| Link | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Geraci Law Bankruptcy News | We write about bankruptcy news and events relevant to your life. | PeterFrancisGeraciLaw.com |
| Free Credit Reports | Get a copy of your annual credit report from all three bureaus. | annualcreditreport.com |
| Get IRS Transcripts Online | Get copies of your IRS transcripts online, directly from the IRS. | irs.gov |
| Link | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Simple Ways to Get Your Finances In Order Right Now | Tips and tricks for saving money and fixing financial problems | frugalrules.com |
| 50/30/20 | Budgeting tips and advice based on monthly income. | Senator Elizabeth Warren |
| America Saves | A campaign coordinated by the non-profit Consumer Federation of America to help individuals save money, reduce debt, and build wealth | americasaves.org |
| Budget Tracking | Free online budgeting tool to track your spending and debt. | Mint |
| Dinky Town Financial Calculators | Financial calculators to calculate tax debt, retirement and investements, savings, debt-to-income ratio, home budget, etc. | dinkytown.net |
| Family Budget Calculator | This calculator measures how much income a family needs to earn to maintain standard of living. | Economic Policy Institute |
| Help With Bills | Government programs to help pay phone bills, medical bills, and other expenses | usa.gov |
| Reddit Community Forum | Community forum on budgeting and finances | reddit.com |
| Tools & Resources | Financial planning tools including budgeting, retirement, taxes, etc. | daveramsey.com |
| Link | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Resources | Resources for consumers and portal to make consumer complaints | State of Wisconsin |
| Credit Karma | Free credit score and free credit reports with monitoring | creditkarma.com |
| Dispute Credit Report Error (Equifax) | Dispute a credit reporting error. | Equifax |
| Dispute Credit Report Error (Experion) | Dispute a credit reporting error. | Experion |
| Dispute Credit Report Error (Transunion) | Dispute a credit reporting error. | Transunion |
| Free Credit Report | Get a copy of your annual credit report from all three bureaus. | |
| How Much Will Your Loan Really Cost? | Calculates total payments based on user-inputted variables of loan term, interest rate and amount financed | practicalmoneyskills.com |
| Illinois Second Chance Checking Accounts | List of banks that do not use ChexSystems in Illinois | rebuildcreditscores.com |
| Second Chance Bank Account | Bank that offers a second chance for people with low credit scores. | Wells Fargo Bank |
| Second Chance Bank Account | Bank that offers a second chance for people with low credit scores. | BBVA Compass |
| Second Chance Bank Account | Bank that offers a second chance for people with low credit scores. | First National Bank and Trust Company |
| Wells Fargo | Information on how your credit score is calculated and how you can improve it | wellsfargo.com |
| Link | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FedLoan Servicing | Repayment options for federal student loans | myfedloan.org |
| Getting Out of Default | Options to deal with student loan defaults | ed.gov |
| Grants & Scholarships | You can apply for grants and assistance to help you pay for college. | US Dept of Education |
| Information About Debt Relief for Corinthian Colleges Students | Information for students who borrowed student loans to attend Corinthian/Everest College | ed.gov |
| Public Service Loan Forgiveness | Information on qualifications for loan forgiveness for non-profit workers | ed.gov |
| Repayment Estimator | Use this calculator to determine your repayment options of Federal Student Loans | Federal Student Aid |
| Free Courses Online | Free classes available online to further or start careers. | Udacity |
| Link | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Glass Door Job Search | Employer information and reviews | glassdoor.com |
| How to Succeed at a Job Interview | A free 3-week course teaching how to interview for the job you want. | Future Learn |
| Illinois Department of Employment Security Jobs Page | Calendar with Job Fair Events, Resume Workshops, etc. | State of Illinois |
| Indeed: Job Search | Job postings | indeed.com |
| Monster Jobs | Job postings | monster.com |
| Resources for Job Seekers | A list of resources available to Chicago residents on the job hunt. | City of Chicago |
| US Job Fair | A list of job fairs by city and state. | Job Fairs |
| Link | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | Assistance and information about fraud and scams | consumerfinance.gov |
| IRS Tax | Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts | IRS.gov |
| LifeHacker: Two Cents | Misc. articles about financial planning | lifehacker.com |
