If anything is apparent from our recent economic slide, it's that many good people could use help to learn more about the financial basics they need to get through life. It doesn't stop with shopping for a mortgage. How many people know the best way to pick car and health insurance, 
and investment and retirement accounts?
For starters, did you know that you can get all three -- yes, there are three -- of your credit reports for free?
Help has arrived in the form of National Consumer Protection Week. Organizers around the country -- including government agencies and consumer-advocacy groups -- have joined forces this week to teach people about these fundamentals. As this government Web site notes: "Education is the first line of defense for consumers to manage their money wisely and protect themselves against frauds or rip-offs."
For a comprehensive list of online resources, click here.
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