Community Education

Would you like trusted professional financial advice for yourself or a group?

Educational Programs provide easy-to-understand and realistic techniques to learn money management, how to use credit and qualification for home ownership. Programs consist of a variety of workshops which are listed below and can be tailored to meet the needs of your group. Workshops may be delivered on-site for employee, church, adult education and other groups. Each session includes time for questions and answers. Participants receive education and advice relating to:

• Budgeting

• Credit use and misuse

• Credit reports

• Current consumer protection laws

• “Consumer beware” issues

• Home purchase process
  

Educational Programs include:

Personal Money Management
This 1.5 hour session focuses on developing a new budget or analyzing an existing budget.
How is this accomplished?

• Setting short-term, intermediate and long-term financial goals

• Distinguishing between wants and needs

• Prioritizing monthly spending based on take-home income

• Developing a realistic spending plan by recording monthly expenditures

• Keeping a written budget and accurate records

• Establishing a savings plan/emergency reserve

• Shopping wisely

• Evaluating net income to debt repayment

“Consumer Beware” Issues
This 1.5 hour session focuses on consumer rights and responsibilities in the marketplace and legislation that protects consumers. It focuses on legal remedies that may be taken against consumers with delinquent debts. Finally, this session provides education on the effects and true costs involved in using non-traditional avenues for financing and obtaining goods and services (Example: “Pay-day”/loan/pawn/ finance and rent-to-own companies, etc.)

Understanding Credit/Dealing Effectively with Debt
This 1.5 hour session focuses on the various types of credit, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of credit use and misuse. Topics include:

• Managing high debt 

• Actual costs of using credit

• Credit contracts and financial terms
  

Obtaining and Understanding Your Credit Report
This 1.5 hour session educates consumers on how to obtain free copies of your personal credit report on an annual basis. Learn credit report “How to”.

• How to obtain future credit

• How to read and understand information

• How to dispute inaccurate information

• How to correct outdated information
  

Call to schedule a program.
706.327.3239    Columbus
706.845.7204    LaGrange
1.800.757.2227