Sound financial advice

smartaboutmoney.org

There’s no shortage of financial advice on the Internet, but much of it comes from doubtful sources or is choked with confusing jargon. How do you find guidance that is both trustworthy and in plain English?

Smartaboutmoney.org meets both tests. The site, produced by the well-regarded National Endowment for Financial Education, addresses common money issues with articles that are sound and clearly written.

One featured section, “Cure Your Retail Hangover,” is aimed at teaching shopaholics to control their spending. Other pages on the site deal with bankruptcy, health insurance, buying a home, managing debt, saving, taxes, marriage and divorce and estate planning.

Although some articles focus on long-term goals, such as “Planning for the Costs of Higher Education,” others tackle specific situations, such as “Attending Weddings Without Breaking the Bank.”

Enter “work sheet” in the search box to get a selection of downloadable forms for tracking expenses, managing debts and setting financial goals.

-- Scott J. Wilson