Consumer Resources

Whether your financial goals are big or small, having a solid financial plan in place can help make them a reality. The Illinois CPA Society offers information and resources on a variety of financial topics to help you take control of your money.

Budgeting

• Five Ways to Stretch Your Dollar ICPAS
• Five Mistakes That Bust Your Budget ICPAS
• How to Save on Gasoline Costs ICPAS
• Budgeting Basics – Part I – Establishing goals AccountingWEB
• Budgeting Basics - Part II: Creating your budget AccountingWEB
• Budgeting Basics Part III: Entering goals and incorporating other sources of revenue AccountingWEB
• Budgeting Basics Part IV - Incorporating tax benefits into your budget and using your budget  AccountingWEB

Buying/Selling a Home

• Time to Buy? Illinois CPA Society Offers Suggestions to Potential Homebuyers ICPAS
• Making Home Affordable makinghomeaffordable.com
• Preparing Your Home for Sale ICPAS
• Tips for First-Time Home Buyers ICPAS
• First-Time Home Buyer Credit Extended to April 30, 2010 IRS

Charitable Giving

• Donate Wisely - Guidelines for Giving to Hurricane Sandy Relief from the Illinois CPA Society ICPAS

Children and Money

• S is for Savings: Six Ways to Start Teaching Your Children to Save ICPAS
• Financial Literacy Month - A Good Time to Have "the Talk" with Your Teen about Money ICPAS
• Talking to Your Kids about Tough Economic Times ICPAS
• Teens With Money INSIGHT Magazine
• Schooled in Money INSIGHT Magazine
• Teaching Children Money Smarts ICPAS
• Don't Let Your Teen Get Caught In A Credit Crunch ICPAS

College

• The Illinois CPA Society Shares Money Management ABCs with Grads ICPAS
• Credit Card Tips for College Students from the Illinois CPA Society ICPAS
• Six Money Managing Talking Points for Parents and Their College-Bound Students from the Illinois CPA Society ICPAS
• Don't Get Swamped By Student Loan Debt ICPAS
• Money-Wise Advice For New Grads ICPAS
• How To Avoid Scams When Searching For Scholarships ICPAS

Debt & Credit

• How to Check Your Credit Report
• Credit Scoring: What is it? How does it work? Federal Trade Commission
• Debt Collection Practices: Your Rights and Responsibilities Privacy Rights Clearing House
• Never Let Your Guard Down with Your Credit Cards ICPAS
• Credit Scoring: What is it? How does it work? Federal Trade Commission
• The Illinois CPA Society Suggests 10 Ways to Take Control of Your Credit Cards ICPAS
• Handling Debt in a Divorce ICPAS
• Smart Tips for Managing Your Debt. ICPAS
• Smart Steps to Repair Your Credit Score ICPAS

Disaster Planning & Recovery 

• Prepare Financially for Tornado Season ICPAS
• Financial Tips for Disaster Preparation & Recovery ICPAS 
• Disaster Assistance IRS
• Be Prepared When Disaster Strikes; Five Reminders ICPAS
• Ready Illinois: Emergency Information State of Illinois
• Recovery Mode: A Checklist for Getting Your Finances in Order Following a DIsaster ICPAS

Estate Planning

• A Guide to Financial Decisions: Implementing an End of Life Plan AICPA
• Picking Guardians for Young Children AICPA

Financial Planning

• 10 tips for downsizing Baby Boomers Chicago Tribune
• 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• "Feed the Pig" Financial Tools & Money Saving Tips ICPAS ICPAS
• Smart Steps for Funeral Planning ICPAS
• What You Need to Know About Writing a Will ICPAS
• Don't Let Money be Your Heart Breaker: Illinois CPA Society Suggests a Valentines' Day Money Talk ICPAS
• How to Choose the Best Bank for You ICPAS
• Five Smart Steps to Take if You’re Laid Off ICPAS
• Five Signs Your Finances Are in Trouble ICPAS
• Sure Fire Steps to Achieve Your Financial Goals ICPAS
• Five Ways to Save on Energy Costs ICPAS
• Planning An Affordable Family Vacation ICPAS
• Understanding Mutual Fund Fees ICPAS
• How Long Should You Retain Financial Records? ICPAS
• Resolve to Manage Your Money Better in 2010 ICPAS

Find a CPA

• Find a CPA in Your Area with the ICPAS Find a CPA Directory ICPAS

Going Green

• 5 Ways Going Green Can Add a Little Green to Your Wallet - Almost $250 a Month ICPAS
• Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day with These Tips from the Illinois CPA Society to Help Mother Nature and Your Bank Account ICPAS

Healthcare Costs

• NEW site - Healthcare.gov Know your options under the new healthcare law.
• How to Lower Your Prescription Drug Costs ICPAS
• Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans ICPAS

Identity Theft and Online Security

• Ten Things the IRS Wants You to Know About Identity Theft IRS
• What To Do if Your Wallet is Stolen ICPAS
• Suspicious eMails and Identity Theft. IRS
• Protecting Your Child Against Identity Theft. ICPAS
• Understanding Identity Theft Marketing Degree

Mortgages

• Making Home Affordable US Departments of the Treasury & Housing and Urban Development
• Time to Buy? Illinois CPA Society Offers Suggestions to Potential Homebuyers ICPAS
• Help for America's Homeowners makinghomeaffordable.gov
• Qualifying for a Mortgage in a Tough Economy ICPAS
• Savvy Steps in Shopping for a Mortgage ICPAS

Retirement

• Five "Save for Retirement" Steps from the Illinois CPA Society ICPAS
• Borrowing from a Company Retirement Plan ICPAS
• Protecting Your Retirement Savings ICPAS
• Smart Retirement Savings Steps to Take Now ICPAS
• Benefit Calculators Social Security Administration
• Tax-Smart Retirement Planning ICPAS
• When Should You Begin Taking Social Security Payments ICPAS

Sandwich Generation

• Avoid Money Mishaps When Children Move Back Into The Nest ICPAS
• Financial Advice for the Sandwich Generation ICPAS

Senior Citizens

• Six Ways Senior Citizens Can Avoid Scams and Protect Their Money ICPAS

Tax

• Where's My Federal Tax Refund? IRS
• The Illinois CPA Society Explains How the "Fiscal Cliff" May Affect Everyday Americans ICPAS
• 360 Degrees of Taxes American Institute of Certified Public Accountants 
• As Deadline Nears, Free Tax Preparation Still Available for Military Personnel and Their Families ICPAS
• It's Tax Time - Find a CPA Online at Illinois CPA Society Site ICPAS
• Snowed In? Start Working on Your Taxes ICPAS
• Choosing a Tax Professional: What You Need to Know ICPAS

Other Helpful Links

• Free Government Consumer Publications
• Feed the Pig” Financial Tools & Money Saving Tips

Questions, comments, feedback contact:

Adam Ross, Manager, Marketing and Communications
312-993-0407 ext.203 or 800.993.0407 (Illinois Only)