Our Financial Empowerment Workshops are for everyone, whether you are looking to learn more about homeownership, expand your knowledge on investing or need tips on how to start a budget. Through these free one-hour workshops participants gain knowledge on achieving financial goals, budgeting, banking, looking out for fraud and predatory lending, financial planning for the future and preparing for homeownership. We help individuals align their financial priorities and prepare for the future.

Financial Empowerment Workshops

Module 1: Setting Goals

This module can help you create a plan to fulfill your dreams by learning how to set, adjust, and reach your short-term and long-term goals and will cover topics such as:

• Setting SMART goals
• Putting goals into action
• Planning for life events and large purchases
• Revising your goals

Module 2: Saving

This module can help you create a savings plan with weekly targets to help you reach your goals and will cover topics such as:\

• Savings plan
• Saving and asset limits
• Finding a place for savings
• Saving at tax time

Module 3: Tracking Income & Benefits

This module can help you track the income you’re earning and any public benefits you’re receiving to better budget your money. It also helps you understand things like deductions and garnishment, which affect how much money you bring home. Topics covered will include:

• Income and benefits tracker
• Choosing how we get paid
• Increasing income and benefits

Module 4: Paying Bills

This module will help you better understand where your money is going and learn how to reduce expenses and pay utility bills more efficiently. Topics covered will include:

• Spending tracker
• Bill Calendar
• Choosing how to pay bills
• Cutting expenses
• Prioritizing bills

Module 5: Getting Through the Month

This module helps you understand your cash flow by looking at how money flows into and out of your household. It also provides suggestions for how to improve your cash flow if you‘re having trouble making ends meet. Topics to be covered include:

• Creating a cash flow budget
• Improving cash flow
• Adjusting your cash flow

Module 6: Dealing with Debt

This module will help you get a picture of what you owe, get a handle on your payments, and cut down on stress from growing debt. Topics covered will include:

• Debt log
• Debt-to-income ratio
• Debt action plan
• Comparing auto loans
• Repaying student loans
• When debt collectors call
• Avoiding medical debt

Module 7: Understanding Credit Reports & Scores

This module explains the importance of credit reports and scores and reviews ways to improve and maintain your credit history. Topics covered will include:

• Requesting free credit reports
• Reviewing your credit reports
• Disputing errors on your credit reports
• Getting and keeping a good credit history

Module 8: Choosing Financial Products & Services

This module will help you understand the different kinds of financial products and services available, how they might meet your needs, and how you can make the most of them. It also explains some of your rights and responsibilities when dealing with certain types of financial products and services. Topics covered will include:

• Finding financial products and services
• Comparing financial service providers
• Opening a checking or savings account
• Avoiding checking account fees
• Evaluating your prepaid or payroll card
• Knowing your prepaid card rights
• Sending money abroad

Module 9: Protecting Your Money

This module can help you understand your rights and responsibilities within the financial marketplace, how to protect yourself from identity theft and fraud, and what you can do if you’ve been affected by identity theft, fraud, or a problem with a financial product or service. Topics covered will include:

• Protecting your identity
• How to handle identity theft
• Spotting red flags
• Submitting a complaint