Webinar Wednesdays in June

GreenPath will host two webinars in June. These hour-long, online programs are taught by GreenPath education specialists. The webinars are always free and informative without a sales pitch. There’s also plenty of time for Q&A at the end of the program. 

What’s On Your Credit Report? – Wednesday, June 3 at 9 AM PST. Reviewing your credit report is an essential step to financial success. We will discuss ways to track your credit report for free, understanding what is on your report, as well as handling inaccuracies and ways to prevent fraud.

Unlocking the Secret to Your Credit Score –Wednesday, June 17 at 9 AM PST. We have seen these numbers before: 720, 680, 550, but what does it all mean? This course is designed to help you gain a better understanding of what makes up your credit score and what you can do to improve it! To sign-up for any of these personal finance webinars, log on to FinancialEducation, then Webinars.

LA Financial cares about your financial health.  So we partnered withGreenPath to provide you with access to free, one-on-one financial counseling, debt management services and financial education tools.GreenPath has been helping people get out of debt and reach their financial goals since 1961.  We encourage you to look around our website to get a feel for all of the financial wellness resources available to you.We're glad you're here and we look forward to helping you!  We offer:Free Financial Counseling - We offer free financial counseling and debt counseling without a sales pitch.  Our caring, certified advisors will help you explore options for achieving your financial goals.  Everyone receives a customized action plan.Debt Management Plan - If you are struggling to eliminate credit card debt, GreenPath may work with your creditors to develop a mutually agreeable payment plan.  The plan could stop collection calls, lower interest rates and help you save lots of money.Housing Services - GreenPath’s housing advisors are experts at assisting people with their housing needs.  We offer foreclosure prevention services, home buyer preparation assistance, and reverse mortgage counseling.Student Loan Counseling - We’ll help you look into student loan repayment options that can postpone or lower your payments.  Learn the pros and cons of each student loan repayment strategy so you can make an informed decision.Credit Report Review - Learn how to better understand your credit report and how to manage your credit score.Financial Education - GreenPath University is your online source for free eCourses, videos, webinars, articles and other financial education resources.  

Anticipate those Summer Money Surprises

June signals the start of the summer wedding season and high school graduation parties. Many times, people don’t plan ahead for such expenses. GreenPath counselor Kathryn Bossler has put together a few tips, when it comes to financing all those summer weddings and graduation parties.Here are some tips on giving a nice wedding gift, without breaking the bank.

Five tips for wedding gifts:

1. If the couple has registered, don’t wait until the last minute to buy the gift. Watch their registry online and wait for items to go on sale.

2. If it is a family member, consider putting together a cook book of family recipes or gifting a family heirloom, like a piece of jewelry.

3. Make a keepsake box that the couple can use to store mementos from their special day. Get it started with their engagement announcement.

4. If the couple is going out of town, offer to watch their house or take care of their yard as a gift.

5. A gift basket filled with a few homemade treats, a gift card to a special restaurant, a bottle of wine and a book of love poems, adds a nice personal touch.

“Remember, when you are deciding how much you can afford to spend on a wedding gift, it is important to take into consideration the overall cost of the event,” said Bossler. “Will you need a hotel room, airfare, or will you have to purchase new clothes?” While you may have received a “Save the Date” months ago, these one-time expenses can add up quickly with those bills coming in over the summer months.

We’re also at the start of high school graduation party season. “While money certainly is a one-size-fits-all idea, you can make your gift stand out and be memorable to the graduate,” she said.

Five tips for graduation gifts:

1. If they are headed to college, how about a t-shirt from their new school…or even a sweatshirt, if they are going to experience winter weather!

2. A tote bag filled with bathroom supplies for the dorm room.

 3. Pre-stamped and addressed envelopes and notepaper for the freshman to send notes home.

4. A meaningful book with an inscription of family and friends well wishes for the graduate.

5. A gift card to a restaurant, sub shop or pizza place in their new college town.“Remember, thoughtful can be more impactful than expensive,” remarked Bossler.

So, a little planning and foresight can have you showering family and friends with gifts, while keeping your summer budget in line.

LA Financial cares about your financial health.  So we partnered with GreenPath to provide you with access to free, one-on-one financial counseling, debt management services and financial education tools.

GreenPath has been helping people get out of debt and reach their financial goals since 1961.  We encourage you to look around our website to get a feel for all of the financial wellness resources available to you.

We're glad you're here and we look forward to helping you!  We offer:

Free Financial Counseling - We offer free financial counseling and debt counseling without a sales pitch.  Our caring, certified advisors will help you explore options for achieving your financial goals.  Everyone receives a customized action plan.

Debt Management Plan - If you are struggling to eliminate credit card debt, GreenPath may work with your creditors to develop a mutually agreeable payment plan.  The plan could stop collection calls, lower interest rates and help you save lots of money.

Housing Services - GreenPath’s housing advisors are experts at assisting people with their housing needs.  We offer foreclosure prevention services, home buyer preparation assistance, and reverse mortgage counseling.

Student Loan Counseling - We’ll help you look into student loan repayment options that can postpone or lower your payments.  Learn the pros and cons of each student loan repayment strategy so you can make an informed decision.

Credit Report Review - Learn how to better understand your credit report and how to manage your credit score.

Financial Education - GreenPath University is your online source for free eCourses, videos, webinars, articles and other financial education resources.