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Money Management
Basic budgeting, credit management, banking basics, and creating a saving plan are just a few of the workshops that can be requested for small groups. Job Readiness workshops including finding a job, applications and resumes, interviewing and being a good worker can also be requested.
Set Priorities For Meeting Family's Basic Needs
When times are good, some people may not give a second
thought to what it costs to meet their family's basic needs. But when
faced with a loss or reduction of income, just paying for basic food,
shelter, transportation and medical care can become very difficult.
Families who find themselves in this situation need to sit down and
determine what goods and services are more essential than others.
Families need to evaluate where their resources can best be used and carefully think about the consequences of using resources in
various ways. This is the time for setting priorities, as well as making the most of human, financial and community resources.
One place to start is to find ways to reduce expenses. For example,
consider substituting less costly goods and services, finding new uses for resources you already have, using available resources wisely and avoiding waste, cooperating with others to stretch resources and making use of community resources.
Family members need to become skillful shoppers. Plan your spending, comparison shop and make shopping lists in order to take advantage of specials, sales or lower-priced products. Shopping lists can help you resist impulse buying. Organize shopping lists by store location to help prevent backtracking.
Reduce waste wherever possible. Try to get the most use out
of every trip in the car, each load in the washing machine and each use of the stove. Try to recycle and repair rather than replace.
Substitute less expensive items for more costly ones whenever possible. It is not always necessary to purchase best-quality merchandise. However, if an item will be used frequently over a long period of time, a higher-quality item may be the appropriate choice.
Families may be able to use their own talents and other resources in a more productive manner. Perhaps hobbies or everyday tasks
such as baking, housekeeping or childcare can be turned into money-making activities. Be sure you first think about the quality of your skills and the market potential, startup costs and legal and financial requirements associated with starting a micro business. You also may want to consider cooperating with others to enhance your resources, such as through carpools, childcare co-ops, clothing swaps or bartering. If you don't have a particular skill that you need, search for low-cost ways to acquire it, such as taking a basic home repair class.
Finally, look for free or low-cost alternatives for things you normally
purchase. For example, take advantage of the public library. Many offer story time for children of all ages, videos and books on tape. Use community parks and recreational facilities. The local county Extension office also offers a wide variety of educational materials that can be helpful in determining a strategy for stretching a family's resources.
