Your Money, Your Goals Booklet Research

Debt getting in your way?
Get a handle on it.

Your Money,
Your Goals

Who is the CFPB?
The Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau works on
your behalf. We want you
to have the information you
need to make good financial
decisions for yourself and for
your family.

We’re here for you. We are a
government agency that was
created by Congress in 2010 in
response to the financial crisis.
We’re taking action. We work
to make sure banks, lenders,
and others operate fairly.
We’re committed to you. We
are committed to helping
people enjoy safer, better
financial lives.

START HERE

1. Look at the board.

My debt
picture

2. Use a pen or highlighter to
circle the debts you have.
3. Put a star on those that concern
you the most.

Student
Loans

Credit Card
Debt

Appliance or
Furniture

Medical Debt

Mortgage or
Past-Due Rent

Back Child
Support

Other

Past-Due Cell
Phone Bills

Online Loan

Car Title Loan

Past-Due
Utility Bills

Payday Loan

Gambling

Friends &
Family

Line of Credit

Past-Due Fees
& Fines

Other

Installment
Loans

Auto Loan

Membership
Fees in
Collections
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS

Debt getting in your way?
Debt is money you owe another person
or business. When it gets out of hand, it's
important to remember that you're still
in control. The small steps you choose to
take can lead to big changes.
This set of tools can help you take the
first step: capture a picture of what you
owe, decide which debts to pay first,
or set some new goals. The tools are
designed to help you get a handle on your
payments and cut down on stress from
growing debt.
You can fix this; we can help.
Get a handle on it.
For more information, you can refer to the
full “Your Money, Your Goals” toolkit at
cfpb.gov/your-money-your-goals

Which debts
do I prioritize
in tight
months?

How do I
respond to a
debt collector?

Who else can
I turn to for
help?

PRIORITIZING
D E B T PAY M E N T S

DEALING WITH
D E B T C O L L E C TO R S

RESOURCE
CARDS

What debts
do I owe?

Do I have
enough money
to make my
payments?

How do I
deal with my
student loans?

DEBT
LO G

M O N T H LY
S N A P S H OT

S T U D E N T LO A N
CHECKLIST

What can I do
to reach my
goals?

How do I
check my
credit report?

How does my
debt change
throughout
the year?

DEBT ACTION
PLAN

CREDIT
REPORT

SEASONAL
S N A P S H OT

YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS

PRIORITIZING DEBT PAYMENTS

Which debts do I
prioritize in tight
months?

A step further
Are your debts secured or unsecured?
Secured debt is attached to
an asset, like a car or a home.
When debt is secured, a lender
can take that asset if you don't
pay. Examples of secured debt
include:

My secured debts include:

§§ Home loans
§§ Auto loans

This tool will help you:

What you’ll need:

Unsecured debt is not attached
to an asset. If you don't pay
these debts, they often go
directly to collections. Examples
of unsecured debt include:

§§ Understand the
consequences of missing
or delaying payments
when you can't pay the
monthly minimum

** Any overdue notices

§§ Credit cards

** Any letters from
creditors that
threaten eviction,
repossession, default,
or discontinuation of
service

§§ Department store charge
cards

§§ Figure out the trade-offs
in your situation
§§ Create a plan to
make this month's
most important debt
payments

Start with one question:

How do you decide which debts to pay first?
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS

My unsecured debts include:

§§ Medical debt
§§ Student loans

Keep in mind
Falling behind on secured debt payments can be especially risky. If
you miss payments, you can lose things like your car or house, which
may put you at risk of losing your job or not being able to provide for
your family.
Credit cards are usually unsecured. You'll risk late fees and a drop in
your credit score if you miss payments or pay less than the required
minimum.

Weigh the risk of making
a late debt payment.
First, think about your debts.
To keep or get a job,
I need to pay:
** Auto loan
** Auto title loan
**

Obligations I need to pay:
** Court-ordered judgments
and obligations such as back
child support or past-due
fines/court fees

Now, prioritize your payments.
Ultimately, you're responsible for paying all of
your debts on time. But, if you have to delay
some payments, think about the order you want
to pay them in.
Highest priority payments
(I'll pay these first)

**

Other debts:
To stay housed and keep
utilities on, I need to pay:
** Mortgage
** Back rent
** Past-due utility bills
**

** Credit card debt
** Loans from friends and family
** Medical debt
** Payday loans
** Student loans
** Past-due bills
**

Late mortgage payments
or an eviction can make it
harder to find a new place to
live.
T I P:

Credit card companies may
raise your interest rates if you pay
more than 60 days late.
T I P:

Lowest priority payments

DEALING WITH DEBT COLLECTORS

How do I respond to a
debt collector?

