Personal Finance Basics

Mastering money is a process and a journey. Every little bit you learn along the way makes you better prepared for all the financial challenges – large and small – that life throws your way.

The lessons in this educational program are designed to help you make informed choices with your money. There will always be more to learn, but these lessons will help you deal with some of the most important elements of personal finance: spending wisely, saving effectively, managing expenses, avoiding scams, and building the kind of strong credit history you need to meet all your biggest financial goals.

These video lessons are available anytime. Just follow the links below to begin.

Becoming Financially Fit

Build savings, improve your credit, and prepare for the major milestones of life with these core financial lessons.

Credit Overview

This concise video lesson introduces the basics of credit and why it’s important to your overall financial picture.


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Becoming a Credit Report Ninja

The information contained in your credit report can be the difference between achieving your biggest goals, like buying a house or starting a business, and falling short. Don't stay in the dark about your credit! In this lesson, we'll shed light on the most important details of your credit report, including how to read your report and how to build a positive credit history.


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Creating Wealth

A concise overview of strategies and tools to help you create wealth through saving and wise investing.


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Managing Income & Expenses

Financial prosperity all begins with balance. If budgeting sounds like a chore, it really isn't! In this lesson, we'll walk you through what it takes to create a thoughtful budget and how to stick to your new spending plan.


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Give Yourself a Financial Checkup

Just like visiting the doctor, it’s a good idea to give yourself an annual financial checkup. Watch this short video for tips and tools to give yourself a financial checkup and start the new year with your best foot forward.


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Retire Strong

Explore basic timelines and requirements to help you plan for retirement.


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To Buy or Lease a Car

Should you buy a new car, or sign a lease instead? There are pros and cons to both options, which we'll explore in this short lesson. If you need a new car soon, be sure to review this lesson first.


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Buy Now, Pay Later

Buy Now, Pay Later is a growing payment trend offered by many retailers. Explore pros and cons, and best practices for using this payment option, in this concise video.


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Demystifying Digital Assets

From cryptocurrency to NFTs, digital assets are on the rise! Watch this short video for an introduction to the world of digital assets.


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Lessons for Homeowners and Renters

Whether you own a home or rent an apartment, you have rights and responsibilities and we want to make sure that you understand them.

Seven Steps to Homeownership

Buying a home is exciting and knowing what to expect is important. This concise video will introduce the homebuying process in seven easy steps, to help you prepare for a successful homeownership journey.


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Fair Housing and You

Whether you’re looking to rent or buy, there are some important things to know about your housing rights. This video provides an overview of the Fair Housing Act and how it might affect you.


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Zombie Mortgages

Zombie mortgages are real! These are mortgage debts that consumers believed were forgiven or satisfied a long time ago, but actually still exist. Watch this short video to learn more about zombie mortgages and steps to take if you have one.


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Renter Responsibilities

Tenants and landlords both have certain rights and responsibilities when it comes to rented property. If you're a renter, it's important that you understand these responsibilities. In this lesson, we'll break down who's responsible for what, so you can be an informed tenant.


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Avoiding Eviction

If you’re at risk of eviction, or struggling to make payments, there are resources that may be available to help. In this short video, we’ll explore what you should know about the eviction process and possible options and resources to help you avoid eviction.


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Lessons for Small Business Owners

Is owning a small business part of your plans? Make sure you're fully prepared for all of the financial complexities of owning your own business.

Business Budgeting and Cash Flow

A solid budget and positive cash flow are instrumental for the long-term success of your business. In this video, we’ll explore tips and strategies to help you build a business budget and manage cash flow at various stages of the business lifecycle.


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Understanding Business Entities

Starting a business? From start-up to taxes, the type of structure you choose can make a big difference in your overall business plan. Join us as we explore the advantages and disadvantages of various business entities in this concise video.


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Mastering Credit for Small Business

Credit can be an important tool in building a successful business plan. Join us as we explore steps to establish business credit, and strategies to build and maintain a positive business rating.


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Business Savings and Insurance

Once you’ve launched a great business, taking steps to safeguard it is an important part of long-term success. Join us as we explore the importance of safeguarding your business through savings and various types of business insurance coverage.


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Business Recordkeeping and Taxes

Taking time to maintain organized business records and plan ahead for taxes can have a positive impact on your bottom line. In this video you’ll learn about the importance of business recordkeeping and tax planning, and identify strategies to help you keep accurate business records and plan ahead for taxes.


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Managing Difficult Times

Life can feel like a roller coaster sometimes, constantly going up and down (and down again). These lessons will help you tackle some of the most pressing challenges of the day.

Avoiding ID Theft and Scams

Financial scams and identity theft are shockingly common and dangerously destructive to the lives of the victims. Avoiding these kinds of scams requires that you know what to look for. In this lesson, we'll break down the most common kinds of scams and all the steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.


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Scams in Today's Market

Fraud and scam trends often change with evolving technology but an educated consumer is a savvy one! This concise video will explore common scams in today’s market to help you identify potential threats and safeguard against them.


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Disaster Financial Resources

Explore strategies and resources to help you plan, prepare, and position your finances to manage the impact of a disaster.


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Federal Reserve Rates: Managing Your Money When Rates Rise

Changing federal reserve rates can have a big impact on your personal finances. Join us to learn more about what rising rates mean for your money and strategies to safeguard your finances in a changing economy.


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Preparing for the Return of Student Loan Payments

Student loan payments are back. Is your budget ready? Watch this short video to learn about your options and create your own plan to begin repaying your student loans when forbearance ends.


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DMP Resources
  • Better Business Bureau A+ rating Better Business Bureau
    MMI is proud to have achieved an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a nonprofit organization focused on promoting and improving marketplace trust. The BBB investigates charges of fraud against both consumers and businesses, sets standards for truthfulness in advertising, and evaluates the trustworthiness of businesses and charities, providing a score from A+ (highest) to F (lowest).
  • Financial Counseling Association of America Financial Counseling Association of America
    MMI is a proud member of the Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA), a national association representing financial counseling companies that provide consumer credit counseling, housing counseling, student loan counseling, bankruptcy counseling, debt management, and various financial education services.
  • Trustpilot Trustpilot
    MMI is rated as “Excellent” (4.9/5) by reviewers on Trustpilot, a global, online consumer review platform dedicated to openness and transparency. Since 2007, Trustpilot has received over 116 million customer reviews for nearly 500,000 different websites and businesses. See what others are saying about the work we do.
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development - Equal Housing Opportunity Department of Housing and Urban Development
    MMI is certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide consumer housing counseling. The mission of HUD is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD provides support services directly and through approved, local agencies like MMI.
  • Council on Accreditation Council On Accreditation
    MMI is proudly accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), an international, independent, nonprofit, human service accrediting organization. COA’s thorough, peer-reviewed accreditation process is designed to ensure that organizations like MMI are providing the highest standard of service and support for clients and employees alike.
  • National Foundation for Credit Counseling National Foundation for Credit Counseling
    MMI is a longstanding member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling® (NFCC®), the nation’s largest nonprofit financial counseling organization. Founded in 1951, the NFCC’s mission is to promote financially responsible behavior and help member organizations like MMI deliver the highest-quality financial education and counseling services.