Financial Wellbeing

Financial wellbeing encompasses the ability to manage your finances effectively, reducing stress and creating a sense of security. Financial stability supports emotional well-being by alleviating anxiety related to financial uncertainty. Understanding financial planning, budgeting, and saving can empower you to make informed decisions and align your financial choices with your values.

Key Topics in Financial Wellbeing

• Financial Health and Stress: Understanding how financial instability can affect mental health and stress levels.

• Financial Literacy: Learning about budgeting, saving, and investing to achieve long-term financial stability.

• Financial Planning for Future Goals: Planning for emergencies, retirement, and investments to secure financial independence.

Ways to Improve Financial Well-Being

• Creating a Budget: Setting clear financial goals and tracking expenses to maintain financial discipline.

• Debt Management: Understanding credit and managing debt to improve financial security.

• Investing for the Future: Learning about basic investment strategies and retirement planning to build long-term financial security.

General Resources

• YNAB (You Need A Budget): While YNAB has a paid subscription for full access, it offers a free trial and has top-notch budgeting and financial planning features. 

• Investor.gov: Free financial calculators and planning tools. 

• Dave Ramsey's Financial Calculators: Tools for budgeting, debt management, and planning.

• MoneyByLisa: Resources on debt, credit, investing, and more.

• Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund: Information on loans, educational assistance, and more. 

• Retirefederal.com - Tammy Flanagan & Associates: A wealth of information and resources on federal retirement, and individual advisory services for a fee.

• Foundation for Financial Planning - Pro-bono financial planning services.

• Cost of Living Information by State - Missouri Economic Research and Information Center

• AFSA List of Financial Planners, Tax Help and Estate Planners  

Solidarity Funds

• The Solidarity Fund - Application for USAID community members (all hiring mechanisms)

• The Solidarity Fund - Make a donation to the Fund

• Federal Worker Solidarity Fund - Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO

For information on unemployment insurance requirements by state, check out Help4Feds.org.