Organizations Partner to Offer Sound Financial Advice in Tough Economic Times
Tough economic times require sound financial advice, and the College of Southern Maryland is partnering with the local libraries and the Southern Maryland Association of REALTORS® (SMAR) to present Money Smart educational sessions Nov. 12 at the La Plata Campus. The day will include four panels, emphasizing information on real estate and mortgages, personal banking, taxes and insurance, and financial planning for individuals of all ages.
CSM is partnering with the Calvert Library, Charles County Public Library, St. Marys County Library, the Southern Maryland Regional Library Association, the Lexington Park Rotary and local financial experts to identify the most pressing issues affecting residents in Southern Maryland. The days panels will begin with personal banking at 9 a.m. featuring improving your credit score, maintaining good credit, building credit and escaping identify theft; financial planning at 10 a.m. featuring short- and long-term savings, saving for a house or retirement, managing investments and banking; taxes and insurance at 11 a.m., featuring getting all your deductions, and what is covered under your home insurance; and real estate at noon, featuring buying vs. renting, what to do if you are behind on your mortgage, short sales, foreclosure and dealing with homes underwater.
Opening and closing presentations will be offered by Tig Wright, the Savings Star. A master at the art of couponing, Wright teaches others how to save money on their daily needs through the use of coupons. If you are not couponing these days, well, you are throwing money away, said Wright, who is a military wife and a mother of two. Thats money that can be spent on your kids, your bills, even dinner out. Just by clipping and using coupons when you shop can save you hundreds of dollars. Considering coupons as currency, Wright said, Every store has a different way of accepting this form of currency. So, start with one store, learn their coupon policy and master it. Once you do, you, too, will be saying, full price, never; coupons forever.
A bonus expo will be open from 8 to 8:30 a.m. to meet with Money Smart professional at their tables, with the closing expo from 1 to 1:30 p.m. to include door prizes.
The Money Smart workshops and expo are free. Registration begins at 8 a.m. on Nov. 12 with a welcome at 8:30 a.m., at the College of Southern Marylands La Plata Campus in the Center for Business and Industry, Chaney Conference Room, BI-113, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. For information on Money Smart visit www.csmd.edu/MoneySmart.
Calendar
Free Money Smart Workshop at CSM: Tough Economic Times Require Sound Financial Advice. 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Nov. 12, College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, Center for Business and Industry Building, Chaney Room, BI-113, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. A one-day educational workshop providing sound financial advice. Four panel discussions by industry experts will address timely topics regarding Real Estate, Financial Planning, Personal Banking, and Taxes and Insurance. All sessions are presented by professionals in their field with adequate time for questions. Opening and closing remarks will be provided by Tig Wright, the Savings Star. A military wife and mother of two, she has changed the way to shop and is teaching others how to save money through the art of couponing. The day is free. Partnering organizations with CSM are the Calvert Library, Charles County Public Library, St. Marys County Library, the Southern Maryland Regional Library Association and the Lexington Park Rotary Club. Funding is provided by the Southern Maryland Association of REALTORS® (SMAR) through a Housing Opportunity Grant award from the National Association of REALTORS®. For information and a list of session topics, visit www.csmd.edu/MoneySmart.