| Link | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 3 For Free | Fun, free things to do in Lake County, IL | littlelakecounty.com |
| A Parents Guide to Community Resources in Milwaukee | List of community resources and contact information | oakcreekwi.org |
| After School Programs (Illinois) | Afterschool programs for children and teens. | ACT Now! |
| After School Programs (Indiana) | Afterschool programs for children and teens. | Indiana Afterschool Network |
| After School Programs (Wisconsin) | Afterschool programs for children and teens. | Wisconsin Aftershool Network |
| Chicago Public Library | Free events for library card holders. | Chicago Public Library |
| Childbirth & Parenting Classes (Indiana) | Affordable parenting classes. | Community Health Network |
| Free Mommy & Me Classes (Illinois - Chicago) | A list of free programs for new moms and babies. | Mommy Nearest |
| Illinois Winter Events | List of holiday events and festivals in Illinois | Travel Illinois |
| Indianapolis Public Library | Free events for library card holders. | Indianapolis Public Library |
| Milwaukee Public Library | Free events for library card holders. | Milwaukee Public Library |
| Parenting Classes | Affordable parenting classes. | The Parenting Network |
| Parenting Education Program (Illinois-Chicago) | Support services with focus on youths in foster care, teen parents and low income families. | Ucan |
| SouthShore Convention & Visitor Authority | 30 Free and fun things to do on the South Shore | southshorecva.com |
| Link | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Judicial Sales Corp. | Schedule of upcoming and completed sheriff sales in Illinois | tjsc.com |
| mycase.IN.gov | Search lawsuits filed in any county in Indiana | IN.gov |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access | Look up lawsuits in the state of Wisconsin | wicourts.gov |
| Link | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Home Buying Seminars | Schedule of seminars for potential home-buyers in the Milwaukee area | landmarkcu.com |
| How Much House Can I Afford? | Budget and cost planning for home buyers | bankrate.com |
| Illinois Hardest Hit | Application for mortgage assistance | Illinois Hardest Hit |
| Indiana Foreclosure Prevention Network | Application for mortgage assistance | Indiana Foreclosure Prevention Network |
| Refinance Calculator | Use this calculator to see options to refinance your home. | Realtor.com |
| Link | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Car Affordability Calculator: How Much Car Can You Afford? | Tips and tools for calculating an affordable car payment | nerdwallet.com |
| Car Insurance Requirements (Illinois) | Review the car insurance requirements and affordable options. | DMV |
| Car Insurance Requirements (Indiana) | Review the car insurance requirements and affordable options. | DMV |
| Car Insurance Requirements (Wisconsin) | Review the car insurance requirements and affordable options. | DMV |
| Chicago Parking Ticket Search | Chicago Parking Ticket Search | CityofChicago.org |
| Link | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Child Care Assistance (Illinois) | Apply for child care subsidy | Department of Human Services |
| Child Care Assistance (Indiana) | Apply for child care subsidy | Family & Social Services Administration |
| Child Care Assistance (Wisconsin) | Apply for child care subsidy | Wisconsin Department of Children & Families |
| Holiday Savings | Tips to save money on the holidays | Parenting.com |
| Indiana Winter Events | List of events and festivals in Indianapolis | Indianapolis Travel Site |
| 17 Ways to Save Money On Groceries | Tools and tips to save on food | bonappetit.com |
| SNAP Benefits (Illinois) | Apply for food assistance | Department of Human Services |
| SNAP Benefits (Indiana) | Apply for food assistance | Family & Social Services Administration |
| SNAP Benefits (Wisconsin) | Apply for food assistance | Department of Health Services |
| Spend Smart. Eat Smart. | Use this calculator to determine your monthly grocery budget based on your household size. | Iowa State University |
| Healthcare.gov | Government Sponsered Medical Coverage | Healthcare.gov |
| Medicaid | Application for Medicaid. | Heathcare.gov |
| CTA & PACE Fare Programs | A list of Ventra programs available for students, elderly and low income. | Ventra |
| Find Cheap Gas Prices in Illinois | Helps you find the cheapest gas in your area in Illinois | illinoisgasprices.com |
| IndyGo | A list of fare and programs for public transportation in Indianapolis. | IndyGo |
| MCTS | A list of fare and programs for public transportation in Milwaukee. | Milwaukee County Transit |
| Wisconsin Winter Events | List of events and festivals in Wisconsin | Travel Wisconsin |
