LibGuides: Money Management: Personal Finance Basics

Know Your Numbers

To take control of your money situation, it's essential to know where you stand. Monitor these common metrics to track your progress:

Credit Score
Your credit score is a number between 0-800 based on the age and type of credit accounts you have, your ratio of utilized to available credit, and your on-time payment history. Lenders, employers, and landlords look at your credit score as part of their approval process, and a lower score often results in higher interest rates.
Emergency Fund
Everybody should have some money set aside for emergencies. Even a few hundred dollars can help keep an unexpected expenses from becoming a catastrophe, but most experts recommended saving from $1000 to 6+ months of expenses. Determine what number makes sense for you and start setting aside a little money each month towards your goal.
Net Worth
Your net worth is your assets (cash, investments, property, etc.) minus any debts (credit cards, students & car loans, mortgages, etc.). Even if you're starting with a negative net worth, keeping track will show you your progress.
Savings Rate
Calculation methods vary, but this is essentially the difference between how much you earn and what you spend. If this number is negative, it will result in debt.

GCF Money Basics
Basic information on everyday money issues, such as open bank accounts or buying a car
Investopedia
Definitions for a wide variety of financial terms, plus answers to frequently asked questions, tutorials, and investment information.
I Will Teach You To Be Rich
A 6-part guide to personal finance to help you get ahead
My Money
Info on money management fundamentals including: Earn, Save & Invest, Protect, Spend, and Borrow
Napkin Finance
Everything you need to know about financial matters, organized in easy-to-digest "back of the napkin" explanations
NYPL Money Matters Resources
Collections of web resources on topics like college financing, income taxes, and retirement planning.