Money smart action plan for today’s economy
Karen Sommers, Special to The Gazette
Monday, September 28, 2009
The 21st century has been all about advice for keeping yourself fit — physically, emotionally and mentally. We see dentists for our teeth, doctors for our bodies, psychiatrists for our mental health and we go to gyms to keep fit.
But we sometimes fail to pay attention to our financial health, which causes us stress, worry and anxiety, which causes us all kinds of emotional and physical problems.
Suze Orman addresses our worry about money in her book, “The 9 Steps To Financial Freedom.”
“There isn’t a part of our lives that money doesn’t touch … it affects our relationships, the way we go about our everyday activities, our ability to make dreams reality, everything,” Orman writes. “We have a core of anxiety that we carry around with us, though we may not admit it to ourselves. That is part of money’s power over us. Your money will work for you, and you will always have enough … more than enough … when you give it energy, time, and understanding.
“Money is very much like a person, and it will respond when you treat it as you would a cherished friend … never fearing it, pushing it away, pretending it doesn’t exist, or turning away from its needs, never clutching it so hard that it hurts. The road to financial freedom begins not in a bank but in your head. It begins with your thoughts.”
When Ben Bernanke took over as chairman of Federal Reserve in 2007 he said, “The five wisest words that I can give you are ‘Learn How to Manage Money.’”
This has never been more important than today due to current economic conditions.
ESB Financial’s vision is to help every client achieve his or her dreams. The most important word in this vision is “help.” ESB is here to help you help yourself and understand how you can overcome anxiety about your finances.
ESB Financial, along with the Flint Hills Technical College, will present a series of three fall classes to help you manage your money in today’s economy. The classes are free and will be on Tuesday nights, Oct. 6, 13 and 20, from 6 to 8 p.m.
These classes were arranged with Rachael LeClear, coordinator of continuing and general education, Flint Hills Technical College and ESB Financial. The classes will be taught by Julie J Cooper, FHTC instructor of business administrative technology. You can register for the classes at the college or at ESB Financial’s banks by Oct. 5.
These classes are open to everyone. Individuals can choose to attend all three classes or pick and choose which class to attend.
These are the class descriptions:
• Money Matters, Oct. 6: Find out how to put more money in your pocket. In this course, you’ll learn how to manage your money by preparing a personal spending plan and identifying ways to decrease spending and increase income.
• Pay Yourself First, Oct. 13: By the end of this course, you will understand ways to save money and savings options to achieve your goals. You’ll learn not only why it’s important to save all the time, but also how to determine savings goals, identify savings options, and choose the options that work the best for you to reach your goals.
• Check It Out, Oct. 20: Is your checking account just not working out the way it should? Do you wish you could balance at the end of the month, or avoid those service charges that keep popping up? This class can help. Learn how to determine the best checking account for your purposes, how to open one, use it responsibility, and reconcile every month with your register and bank statement.
The Money Smart Program is series of education classes developed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The FDIC recognizes the importance of financial education for everyone. It created the Money Smart Program to help adults enhance their money skills and create positive banking relationships.
Financial education fosters financial stability for individuals and for entire communities. The more people know about credit and banking services, the more likely they are to increase savings, buy homes, and improve their financial health and well-being. The Money Smart curriculum helps individuals build financial knowledge, develop financial confidence, and use banking services effectively.
The Money Smart Program actually was born here in Emporia when ESB partnered with the FDIC and other Emporia banks to teach classes to IBP employees. The curriculum has since evolved to what is now known as “Money Smart.”
ESB Financial encourages you to stop and take the time to learn how to manage your money, control what you can, think in terms of short-term and long-term goals, stay the course and be diligent with your finances. You dream the dream; we’ll help make it come true.
• Karen Sommers is vice-president for marketing at ESB Financial.
About the intructor
Julie Cooper
TITLE: Instructor at Flint Hills Technical College in the business administrative technology program, currently in my third year.
MEMBERSHIPS: Business Professionals of America, Flint Hills Technical College Foundation board, Leadership Emporia 2006, International Association of Administrative Professionals - Heartland Chapter, Beta Sigma Phi, Emporia Beta Tau.
PERSONAL: Lifelong resident of Emporia; married to TJ Cooper; three children — Cass, 13, Seth, 6, and Karah, 2 1/2; enjoy scrapbooking, paper crafts and exercising.