Basic Money Management
Basic Money Management is part of the Financial Literacy program, designed to strengthen your money management skills by providing tools to help with budgeting, credit and debt issues. Participants will gain an understanding of the key components of successful money management and will be provided with useful financial resources and opportunities. This education is geared to the diverse needs of women across the life cycle.
In this course you will learn how to:
Develop a spending plan: Set financial goals, develop a budget/spending plan and savings strategies.
Manage credit and debt: Understand your credit report and improve your credit score.
Build a secure financial future: Banking opportunities, savings options and avoid predatory practices.
Basic Money Management classes are available in both English and Spanish.
Questions? Contact Enrique Carmona, Economic Education and Training Coordinator, at ecarmona@ywca-ens.org or call 847-864-8445 for further information.
Register for an upcoming Basic Money Management workshop!
-Fabiola Zdrubecky (left), with a participant
“I see clients come to the first class stressed. Then at the end of the class they are much more relaxed. We have a graduation after the course and when they receive their portfolio and their certificate of completion they have a different attitude toward finances and they celebrate and they are more hopeful that they can achieve the financial goals they have.”
Helpful Resources:
www.annualcreditreport.com: Free credit report from the 3 bureaus once a year; it does not provide a credit score.
www.ftc.gov: Federal Trade Commission site. Useful information about collection rights, fraud, credit reports.
www.bankrate.com: Very comprehensive website that includes all financial matters. To note: loans, mortgages, saving mechanisms, calculators, credit card options, investment vehicles, retirement calculators, etc. Does not require any personal information, therefore very safe! No BBB accreditation.
www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft: Federal Trade Commission’s identity theft information site.
www.consumerfinance.gov: Government site, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), to make information about consumer financial products and services available to all Americans. Tips for choosing banks, accounts, getting assistance, etc.