Continuing in May, Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA) is providing a series of 4 no cost Financial Fitness workshops to provide training, support and resources to help participants gain control and manage their money.  Workshop topics include: creating a personal, workable budget; reducing debt; setting personal goals; modify spending; basics of banking; plus credit.  This four part series is offered each month in order to support Vermont communtiy members, especially those effected by COVID 19.

Workshops are free to Vermont residents. SEVCA will provide a gift card cash incentive to those Vermont residents affected by Covid who attend Workshops 1,2, and 3. Courses will be offered on Zoom, an online platform. Additional counseling is available to attendees. For more information email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Zoom Workshop dates and time for May 2021:

Workshop 1:	May 4:     10am-11am           or	May 5:   6pm-7pm
Workshop 2:	May 11: 10am-11am           or	May 12: 6pm-7pm
Workshop 3:	May 18: 10am-11am        or	May 19: 6pm-7pm
Workshop 4:	May 25: 10am-11am        or	May 26: 6pm-7pm

Workshop 1: Take Control of Your Money – Create a Budget

Date:     May 4: 10am – 11am              OR               May 5: 6pm - 7pm

Understanding and tracking the details of your financial situation is the start to making better money decisions and building a more secure future. When life situations change, and it often does (job loss, illness, birth of a child, new job, divorce, etc.) it’s time to review how to manage your money. This workshop will help you take control of your money by taking the first step by...creating a budget. We’ll learn what a budget is, why use it, and create and review a budget step by step.        

Workshop 2: Set Your Goals – Manage Your Expenses

Date:   May 11: 10am - 11am              OR               May 12: 6pm - 7pm

After creating a budget, the next step is to identify goals. Examples are: paying off debts, saving for a car, or building an emergency fund. Creating a plan and taking control of income and expenses helps achieve goals. We’ll focus on successful strategies to achieve goals by using ways to lower expenses and to increase income, and what to do with bills you can’t pay.  

Workshop 3: Credit – Tame the Credit Beast

Date:   May 18: 10am - 11am              OR               May 19: 6pm - 7pm

Let’s face it, using credit to make purchases make life more convenient. But when credit (loans and credit cards) are overused, they become a trap and one of the biggest barriers in reaching financial goals. This workshop reviews credit: The do’s and don’ts of credit, how to avoid credit traps and ways to get out of credit card debt. We’ll also learn about “Your FICO Credit Score”, how it affects your lifetime of interest rates, how interest impacts monthly payments, and how to improve a credit score.    

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Workshop 4: Banks and Credit Unions – Protect and Grow Your Money

Date:   May 25: 10am - 11am               OR               May 26: 6pm - 7pm

Where money is kept, whether it’s in a bank, credit union or under the mattress, does affect finances. This workshop explains the differences between banks and credit unions plus describes the accounts, benefits, and services (and fees) they offer. We’ll look at checking accounts, debit cards, savings accounts, loans and interest rates, plus strategies to grow and protect money. We’ll look at “Instant Cash” payday loans, how to protect your information and Identity theft.