Financial aid

Getting ready for my relocation I spent some time scouting for online sources on personal finance affairs in the US. I assume for quite a lot of people even the need to pay taxes will be quite unusual. Less obvious matters such as IRAs or even trivial CDs might be quite a challenge.

I would like to share the best of the sites found so far. Some of them are immediately useful while others cover a broader range of topics.

Salary calculators

Paycheck Calculator is a marvelous tool breaking your gross salary into your disposable income and all those payments extorted by the government (obviously taking into account you state and the number of deductions)

Relocation&cost of living calculator makes possible to compare your salary in one metropolitan area with the salary you would need in a different place to keep the same purchasing power.

Credit unions

These institutions are widely recommended as a viable alternative to banks in all matters from checking accounts to the first credit card.

America's Credit Unions - Credit unions 101 with a convenient credit union locator

Digital Federal Credit Union - one of the most accessible unions with broad geographic coverage

Free checking

An absolute necessity for getting your salary, this amenity is provided by both banks and credit unions. This year there are a few of them to choose from, for example:

Wachovia Free Checking

HSBC Free Checking

Washington Mutual Checking Account

Personal Finance 101

Those of us planning to stay in the US for many years will be inevitably interested in more strategic aspects of personal finance. The first two of the following are simply mandatory reading.

Bank rate - compare CD rates, credit cards and more

Motley fool - compare investment vehicles such as mutual funds

Fat wallet- coupons, bargain shopping, price comparison, and forum community

Kiplinger- finance advice and business forecasts