While people are aware of the importance of financial planning, they are not very sure of where to begin, how to create a financial plan and of they can assure themselves of a financially secure future. To provide helpful advice on ways to budget and save money, to act as a guide in taking well-informed investment decisions and to help with complete financial planning, we have brought together a collection of powerful online tools.

* The Consumer Federation of American provides excellent guidance to its visitors through it's brochure '66 Ways to Save Money' and points out innovative ways of saving money in almost all aspects of our life. The brochure can be found at - 66 Ways to Save Money (http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/economics/fsll/publications/66_ways.pdf)

* The AARP Financial Planning Tools should be the first stop for every person who is just getting started on personal financial planning. These tools cover information about the six most basic steps that one needs to take to achieve financial security for now and for later. You can look at the tools at - AARP Financial Planning Guide (http://www.chaseclearandsimple.com/documents/AARP_Guide_50ways.pdf)

* Provided by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, you could not have asked for a better set of tools for investors. Take a look at - Tools and Calculators for Investors (http://www.sec.gov/investor/tools.shtml)

* If you are finding it difficult to estimate how much you will need to save on a regular basis to be able to fund your retirement comfortably or if you want to get help in budgeting, you will find this collection of tools from the American Savings Education Council very helpful.  Some are simple one-page worksheets but there is nothing simple about the mathematics that is the basis of these calculators, taking into account complicated issues like earnings assumptions on savings and projected Social Security benefits. Try it out at - Choose to Save (http://www.choosetosave.org/calculators/#retirement)

* Designed to help you save better, this financial calculator will not only calculate your present net worth but will also project your future net worth. Worth taking a look at - America Saves: Personal Wealth Estimator (http://www.americasaves.org/back_page/personal_wealth_estimator.cfm)

* A combination of a guide and interactive tools make this a must-see website. You can get helpful information about how you can grow your savings, invest wisely and take benefits of tax-deferred retirement plans. Do not miss - Plan Well, Retire Well (http://www.retirewell.uiuc.edu/)

* We all know that we need to manage our expenses and start saving money for the really important things in life, like a new car or a new home. However, not many of us realize that the most important thing in life that we should be planning for from day one is our retirement. Be guided to your money and your financial future using - Savings Fitness (http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/pdf/savingsfitness.pdf)

* The U.S. Department of Labor has created a highly informative guide that helps Americans who are within 10 years of retirement plan for their retirement understand where they are right now, what their income and expenses will be once they retire and how much they are saving right now. With the help of simple worksheets, the reader can evaluate whether he or she is on track to a comfortable retirement. Read it all at - Taking the Mystery out of Retirement Planning (http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/NRTOC.html)