NPMCA — National Pavement Maintenance Contractors Association

Free courses from NPMCA

Personal finance for people who work in the trades

Free lessons on pay, banking, budgets, credit, debt, saving and family money, written for people paid weekly, by the job or in cash.

A glass jar of coins labeled Savings next to a calculator

Photo: Towfiqu barbhuiya / Pexels, Pexels License

Free lessons for crew members and anyone paid weekly, by the job or in cash: pay stubs, W-2 vs 1099, banking, seasonal budgets and the Winter Fund.

  1. Where you stand: your money snapshot
  2. W-2, 1099 or cash
  3. Read your paycheck and set your W-4
  4. Choosing a bank or credit union
  5. Second chance banking
  6. Mobile deposits and money apps: Zelle, Venmo, Cash App and X Money
  7. A budget that works on seasonal pay
  8. Winter is not an emergency: the Winter Fund and your starter cushion
  9. Short this week: what to pay first
  10. Help between paychecks: food, health care, utilities and unemployment
  11. Before you borrow: payday, title, rent-to-own and cash-advance apps
  12. What CDFIs are and why they exist
  13. Credit union or bank: what's the difference
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Free lessons on credit reports and scores, getting out of debt, debt collectors, insurance basics, scams and starting over after a setback.

  1. Credit reports and scores
  2. Fix mistakes on your credit report for free
  3. Build or rebuild your credit history
  4. Raise your score: the habits that move it
  5. Credit cards: the honest version
  6. Getting out of debt: snowball or avalanche
  7. Debt collectors, garnishment and your rights
  8. Starting over after a big setback
  9. Insurance basics: car, renters, disability and life
  10. Money traps: scams, identity theft and betting apps
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Free lessons on a full emergency fund, 401(k)s and IRAs, investing basics, tax credits, how much vehicle you can afford, and renting or buying a home.

  1. From starter cushion to full emergency fund
  2. Retirement at work: 401(k)s and the match
  3. Retirement on your own: IRAs, Roth and self-employed accounts
  4. Investing basics: how money grows and what it costs
  5. Investing traps: hype, crypto, day trading and "guaranteed" returns
  6. Taxes, level two: credits, refunds and free filing
  7. Cars and trucks: how much vehicle you can afford
  8. Rent or buy a home
  9. Earn more: skills, trust and your next chapter
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Free lessons on money with a partner, having a baby, saving for college or trade school, life insurance, wills, Social Security, giving and a 10-year plan.

  1. Money and your partner
  2. Having a baby: costs, leave and help
  3. Saving for kids' futures: college, trade school and Trump accounts
  4. If the paycheck stops: life and disability insurance
  5. Wills, guardians and powers of attorney
  6. Social Security and Medicare: what you've earned
  7. Teaching kids about money
  8. Giving and generosity
  9. Your 10-year money plan
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