Your financial well-being is our number one priority. Youth, adults, seniors, businesses, schools, agencies, employers—no matter who you are or what financial challenge you face, VBSFCU is dedicated to providing solutions to make your life better. Learn to manage your money and credit, and plan for the future with no-cost seminars covering a variety of key financial topics throughout the year.  Register today by clicking the "Register Here" button next to each seminar. Ideal for members and non-members, these seminars are open to everyone who wants to take control of their financial future.

Semester:            Fall 05 / Spring 06

Course Title:       Financial Skills

Time:                     5:00 6:00p

Place:                    Advanced Technology Center, Room:   Theatre (If you are a VBCPS employee, look in
Staff Lines on your intranet. Listed under TCE classes at the ATC center)

 Goals and Objectives:

1.       To help participants to better understand financial decision making

2.       To help participants gain control over finances

3.       To help participants avoid predatory lending practices

 Course(s) Description:

Learn about financial concepts and practices from an “insider.”  The classes will range in topic and
will be repeated by request. Personalized instruction is offered. Please review the following session
schedule. These classes will also enhance your classroom instruction if you teach personal
finance/economics.

 Session One:   The Path to Financial Freedom   Register Here      September 21

•      Making financial choices

•      Setting financial goals

•      Savings and spending plans

•      Paying your bills (Family financial calculator)

•      Creating a debt recovery worksheet

Session Two:  Credit Reports      Register Here      October 19
   

•      How to read credit reports

•      How to review and read your credit report

•      How to do they figure out that score

•      What to do when your score is low

•      How to establish credit

•      How to understand different types of loans (a “good” loan versus a “bad” loan)

•      How to manage credit cards

Session Three:  Home Buying    Register Here November 16        (this is usually a longer session, please plan accordingly*)                
 

•        Guest Speaker(s) include a realtor, mortgage lender & real estate lawyer
 

Session Four:  Car Buying      Register Here       January  18
     

•          Behind the “scenes” tips on car buying
 

Session Five:  Online Banking   Register Here        February 15
 

•           How to use online banking

•           How to protect yourself online from Phishing, farming, and spyware
 

Session Six: Charge it Right/Credit Cards   Register Here     March      15         
     

•      Credit Cards – Insider tips on the good, the bad and the ugly
 

Session Seven:  Guest Speaker – Karen Munden, Virginia Cooperative Extension   Register Here  April 19 
 

•      Money Matters/ Budgeting Basics

  Session Eight:  Borrowing Basics / Student Loans   Register Here        May 17
•      The how, what and why. Bring your questions please! We will cover how to apply for a loan, what is expected, what a loan officer looks for on a credit report, what questions to ask, how to understand loan lingo. The goal of this session is for all participants to walk away understanding the inside world of loan application and process and how to get the loan they need. 

Session Nine:  Keep It Safe     Register Here        June 21     

•  General information on laws that protect consumers, your rights as a banking consumer

•  Predatory Lending – who are the bad guys and how can they take advantage of you? What are payday lenders and title Car lenders? We will also review examples of finance company offers and how they can hurt your credit.

 *This session usually lasts close to two hours. You may leave at any time after the first hour is done.

 Additional sessions may include: Protecting the elderly against financial fraud, Pay yourselves first, check it out (check writing & best practices).  If you are interested in other financial topics, please speak to the instructor.

Required/Requested material: Free workbooks will be given to each participant.

 Course Policies: Financial topics are intimidating to many people. There are no dumb questions when it comes to finances. People come from many different types of financial backgrounds, and finances are typically a very personal issue. Please be sensitive to others and keep an open mind while in discussion groups. 

 Attendance:  We will start on time. If you have to come in late, please take your seat quietly.

Conclusion: Everyone makes money mistakes; we will learn how to fix them.

 Evaluation: Evaluation forms will be available after each class.  

Class Schedule: 3^rd Wednesday of Every Month