Additional resources

Have more questions about debt
collection?
Visit “Ask CFPB” at
cfpb.gov/askcfpb
Sample letters to debt collectors
can be found on the CFPB’s
website at cfpb.gov/askcfpb/1695
Having an issue with a debt
collector? Submit a complaint with
the CFPB at cfpb.gov/complaint
Need help finding a credit
counselor? To find a certified
credit counselor, visit
usa.gov/debt

This tool will help you:

Know your rights:

§§ Take actions to verify
whether the debt is valid

A debt collector cannot:

§§ Know how to dispute
the debt if you do not
owe it
§§ Know what to do next
if you do owe the debt

§§ Call repeatedly to harass
or abuse you
§§ Use obscene language
§§ Make a false or
misleading statement
about what you owe
§§ Publish your name for
not paying a debt
§§ Lie to you

Start with one
question:

Are debt collectors
contacting you?
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS

If a debt collector sues, be sure to
keep records and respond to any
court documents. If you can’t go to
court on the date scheduled, ask
the court for another hearing date.
If you are served with a lawsuit, you
should also try to find an attorney
who can advise and represent you.
Need help finding a lawyer?
Check your state's Legal Aid
Directory at
cfpb.gov/askcfpb/1549

If debt collectors harass you,
they may be violating the law.
Need to submit a
complaint?
cfpb.gov/complaint

This guide references third-party resources or content that consumers may find helpful. The inclusion of
links or references to third-party sites does not necessarily reflect the Bureau's endorsement of the thirdparty, the views expressed on the outside site, or products or services offered on the outside site. The
Bureau has not vetted these third-parties, their content, or any products or services they may offer. There
may be other possible entities or resources that are not listed that may also serve your needs.

§§ a copy of the last bill
Find out if the statute of
limitations on the debt expired
(when the collector can no
longer sue you for the debt).
Dates to ask for:
§§ when the account
became delinquent
§§ when the collector
obtained the debt and
what the amount was then

I do not think that you are the right person to pay.

I already paid this debt in full or settled it.

Other:





§§ OR, negotiate a payment
plan that will give you
more time to pay down
your debt.
§§ OR, pay the debt in full
and move on.
If the debt is not legitimate,
don’t delay! Send the debt
collector a letter (or use the
form to the right) disputing
the debt immediately. You
may lose your ability to
dispute the debt if you wait
until after a court issues
judgment.

 end me the dates the debt was incurred, and the
S
name and address of the original creditor.

§§ documentation proving
you’re required to pay

I want to ask:

Reply to court documents.
If you don’t respond, the
court will usually assume you
agree with what the creditor
says, and issue a money
judgment against you. You
may want an attorney to
advise or represent you at
the hearing.

§§ the account number and
amount owed

account number

Keep records. Save
everything debt collectors
send you and the original
copies of anything you send
them. Write down dates,
times, and notes for every
call. These will help if you
have a dispute or go to court.

§§ the original creditor’s
name and address



§§ Try to settle with the debt
collector for a smaller
amount that will fully
resolve the account. (You
can do this yourself by
contacting the collector.)

Check all that apply:

§§ the collector’s name
and address

The amount is wrong.

If the claim is legitimate,
don’t despair! At least
now you know what you’re
dealing with. You still have
options:



Ask for information. If you’re
not sure about the debt or
the amount, send a letter
(or use the form to the right)
asking for:

I am writing about

Make sure you recognize the
debt. Does this debt collector
have the right to collect it?
Be cautious. Don’t give the
debt collector sensitive info
like your full Social Security
or bank account numbers.
No matter what they say, you
don’t have to give it to them.

Resolve.

This is not my debt.

Ask questions.



Be sure.

My address is



My name is



I want to dispute this debt because:

If a debt collector contacts you,
don’t ignore it!

RESOURCE CARDS

Who else can I turn to
for help?

