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Educational Resources
Click Here to view educational brochures that can be downloaded directly from this website.
Sometimes, the only difference between making a good decision and making a bad decision is a little knowledge. For this reason, one facet of the Mission of Consumer Debt Counselors is to provide education programs that help people become better-informed consumers who are empowered to make wiser, better-informed, buying decisions. These educational programs are made available to the public or through, and with the sponsorship of, our community partners. Much of the material presented is from Money Smart, an educational program developed by the FDIC and topics available in this program include:
- Bank On It – designed to educate individuals on the major types of insured financial institutions, basic banking terminology, the difference between banks and check cashing services, bank employees and their jobs, types of bank accounts, and banking services
- Borrowing Basics – designed to educate individuals regarding when and how to use credit, the value of credit, and different types of loans
- Check It Out – designed to educate individuals on how to open and keep a checking account, the benefits of using a bank versus a check cashing service, checking accounts fees, types of checking accounts, how to write checks, use of ATM’s and debit cards, maintaining the check register, and reconciling the checking account
- Money Matters – designed to educate individuals regarding the concept of budgeting, the benefits of having a budget, and using the budget as a tool
- Pay Yourself First – designed to educate individuals about the importance of saving money, ways to save, how money can grow, and the difference between types of savings and investment accounts
- Keep It Safe – designed to educate individuals as to their rights as banking consumers, the laws that protect their rights, how to avoid scams, ways to protect their identity, and how to resolve complaints regarding their bank accounts
- To Your Credit – designed to educate individuals on the importance of credit, credit reports and how they are used, how to order and read a credit report, ways to start repairing credit and how to recognize repair scams, and identifying resources
- Charge It Right – designed to educate individuals on the costs and benefits of using credit cards, characteristics of credit cards, and potential problems with their use
- Loan To Own – designed to educate individuals on the characteristics of consumer installment loans, the different types of loans, finding the right loan for their needs
- Your Own Home – designed to educate individuals on the process of becoming homeowners, the advantages and disadvantages of homeownership, determining readiness to buy, different mortgage programs, and basic terminology used in the mortgage transaction
Consumer Debt Counselors can also present the material prepared by FreddieMac in their new CreditSmart Program. Topics include
- Your Credit and Why It Is Important – explains what credit is; why it is important; and, who offers credit
- Managing Your Money – provides information regarding budgeting, saving, and using a budget like a road map to reach your financial goals
- Goal Setting – helps individuals see the value of setting financial goals and developing plans for reaching those goals
- Banking Services: An Important Step – helps consumers understand the basics of banking and how to develop a banking relationship
- Establishing and Maintaining Good Credit – discusses credit reports and what they contain; displays credit report samples; explains consumer protection laws as they relate to credit reports; and, how to remedy credit reporting errors
- Understanding Credit Scoring – explains how credit scores are determined and what they mean to potential lenders and/or potential employers
- Think Like A Lender – discusses the relationship between verifiable income and creditworthiness, mortgage affordability, and displays sample financial statements
- Avoiding Credit Traps – defines predatory lending practices, how to recognize and avoid credit scams, along with the advantages & disadvantages of home equity lines of credit
- Restoring Your Credit – provides warning signs of credit problems, coping with financial crises, and steps to restoring damaged credit
- Planning Your Future – helps consumers examine their values and plan for financial success
- Becoming A Homeowner – provides an overview of the advantages/disadvantages of owning versus renting a home; choosing a mortgage, finding a real estate professional; and, determine readiness for ownership
Additional presentations developed by Consumer Debt Counselors include
- Penny-Wise Menu Planning – designed to help individuals and families obtain the greatest values with their grocery store dollars
- Important Points To Remember When Buying Auto Insurance – designed to help individuals make well-informed decisions regarding the types and amounts of coverage necessary to protect themselves as car owners
- Important Points To Remember When Buying Homeowner’s and Renter’s Insurance – designed to help individuals make wise choices when purchasing insurance to protect their home
- Important Points To Remember When Buying Life Insurance – designed to help consumers determine the type of life insurance that best fits their requirements and the appropriate amount of coverage to buy
- Time Management – Getting Organized To Get The Best Value From Your Time – designed to help individuals become better organized and to establish priorities in order to accomplish the most important tasks they face and reach their goals
Click Here to contact Consumer Debt Counselors and learn how to personally attend a workshop; or, to schedule a workshop for your group.
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