Related Financial Services - The following Debt Consolidation Loan Directory sections allow you to comparison shop other finance products, such as debt consolidation loans and credit counseling firms.

• Debt Management Services - Do you feel that your credit card bills are stacking up with nowhere for you to turn? Your problem is not unique. Signing up with debt management firm may be the right solution to your debt problems. Review different firms offering these services to determine if this is the correct option for you.
• Debt Consolidation Settlement - If you have too many credit cards and other small debts and are unable to make your payments, this form of debt negotiation may be right for you.
• Personal Loan Rates - This type of lending is most often structured as an unsecured debt. This means your personal property or house will not used as collateral. Your approval (or denial) will usually be based upon your payment / credit history and your ability to repay the loan. This type of credit is also often called a signature loan.

Start Smart: Money Management for Teens

Another Good Use of Your Money: Helping the Less Fortunate

You may think the most important reason to save and manage money is to take good care of yourself. It is, but you should also consider using some of your money (and some of your time) to help others less fortunate than you in your town or around the world.

"People who give generously of their time and their money get tremendous amounts of satisfaction in return," said Liz Kelderhouse, an FDIC Community Affairs Officer. "You'll feel great knowing you're making a difference, and you'll have a better appreciation of what you're fortunate enough to have."

How can you get more involved sharing your time and money with others? Here are some possibilities:

• Donate part of your allowance or gift money to a charity you admire.
• Ask friends and family to donate to a charity instead of giving you birthday or holiday gifts.
• Join or start an organization at school or in your community that helps others.
• Coordinate with friends and parents on a lemonade sale, car wash, a toy or food collection, or some other event for a local charity.
• Volunteer to mow the lawn, rake leaves or handle another chore for an ill or elderly neighbor.
• Help your parents when they volunteer for a good cause or donate items to a charity.
• Participate in a walk or run that raises money for a charity.

Need more ideas or direction? Start by talking to your parents and other family members. Also, your city or county government may have Web sites that list local charities and volunteer opportunities.

FDIC Consumer News is published by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

FDIC Consumer News is produced quarterly by the FDIC Office of Public Affairs in cooperation with other Divisions and Offices. It is intended to present information in a nontechnical way and is not intended to be a legal interpretation of FDIC or other government regulations and policies. Mention of a product, service or company does not constitute an endorsement.

Find current and past issues of FDIC Consumer News at http://www.fdic.gov/consumernews. Refer to this same index to locate the issues that are specially formatted for being reprinted in any quantity.

To receive an e-mail notice about each new issue of FDIC Consumer News posted on the FDIC Web site, with links to stories, follow instructions posted at www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Last updated on 8/18/2006

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