Resources for Your Family During Tough Financial Times

The normal events of the week can be enough of a struggle—getting the kids off to school, paying the bills, making sure you have dinner on the table, and lots of things in between. But when times are tough or you’re facing unexpected expenses, caring for your family’s needs can seem overwhelming. Use these tips from USA.gov’s special Help for Difficult Financial Times section to find resources from the government that can make things a little easier:

• If you’re having trouble with housing expenses, it’s important to be able to spot scams and know how you can avoid foreclosure before it happens. There are also a variety of programs to help you stay in your home or find a temporary place to live.

• We all want healthy and happy families, but emergencies can come out of nowhere. Even if you don’t have insurance, your family can still get medical care, including health care options in your local community.

• It can be hard to leave your little ones at daycare while you go off to work or are job hunting. USA.gov has resources to help make this tough decision easier, helping you decide what type of child care you can afford and what kind of environment is best for your children.

• Your kids can help the family save money too. Use these fun comics from Kids.gov to explain to kids of all ages how some simple chores and tasks can save your family money over time. Educating your kids about saving money while they’re young can help them better understand finances for the rest of their lives.

Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission

How did it come to pass that in 2008 our nation was forced to choose between two stark and painful alternatives — either risk the collapse of our financial system and economy, or commit trillions of taxpayer dollars to rescue major corporations and our financial markets, as millions of Americans still lost their jobs, their savings, and their homes?

The Commission concluded that this crisis was avoidable—the result of human actions, inactions, and misjudgments. Warnings were ignored. “The greatest tragedy would be to accept the refrain that no one could have seen this coming and thus nothing could have been done. If we accept this notion, it will happen again.”

Get the Report

New York Issues Guidelines For Victims Of Ponzi-Style Investment Schemes

New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Commissioner Robert L. Megna has announced tax guidelines for people who suffer financial losses through fraudulent investment arrangements commonly known as Ponzi schemes.

To view the entire document please visihere.