During college and after graduation, large purchases and expenses will inevitably be a part of your life. Although a poor decision while making a large purchase or financial decision may be costly, with informed decisions, you will avoid the most common financial pitfalls and become a success at making wise financial decisions.

Establishing a Budget

Budget Calculator: Calculate where your money is being spent, and how much you can afford

Kiplinger: Web site and magazine - meat and potatos of personal finance

Credit Cards & Your Credit History

AnnualCreditReport.com: Official site where you may receive a FREE copy of your credit report once each year from the 3 nationwide US reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and Transunion). It is common for errors to exist on your credit report, so check closely, as errors could affect your eligibility for loans and the interest you pay for loans. See: things to look for in your credit report.

The SECRET History of Credit Cards: PBS & New York Times investigate an industry that few Americans understand. You'd be surprised at what they find!

New Assault on your Credit Rating: Article on credit rating things to know.

Loans (Vehicle, Home and Other Loans)

Yahoo Loans: Loan calculators, information on home and vehicle loans, and credit scores and credit ratings.

Debt & Your Credit: "Debt-Defying Moves: Getting Smart with the Money You Don't Have!" Suze Orman talks in plain English about FICO scores, credit ratings, strategies to pay-off credit card debt, and other important BASIC financial information that everyone should know BEFORE they make their first large purchase.

Researching Consumer Products

Consumer Reports: Tests and offers ratings and recommendations for most consumer products based on reliability and features. Product research conducted by experts. Recognized for integrity and objectiveness of research findings. In 2007, the UWRF Purchasing Services made a campus-wide username and password available - call Gail Anderson at 3232 to obtain.

Researching Vehicles

Consumer Reports: An authority on vehicle reliability reports and crash test results.

Edmunds.com: Provides road test ratings of all vehicles, and offers pricing for new and used vehicles. Some vehicle dealerships use Edmunds as their source for vehicle pricing. Reliability is not tested by Edmunds.

KellyBlueBook.com: Some vehicle dealerships use Kelly Blue Book as their source for new and used vehicle pricing.

Researching a Home Purchase

Yahoo Loans: Loan calculators, information on home and vehicle loans, and credit scores and credit ratings.

Note: Home costs beyond the mortgage payment include...
- Private Mortgage Insurance $100-300/mo (If you do not place 20% down on your home, "PMI" is required to insure your loan with the bank until you have paid-off 20% of the value of your home).
- Homeowners Insurance (for damage from fire, flood, etc...) $50-$100/mo
- Property Taxes $200-400/mo
- Heat & Air Cond $100-250/mo
- City Water & Sewage $40-50/mo
- Electricity $30-50/mo
- Garbage $20-30/mo
- Landline Phone $25-30/mo

Health Insurance & Life Insurance

Purchasing Health and LIfe insurance may be pricy, but living without may pave the way for financial catastrophe for you or your family in the instance of a birth, medical emergency, or death. Protect yourself by ensuring you and your family have health and life insurance, and research your options.

Life Insurance: Things to know before purchasing

Health Insurance: Things to know about employer plans, or choosing your own plan

Badgercare: State of Wisconsin health care plan for children under 19, or parents with children under age 19

MinnesotaCare: Minnesota residents who do not have access to affordable health insurance

Family Planning Waiver Program: Reproductive health services for women

Moving

MonsterMoving: Finding a place to live, mortgage & finance, moving & planning, living & shopping.

Lifestyle Calculators: Calculators for financing, community statistics, career and services.

Wedding Planning

Beginning marriage with a large wedding debt can put strain on a new marriage. Below are valuable articles with tips on how to minimize wedding costs.

Marriage & Debt Realities

Wedding Savings | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Common Wedding Mistakes

Children & Pets

The Cost of Raising Children

Pets Unlimited: Explore options for animal adoption, and comprehensive resources for owners.

Retirement

Retirement Planning

A Beginning Investors Best Friend: Your employer doesn't offer a retirement plan? Looking to invest on your own?