Articles

• Single & Searching? Finances First
• Life Lessons from a Fish
• Stop, Think and Save...At Least Once a Year
• Healthy Finances For Couples - How to Have the Money Talk
• Where Does Etiquette Fit?
• Financial Resiliency - Five Tips to Help You Bounce Back!
• Want Good Credit? - Back to Basics (Part 1 of 2)
• Want Good Credit? - Beyond the Basics (Part 2 of 2)
• Helpful Tips for Dealing with Recession Fatigue (not my usual)
• Start Your New Year Right By Checking Your Credit Reports
• The Importance of Networking (and why it is important in this economy)
• Simple Tips to Boost Your Credit Score
• Wall Street Journal Article 9/17/08: Wall Street Got You On Edge? Join the Club (contributor)
• The ABCDs of a Healthy Financial Plan
• Ten Ways to Wreck your Credit
• SIMPLE Steps YOU Can Do NOW to Prevent Identity Theft
• Identity Theft: A Four-Part Series for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
  • Part 1: Preventing ID Theft
  • Part 2: How ID Theft Occurs
  • Part 3: Minimizing ID Theft Risk
  • Part 4: What to do if you are a victim
• Reducing the Stress of Family Holiday Gatherings
• Hold Onto Reason - Tips for the Holiday Season
• Holiday Spending Tips (click to open)
• Magical Slippers

Interviews

• YouTube Video: "Let's Talk About Credit" - Kathy Jo with Melanie Foote-Davis
• Dealing with Life Changes
• Interview with the Institute of Management Accountants - October 2008

Audios

• "Weekend Focus" – WWVA News Radio 1170 (2009–2020)
• Audio Recap – "Want Good Credit" Teleclass
• Audio Recap – "Be the Chooser" Teleclass
• Voice America: Coaching for Financial Success in a Recession

Personal Finance

• Your Financial Plan Quiz (PDF)
• Monthly Budget Worksheet (Excel)
• Review of Budgeting Software
• Financial Advice That Could Save Your Marriage
• Cost Cutting Tips (PDF)
• Free Online Calculators
• National Credit Union Locator

Identity Theft – Information & Links

• FTC Recovery Plan (PDF)
• AnnualCreditReport.com
• ChexSystems
• FTC Identity Theft Info
• Tax-Related Identity Theft
• Free Credit Freezes (FTC)
• Credit Freeze vs Lock – Consumer Reports
• Fraud Alerts vs Credit Freezes
• How to Recover – IdentityTheft.gov
• Identity Theft IQ Test (PDF)
• IRS Guide to Identity Theft (PDF)
• 10 Opt-Outs to Increase Privacy
• SIMPLE Steps to Prevent Identity Theft
• What to Do After a Data Breach
• 100 Tips to Reduce Identity Theft

Additional Resources & Links

• AnnualCreditReport.com
  AnnualCreditReport.com is the official site to help consumers to obtain their free credit report. This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, every week, from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Or call 1-877-322-8228.
• Bankrate.com
  Provides news, tips and advice to compare mortgage rates, home equity loans, CDs, car loans, credit cards and money market accounts.
• ChexSystems Consumer Report
  ChexSystems shares information on closed checking and savings accounts among member financial institutions to assess account risk. Use this link to order your free financial report.
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
  The CFPB supervises banks and financial companies, and enforces federal consumer financial laws to protect Americans in the financial marketplace.
• Credit Karma
  Provides consumers with a free credit score and tools to monitor and improve credit health.
• Find a Credit Union
  Learn more about the benefits of credit unions and how to join one near you.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
  The nation's consumer protection agency. Find info on credit, identity theft, and how to register with the Do Not Call Registry.
• Mint.com – Budgeting Tool
  Offers free online money management and budgeting software, praised by Kiplinger’s and Money Magazine.
• myFICO – Credit Score Info
  Provides detailed information on FICO credit scores and how they affect lending decisions.
• National Do Not Call Registry
  Lets you opt out of telemarketing calls. Register online or call 1-888-382-1222. Registration does not expire.
• National Foundation for Credit Counseling
  Provides financial education and credit counseling. Call 1-800-388-2227 to speak with a counselor near you.
• Opt-Out of Credit Offers
  Stop receiving prescreened credit and insurance offers for 5 years (call 1-888-5OPT-OUT) or permanently at www.optoutprescreen.com.
• QUIZ – Are You at Risk for Identity Theft?
  Test your Identity Quotient and learn tips to reduce your exposure to fraud.
• Social Security Official Website
  Access your Social Security account and find official information about retirement, benefits, and fraud protection.

Inspiration & Motivation

• Confidence Self-Check – FREE personal assessment
• Power in Praying Through A–Z – 52 inspirational notes, Bible quotes, and prayers at your fingertips by Hyacinth Gooden-Bailey
• Mental Health Mugs – Share a cup and advocate for mental health
• FREE! VIA Character Survey – Discover your best qualities in 15 minutes with this scientific survey of character strengths courtesy of the VIA Institute on Character

Featured Book

Life Choices: Putting the Pieces Together – I am a featured author in this powerful collection of stories. Contact me to purchase.

Life-Balance-Stress

• FREE worksheet! Spring Clean Your Life
• FREE! Learn to Meditate – Courtesy of Fragrant Heart
• Free! Download Now! Adult Coloring Book – Helps relieve stress, increase mindfulness, and boost creativity. Courtesy of The Letters of Gratitude.
• Free! Complete your Wheel of Life – Instructions included.
• Free! Chart Your Stressors – Use this chart to identify and manage your stress.

Relationships

• Free! Take the Relationship Readiness Quiz
• Click to listen to audio highlights of "Be the Chooser" teleclass
• Conscious Dating – the book by David Steele
• Conscious Dating (Click to learn more & purchase the book)

Etiquette

• Free! Take the Business Etiquette Quiz – (click to open and see how you do)
• Top 12 Business Etiquette Tips – (click to open)

Careers

• 9 Questions That'll Help You Find Your Dream Career – Click to read the article & answer the questions.