What's New

On the wiki: Take our survey!

In keeping with its mission of promoting personal Financial Integrity through education, information, and encouragement, New Road Map Foundation is sponsoring a study of methods used by individuals and families who have successfully gotten out of debt. A project in cooperation with students at the University of Colorado Denver, the study will be used to develop educational materials to help other consumers to avoid or resolve financial distress in lasting, meaningful ways. Take the survey

Resource: SmartyPig

SmartyPig is an online savings tool with the goal of helping people develop the save-then-spend lifestyle by saving for specific goals. It's especially helpful for teaching kids to save.

Resource: Free From Broke

For a general financial website with articles and tools, see Free From Broke

Save the Date: Money & Life, June 28 - July 1, 2012

In partnership with the Whidbey Institute, NRM is hosting a convening of 80 innovators of new economic paradigms in commerce, finance, activism, and academia, creating a new equitable and sustainable economy from the ground up. Using the rough-cut of the new film Money & Life by documentarian Katie Teague as a launching pad, we will share what is working and challenge each other to deepen and broaden the transformative power of our organizations, businesses, and our own lives. See Money & Life Event for more information.

In the news: Easing the hassles of changing banks

Thinking of changing banks? Ease the challenges of getting all your automated services changed over with the Bank Switch Kit from consumerismcommentary.com.

On the wiki: Announcing a new resource especially for Canadians

Although the principles of FI are universal, the specifics of living many of the steps can vary by country. New Road Map Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of FinancialIntegrityCanada.org, a new place on the web for Canadians practicing FI. Read more on What's New.

Resource: The American Debt Project

A personal finance blog with a broad range of information, the American Debt Project combines personal experience with practical resources on a variety of personal finance subjects.

In the news: You’ve Got an Emergency Fund — Now What?

Congratulations: you've established an emergency fund to help maintain your financial stability. Now... how do you manage it to keep it safe and readily available? Some ideas from MoneyCrush.

In the news: My Story of Frugality: Breaking My Economic Dependence on My Job

Dale S. Brown tells her story of how, using the FI principles in Your Money or Your Life, she set about attaining more financial freedom. She provides more details here.

Resource: Cool to be frugal

Cool To Be Frugal is a down-to-earth blog about frugal living and increasing income.

In the news: The 3/50 Project: Help Your Local Economy

Looking for a way to both be more mindful in your spending, and make a real difference to the economy in your own community? Check out this article about the 3/50 Project.

In the news: What Is "Enough"? Achieving the Right Balance in Our Lives and Families

Some solid thoughts from Center for a New American Dream about how to find what is enough, and help children understand the concepts.

Resources: Bogleheads

No, they're not word-game addicts. Bogleheads is a forum and wiki dedicated to discussion of personal investment information.

Resources: Car replacement calculator

Is your old car sucking up more of your wealth than you can justify? Here's a tool to help you decide.

Resources: Especially for Canadians

We've added several new resources of particular interest to our Canadian members (plenty of universal information makes them well worth your time to check out).
Moneyville - award-winning personal finance blog
Squawkfox - frugal living with panache
Canadian Couch Potato - low-stress investment strategies (also works for American investors)

Tools and examples: Ready for Zero

If you need help organizing and managing your own debt elimination plan, Ready for Zero may be a helpful tool for you.

Resource: Lending Club

Maybe you’re looking for an alternative to borrowing from the giant multinational banks, or for a lower-cost, fixed-rate loan as a step to retire debt. Or perhaps you want to put some of your money to work investing in the lives of real people, while minimizing risk. One option might be peer-to-peer lending such as Lending Club.

Resource: Canadian Dream - Free at 45

An early-retirement blog with specific resources for Canadians, as well as useful general information.

In the news: Domestic outsourcing: practical or wussypants?

With typical attitude and humor, Mr. Money Mustache presents convincing arguments on why “insourcing” is an important component of achieving financial – and life – independence, as well as increased satisfaction, in this article on his blog.

Resource: Sharing through personal lending'

As you progress toward financial freedom, you may find yourself in a position to consider lending your life energy: what do you need to know to do so responsibly? Learn more here.

Resource: Get out of debt guy

The Get Out of Debt Guy provides a broad resource for individuals concerned about getting and staying out of debt.

Resource: The Story of Stuff Project

Explore our relationship with Stuff through the multimedia resources at The Story of Stuff Project, and discover ways to reduce consumption for a more sustainable life.

In the news: B corporations: driving a new ecology of commerce

“What is enough?” is both a personal question and one for a wider perspective. Center for a New American Dream explores Benefit Corporations, an evolution in capitalism to "to incorporate greater value for consumers, companies, and other stakeholders.”

Resource: MoneySense

MoneySense is a general-purpose financial website providing specific advice and resources for Canadians.

In the news: Look Out, Here Comes the 1099-K

As the January 24 post on Bloomberg Businessweek warns, if you sell goods or services via e-Bay, Etsy, or any venue that provides merchant services, your payment processor is now sending your transaction information directly to the IRS. The article outlines some of the important things you need to know. (Here's a hint: those Step 2 tracking skills are a must!)

Resource: LearnVest

LearnVest is a website offering financial tools and support to help you align your spending with your values and increase your savings.

In the news: Reducing Unemployment by Shrinking the American Workforce

Do recent reported decreases in the unemployment rate stand up to a second look? Gallup.com explains how these data numbers are created, and why it may be wise not to react too quickly in decision-making based on statistics.

Tools & examples: Tracking and money management tools

Check out some new tools for tracking expenditures ( Step 3) and general financial management.

On the wiki: Organizing study groups

We have members in Brazil and the UK who are interested in starting up local study groups, or perhaps online study groups. If you or someone you know might be interested in joining in, send us an email at info(at)financialintegrity.org, and we'll help connect you.

We'd also be interested in volunteers who would like to help us translate the study guides into Portuguese (or any other languages).

Resources: Financial Integrity classes

Gordon Morrow is offering a 10-week course, TRANSFORM YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY, in Ontario this January. Check out the details on Gordon's Speaker page

More updates on What's New

The Financial Integrity program has its roots in the groundbreaking work of the late Joe Dominguez, co-author with V. Robin of the best seller Your Money Or Your Life. This wiki is sponsored by the non-profit New Road Map Foundation (NRM). Founded in 1984 to disseminate the proceeds from Joe’s original seminar recordings, NRM continues via this web site to support people in transforming their relationship with money, and aligning their finances with their values.

New Road Map Foundation (NRM) freely offers the Financial Integrity material to anyone who can benefit from them, only asking that it be used and shared in the same spirit.