The bad news is that you’ve probably got a million questions about money at this point. Am I a spender or a saver? How much allowance is reasonable? How much money should I be saving for college? Should I get a credit card?

The good news is that you and your parents are the only ones that can answer those questions. Each individual is different. That’s why they call it PERSONAL finance.

And one more bit of good news. There are plenty of places on the web to do the research you need to answer those questions for yourself.

Some of these web pages are sponsored by financial institutions. We do not endorse any of the sites in the list or their sponsors.

NOTE: Clicking these links will open a new browser window.

Personal Finances:

BizKid$ celebrates junior entrepreneurs and entrepreneur wannabees with plenty of chances to learn about and practice good business skills. The site is a companion to a new series on finance designed especially for kids and features lots of info, blogs, games, and much more. Tune the show in on your local PBS station.

Figure This! Math Challenges for Families, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, offers math challenges for kids. Check out their challenge index at http://www.figurethis.org/challenges/challenge_index.htm to see which ones relate to money and personal finance.

FirstGov for Kids Money Page, a comprehensive web site, sponsored by the federal government of government and private sites devoted to helping kids understand concepts related to money.

Jump$tart Coalition’s Education Data Base: A coalition of diverse financial education stakeholders that work together to educate and prepare young people for life-long financial success.

The Young Investor, a look at investments for young and old, sponsored by Liberty Financial.

SmartStart’s Allowance Room: In this interactive game sponsored by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce featuring allowances, kids explore “must-have” items, find out their cost, and determine how long it’ll take them to save enough money to pay for them.

BLS Career Page for Students: Explore careers, review maps and charts about careers, and watch videos that profile careers.

Jump$tart’s Reality Check: Do your kids think they're going to move out into their own apartment, join a gym, go clubbing, and drive an SUV? Let them try Jump$tart Coalition's Reality Check to see what all their dreams will cost.

Moneyopolis: A pro bono effort by Ernst & Young LLP, Moneyopolis helps kids enhance their basic math and finance skills. The game incorporates a “virtual city” in which children move through various financial planning centers, managing money and working toward defined goals.

Wise Pockets: A koala bear named Wise Pockets tells stories about responsibility and other financially-related values for younger children. At the completion of the story, users answer questions about the story and a re rewarded with printable activities and game memorabilia.

Test your Money Smarts: The Securities and Exchange Commission has set up this site to help you assess what you know and what you need to know.


Allowances:

Articles for parents about allowances feature several informative articles.

CIBC SmartStart pages, sponsored by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.


Planning for college:

More Information on Qualified State Tuition Programs, a comprehensive site about the full scope of these savings programs.

How to Save Money for College, from Educaid, one of the top educational money lenders.

Preparing Your Child For College, an online version of the U.S. Department of Education’s resource book for Parents.


Looking for a job:

YouthRules, a splashy site for kids sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Fair Labor Standards Act, an online guide to explore wages, working conditions, and other information for young workers.


Handling credit:

Student Credit Cards: Establishing an A+ Credit History: A good look at credit for young people, created by StudentMarket.com, Inc. in conjunction with the Credit Counseling Service of Southern New England, including a clear explanation of interest rates, grace periods, annuals fees, etc.

Choosing and Using Credit Cards, a publication by the Federal Trade Commission.

Students and Credit Cards, an article in Consumers’ Research Magazine.