Get Good with Money Tool Kit

Get quick access and direct link to references and resources made directly in Get Good with Money by Tiffany "The Budgetnista". Please click directly on the title to open and close each chapter section.

Introduction

• The Live Richer Challenges are currently under construction; please stay tuned.
  
  

Chapter 1: Before We Begin: Get to Know Financial Wholeness

• Join our virtual community and connect fellow Dream Catchers today -  Click here to join.
• Learn more about Kara Stevens, CEO, and founder of The Frugal Feminista and author of Heal Your Relationship with Money - Click here
• Learn more about Ash Cash Exantus, wealth coach and chief financial educator at MindRight Money Management, and author of Mind Right Money Right - Click here.

Chapter 2: 10% Whole: Budget Building

• Download the most updated blank Money List here - Go to Files to make a copy and save to your personal Google Drive for editing
• Download the most updated completed Money List here - Click here to download (Works on Best on a Desktop Computer)

List of favorite online financial institutions:

• Brick-and-Mortar/Physical Bank - PNC Bank (Click here)
• Online-only bank - Ally Bank (Click here)

Best Credit Unions:

• Navy Federal (military) - (Click here)
• Alliant - (Click here)

Best Online-Only Savings Accounts

• SmartyPig - Click here
• Ally Bank - Click here
• Igobanking - Click here

Develop a relationship with a credit union before you need to borrow money.

• Use this federal tool. Click here to Locate A Credit Union Near You

Chapter 3: 20% Whole: Save Like a Squirrel

Best Online-Only Savings Accounts

• SmartyPig - Click here
• Ally Bank - Click here
• Igobanking - Click here

Digital Rebates (cashback while shopping online) Rakuten 

• Click here for Rakuten

Chapter 4: 30% Whole: Dig Out of Debt

• Download the most updated blank Debt List here:  Go to Files to make a copy and save to your personal Google Drive for editing
• Download the most updated completed Debt List here:  Click here to download. (Works on Best on a Desktop Computer)
• Get A Free Copy of Your Credit Report anytime:
  • Credit Sesame - Click here
  • Credit Karma - Click here
  • Annual Credit Report - Click here
• Best balance transfer cards:
  • Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card - Click here
  • Citi® Double Cash Card - Click here
  • Citi Simplicity® Card - Click here
• Get Your Free FICO Score:
  • First, check with the bank(s) you have a credit card with to see if they are partnered to provide free FICO score updating
  • CreditScoreCard.com - Click here
• Top picks for private student loans refinance:
  • SoFi - Click here
  • Earnest - Click here
• My top 3 consolidation and refinance calculators:
  • Bank Rate (refinance) - Click here
  • Bank Rate (consolidation) - Click here
  • NerdWallet Refinance Calculator- Click here
  • NerdWallet Debt Consolidation Calculator - Click here
  • SmartAsset (refinance) - Click here
• Snowball Debt Calculator  - Click here
• Avalanche Debt Calculators - Click here

Chapter 5: 40% Whole: Score High (Credit)

Budgetnista Booster: Netiva Heard aka the Frugal CreditNista, Founder of MNH Financial Services - Click here 

Trusted credit reporting agencies:

• Experian - Click here
• Equifax - Click here
• TransUnion - Click here

Banks that offer second chance accounts:

• Chime - Click here
  
• Varo - Click here

Get your (FICO) credit score for free:

• First, check with the bank(s) you have a credit card with to see if they are partnered to provide free FICO score updating
•  CreditScoreCard.com

Free Credit Reports:

• annualcreditreport.com
• freecreditreport.com

Best Secured Credit Cards

• Discover it® Secured Credit Card - Click here
• Secured Mastercard® from Capital One - Click here
• Credit Builder Loan - Self (Click here)

Chapter 6: 50% Whole: Learn to Earn (Increase Your Income)

Budgetnista Booster: Sandy Smith, personal finance expert and small business strategist - Click here

Chapter 7: 60% Whole: Invest Like an Insider (Retirement and Wealth)

Budgetnista Boosters:

• Investing-Retirement: Kevin L. Matthews II, financial planner and author - Click Here  
• Investing-Wealth Building: Courtney Richardson, founder of The Ivy Investor - Click here

Use these calculators to help you identify how many years of savings and investing it will take you to be fully ready to retire:

• NerdWallet - Click here
• SmartAsset - Click here
• Vanguard - Click here

Top brokerage firms:

• Vanguard - Click here
• TD Ameritrade - Click here 
• E-Trade - Click here
• Ally Invest - Click here
• Merrill Edge - Click here
• Fidelity Investments - Click here

BrokerCheck: A free tool to research the background and experience of financial brokers, advisers, and firms 