Keep in mind
Dealing with debt settlement
companies can be risky. Some
debt settlement companies
promise more than they can
deliver. Consider all of your
options, including working with a
nonprofit credit counselor.
Avoid doing business with any
company that promises to settle
your debt if the company:
§§ charges any fees before it
settles your debts
§§ says it has a “new government
program” to bail out personal
credit card debt

These resources may
help you:
§§ Get your mortgage back
on track to save your
home
§§ Manage medical bills
§§ Deal with debt

§§ Get a response from
banks and debt
collectors

What to do:
1. Add any relevant local
resources
2. Photocopy and cut
into eight referral cards
3. Keep the cards in your
wallet or a handy place

§§ Find a lawyer

Start with one question:

Is there anything else about your debt
you're concerned about?
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS

§§ guarantees it can make your
debt go away
§§ tells you to stop
communicating with your
creditors
§§ tells you it can stop debt
collection calls and lawsuits
§§ guarantees that your
unsecured debts can be paid
off for pennies on the dollar

Need help with rent or
mortgage payments?

Need help finding
a lawyer?

Need help finding
a credit counselor?

Need help with...?

§§

§§

§§

§§

§§ You may qualify for free
legal services through legal
aid, depending on your
income and where you live.
Check your state’s Legal Aid
Directory visit:
cfpb.gov/askcfpb/1549

§§ To find a certified credit
counselor, visit:
usa.gov/debt

§§

Need help getting a
bank or debt collector
to respond?

Need help with
student loan debt?

Need help with
medical bills?

Need help with...?

§§

§§

§§

§§

§§ Submit a complaint with
the CFPB:
cfpb.gov/complaint

§§ To find out more about
student debt, visit:
cfpb.gov/paying-for-college

§§ To find out how to contact
your state Medicaid center,
call: 800.633.4227

§§

§§

§§ If you think you may be in
danger of foreclosure, call
the Homeowner's HOPE
Hotline: 888.995.HOPE

§§ Contact your state
attorney general’s office:
naag.org/naag/attorneysgeneral/whos-my-ag.php

§§ Have money questions?
Visit “Ask CFPB”:
cfpb.gov/askcfpb

§§ To find out about a charity
care reduction on a hospital
bill, contact the hospital

§§

DEBT LOG

What debts do I owe?

This tool will help you:

What you’ll need:

§§ See a full picture of all
your debt payments

** Loan statements
showing: monthly
payment amounts, due
dates, and interest rates

§§ Figure out when you will
pay off your debts with
your current repayment
plan
§§ Remember when all your
debt payments are due
§§ Pick a payback strategy
that works for you

** Your credit report (you
can use the Credit
Report tool)
T I P: If a debt collector is

contacting you, you can
use the Dealing with Debt
Collectors tool or visit “Ask
CFPB” at cfpb.gov/askcfpb

Start with one question:

How much do you think you spend on
debt payments each month?
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS

A step further
Making your monthly minimum payments is a starting point. If you can
pay more than your scheduled monthly payments, you might want to
think about choosing a payback strategy that helps reduce your debt.
START OFF SMALL

HIGHEST INTEREST RATE

After you've made all your
minimum payments, increase
your payment on the smallest
debt. After it's paid off, add
that amount to your payment
on the next smallest debt.

After you've made all your
minimum payments, increase
your payment on the debt
that has the highest interest
rate. After it's paid off, add
that amount to your payment
on the next highest-rate debt.

Pro: If you have many
small debts, you might see
progress quickly by reducing
the number of debts you
owe.

Pro: You get rid of the most
expensive debt first. By
paying off the debts that
charge you the highest
interest and fees, you get
more bang for your buck.

Con: If the interest and fees
are high on some debts, but
you pay the other loans first
because they're small, you
might pay more overall.
I will use this strategy
and will start with
these debts:

Con: You might not feel like
you're making progress very
quickly, especially if that debt
is large.
I will use this strategy
and will start with
these debts:

Use this debt log to
see what you owe.
Start here. Think about
the types of debt you
have. Here are some
common types:

Auto
Loan

Back Child
Support

Credit Card
Debt

Friends &
Family

Medical
Debt

MY MONTHLY DEBT LOG
Payment
Amount

Debt Type

Total Monthly
Payment Amount:

$

Payment
Due Date

Up-todate?




List all the debts you have.



Circle any debts in collections.

Fill out the table to see your total monthly
debt payment.

Past-Due
Fees & Fines

Mortgage or
Past-Due Rent

Payday
Loan

Student
Loans

MY OVERALL DEBT LOG
Interest Rate
(%)

Amount
Outstanding

Payoff Date
or Goal

Notes - including
any fees

MONTHLY SNAPSHOT

Do I have enough
money to make my
payments?

