Financial Literacy: Managing Debt
Check out some of Plano Public Library’s resources to get your debt under control.
No one wants to talk about debt. The term carries with it a sense of stigma and discomfort, even though millions of adults in the United States struggle with it each year. In an era where credit cards, personal loans and college expenses are more common than ever, avoiding debt is as challenging as avoiding driving on highways.
That doesn’t mean you have to go it alone, though! Plano Public Library has a variety of materials to help you get your finances back on track and manage your debt.
Financial Literacy Basics series by Weiss Ratings
Each volume in this series provides readers with guidance on how to manage their finances. Designed for those who are just starting out and for those who may need help handling their finances, volumes in this series outline, step-by-step, how to make the most of your money, which pitfalls to avoid, and what to watch out for, and give you the necessary tools to make sure you are fully equipped to manage your finances.
Surviving Debt: Expert Advice for Getting Out of Financial Trouble by National Consumer Law Center
A leading resource for over 25 years, this fully updated, 2021 edition of Surviving Debt provides precise, practical, and hard-hitting advice from the nation’s consumer law experts on how to deal with crushing debt affecting millions of Americans.
Solve Your Money Troubles: Strategies to Get Out of Debt and Stay That Way by Amy Loftsgordon
Conquering overwhelming debt starts with understanding your options. Loftsgordon and O’Neill give you the tools you need to get your finances back on track. They provide up-to-date legal information, as well as sample creditor letters and budgeting worksheets.
Millennial Money Makeover: Escape Debt, Save for your Future, and Live the Rich Life Now by Conor Richardson
A financial guide for the American millennial. A relatable, easy-to-read, sequential, and comprehensive approach to paying off debt, building an automated savings system, buying life’s early stage big purchases, and teaching readers how to live the true millionaire lifestyle.
Debt 101: From Interest Rates and Credit Scores to Student Loans and Debt Payoff Strategies, an Essential Primer on Managing Debt by Michele Cagan
The key to borrowing, managing, and paying off debt is understanding what it is, how it works and how it can affect your finances and your life. Debt 101 is the easy-to-follow guide to discovering how to pay off the debt you have plus learning how to use debt to your advantage. Debt 101 allows you to take control of your money with strategies best suited for your personal financial situation-whether you are buying a home or paying off student loans. You will learn the ins and outs of borrowing in a simple, straightforward manner, managing student loans and credit card debt, improving your credit score, understanding interest rates, good debt vs. bad debt, and so much more. Finally, you can get ahead of the incoming bills and never let your debt intimidate you again!
LinkedIn Learning Courses
Formerly known as Lynda.com, LinkedIn Learning offers thousands of courses on any number of topics, including career. See our blog post to get started. The following courses may be particularly topical:
Recovering from a Financial Setback with Jane Barratt, released May 2020
Learn how to recover from a financial setback from loss of income or loss of savings. In this course, financial expert Jane Barratt walks through how to get reorganized and prepared after you experience a financial setback. Learn how to understand your new baseline, get your expenses and income sorted and balanced, reduce the cost of your debt through consolidation and refinancing options, and prepare for the future. Plus, learn how to access state and federal benefits available within the United States.
Build Sustainable Wealth and Get Out of Debt with WealthFit, released October 2020
It doesn’t matter how you got into debt. What matters is how you’re going to get out. It can feel like you’re at the bottom of a deep well with no way out. You still have expenses to pay—so you feel like you’re only tunneling deeper. But it’s not an impossible situation. Eliminating debt starts by changing the spending habits that landed you here in the first place and developing new, positive money habits. In this course, you can learn time-tested tips and put a clear plan in place to accelerate the process of building wealth. Find out how to protect what you have, save what you earn, and pay off the bills you owe, using practical techniques, rules, and worksheets. See real-life examples featuring scenarios such as student and medical debt. Plus, discover how to build your financial savviness and shore up your future by investing funds wisely.
The Five-Step Guide to Mastering Your Money with CareerCake, released November 2020
Want to gain greater control over your finances? Tune into this concise, practical course for tips on setting and achieving your financial goals. Money journalist and writer Talia Loderick shares expert tips for creating a more positive relationship with money. Talia steps through how to assess your current financial state and determine what you want to achieve in the future. She also provides an overview of what to consider when making decisions about debt, discusses how to track your weekly, quarterly, and annual spending, and more.
We hope that these resources help you on your financial literacy journey. Check out more of our Thinking Money posts, including booklists. You can find all of these and more at your local Plano Public Library
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