Consumer Help for the Economic Downturn
A Central Library Research Guide
Financial Crisis 2009
- Economic Recovery
Government resource for people to find help to keep their homes, find jobs and protect their savings.
- The Financial Crisis
A timeline of events and policy actions.
- MyMoney
U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching the basics about financial education.
Banks
Creating a Budget and Saving
- Mint.com
Mint not only lets you monitor your finances, it will also go through them and your spending habits searching for ways to save you money.
- Quicken Online
Free online version of the Quicken software. Download financial information, use budgeting and money management tools, and participate in the online community.
- Rudder
Rudder monitors your income and expenses, giving you a broad overview of your finances and also showing you how much you can spend while still paying all your bills.
- SmartyPig
Registered users create savings goals. Goals are met through required monthly contributions from a checking or savings account.
- Wesabe
Consolidate all bank accounts, investments, and credit cards. Tag transactions to create categories, view summary information, and receive personalized tips for saving. Registration is required to participate in the Wesabe Groups discussions, but uploading bank information is optional.
Credit Clean Up
Health Insurance
- eHealthInsurance
Provides immediate quotes for most major health insurers and compares policies. For personalized attention, call 800-977-8860 or find a local broker through www.nahu.org.
- CoverageforAll
Offers strategies for finding coverage, especially for people with medical conditions or modest incomes.
- Medicare
Chock-full of detailed information about Medicare, with excellent tools to help you pick the best Part D plan or Medicare Advantage policy based on your specific medications and health condition.
Investments
- Cake Financial
Investing website allows registered users to track the performance of stock investments across multiple brokerages. Follow other users’ progress and have online discussions.
- FINRA
FINRA helps investors build their financial knowledge and provide them with essential tools to better understand the markets and basic principles of saving and investing.
- Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC)
SIPC is the first line of defense in the event a brokerage firm fails owing customers cash and securities that are missing from customer accounts.
- U.S. Treasury Department
The U.S. Treasury Department advances and protects the U.S. economy, and their Treasury Direct site offers product information and research across the entire line of Treasury Securities, from Series EE Savings Bonds to Treasury Notes.
- Marketwatch
- Yahoo Finance
- Libary Business Databases and Investment Newsletters. The Library has up-to-date stock market information that will help you get through tough times. Make smarter investment decisions with the most current financial information. Investment newsletters include Valueline, Prudent Speculator, Weiss' Safe Money Report, S&P's Outlook, Drip Investor and Moneyletter.
Real Estate
- Ginnie Mae
Use a calculator to see whether buying or renting makes more sense.
- Hope for Homeowners
Government program to help borrowers whose loans are worth more than their houses. Call you lender to learn more.
- MakingHome Affordable
Find out if you are eligible for help with your mortgage.
Safety
Saving Energy
Shopping
Consumer Complaints
Using Library Services
- Don't buy a CD, DVD, or book without trying it out first. Come to the library and borrow it to see if it's a purchase that is right for you. If we don't have it, request it through InterLibrary Loan. Check the Findit catalog for the book, CD, or DVD you're interested in. Use the Good Reads lists to find a good book.
- Read your favorite magazines and newspapers online.
- Build up your business. We have access to databases and research tools that will help you reach new and different markets, even during tough times. Take a look at the Library's Small Business Research Guide.
- Find instruction and entertainment. We offer computer classes, events and activities for children and adults. See what events and programs APL has coming up on its online calendar.
- Hold meetings that get results. The Austin Public Library offers free meeting space. Check out where on the Meeting Rooms page.
Other Research Guides for Practical Help
Return to Research Guide Index
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