This tool will help you:

What you’ll need:

§§ Calculate how much
money you receive,
spend, and owe each
month

** Filled-out Debt Log or
loan statements

§§ Understand how much
money you can use to
pay your debts
§§ Make a plan to balance
your income, expenses,
and debt payments

** Pay stubs or electronic
payment records and
benefits statements
** Your checking account
statements or prepaid
card online information
and receipts
T I P: If you don't have your

Start with one
question:

Do you feel confident
making your monthly
debt payments?
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS

statements or receipts, this
tool can help you estimate
your average monthly
income, debt payments,
and spending

A step further
Track your spending. Estimating
your monthly spending is a good
start. If you want to see a clearer
picture of where your money
goes, you might want to track
your spending for a month. You
can use the Spending Tracker in
the CFPB's “Behind on Bills” or
“Your Money, Your Goals” at
cfpb.gov/your-money-your-goals
Balance your money in and
money out. Think about what you
can do this month to increase the
money you have to put toward
your debt payments. Can you cut
some things out or bring in more
money?
This month, I will...

Use this monthly snapshot to better
understand your income and payments.
Besides debt, what are your monthly
expenses?

Where does your money
come from each month?
List what you receive
each month. Some
sources of income and
resources might be:

I receive money from...

List items that you
spend money on each
month. Some examples
might be:

§§ Primary job

§§ Housing and utilities

§§ Government program

§§ Education and
childcare

§§ Second job

§§ Transportation

§§ Disability benefits

§§ Cell phone

§§ Financial support
§§ Other

I spend money on...

Total: $

§§ Groceries and
eating out
§§ Other

Total: $

In an average month...

I need at least

$

to make my debt
payments.

I receive about

$

I spend about

$
on other things...

...which leaves me

$
to pay on my debts.

STUDENT LOAN CHECKLIST

How do I deal with my
student loans?

Not sure whether your
student loan is federal or
private?
The National Student Loan Data
System, or NSLDS, provides a
list of all your federal student
loans, including which servicer is
handling your account(s).
If your loan is not listed in the
NSLDS, it is likely a private loan.
You can access the NSLDS at
nslds.ed.gov

Additional resources
This tool will help you:

Know your loan type:

§§ Find out if your loans are
federal or private

Federal student loans are
loans made or guaranteed
by the Department of
Education. They usually
have names like Direct
Loan, Stafford, PLUS, or
Perkins. They are the most
common type of student
loans.

§§ Identify your loan
payback status
§§ Determine your
eligibility for an incomedriven or alternative
repayment plan
§§ Talk to your loan servicer
about enrolling in a more
affordable repayment
plan

Start with one
question:

What type of student
loan(s) do you have?
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS

Private student loans
are any other type of
student loans. They can
be made by a bank, a
credit union, a state
agency, or a college or
university. They may have
names like “alternative” or
“institutional” loans.

Learn more about how you can
pay for college or repay student
loan debt at
cfpb.gov/paying-for-college

Keep in mind
Switching to a repayment plan
with a lower monthly payment
often means paying more over
the life of your loan.
If you have federal loans...
Learn more about the total
costs on your federal loans with
the “Repayment Estimator” at
studentloans.gov
Have questions about your
federal loans or ready to enroll in
a new repayment plan?
Call your servicer or visit
studentloans.gov. Ask about
interest rates or ask if you qualify
for other plans. Learn more at
studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans
If you have private loans...
To learn more about the total
costs or payment plan options,
contact your private loan servicer
directly.

A co-signer is a co-borrower on your student loan. Co-signers
are typically parents, grandparents, or friends who agree to
repay the loan just like the borrower does.
Co-signers should read the terms of the loan and consider
carefully before taking on the risk of co-signing.

Use this student loan checklist to
understand your payback options.



Mark the circle that describes where you are
with your monthly student loan payments.



See what options you may be eligible for
based on the circle you marked and the
type of student loan you have.

 WHERE ARE YOU WITH
YOUR LOAN REPAYMENT?

I'm struggling to
keep up.

I've missed three
or more payments.

I've temporarily
postponed my
payments and am
in deferment or
forbearance.

I've missed my
payments for over
270 days and am
in default.

I don't know
my loan
repayment
status.

