Many American consumers are in shaky financial positions. It is estimated that 70% of Americans sometimes live paycheck to paycheck, and consumer borrowing has reached all time highs while personal savings have shrunk in the past 25 years. (excerpted from Cooperative Extension America Saves Initiative)

The average American has credit card debt of $8,000 to $8,500.( Motley Fools Credit Center Statistics ) Credit debt also starts early for Americans. In the 2003 Nellie Mae Study, it states that 96% of undergraduate students carry an average of six credit cards with a total balance of $3,262. Graduate students accrue more than twice the average balance of final year undergrads at $7,831. ( 2003Credit Card Usage Analysis/ Nellie Mae 3rd Study. )

The Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central New York
(CCCS of CNY) strongly encourages consumers to:

* Take control of their money
* To increase their financial literacy
* To set goals for a secure future

We, at Cornell Cooperative Extension, offer individual budget education, classes, and referrals to CCCS of CNY, as well as self-directed study on the following reliable web sites:
(Just click on the name to be connected to the website)

America Saves - A national campaign to encourage all Americans to Save, Build Wealth, and Reduce Debt.

Wiser Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement - features resources for women when faced with widowhood or divorce.

Cooperative Extension at Rutgers University - excellent website featuring a variety of useful fact sheets

Federal Trade Commission- extensive, consumer friendly, website and one of the best resources to make yourself aware of scam in identity theft, credit, investments, telemarketing, and also diet, health and fitness, and much more.

Institute of Consumer Financial Education - they have a fresh approach to reducing debt with features like, "mending spending", and "spending by choice".

AARP - a membership organization dedicated to enhancing the experience of aging through advocacy, information, and services; at the main website go to the 'Money & Work' category for financial information.

Financial Security Later in Life - CSREES sponsored financial security programs and activities to help youth, economically vulnerable individuals and families, and consumers making financial decisions about later life acquire the knowledge, tools, and motivations to achieve financial security.

PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS & TEACHERS - Even though you are the instructors and role models for teaching basic money management skills to your children, here are some websites they can check out themselves ~ the information is directed specifically to young adults and interact with the kids to help get the information across.

* Adding It Up - a new, interactive, Cornell website for youth in Middle and High schools to learn about budgeting

* Zillions - the consumer reports magazine especially for kids

* Jump Start Coalition - Interactive website to improve their financial literacy

All of these websites have useful information for adults too !