Budgeting

Too much month left at the end of your money? You're not the only one challenged to make ends meet. Living paycheck to paycheck is almost an American tradition. If it is for you, it's one tradition that CCCS would like to help you break. We provide solution focused counseling services, not a dry and boring recitation of "a penny saved is a penny earned". Our staff will help you:

• Identify & prioritize your financial goals
• Determine the resources you'll need to reach your goals
• Learn to live "with" not "on" charge cards
• Create a realistic budget that meets your family's needs and provides for an occasional want

What are your financial goals? Do you want to pay off some debts, buy a house, go back to school, or plan for your retirement? Most of us have a mixture of short and long term financial goals. Many families have a hard time deciding which goals to pursue or how many to work on at one time. Our counselors stress family communication and compromise - we can help you select goals and setting targets to achieve those goals. Once you have established your goals, you will be ready to consider what funds you will need each month to meet the goals by the targeted date. Knowing that figure is very important as you begin developing your monthly budget and savings rate.

Savings - its something all of us know we should do but the results are often disappointing. Many people have a very good habit of making savings deposits each month. Unfortunately, the savings don't accumulate because they are withdrawn almost as fast as they are put in. A clearly defined financial goal and a realistic budget will go far in changing the "deposit & withdraw" habit into a "savings" habit.

What role does credit play in managing your money? If you have to use credit for day to day expenses then you don't have an effective budget. Likewise, if you make payments each month and your balance never seem to go down, you still need to make changes. CCCS values the role credit plays in our economy- without it our standard of living would suffer. We just want to help people understand how to establish good credit, know when to use credit, and shop for the best possible terms. Wise consumers of credit are good money managers and avoid the trap of "easy credit".  

Does money management & budgets have to mean scrimping? No, a budget is whatever you need it to be in order to reach your goals. A goal-based budget will likely mean some sacrifice but it can still provide for some "extras" on occasion. The important thing is to live within your means, save for your goals, and use credit responsibly.

Managing My Money