Budgeting

The UH Center on the Family recently published two resource books to help community members facing tough economic times. You can download them from the following links:

Or, you can also request printed copies by email (cof@ctahr.hawaii.edu) or calling the Center at (808) 956-4132.

Repairing/Renewing Financial Aid Eligibility
If you have defaulted or are delinquent on federal student loans, you will need to take steps to renew your eligibility. Download the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii's excellent PDF on addressing default & delinquencies. If you need additional assistance after reviewing the PDF, contact your financial aid office or the SPAM Coordinator (gotkids@hawaii.edu). Keep in mind the process will take some time, and you may not be eligible for aid your first semester back, however it can be done!

Annual Credit Report.com (https://www.annualcreditreport.com) is the authorized (by the Federal Trade Commission) source for annual credit reports. This is the ONLY site where consumers can obtain all major credit bureau personal reports once FREE each year. Beware of sites with similar names (they will either charge you or use your personal information). You are entitled to receive one free credit file disclosure every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. It is your responsibility to make sure each of your reports are accurate and free of errors, so they do not prevent you from getting what you are seeking.

You can request your free report online, by phone or by mail. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or fill out the Annual Credit Report Request form and mail it to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

Hawaiʻi Tax Help

Information regarding Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) and free tax assistance sites.

Calculate your EITC here
The calulator help estimate your earned income tax credits (EITC). For example a married family with one child who is under 19, and made less than $40,000 in 2010 may qualify for up to $3,000 Tax Credit.

MoneyEd

MoneyEd is a project of the University of Hawaiʻi Cooperative Extension Service designed to improve your financial understanding of how to reduce debt, increase savings, and achieve financial stability. It is a web-based course and all handouts and worksheets may be downloaded and printed. There is a one-time registration for this program and all information submitted is strictly confidential and used for their records only. Absolutely no information will be shared with other parties. If you complete the Evaluation Form and work on at least six of the eleven articles/worksheets, you will be sent an official Certificate of Participation. http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/moneyed/

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Hawaiʻi

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Hawaiʻi is a non-profit community service agency that provides free advice on debt reduction and credit education. Contact (808) 532-3225 for more information.

RIICE

Resources, Instruction & Issues in Consumer Education (RIICE) is a program of the University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service. This website provides links to current projects as well as related resources in order to strengthen the capacity of consumers in improving the quality of their lives.

The Dollar Stretcher

The Dollar Stretcher website is a free website that provides you with useful ways to make the most of your money and time. It is filled with practical ideas that you can put to use right away. This sight also has links to other budgeting tools that are helpful to your quest in saving money. http://www.stretcher.com/

Coupons

Jay's "How to Coupon" packet shares the helpful tips on how to maximize your coupon savings. Download the PDF here!

Coupons.com. Coupons are for products which can be used at any store so they are comparable to the ones you would see in the Sunday newspaper. You have to setup an account to use this site. You also need to install the Coupon Printer Software (available on the website). New coupons are added almost everyday.

Some other useful sites for coupons are: RedPlum , SmartSource , Valpak (has coupons for auto services, like Midas).

America Saves

This is a nationwide campaign to encourage individuals and families to save and build wealth. It is managed by the Consumer Federation of America, supported by Bank of America, and advised by other non-profit organizations, businesses, and government agencies. Anyone who agrees to work toward a savings goal such as homeownership, school tuition, retirement, or even debt repayment can join. http://www.AmericaSaves.org/