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Those who arent financially literate struggle to make informed spending, saving andbudgetingdecisions.
But whatever your level of financial knowledge, everyone has encountered problems they need help to solve.
If thats where youre at, your bank can probably help.
Many institutions now have free learning resources available to customers.
Heres a closer look at how to access these resources and the main types of content to look for.
Also seeseven ways to use your bank to simplify your finances.
Check the sites menu bar for something like learning resources, calculators or virtual coaching.
choose whatever you find, and your bank will guide you from there.
Just note that you may need to get on your banks smartphone app to access everything.
For instance, financial gamification is the concept of using gameplay to make managing money more engaging.
If your bank offers it, you may get access only through an app.
If you dont like having to look things up online, give your bank a call.
An employee should be happy to direct you to what you need.
Here are five you may get value from.
Keep in mind that your bank may offer more than these.
Online Articles
Many banks have blogs where they share financial articles.
Those can be good resources for learning new things.
For example, maybe youre ready to start saving for retirement but dont know how to start.
A banks blog might have articles that answer your questions.
Or you could read about investment strategies that will put your money to work.
Its true that a lot of this is easy to find on Google.
Financial Coaching
Some banks also offer financial coaching.
This means meeting with a bank employee to discuss your personal financial situation and goals.
You may be able to do that virtually as well as in person.
But it depends on your bank.
Coaching is great for tough problems you cant find answers to yourself.
Here are some of the things you could discuss:
Banks generally want their customers to be happy.
So if you need financial support and want to talk to an expert, theyll likely meet with you.
This can be a good opportunity to recenter yourself financially.
With this resource, you just need to know some basic details about your financial situation.
For instance, say you want to buy a home.
A calculator could tell you how long it will take to save up a large enough down payment.
This would require having some understanding of how to make a budget.
Some resources requiremore preexisting knowledgethan others.
The key is just finding what works for you.
Financial Gamification
Financial gamification has become increasingly popular in recent years.
It uses game design principles to enhance motivation and engagement in people learning about money.
Thats another way of saying gamification makes learning more fun.
Your bank might have a gamified app or online platform.
This could be a great resource for developing your financial muscle.
Here are some of the ways your bank could be utilizing gamification.
You dont have to use any of these things if they dont seem helpful.
Theyre mostly a nice tool for people who struggle to keep themselves on target financially.
Business and Entrepreneur Case Studies
Finally, self-employment is growing quickly in America.
In fact, 28% of workers now report having at leastsome self-employment income.
If you work for yourself, your bank may also have free business financial resources available.
For example, banks that serve businesses often publish case studies.
These highlight specific problems, solutions and strategies that could be applicable to your work.
If you dont work for yourself, these resources may not be for you.
But for those who do, they can be invaluable.
Putting This Learning to Work
Taking amore active rolein your finances could transform your life.
Learning about topics like this with the help of your bank is a great place to start.
But youll still need to take those lessons and apply them to your daily life.
Thats not always easy, so dont worry if you stumble.
The key is to prioritize money management consistently.
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