Money Smart Week is a series of financial literacy programs held at Springfield-Greene County Library branches. The Library has partnered with local financial and consumer groups to provide programs dedicated to saving money and spending it wisely.
There are programs on couponing, preventing identity theft, understanding your credit report, investing and more. The programs are free, and there’s something for every age at a variety of library branches. For a complete list of of programs, check out this flier [pdf].
The Library also has a great selection of books on personal finance topics:
The Behavior Gap: Simple Ways to Stop Doing Dumb Things with Money by Carl Richards.
Financial planner and Morningstar Advisor columnist Carl Richards explains why we keep making bad choices with our money based on our emotions and shows us how what we often think is right regarding investments rarely is.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Couponing by Rachel Singer Gordon.
By combining the wealth of coupons with a few simple changes in the way you shop, you'll quickly see your bills drop while your pantry and other stockpiles grow!
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Recovering from Identity Theft by Mari J Frank.
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States, and in many cases the victim has no knowledge of the theft until the situation is dire. Author Mari J. Frank, an attorney and advocate for victims of identity theft, takes the reader through every step necessary to reclaim their identity and wipe the records of theft off of all reports.
The Everything Couponing Book: Clip Your Way to Incredible Savings! by Karen Wilmes.
The couponing world is expanding, with endless options like rewards cards, online coupons, loyalty programs and group deals. Karen Wilmes teaches you to stretch your purchasing power and create your own game plan for saving money.
The Everything Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s Book: Eliminate Your Debt, Manage Your Money and Build for an Exciting Financial Future by Howard Davidoff.
Do you feel like you'll never pay off your student loans? Worried about your mounting credit card debt? You're not alone -- millions of young Americans are finding it hard to save for the future and still pay today's bills on time. This book will help readers learn how to be financially independent.
50 Ways to Protect Your Identity in a Digital Age: New Financial Threats You Need to Know and How to Avoid Them by Steve Weisman.
It is better to stop identity theft from happening in the first place than have to fix the situation afterward. Steve Weisman reveals the threats of new identity theft attacks based on use of Facebook, iPad, iPhone, Android, cloud apps, iPod and other new technologies -- and shows you how to protect yourself, or how to fix the damage if you've already been attacked.
Financial Fresh Start: Your Five-Step Plan for Adapting and Prospering in the New Economy by Shari Olefson.
From depleted retirement accounts to underwater homes, it's been gloomy news for years. But the picture will get much brighter for those who take advantage of the laws and reforms enacted in the wake of the banking, real estate and economic meltdown. "Financial Fresh Start” explains it all -- simplifying the complicated reforms and motivating readers to shake off their malaise and radically improve their long-term financial prospects.
The Handy Personal Finance Answer Book by Paul A. Tucci.
Combining the most current data with a user-friendly format, this timely reference features more than 1,000 answers to questions on personal finance, its history and managing one's financial life. Providing financial lessons in a fun, approachable way, the book avoids financial jargon and offers facts for everyday life to help readers save money.
Identity Theft for Dummies by Michael J. Arata, Jr.
Identity theft costs people just like you billions of dollars each year. Learn to protect your personal information, discover risks you may not have thought about and learn whether you've already been victimized.
Money Rules: The Simple Path to Lifelong Security by Jean Chatzky.
Jean Chatzky outlines simple steps for saving, investing, increasing and protecting income in order to achieve financial stability.
The Money Saving Mom's Budget by Crystal Paine.
Crystal Paine, who has helped busy women everywhere take control of their finances, presents her most effective money-saving strategies for families of all sizes and income levels.
The Only Budgeting Book You'll Ever Need: How to Save Money and Manage Your Finances with a Personal Budget Plan that Works for You by Tere Stouffer.
Everyone wants a simple and practical way to manage their money, but with countless financial planners, budgeting articles and websites available, it's not always easy to figure out where to start. Filled with only the most essential information on budgeting, this book shows you how to build a financial plan that not only meets your needs, but helps you stay on track.
Risk Less and Prosper: Your Guide to Safer Investing by Zvi Bodie and Rachelle Taqqu.
Somewhere along the way, something has gone very wrong with the way individuals save and invest. Zvi Bodie and RachelleTaqqu understand the dilemma that today's investors face and will help them find their financial footing.
7 Money Rules for Life: How to Take Control of Your Financial Future by Mary Hunt.
This no-nonsense book gives readers the keys to get their money under control and get prepared financially for the rest of their lives. It offers applications for each of the seven rules, as well as practical advice for how to recover from past financial mistakes. These simple, unchanging, basic rules work in every financial situation, for every income level and for every stage of life.
The Smartest Money Book You'll Ever Read: Everything You Need to Know About Growing, Spending and Enjoying Your Money by Daniel R. Solin.
Daniel Solin provides a no-nonsense guide to minimize taxes, buy or sell property, manage health care premiums or retire early, explaining how and when to do things to realize financial independence.
Worth It -- Not Worth It?: Simple & Profitable Answers to Life's Tough Financial Questions by Jack Otter.
Credit or debit? Rent or buy a house? Buy or lease a car? Take or decline the rental car insurance? Renovate the kitchen or finish the basement? Buy stocks or mutual funds? Every day we are forced to make financial decisions, but the right answers all seem to require complicated, mind-numbing research. This book demystifies complex, real-world dilemmas and breaks the answers down into simple, “Do This/Not That” solutions.
©