| Wisconsin Foodshare and Public Assistance | How to Check Eligibility for Foodshare and other Public Assistance benefits in Wisconsin | State of Wisconsin |
| Affordable Housing | This link can help you find affordable housing programs in your area. | HUD |
| Illinois Legal Aid | Free Guide to ILLINOIS tenants rights | Illinoislegalaid.org |
| Marquette University School of Dentistry Community Care Clinics | Reduced-fee dental services in the Milwaukee area | marquette.edu |
| SoberRecovery | Help with drug and alcohol addiction | soberrecovery.com |
| Link | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable Tax Preparers | Free tax return preparation for anyone making less than $54,000 per year. | IRS |
| Do I need to file? | Questionaire to determine if you are required to file a tax return. | IRS |
| IRS Tax Refund Status | Check the status of your IRS tax refund | IRS.gov |
| IRS Withholding Calculator | How to calculate proper tax withholdings to maximize your income | IRS.gov |
| TurboTax Tax Calculator | Estimate Your Upcoming Tax Refund | Turbotax.com |
| VITA Tax Program | Tax preperation assistance for low-income residents of Milwaukee County | Social Development Commission |
| Link | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Billing (Wisconsin) | Spread your utility bills out over a 12 month period to ease the burden of peak months. | WE Energies |
| CEDA | Non-profit Energy/utility assistance programs for Cook County | Community & Economic Development Assoc. of Cook County |
| ComEd Bill Payment Assistance | Bill Payment Assistance for people who are experiencing financial hardship due to job loss, illness, military deployment, disability, or as a senior citizen | Commonweath Edison |
| Energy.gov | List of Winter/Fall Utilities Savings | |
| Home Energy Savings Program | Information about saving money on utilities | Illinois Department of Commerce |
| Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor | Assistance to prevent utility disconnection in the state of Indiana | in.gov |
| Nortwest Indiana Community Action | Wide range of assistance from Energy Assistance Program to Volunteer Tax Assistance, to tips on weatherizing a home | nwi-ca.com |
| Utility Assistance (Illinois - Chicago) | Application for utility assistance programs in Chicago. | Catholic Charities |
| Utility Assistance (Illionis) | Requirements for Utility Assistance in Illinois | Illinois Department of Commerce |
| Link | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CDC | The main CDC web site for Coronavirus information & resources. | CDC |
| CDC Recommendations | CDC recommended guides to cleaning and sanitation using everyday supplies. | CDC |
| Google links for finding jobs remotely, home exercise and sanitization. | ||
| John Hopkins University | Interactive map of Coronavirus cases | John Hopkins University |
| NY Times | Interactive map of Coronavirus cases | NY Times |
| WHO | World Health Organization instructions on how to PROPERLY wash your hands. | WHO |
| Benefits.gov | Guide to government benefits and resources available. | Federal Government |
| ComEd | Information from ComEd suspending disconnection notices during COVID-19. | ComEd |
| Department of Education | Information on how to put student loans in deferment, home schooling resources and suggestions for keeping kids busy at home. | Department of Education |
| Edmunds | Information about car loan and relief options. | Edmunds |
| Fannie Mae | Mortgage options and resources from Fannie Mae | Fannie Mae |
| Forbes | Information about stimulus check if you received your tax refund using a loan or an advance. | Forbes |
| Illinois Realtors | Information about unemployment options for independent contractors and realtors. | Illinois Realtors |
| USBG | Information for bartenders & servers | USBG |
| Illinois - Government News | News about Illinois & Coronavirus | Illinois Government |
| Illinois - Dupage County | COVID-19 resources in Dupage County, Illinois | Dupage County Illinois |
| Illinois - Lake County | COVID-19 resources in Lake County, Illinois | Lake County Illinois |
| Illinois - Will County | COVID-19 resources in Will County, Illinois | Will County Illinois |
| Indiana - Lake County | COVID-19 resources in Lake County, Indiana | Lake County Indiana |
| Indiana - Porter County | COVID-19 resources in Porter County, Indiana | Porter County Indiana |
| Indiana - Remote Resources | Indiana information about "remote" learning including resources for parents and teachers. | State of Indiana |
| Indiana - Unemployment Resources | Unemployment FAQs | State of Indiana |
| Buzz Feed | Indoor idea for kids! | Buzz Feed |
| KQED | Ideas to become more trauma-informed. | KQED |
| PBS | How to talk to your kids about Coronavirus | PBS |
| NPR | The Coronavirus Comic | NPR |
| Travel & Leisure | List and links to virtual museum tours! | Travel & Leisure |
