Helpful Resources and Links

I'm often asked about resources that I find helpful for different topics, so my goal in this section is simply to provide a categorized set of links to sites that I have used myself and can honestly recommend as useful references - to be clear, I do not get paid to promote any of these sites and this section represents my personal opinions only. 

Banking

Bankrate - check financial soundness ratings for your banks and credit unions
DepositAccounts.com - an unbiased (not for hire) bank account comparison site offering excellent resources and insights

Insurance

A.M. Best - check insurance company ratings and news

Personal Finance

AnnualCreditReport- central service where you can get your annual free credit report from Experian, Equifax, and Transunion with no strings attached
Mint - while I'm a die-hard Quicken fan, this is the best free online tool for managing their personal finances

Real Estate

Trulia - great all-round site for real estate searches, information, and advice
Zillow - get estimated appraisals of real estate by address and other useful information
Redfin - if it's in your area, you could use redfin to save on real estate commissions
AreaVibes - Insights about most livable places in America

Deals

slickdeals - cheapskates like me enjoy this site for deals/coupons on just about everything

Other Blogs & Websites

Patrick.net - site with excellent links related to real estate market outlook
Wisebread - good site with practical advice on budget living
Christianpf - good personal finance site from a Christian perspective
Kanjoh - site with personal finance videos from the publishers of PraxisTemplates