checklist to help you decide if refinancing is right for you. Read more

New vs. Resale Homes Make an informed decision on your home purchase by learning about the very different advantages to buying either a new or resale home. Read more

Save Money by Understanding “Rates” and “Points” Learn what the terms “rates” and “points” mean and how you can use them to your advantage during the homebuying process. Read more

When to Lock Your Mortgage Rate Should you lock in your rate now? Use these guidelines to help you decide. Read more

The Right Mortgage for You Buying a home? You have a wide range of loan options to choose from. Learn about the key features and benefits of each to help you decide what’s right for you. Read more

Buying a Newly Built House When buying a newly built house, follow these guidelines to avoid costly problems and construction delays. Read more

Looking for the Best Mortgage? Shop, compare, negotiate. Here’s what you need to know to get the best deal on your mortgage. Read more

Mortgage Financing Strategies Learn about the different types of home mortgages and the conditions for qualifying. Read more

Home Renovation Costs Can Be Rolled Into a Mortgage Learn about mortgage programs that help you purchase and renovate your home at the same time. Read more

Contingencies to Include in Your House Purchase Offer “Contingencies” are conditions in a contract that must be met. Learn about common contingencies and how they can affect your home purchase contract. Read more

Tax Issues When Selling Your Home Are you exempt from capital gains taxes on the sale of your home? Read more

Tips for Buying an Affordable House Use these proven strategies to find the right house at the right price. Read more

Don't Use a Credit Repair Clinic Credit repair clinics are costly and unnecessary. Here are some tips to help you repair your credit history yourself. Read more

How Many Credit Cards Should You Carry? Financial expert Mary Rowland answers one reader’s question about the right number of credit cards to carry. Read more

Credit and Divorce Learn about the different types of credit accounts so you are not caught off guard if the time comes for divorce. Read more

Your Credit Report Needs a Careful Eye Your credit report needs careful attention.  Here’s how to make sure your credit report is accurate and up-to-date. Read more

Paying for College the Smart Way There are many ways to pay for college, but some may be better for you than others. Here are some tips to help you pay for college the smart way. Read more

Tips for Avoiding Foreclosure Before you resort to foreclosure, make sure you’ve exhausted all of your options. Here are some tips to help you avoid foreclosure. Read more

FREE “Banking Basics” Tutorial Offered by Wells Fargo It’s important that individuals become smart money managers as soon as possible. Learn the basics of money management using Wells Fargo’s free “banking basics.” Read more

You Can Simplify Your Financial Life Here’s a list of things you can do now to make your banking, bill paying and other financial chores easier. Read more

Buying Funeral Goods and Services Know your rights during this difficult time. Learn how the Funeral Rule can help you with important decisions about funeral arrangements. Read more

Clever Ploys to Take Your Money Don’t fall for fake check scams. Here’s how to recognize and avoid check fraud. Read more

Take Control of Your Auto Financing There’s more to financing than figuring out the monthly payment. Read these tips to help you get the best loan for your situation. Read more

Liability Insurance for Educators Learn how you can protect yourself with different types of personal, professional and commercial liability insurance. Read more

Are You Covered? Ask these important questions to make sure you have the homeowner’s insurance coverage you need. Read more

Kids in College? Make Sure They Have Enough Insurance Your college student’s possessions may or may not be covered while they’re away at school. Here’s what you can do to help protect their property. Read more

The Goldilocks Theory of Insurance Do you have too much or too little insurance coverage? Learn how to get the coverage that’s just right. Read more

Protecting Your Home From Flood Most homeowner’s policies do not cover flood damage. Get the facts to make sure you have the coverage you need. Read more

Do You Have Enough Liability Coverage? Do you know how much auto insurance coverage you need? These guidelines can help you determine the right amount of protection. Read more

How to Cut Costs of Homeowner's Insurance Learn how you can reduce the cost of your homeowner’s insurance without significantly changing your coverage. Read more

Vacation Home Insurance Vacation homes require special insurance protection. Here’s what to consider when evaluating your policy. Read more

Should You Insure Those Special Holiday Gifts? Certain holiday gifts may not be covered under your homeowner’s insurance. Here’s how to make sure you’re covered. Read more

College-Bound Should Hit the Books on Insurance College students may not always be covered by their parents’ property, auto or health insurance. Find out how to make sure they have the coverage they need. Read more

Checking Your Social Security Earnings The Social Security Administration keeps a running computer account of your earnings record and work credits, tracking both through your Social Security number. Find out how to request a copy and report and correct errors.  Read more

Life Insurance Basics The right life insurance policy can help ensure peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Read more

Choosing the Right Mortgage Before choosing a mortgage, you need to understand the differences between mortgage types: fixed-rate mortgages, adjustable-rate mortgages and interest-only mortgages, to name a few. Read more

How to Clean Up Your Credit Report To clean up your credit report, you’ll need to order a copy of your credit report, determine what’s inaccurate or out of date, and then request that the credit bureaus fix the information. Read more

12 Ways to Save on Your Homeowner's Insurance Here are 12 steps you can take to help save money on your homeowner’s insurance. Shop around: It'll take some time, but could save you a good sum of money. Read more

Understanding Auto Insurance Become a savvy consumer and learn how you can save on premiums through the use of deductibles, safety/theft devices, and coordination of homeowner’s and auto policies. Read more

Beware of Health Insurance Frauds There are deceptive offers for medical services on the marketplace. Learn how to be alert for health insurance fraud.  Read more

Section 529 College Savings Plans The state-run Section 529 college savings plan is a new way to save for education expenses. Read more

Taxes: Get Help or Go It Alone? The big financial question for April: Should I get help to prepare my taxes? Read more

Renter’s Insurance: Protection for Your Belongings If you rent a home, apartment, townhome or condominium, and you experience a fire or theft, your personal belongings are not covered by your landlord’s insurance. Learn about the value of taking out your own renter’s insurance policy.

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