When you were in school, did you learn about managing your money? I remember learning how to write a check — strangely enough, in music class — but that was about it.

A new resource from the Federal Trade Commission takes you through important steps in managing your money. This section of consumer.gov talks about making a budget and opening a bank account, using debit cards, and saving money when you shop. It also gives you information about prepaid cards, using phone cards, and sending money overseas.

The FTC recently completed its fifth national study on the accuracy and completeness of consumer credit reports. A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued, or have filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.

If you owe back taxes, you may be tempted to turn to companies that claim they can reduce or eliminate your tax debts and stop back-tax collection by applying for IRS hardship programs. The truth is that most people don’t qualify for the programs these fraudsters hawk, their companies don’t settle the tax debt, and in many cases they don’t even send the necessary paperwork to the IRS.

The FTC recently settled a case against American Tax Relief, which bilked consumers out of more than $100 million by falsely claiming it could reduce their tax debts. Under the settlement, the scammers are banned from telemarketing and selling debt relief services, and must surrender more than $15 million in cash and assets to settle charges that they violated federal law.