MY LOAN IS PRIVATE

MY LOAN IS FEDERAL

 WHAT
CAN YOU DO?
Consider changing your monthly payments with a new repayment plan.
There is never a fee to change your plan.
With the Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) Plan, monthly payments are
based on your family size and household income. You do not need to have
a job or income to qualify for this payment plan, and may even qualify for a
$0 monthly payment. Learn more at studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans

Your lender may have an alternative payment program that lowers your
monthly payments for a limited period of time. Ask for help early to avoid
falling further behind.
Contact your student loan servicer to find out if you're eligible for an
alternative payment program. Your student loan servicer is the company
that sends you a bill each month. Their contact information is listed on your
monthly bill.

Get your loan back on
track by contacting
your collector and
asking for a loan
rehabilitation plan.
Your collector can set
affordable payments
based on your
household income
and size.
If your private student
loan is in default, work
with your collector to
establish a repayment
plan.

Reach out to your
loan servicer.
Contact your loan
servicer to find out
your repayment
status. Then, use
this tool to see your
options.

DEBT ACTION PL AN

What can I do to reach my
goals?

This tool will help you:

Keep in mind:

§§ Set goals to build toward
the future you want

Debt is money you owe
another person or a
business. When you owe
money, you have to pay it
back.

§§ Take steps to get a
handle on debt and
achieve your goals
§§ Identify resources that
can help you
§§ Track your progress

§§ Share and celebrate your
progress with friends
and family

While borrowing money
might give you something
you want or need today,
you might have monthly
payments for months or
years to come. This can
decrease your options in
the future.

Start with one question:

How do you feel when you make your payments?
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS

A step further
Share your goal with friends and
family members who can help you
achieve it.
I will share my goal with...

Additional resources
Learn more at “Ask CFPB” at
cfpb.gov/askcfpb

Use this debt action plan to
make your goals a reality.



Consider your purchases and expenses and
how debt could get in the way.



Set a goal, make a plan, and consider what
resources can help you.

Think about right now. What expenses do you need
to cover now?

Think about the future. What large purchases or
expenses do you want to make or cover in the future?

How is debt getting in the way?

How could debt get in the way?

Set a goal. What's one thing you
can do to deal with your debt?

Make a plan. What's your step-by-step
plan for achieving this goal?

MY DUE DATE:

MY DUE DATE:

MY DUE DATE:

Ask for help. Helpful resources
include...

CREDIT REPORT

How do I check my credit
report?

This tool will help you:

Know the facts:

§§ Get free copies of your
credit reports

Your credit report is a
record of some of your
bill-paying history, public
record information, and
prior inquiries by creditors
into your credit history.

§§ Understand what's
included in your credit
report
§§ Check your credit report
for errors and signs of
identity theft
§§ Dispute any errors you
find

Credit reports may be used
by landlords, employers,
and lenders. It's important
that you get your free
credit report once a year to
check for any errors.

Start with one question:

When was the last time you
reviewed your credit report?
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS

A step further

Additional resources

Dispute errors that you find in
your credit report.

A sample letter template for
disputes can be found on the
CFPB's website at
cfpb.gov/askcfpb/1303

Step 1: Submit a dispute - either
online or in the mail - to the credit
reporting company that provided
the report with the error. In the
letter, explain the error. Include
a copy of your credit report with
the incorrect information circled.
If you can, include copies (never
send originals) of anything that
proves there's an error.
Step 2: Send a letter to
the business or individual
that provided the incorrect
information. Include the same
information you included in your
dispute to the credit reporting
company.
The company generally has
30 days to investigate your
claim. After the investigation is
complete, the credit reporting
company should send you the
results within five business days.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of
your dispute?
You may file a brief statement with
the credit reporting company. You
can also submit a complaint with
the CFPB at
cfpb.gov/complaint
The information included in your
credit report is the basis for your
credit score. To learn more about
credit or credit scores,
visit “Ask CFPB” at
cfpb.gov/askcfpb/creditquestions

Check your credit report
at least once a year.
Get a free copy of your
credit report.

Review the information
in your credit report.

You can get a free copy of your credit
report at AnnualCreditReport.com
or by calling 877.322.8228

Check your credit report to:

This is the only federally authorized
source for free credit reports. You can get
a free credit report from Equifax, Experian,
and TransUnion once every 12 months
using AnnualCreditReport.com.

§§ Fix any errors you find

T I P: You don't need to pay for credit
monitoring to get your credit report. You can
monitor your own credit for free by checking
each of your nationwide credit reports at
least once a year. Many companies promise
free credit reports, but they really want you
to sign up for credit monitoring services or
other products that may come with a cost.

