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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12 Items Deleted
71% of the Items Challenged were deleted in one round!

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Here are the items that were removed or improved:

Amsher Collection Services

First Premier

Honda Fin Dallas Reg Br

HSBC Bank

National Credit Solution

Lane Bryant

Wells Fargo Financial

West Asset Mgmt

**AND**

Check Out Rose’s results from Equifax and Experian on this Round!

Although these are Rose’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 Bill Spragg Houston, TX

The post Rose in Houston's TransUnion Results appeared first on National Credit Federation.

12 Items Deleted
55% 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:

United Revenue Corp

WFFNB / Mattress Giant

Land Bryant Retail

Amsher Collection

West Asset Management

Financial Control SVC

**AND**

Check Out Rose’s results from Equifax and TransUnion on this Round!

Although these are Rose’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 Bill Spragg Houston, TX

The post Rose in Houston's Experian Results appeared first on National Credit Federation.

16 Items Deleted
73% 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:

LB Retail

SEARS / CBNA

First Premier

HSBC Bank

LVNV Funding

Mattress Giant

GHEP Greater Houston Emergency

Houston Radiology Associated

Greater TX Emergency Consultants

Clear Lake Regional Medical

**AND**

Check Out Rose’s results from TransUnion and Experian on this Round!

Although these are Rose’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 Bill Spragg Houston, TX

The post Rose in Houston's CSC Equifax Results appeared first on National Credit Federation.

55% 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:

First Fed Credit Control

LVNV Funding

NCO – Medclear

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!

Round 1

Chris Cruciger

Youngstown, OH

The post Chapter 7 Discharge Deleted for Anthony appeared first on National Credit Federation.

18 Items Deleted
95% 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:

Account Resolution Servi

Credit Protection Assoc

Firstsource Advantage LLC

Gulf Coast Collection Bu

Medical Business Bureau

NCO – Medclear

Pinnacle Financial Group

Although these are Shacara’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 Schultz Bradenton, FL

The post 18 Deleted and only 1 left for Shacara appeared first on National Credit Federation.

14 Items Deleted
74% 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:

NCO – Medclr

AFNI, Inc.

Credit Protection Asso

Although these are Shacara’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 Shultz Bradenton, FL

The post 14 Deletions from Experian for Shacara appeared first on National Credit Federation.

18 Items Deleted

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

48% of the Items Challenged on Experian were deleted in one round!

Click on the image to view the full size pdf!

Here are the items that were removed or improved:

Stern and Associates

Spartan Financial Svc

PMAB LLC

RMB, INC

Wakefield and Assoc

RJM Acquisitions LLC

USCB Corporation

Central Finance Control

Interstate Credit Collect

Paragon Revenue Group

Professional Med Adj Bur

Credit Collection/USA

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!

Round 1

Tony Baptista

Smyrna, SC

The post Experian Results for Catherin in South Carolina appeared first on National Credit Federation.

58.33% 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:

Trident Asset Management

Medical Data Systems Inc

I C Systems Collections

Account Services

Security Svc FCU

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!

Round 1

Bill Spragg

Kingsbury, TX

The post Over Half Deleted in One Round for Tracy in Texas appeared first on National Credit Federation.