Start Smart - Resources for Students

Car Buying

Buying a New Car - Tips to help you make a smart deal. Explains commonly used industry terms and provides a worksheet to help you negotiate on price.

Buying a Used Car - Explains your rights when buying from a dealer or a private party. Offers buying tips and resources if you have problems after the sale.

Car Leasing - Under the federal Consumer Leasing Act, you, the consumer, have a right to information about the costs and terms of a vehicle lease. This information will help you compare lease offers and negotiate a lease that best fits your needs, budget, and driving patterns.

Understanding Vehicle Financing - Get the facts on dealership financing - what it is, how you apply, special financing offers, cash back and rebates you may be eligible for, and more.

College and Financial Aid Resources

College.gov - college.gov is being built by the U.S. Dept. of Ed. in collaboration with students. This site is intended to be the go-to source for information and resources about planning, preparing and paying for postsecondary education (such as 2- or 4-year colleges and universities, vocational and career schools).

Federal Student Aid - Federal Student Aid's core mission is to ensure that all eligible individuals benefit from federal financial assistance — grants, loans and work-study programs — for education beyond high school.

FinAid - This award-winning site has grown into the most comprehensive source of student financial aid information, advice and tools -- on or off the web.

North Dakota University System - Valuable information for students about the 11 campuses of the ND University system, including programs of study, key facts about enrollment and admission, college costs, and state financial aid programs available to ND students.

Smart Saving for College (a FINRA site) - This guide answers questions and gives you the information you need to wisely save and invest for college. You can make a college education an affordable choice for you or your child.

Students.gov - Provides links to scholarship and grant sites, state aid information, and more.

Credit Cards

How to Choose a Credit Card - When you are choosing a credit card, there are many features — and several kinds of cards — to consider: Fees, charges, interest rates, and benefits can vary among credit card issuers.

Credit Card Repayment Calculator - Based on the information you provide, the calculator will give you an estimate of how long it will take you to pay off your credit card balance.

Saving and Investing

Dollars and Sense - This site was created by experts in personal finance and investing for the sole purpose of educating college students.

Roadmap to Saving and Investing - A handy guide for getting started on your financial future.

Roadtrip to Savings (game) - Make decisions about income, expenses & savings - coming up short on cash means losing your wheels.

Savings Fitness - Starts you on the way to setting goals and putting your retirement high on the list of personal priorities.

And More! (games and things)

Don’t Buy Stuff You Can’t Afford (Saturday Night Live skit) - SNL offers a revolutionary debt and money-management program.

Finance in the Classroom – All kinds of games and activities.

Gen i Revolution - This game from FINRA includes fifteen Missions in which students attempt to help people in financial trouble. Students join the Gen i Revolution, strategically select their Operatives, and begin to explore and earn points as they work to complete each Mission.

The Mint - Great tips and fun activities like "When Will I Be a Millionaire?", "Spending Challenge" and "Compounding Calculator". Also has quizzes like "What Kind of Spender Are You?" and "The Truth about Millionaires".

MoneyTopia - A game where your goal is to successfully manage your money throughout life, until you achieve your Big Dream. To win, keep careful track of your finances, pay your bills on time, and take care of all the little day-to-day things that can impact your finances.