Websites for financial savvy

[forHISglory]

I look at various websites to gain financial information and knowledge. And I thought it might be helpful to start a thread where we can list helpful sites that others can access. I'm not really looking for forums like FV, but rather places that provide information by "experts". (yes, I know..... "expert" is relative.... Some of you probably know a lot more than some of the "experts"!) I also thought that we could provide a little blurb about the site, what it contains, how it is useful, etc. There's probably a lot out there that I don't even know exists!

Many folks here look at Dave Ramsey's site, for example. Others refer to crown.org for a Christian perspective on finances. I find both of these to be helpful.

Another site that I find helpful is kiplinger.com. On this site are all kinds of financial calculators, and information on investments, retirement, spending, running a business, etc. It currently has an article about how to get quick cash now, how to get a good deal on a used car, how to calculate closing costs on a home, how to work with rental property, and so much more. I find the site easy to navigate, but the amount of material there is overwhelming. I can get lost in all the information. Another thing to consider is that this is written for folks of all sorts of financial backgrounds. So if you begin to look at an article about investing, and it says: "Your $1,500,000 should be blah blah blah..." just know that they address both the millionaire and also the rest of us! I like to browse the info and always come away with useful facts. I especially like the calculators.

OK. Your turn! Can you recommend a site that will give some financial savvy to us, whether we are newbies or seasoned.

[Rippin508]

http://www.savingadvice.com/forums/

otm.cnbc.com

[forHISglory]

Thanks, Sheriff Hunter. I'll take a look at those. I have looked at cnbc before, but it's been a while.

[Contrary Housewife]

I like MSN Money. http://moneycentral.msn.com/home.asp

They have a lot of informative articles on all kinds of topics and they are easy to read and usually only two or three pages so it is not overwhelming. Plus they link like mad all over the site, I can start reading and follow related links for hours.

[forHISglory]

Another one to try is bankrate.com.

On this site are several financial calculators, plus up to date news on real estate, financing, banking, mortgages, retirement, debt management, credit cards, and more. This site is fairly easy to navigate. It includes trends and analysis, links, and blogs. I'd say this one is good for most to use.

[forHISglory]

Yes, contraryhousewife, I agree about msnmoney. It has good solid articles.

[lilk]

Here are a few that I find helpful:
thesimpledollar.com All kinds of tips and information, the also review finance books and post a report about the books.
budgetstretcher.com A nice site about saving money, recipes, stories of how others find ways to become a SHAM.
I also really like bankrate.com

[forHISglory]

I found these sites listed in Woman's Day, May 5, 2009. I have NOT accessed these much to see how they work, but thought I would list them here for your convenience.

1. debtproofliving.mvelopes.com This site deals with spending plans using an envelope system. There is a free trial period, but after that there is a cost.

2. mint.com This service sets up your budget online based on your average monthly spending. It automatically tracks your monetary life, and will make suggestions for changes and reminders of when bills are due. Free.

3. wesabe.com Helps track spending and set financial goals. You can import data from your accounts, categorize your transactions with tags and set spending targets. Free.

4. pearbudget.com Offers a streamlined spreadsheet to help track spending. Free trial period, then a monthly charge.

5. clearcheckbook.com helps you balance your checkbook and manage your money. Can view reports, set budgets, create bill pay reminders, and more. Free for standard version, monthly charge for premium version.

[rowdy35]

freemoneyfinance.com

stretcher.com

[Palooka]

I love stretcher.com!

[Telephus44]

In addition to the ones above, I like

www.dinkytown.net for the financial calculators. It even includes Canadian ones.

www.fool.com for good investment basics (what is a bond, how do DRIP's work, etc).

[MrsAJS]

Thanks for all the sites! Now it will be even harder to walk away from this darn computer!

[Denvergirlie]

I really don't read much about personal finances, as those are within my control, but am more interested in markets and world finances, etc and how those policy makers in DC and other power hot spots make choices that filter down and do affect my personal expenses.

I read some of those above site, and other main stream media sites like MSN Money, Bloomburg and CNBC.


However, I find I learn the most about what is going on in the world of finance from specific blog sites that interpert the finacail speak the Bloomburg turns out and breaks it into every day language that I understand.

http://market-ticker.org/
http://theautomaticearth.blogspot.com/
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/

[strezzed]

Thanks for all the sites! Now it will be even harder to walk away from this darn computer!

Thanks! This is a great way to kill hours.

[mamamia]

Yes, I too like MSN money. I find the Smart Spending topics to be my favorites. I relate to these the most. Women in Red comes in second.

Theresa