Chicago Community Workshops Are One More Way to Learn About Finances
Even though it's been a while since the end of summer meant back to school, I still find myself intrigued by the new clothes, backpacks and books on store shelves.
It's not so much the stuff - since I don't have kids yet, I'm not planning a back-to-school shopping spree - but the feeling I get when summer winds down and fall is just around the bend. It makes me feel like finally getting organized - like this is my chance to start fresh.
And with the economy struggling to recovery, this year might be the perfect time to reflect and reorganize. For instance, have you been putting off starting a budget? Maybe this is the time to do it. Consider taking a look at your expenditures so far this year and brainstorm ways to cut back if necessary. Maybe devise some new saving methods. For instance, I'm still having luck with the $5 bill plan. Every time I get a five back with my change, I keep it. When it reaches $30 or so, I deposit it into my savings account. Not only am I spending less, but there's less incentive to use a credit card because no cash means no change.
If you do have kids going back to school, you might be finding money is extra tight this year when it comes to buying school supplies and clothes - even more motivation to whip your finances into shape.
Education doesn't have to stop with graduation. If you could use some personal finance advice, go back to school - figuratively or literally. Check a book out at the library (cheaper than Barns and Noble) or audit a community college class. Check out the advice of people in the same boat as you online - blogs are a great place to get ideas, if I do say so myself.
Even better, turn to the pros. How about registering for an upcoming DebtStoppers Community Financial Workshop - Aug. 20 in Atlanta and Sept. 17 in Chicago? If you're facing financial troubles bigger than you - say, you're drowning in debt or looking at a possible foreclosure - this is your chance to get empowered.
When attend a financial workshop, you'll get the scoop on the foreclosure crisis, learn how to avoid financial scams and meet one-on-one with DebtStoppers debt specialists to discuss your individual situation and find answers to your questions. As if that's not enough, there are free appetizers, drinks and you might even win a free Dell laptop - perfect for your newly organized lifestyle.
Even if you can't attend, you can still sign up for our free one-on-one debt analysis - a private consultation with a DebtStoppers bankruptcy attorney. They say that lifelong learning is the real fountain of youth. It might also be the secret to a healthy bank account.