You may be getting spring fever right about now, but with the April 15th tax deadline approaching, there’s no better time to settle in and think seriously about your finances. It’s for this reason that since 2004, April has been declared “National Financial Capability Month.” But just how important is this, and why does it matter?

National Financial Capability Month is a presidential proclamation. While this sounds awfully serious, the proclamation in this case has to due with raising awareness during a certain month, much like Women’s History Month (March) or National Preparedness Month (September). April, when most of us are thinking about our taxes anyway, is now the country’s official time to encourage citizens to empower themselves financially.

The proclamations over the past several years have focused on these key items:

Strengthening our economy post-recession

Although our economy has grown since the 2008 recession, there’s still a missing link between hard work and fair opportunities — but the smarter financial decisions Americans make, the better off our economy will be as a whole.

Encouraging financial literacy

The government recognizes that, between lack of education and misleading techniques employed by certain financial institutions, Americans don’t always possess the financial literacy they need for success. Campaigns such as “Know Before You Owe” and the new simplified mortgage forms were introduced as a response to the need for fiscal transparency.

Guiding citizens through major financial decisions

The financial “big three” — college, a home, and retirement — aren’t a reality for all Americans. This is why the government has been working to make saving and borrowing safer and easier for more people with programs like myRA.

Why National Financial Capability Month Matters

Since 2008, our country — and our fellow citizens — have had to reevaluate our relationship to money. A complex network of events, practices, and behaviors robbed many people of the financial futures they had been working toward. This is why both the government and the people of the United States come together each April to take a fresh look at the state of our affairs so we can build stronger futures together.

Each of us is responsible for our own financial literacy, but not all of us have had the same opportunity to become truly financially capable. That’s why National Financial Capability Month matters — it’s a time to seek out resources offered by the government and other institutions that will empower us to make smart money decisions.

Here are a few good places to start:

MyMoney.gov

For basic, easy-to-understand information on spending, saving, borrowing, investing, and earning, see MyMoney.gov.

ConsumerFinance.gov

The consumer finance bureau offers a lot of good information on how to safely and securely engage with finance institutions, whether you’re opening up a credit card or taking out a loan.

MyRA.treasury.gov

Find out about the government’s new type of retirement account that’s safe, affordable, and completely free of start-up or maintenance fees.

One of the best things you can do for your finances — and your credit score — is to learn as much as you can. The more you know, the more power you have, and the better off you are likely to be when it comes to money.

The post Understanding National Financial Capability Month appeared first on National Credit Federation.

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11 Items Deleted
65% of the Items Challenged were deleted in one round!

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Here are the items that were removed or improved:

Civil Judgment

BAC Home Loans Serv

Chase / Bank One Card Serv

First Nationwide Bank

HSBC Best Buy

Professional Collections

Sears / CBNA

SLC Stud Loan Trust

USAA Fed Svg Bnk

Utah Central Credit Un

Although these are Kevin’s actual results, we have to tell you that your results WILL vary because everyone’s report is different.

But if you would like to receive results on your report, then call the number on the top of this page or click on “Join Now” and we can get started improving your credit score so you can begin living the life you deserve today!

Round 1 Lawrence Law Sandy, UT

The post Kevin in UT has 11 removed from his Credit Report appeared first on National Credit Federation.

11 Items Deleted

68% of the Items Challenged were deleted in one round!

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Here are the items that were removed or improved:

AllianceOne Red Mgt Spec

Barclays Bank Delaware

Chase / Bank One Card Serv

Chrysler Financial

Credit Collection Servic

Credit One Bank

Credit Protection Assoc

LHR Inc

Although these are Geralso’s actual results, we have to tell you that your results WILL vary because everyone’s report is different.

But if you would like to receive results on your report, then call the number on the top of this page or click on “Join Now” and we can get started improving your credit score so you can begin living the life you deserve today!

Round 1 Joe Gendelman Brandon, FL

The post Chase Chrysler and More Deleted on Round 1 appeared first on National Credit Federation.

100% of the Items Challenged were deleted in one round!

Click on the image to view the full size pdf!

Here are the items that were removed or improved:

Chase Manhattan Mortgage

FFCC – Columbus

Although these are Jennifer’s actual results, we have to tell you that your results WILL vary because everyone’s report is different.

But if you would like to receive results on your report, then call the number on the top of this page or click on “Join Now” and we can get started improving your credit score so you can begin living the life you deserve today!

Round 4 Kevin Decker Las Vegas, NV

The post Chase Manhattan Mortgage Deleted for Jennifer in Las Vegas appeared first on National Credit Federation.

100% of the Items Challenged were deleted in one round!

Click on the image to view the full size pdf!

Here are the items that were removed or improved:

BAC Home Loans Serv LP

Although these are John’s actual results, we have to tell you that your results WILL vary because everyone’s report is different.

But if you would like to receive results on your report, then call the number on the top of this page or click on “Join Now” and we can get started improving your credit score so you can begin living the life you deserve today!

Round 6 Mark Coats Grain Valley, MO

The post Final Deletion was a Mortgage for John in MO appeared first on National Credit Federation.

100% of the Items Challenged were deleted in one round!

Click on the image to view the full size pdf!

Here are the items that were removed or improved:

Chase Bank USA NA

CitiMortgage Inc

GEMB / GE Money Loc

Texas Attorney General

TU Electric

Universal CD CBNA

Wells Fargo Card Service

Although these are Joe’s actual results, we have to tell you that your results WILL vary because everyone’s report is different.

But if you would like to receive results on your report, then call the number on the top of this page or click on “Join Now” and we can get started improving your credit score so you can begin living the life you deserve today!

Round 1 Harry Bradley Houston, TX

The post 8 for 8 Deleted for Joe in Houston appeared first on National Credit Federation.

15 Items Deleted
83% of the Items Challenged were deleted in one round!

Click on the image to view the full size pdf!

Here are the items that were removed or improved:

State Tax Lien

Paid Civil Judgment

First Premier Bank

Civil Suit Filed

Civil Judgment

Credit One Bank

Fidelity Collections

Arrow Financial Services

ER Solutions

Novastar Mortgage Inc

GECRB / PayPal Smartconn

Farmers Natl Bk Ohio

Although these are Dan’s actual results, we have to tell you that your results WILL vary because everyone’s report is different.

But if you would like to receive results on your report, then call the number on the top of this page or click on “Join Now” and we can get started improving your credit score so you can begin living the life you deserve today!

Round 1 Chris Cruciger East Liverpool, OH

The post Liens Judgments and a Mortgage Removed from TU appeared first on National Credit Federation.

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Here are the items that were removed or improved:

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

EOS CCA

Dell Financial Services

Fivepoint Credit Union

At Home w/ Bassett / GEMB

Chase Manhattan Mortgage

If you would like to receive results like these, then call the number on the top of this page or click on “Join Now” and we can get started improving your credit score so you can begin living the life you deserve today!

Spragg

The post Eric in TX has TU Results appeared first on National Credit Federation.

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Here are the items that were removed or improved:

WFNNB

Lerner

Seventeen CU Inc

TNB Target

GEMB

Walmart

Springleaf Formerly Age

WFNNB / Value City / Rooms To Go

US Bank Home Mortgage

If you would like to receive results like these, then call the number on the top of this page or click on “Join Now” and we can get started improving your credit score so you can begin living the life you deserve today!

The post Brandi's results from TU in Ohio appeared first on National Credit Federation.