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.

10 Items Deleted

Click on the image to view the full size pdf!

Here are the items that were removed or improved:
Address
Santa Barbara Recorder
Credit Control
EMC Mortgage
Buckeye Precinct Justice
Cisco Credit
American General Finance

Although these are Perry’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!Tony BaptistaBuckeye, Arizona

The post Perry in Buckeye had 10 deletions in one round on his Equifax report appeared first on National Credit Federation.

Click on the image to view the full size pdf!

Here are the items that were removed or improved:
Civil Judgement in Bankruptcy

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

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!

The post Samuel's Civil Judgment in Bankruptcy was removed this round appeared first on National Credit Federation.

5 Items Deleted
62% 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:
Civil Judgment
Paid Tax Lien
Credit Control Corp

Although these are Perry’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! Tony Baptista

The post Perry's Civil Judgment and Tax Lien removed from TransUnion and More! appeared first on National Credit Federation.

9 Items Deleted
42% 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:
Civil Judgment in Bankruptcy
Release of Tax Lien
Capital Accounts LLC
Chase Home Finance LLC
PDQ Services INC
SCA Collections INC

Although these are Carmen’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!

The post 9 deletions from TransUnion from Carmen this round appeared first on National Credit Federation.

The post Great results for Margaret from TransUnion appeared first on National Credit Federation.

The post Chapter 13 Bankruptcy dismissed and more appeared first on National Credit Federation.

31 Items Deleted!

72% 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:

Civil Judgment

Paid Civil Judgment

Bonded Collectors of Wis

Cred Syst of the Fox Val

Paskin & Oberwetter

State Collection Svc

Tri State Adjustments In

United Resource Systems

Although these are Timothy’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 Wesley Chapel, FL

The post Timothy in Wesley Chapel FL has 31 Deletions in First Round appeared first on National Credit Federation.

11 Items Deleted
65% 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:

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.

18 Items Deleted
75% 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:

Civil Judgments
Paid Civil Judgments

State Tax Lien

Boulder Credit Services

CMI

Coastal Credit LLC

Collection Service Cente

Fidelity Collections

First Fed Credit Control

Ntl Recovery Agency

Prompt Recovery Service

Although these are Jerome’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 Barnes Youngstown, OH

The post Civil Judgments and 18 total Deleted for Jerome appeared first on National Credit Federation.