#  Financial Wellness - The Basics 

 



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 Budgets Credit, Credit Reports and Credit Scores Saving and Investing 

## Budgets

 

 

 Creating a budget is the first step to developing a workable spending plan. It will help you manage your expenses and keep you on the right path to achieve your financial goals.

 Please visit [Federal Student Aid](https://studentaid.gov/resources/prepare-for-college/students/budgeting) for information on budgeting resources.



 



 

 

 

## Credit, Credit Reports and Credit Scores

 

 

If you plan to buy a house or a car, you will need to get a loan. In order to get a loan, you will need to have good credit. Some student loans also require you to have good credit. So how do you build good credit? If you have a credit card or loan, information about your spending and repayment patterns is sent to the three main credit reporting bureaus ([Equifax](http://www.equifax.com/home/en_us), [Experian](http://www.experian.com/), and [TransUnion](http://www.transunion.com/)). They also calculate a credit score. A higher score is an indication of an individual who manages credit wisely.

Please visit the [Federal Trade Commission](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/credit-scores) for information on credit scores.



 



 

 

 

## Saving and Investing

 

 

We’ve all heard the saying “save for a rainy day”. Whether it’s a short term goal like the newest phone or tablet, or a long term goal like a comfortable retirement, we need to set money aside to meet those goals.

Please visit the [Financial Literacy and Education Commission](https://www.mymoney.gov/saveandinvest) for information on saving and investing.