EARN IT

EdFund
Plan for college and manage your money with tips from this site.

FedMoney.org
Find out about federal government scholarships, fellowships, traineeships and loans.

Life Stages: College
Learn about budgeting, credit, insurance, and financial aid at this comprehensive site.

Mind Your Own Business
Learn the five steps of business ownership offered by the Small Business Administration and Junior Achievement.

The Mint: Earning
Gives tips on finding a job, decoding a paycheck, and starting a business.

The Motley Fool: How to Grow a Million Dollars
The Fool teaches the magic of compounding interest.

My Own Biz
The Brooklyn Public Library guides you through starting a business.

OhioCAP: College Access Portal
From middle school through high school, follow the path to college.

The Riley Guide: Teen, Seasonal and Kinda Cool Opportunities
Margaret Riley Dikel is the expert on job-hunting online. Her site provides links to job sites and information on teen job searching.

Scholarship Help
Start at this site when looking for financial aid, from  finding sources to applying.

Student Aid on the Web
This is the U.S. Department of Education’s portal site to student aid.

Teen Business Link
Start, grow and own your own business.

Young Entrepreneurs
SCORE has compiled a list of useful resources for young people interested in starting their own businesses.

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SAVE IT

Analyzing 529 College Savings Plan Fees and Expenses (FINRA)
Use the 529 Expense Analyzer to compare 529 plans.

CollegeAdvantage
CollegeAdvantage is Ohio’s 529 college savings plan.

EconEdLink: Time Value of Money
Explains how investing and interest earns you money.

The Mint: Saving
Learn saving basics here.

Safe Internet Banking
Follow these FDIC tips to safely bank online.

SEC: Saving and Investing
The SEC offers advice on money management.

Shopping for a Bank Account
The FDIC helps you choose a bank that’s right for you.

Smart Saving for College (FINRA)
FINRA covers the ins and outs of college saving.

Start Smart: Money Management for Teens
The FDIC offers simple tricks to save money.

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SPEND IT

AutoFinancing101
AWARE (Americans Well-Informed on Automobile Retailing Economics) wakes you up to the smart way to buy a car.

Buying Smart: See Through the Sales Pitch
Don’t fall for the advertising hype! Learn to make smart purchases.

Electric Money
Explore electronic trading, credit cards, Internet purchasing, and the future of banking.

Feed the Pig
Look under Tools for the Lunch Savings Calculator and the Credit Card Payoff calculator to keep track of your spending.

High School Financial Planning Program
Increase the amount of money you have to spend without earning more.

Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Finance Literacy
Take the Reality Check to see if you have champagne tastes on a beer budget.

The Mint: Keeping Track of What You’ve Got
Learn how to write a check, live on a budget, and keep track of your money.

Money Talks
This site covers shopping, charging, banking, and other ideas on becoming a smart consumer.

Money Tips for Young People in America
Learn the 10 Commandments of Personal Finance.

Using Credit Cards Wisely
TV411 Math offers lessons on credit card use.

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INVEST IT

Investing 101
PBS offers Teen Challenge as a way for teens to share investment stories.

Investing Online Resource Center
If you want to invest online, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Start here with the 8 things every online investor should know.

The Mint: Investing
Did you know there is a risk/reward pyramid for investing? Look for it here.

The Motley Fool: Investing Basics
The Fool walks you through the basics of investment success.

Money $marts: It’s Best to Invest
The Girl Scouts give an investing overview.

Path to Investing: ABCs of Investing
Learn the ins and outs of investing versus saving, risk and return, and yields.

SEC: Tips for Teaching Students about Saving and Investing
Offers an overview on investing, along with a financial literacy quiz.

Treasury Direct
This is a very serious investing site about bonds, bills and notes.

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GIVE IT

American Institute of Philanthropy: Top-Rated Charities
Make sure a charity is worthy of your money!

Better Business Bureau: Charities and Donors
Check out a charity report, file a complaint, or find charities that get the BBB Charity Seal.

Charity Navigator
Investigates the financial health of over 5,300 US charities.

Helping the Less Fortunate
The FDIC tells how to share your time and money with those in need.

The Mint: Helping Others
Share things, time, energy, or money.

HandsOn Volunteer Network of the Valley
Find volunteer opportunities in the Mahoning Valley.

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OWE IT

Bankrate.com: Credit Cards
Find out what it will take to pay off your credit card.

Bankrate.com: College Finance
Find the best rates for student loans.

Feed the Pig
Use the Credit Card Payoff calculator to show how minimum payments can mean more debt.

Financial Aid
Find information on consolidating your student loans, or find your government aid history at this Department of Education site.

The Mint: Owing Money
Learn how to use credit cards wisely.

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PROTECT IT

Protecting Yourself and the Car
Unit 6 offers information on personal and auto insurance.

National Consumers League: Identity Theft
Identity theft doesn’t just happen to old people. Find ways to protect yourself!

Consumer Action Website: ATM/Debit Cards
What should you do if your debit card is stolen?

Identity Thieves Target Young People, Too
The FDIC tells you how to protect your personal information.

SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid
If you have to pay money to get money, it’s probably a scam. Watch out for scholarship scams!

Federal Trade Commission: Check Scams
Have you ever won a foreign lottery? This site warns about counterfeit check schemes.

Federal Trade Commission: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft
Offers excellent information on protecting yourself from identity theft.

Federal Trade Commission: Payday Loans
Before you take out a payday loan, consider some alternatives.

The Mint: Safeguarding Your Money
Find out the basics about health insurance, life insurance, and auto insurance.

Ohio Attorney General: Protecting Your Personal Information
Get an Identity Theft Verification Passport to help you when your identity has been stolen.

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This program is made possible by a grant from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation through Smart Investing @ your library®, a partnership with the American Library Association. The PLYMC has formed  local partnerships with the following community agencies to promote financial literacy initiatives especially to young families: Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way, Mahoning County  Financial Stability Partnership, Mahoning/Youngstown Community Action Partnership (MYCAP), Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley, Inc., Mahoning County Coalition for Community Reinvestment, Child Care Connection, Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority, Youngstown Economic Development Office, WFMJ-TV 21, WKBN-TV-27, and WYTV-TV -33.