• Broker Check - Click here

Free Investing Risk-Tolerance Assessments

• CalXLM - Click here
•  University of Missouri - Click here
• Motley Fool - Click here

My top DIY brokerage firm picks 

• Vanguard (very low-cost options)
• TD Ameritrade (offers a great “sink or swim” platform that allows you to test out trades) - Click here 
• E-Trade - Click here
• Merrill Edge (known for offering the best research) - Click here

My top Robo-adviser picks

• Wealthfront - Click here
• Betterment - Click here
• Stash - Click here
• Vanguard Digital Advisor - Click here

 Top S&P 500 ETFs

•  Investopedia - Click here

DIY & discount brokerage companies:

• Vanguard - Click here
• TD Ameritrade - Click here
• E-Trade - Click here
• Ally Invest - Click here
• Merrill Edge - Click here
• Fidelity Investments - Click here

Robo-advisors: 

• Wealthfront - Click here
• Betterment - Click here
• Stash - Click here
• Vanguard Digital Advisor - Click here

Financial advisor search sites 

• XY Planning Network - Click here
• The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) - Click here
• Fee-Only Network - Click here

Investment simulators (virtually play the stock market)

• Investopedia Investment Simulator - Click here
• Think or Swim by TD Ameritrade -  Click here

Chapter 8: 70% Whole: Get Good with Insurance

Budgetnista Booster:

• Anjali Jariwala, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) - Click here

HSA custodian brokerage firms:

• Lively HSA - Click here
• Elements Financial HSA - Click here
• HSA Bank - Click here
• Fidelity HSA - Click here 
• Further HSA (formerly "Select Account") - Click here

Life Insurance quotes:

• PolicyGenius - Click here
• Select Quote - Click here

Best Disability Insurance: 

• Best Overall: Guardian - Click here
• Best Short-Term Disability Insurance: Mutual of Omaha - Click here
• Best Long-Term Disability Insurance: Breeze - Click here
• Best for High-Risk Occupations: Assurity - Click here

Chapter 9: 80% Whole: Grow Rich-ish (Increase Your Net Worth)

• Net Worth Worksheet: Click here to access (Works on Best on a Desktop Computer)

Chapter 10: 90% Whole: Pick Your Money Team (Financial Professionals)

• My So-Called Financial Life Template (Use this template to create your own and share it with potential certified financial planners before interviewing them.) - Click here to access (Works on Best on a Desktop Computer)
• Join our virtual community and connect fellow Dream Catchers today -  Click here to join
• Financial advisor search sites 
  • XY Planning Network - Click here
  • The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) - Click here
  • Fee Only Network - Click here
• CPA search:
  • CPA Directory - Click here
  • CPA Verify - Click here
  • American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) - Click here:
• Online estate planning tools:
  • Will: NOLO - Click here
  • Trust & Will - Click here
  • DIY Estate Planning, American Bar Association - Click here
• Insurance:
  • PolicyGenius - Click here
  • Select Quote - Click here
• Reading and resources related to financial planning/advising: 
  • The Investment Answer by Murray and Goldie - Click here
  • Intelligent Investor by Graham and Zweig - Click here
  • Millionaire Next Door - Click here
  • Confidence Code by Kay and Shipman (not financial planning specific but one of my favorite books that talks about confidence) - Click here
  • Farnoosh Torabi has written a few books that are great: 
    • You're So Money - Click here
    • When She Makes More - Click here
  • George Kinder has written a lot of books that focuses on our emotional relationship with money:
    • Seven Stages of Money Maturity - Click here
    • Life Planning for You - Click here
• Work Your Wealth by Mary Beth Storjohann - Click here

Chapter 11: 100% Whole: Leave a Legacy (Estate Planning)

• Budgetnista Booster: Toni Moore, attorney - Click here

Reputable online options for estate planning documents:

• Trust & Will - Click here
• Will: NOLO - Click here
• Do Your Own Will - Click here

Appendix

• An updated copy of resources and additional site links - Additional Budgetnista Resources

My Lisa Rule (Disclaimer): I have four sisters and Lisa is the baby (well she’s not a baby anymore). Of all of my sisters, I’m the most protective of her. Before I share any product or service with you, it must pass my Lisa Rule.

What’s the Lisa Rule? If I would not advise Lisa to use a product or service, I won’t advise you to. YOU are my Lisa. I feel protective over you and your financial journey.

All of the resources shared above pass my Lisa Rule.

Yes, I am an affiliate of some of the references and/or they are one of our advertisers, and may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. but I would not recommend a product or service that I didn’t believe was helpful and useful. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For more information, please click here.