§§ Look for errors that could hurt your ability
to get credit or loans
§§ Guard against identity theft
Errors on your credit reports, or fraud
caused by identity theft, can make
borrowing more expensive or prevent you
from getting credit.
Common errors in credit reports include:
§§ Accounts that don't belong to you.
§§ Incorrect account status, such as “default”
or “delinquency,” or incorrect dates of
delinquency.
§§ Accounts wrongly listed as late, incorrect
balances, incorrect credit limits, and
closed accounts listed as “open.”
§§ Accounts wrongly listed more than once.
T I P: Each account should only be
reported as “open” by one creditor.

Complete the credit
report review checklist.
Double-check your name (including
spelling), Social Security number, current
telephone number, and current address.
Are your previous addresses listed
correctly?
Is your employment history correct?
Is everything listed in the personal
information section correct?
Is everything listed in the public record
section correct?
Review each item under the credit
account (trade account) section. Do
these belong to you? Are the accounts
listed as “open” currently open?
Is the status of your accounts accurately
described?
Are accounts where you are an
authorized user or joint owner listed?
Are accounts that you closed listed as
“closed by the consumer”?
T I P: If you suspect that you've been the
victim of identity theft, visit the Federal
Trade Commission's Fighting Back Against
Identity Theft website at ftc.gov/idtheft

SEASONAL SNAPSHOT

How does my debt change
throughout the year?

A step further
How can you keep these expenses from becoming debt?
Use cash instead of credit. Can you pay in cash instead of borrowing
money (through a credit card, friends and family, or payday loan)?
Plan ahead. Are there times of the year you can plan ahead for tighter
months?
When do you receive or save more money than usual (EITC, second
job)?

This tool will help you:

Keep in mind:

§§ Think about expenses
that led to debt last year

Many expenses repeat
each month, like utilities,
rent, or a cell phone bill.
However, other expenses
can vary from month to
month and can sometimes
lead to debt. These
expenses might include:

§§ Plan for expenses that
could lead to debt this
year
§§ Take action to keep
these kinds of expenses
from turning into new
debt

§§ Seasonal car
maintenance
§§ Back-to-school expenses
§§ Insurance or tax
payments

Start with one question:

What were your biggest
unexpected expenses last year?
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS

Set aside money when you can. You've identified times that you
receive or save more money than usual. Now, make a plan for how to
use that money to cover these kinds of expenses.
This year, when I receive or save
I will set aside

$

for

See how seasonal and unexpected
expenses led to debt last year.
First, think about last year.
DEC

Examples: holiday gifts, heating



Write down any quarterly, seasonal, or
emergency expenses that led to debt last
year and the amounts ($) you owed for each.



Circle the expenses that could lead to debt
again. Then, fill out the column on the right.

Now, think about this year.
What expenses do I need to
prepare for this year?

JAN
FEB
MAR

Examples: home repairs, car repairs, taxes

APR
MAY
JUN

Examples: summer activities, car insurance bill

JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV

Examples: back-to-school supplies, new clothes or uniforms

What am I going to do to
prepare for those expenses?

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has
prepared this material as a resource for the public.
This material is provided for educational and
information purposes only. It is not a replacement for
the guidance or advice of an accountant, certified
financial advisor, or otherwise qualified professional.
The CFPB is not responsible for the advice or
actions of the individuals or entities from which you
received the CFPB educational materials. The CFPB’s
educational efforts are limited to the materials that
CFPB has prepared.
This tool may ask you to provide sensitive
information. The CFPB does not collect this
information and is not responsible for how your
information may be used if you provide it to others.
The CFPB recommends that you do not include
names, account numbers, or other sensitive
information and that users follow their organization’s
policies regarding personal information.

For more information, service providers can refer
to the full “Your Money, Your Goals” toolkit online
at cfpb.gov/your-money-your-goals
If you’re having a problem with a bank
account, credit card, student loan, consumer loan,
or other financial products or services you can
submit a complaint with the CFPB at
cfpb.gov/complaint
For answers to commonly asked questions you
might have about other money matters, visit
“Ask CFPB” at cfpb.gov/askcfpb
Mail
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
P.O. Box 4503, Iowa City, IA 52244
Toll-free phone
855.411.2372
Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. (EST)
TTY/TDD phone
855.729.2372
Fax
855.237.2392