The Alpaugh Family Economics Center · 50 Years
Free Financial Resources — All Free. All Authoritative.
Trusted tools and guides from today’s Financial Wellness Workshop to help you budget, borrow wisely, build credit, and save for the future.
Topic 01
Budgeting, Saving & Goals
Build a budget that works, plug your spending leaks, start your emergency fund, and automate your savings.
MyMoney.gov
mymoney.gov/toolsFree federal worksheets, savings calculators, and checklists, including help automating your savings.
Visit site →Consumer.gov
consumer.gov/your-moneyA plain-language budgeting guide and worksheet from the Federal Trade Commission, available in five languages.
Visit site →Topic 02
BNPL & Payday Loan Pitfalls
Know the real cost of “buy now, pay later” and payday loans, and what to do instead.
CFPB: Payday Loans
consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/payday-loansHow payday loans work, what they really cost, what to do if you can’t repay, and your rights as a borrower.
Visit site →CFPB Consumer Tools
consumerfinance.gov/consumer-toolsBudgeting, credit, debt, payday loans, and fraud protection from the federal consumer watchdog.
Visit site →Topic 03
Credit Score Essentials
Learn what goes into your score, set a goal, and check your credit report for free.
Topic 04
Saving for Your Future
See the power of starting early, and open an Ohio 529 plan to save for education.
SEC Investor.gov
investor.govCompound interest and savings goal calculators, investing basics, and a retirement toolkit from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Visit site →Ohio CollegeAdvantage
collegeadvantage.comOhio’s 529 college savings plan. Open an account with as little as $25 and deduct up to $4,000 per beneficiary per year on your Ohio return.
Visit site →IRS: 529 Plan Q&A
irs.gov/newsroom/529-plans-questions-and-answersPlain answers on what 529 funds can pay for, contribution rules, and changing the beneficiary.
Visit site →Topic 05
Teaching Kids About Money
Age-by-age money conversations and free, interactive lessons for kids and teens.
$martPath (AFEC at UC)
smartpathlearning.comAn award-winning, free, standards-aligned interactive platform that teaches kids about money and the economy.
Visit site →$martPath Forward
smartpathlearning.com/smartpath-forwardTips for parents and educators: age-specific money conversations, buy-now-pay-later risks, sports betting awareness, and more.
Visit site →Go Deeper
$martPath Family Finances
Pick up where today’s workshop left off. Each short guide covers one topic from the session.