Money
Building a Simple Household Budget
A step-by-step guide to tracking income and spending, setting goals, and building a household budget that fits your family's real life.
Read More 4 min read
Resource library
Explore Family Resources
Browse helpful information across family support, finances, housing, education, careers, insurance, and everyday household needs.
Showing all 25 guides
- Insurance
Life Insurance Basics: Term, Whole, and What to Ask
A plain-language guide to how life insurance works, the difference between term and whole life coverage, and questions to ask before you buy.
Read More 4 min read - Family
Family Assistance Programs: How They Work and Where to Start
Learn how TANF and other family assistance programs generally work, where to research them, what documents to gather, and how to avoid application scams.
Read More 4 min read - Insurance
Health Coverage Basics: Understanding Your Options
Learn the common sources of health coverage, including the HealthCare.gov Marketplace, Medicaid, CHIP, and employer plans, plus the key terms to know.
Read More 5 min read - Money
Understanding Unclaimed Property
Learn how state unclaimed property programs work, where to search official databases at no charge, and how to avoid finder fees and scams.
Read More 4 min read - Housing
A Renter's Guide to Leases, Deposits, and Rent Increases
Plain-language basics on reading a lease, protecting your security deposit, understanding rent increases, and finding local tenant help.
Read More 5 min read - Insurance
Insurance Basics for Families: Auto, Home, and Renters
Understand how premiums, deductibles, and coverage limits work for auto, home, and renters insurance, and how to compare coverage with confidence.
Read More 5 min read - Money
7 Ways Families Can Lower Monthly Expenses
Small changes across groceries, utilities, insurance, and subscriptions may add up to a meaningful difference in your monthly household budget.
Read More 5 min read - Family
Programs That May Help With Childcare Costs
Learn about childcare subsidies, Head Start, pre-K, dependent care accounts, and tax credits that may help families manage childcare costs.
Read More 4 min read - Careers
Resume Basics: Building a Clear, Simple Resume
How to build a clear, simple resume, what sections to include, how to describe your experience, and where to get free help.
Read More 4 min read - Food
Finding Community Food Resources Near You
How to find food banks, food pantries, summer meal sites, and community gardens near you, plus what to expect on your first pantry visit.
Read More 4 min read - Housing
A Guide to Housing & Utility Resources
Learn where to look for help with energy bills, home weatherization, rental housing programs, and housing counseling in your area.
Read More 4 min read - Housing
Home Energy Savings and Energy Assistance Programs
Learn about LIHEAP, the Weatherization Assistance Program, utility budget billing, and simple low-cost steps to help manage home energy bills.
Read More 4 min read - Education
Going Back to School as an Adult: GED, Certificates, and More
A friendly overview of high school equivalency, career certificates, apprenticeships, and college options for adults returning to school.
Read More 4 min read - Careers
Remote Jobs: How to Search Safely and Spot Scams
Learn where to look for legitimate remote roles, the warning signs of job scams flagged by the FTC, and why you should never pay to get hired.
Read More 4 min read - Money
Tax Time Resources for Families
Learn about IRS Free File, free VITA and TCE tax help, common family-related tax credits, and how to keep records organized all year.
Read More 5 min read - Food
Smart Ways to Save on Groceries
Practical ideas for planning meals, shopping smarter, reducing food waste, and finding food resources that may help stretch your grocery budget.
Read More 4 min read - Food
Understanding Nutrition Programs: SNAP, WIC, and School Meals
A plain-language overview of how SNAP, WIC, and school meal programs generally work, and where families can research and apply through official agencies.
Read More 4 min read - Education
Free and Low-Cost Online Learning Options
A plain-language look at library resources, community college online courses, open online courses, adult education, and digital literacy programs.
Read More 4 min read - Careers
Looking for Career Training? Start Here
Learn where to start with career training, from American Job Centers and WIOA programs to apprenticeships, community college certificates, and CareerOneStop.
Read More 4 min read - Housing
Ways to Lower Your Internet Bill
Practical ideas for trimming your home internet costs, from the federal Lifeline program and provider low-income plans to equipment fees and bundles.
Read More 4 min read - Careers
A Practical Job Search Checklist
A step-by-step checklist for organizing your job search, using American Job Centers and CareerOneStop, networking, and tracking applications.
Read More 4 min read - Family
How to Find Community Programs in Your Area
Learn where to look for local community programs, from 211 and community action agencies to libraries, family resource centers, and findhelp.org.
Read More 4 min read - Education
Scholarships and Education Grants: The Basics
Learn how the FAFSA, federal grants, state grants, and local scholarships generally work, and how to spot scholarship scams before they cost you.
Read More 5 min read - Money
Understanding Your Credit Report: A Plain-Language Guide
Learn what a credit report contains, how to request your free reports, how to fix errors, and why payment history and balances matter.
Read More 5 min read
Popular Guides
- 017 Ways Families Can Lower Monthly Expenses
Money · 5 min read
- 02Programs That May Help With Childcare Costs
Family · 4 min read
- 03Smart Ways to Save on Groceries
Food · 4 min read
- 04A Guide to Housing & Utility Resources
Housing · 4 min read
- 05Understanding Unclaimed Property
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- 06Looking for Career Training? Start Here
Careers · 4 min read