Americans for Consumer Education and Competition

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Fostering Consumer Education and Financial Literacy While Promoting Competition in the Marketplace

ACEC educates consumers to take full advantage of the financial tools available to plan for a stable economic future. By taking simple steps like using the budgeting techniques found on this website and protecting yourself from identity theft you can empower yourself and your financial future.

Tips for Avoiding the Summertime Budget Blues

Summer is a time for travel and fun, but these uncertain economic conditions are causing many Americans to scale back on their vacation plans. However, with a little budgeting, planning and creativity, there are a number of ways consumers can stretch their vacation dollars. A few tips to consider:

Plan a number of exciting day trips as opposed to
extended stay vacations.
Consider air travel at off peak-times such as during
weekdays when airfares are generally cheaper.
Off-peak travel destinations also offer a number of
savings with respect to restaurants and hotels.
Look for air + hotel vacation packages. Sometimes
booking together can save money.
For long driving trips, consider packing meals to
avoid overspending at restaurants.

There are a number of travel websites that offer tips and deals. They include:

Weathering Wall Street’s Woes…

Everybody is talking about it…the state of our economy. The current financial crisis that has gripped the country has created widespread confusion about what these problems on Wall Street might mean for ordinary Americans on Main Street. From billion dollar bailouts to the shrinking buck in your wallet, Americans are feeling the impact of an economy in distress. Projections of tighter credit are expected to make it harder for companies and individuals to access the cash needed to make investments and everyday purchases. Americans are bombarded with headlines of an economy under duress, but, ACEC says, “Don’t Panic!”

Be a Financially Literate Consumer

Now more than ever it is critical for Americans of all ages to be money skills savvy. We are the wealthiest nation but our personal debt climbs while our savings sink. How do we keep our economy robust? We need to stay smart about purchasing, planning, investing and saving. America's youth needs to be prepared as well. Here are some sites providing financial literacy resources. ACEC encourages you to visit them and to pass this information onto the young folks you know. Whether it's your piggy bank or pocketbook, your allowance or promotion bonus, we all want to protect what we earn and see it grow.

mymoney.gov is a site for the Financial Literacy and Education Commission--which is comprised of federal agencies that provide financial literacy resources.

JumpStart Coalition
jumpstartcoalition.org--encourages curriculum enrichment to ensure that basic personal financial management skills are attained during the K-12 educational experience.

OperationHope
bankingonourfuture.org--a site that promotes financial education to youth in urban and underserved communities

The Savings Coalition of America
savingscoalition.org--a nonprofit business league that supports incentives to increase personal savings in the United States.

AICPA Financial Literacy Sources
aicpa.org--this is the CPA site for financial literacy

Are you vulnerable to credit card check out fees?

Click on the map below to find out if your state protects consumers!