Jump$tart Your Money

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PresidentMatt GuilloryDisaster preparedness and response consultant

Vice PresidentCynthia CampbellAVP Financial Empowerment Tinker Federal Credit Union

SecretaryP. Kevin ShahanPersonal Finance Consultant

TreasurerJo Ann Murray Project Director Invest Ed

Communications ChairAmy L. Welch, APR Director of CommunicationsOklahoma Society of CPAs

Education ChairInger GiuffridaAsset Building Strategies Consultant

Membership ChairPam Charles Internal Revenue Service

Policy ChairPaul ShinnCommunity Action Project of Tulsa County

Past PresidentPamela Gutel, APRDirector of Public AffairsFederal Reserve Bank, Oklahoma City Branch

Board Members at Large Denise Lant, Regent Financial, TulsaDawn Hix, Choctaw Nation, Durant

CoaLiTion MEMBEr organizaTionSIYR, LLCCherokee NationChoctaw Home FinanceChoctaw NationChoctaw Nation – Choctaw Asset Building Career Development ProgramCitizen Potawatomi Community Development Corp.Community Action Agency of Oklahoma City

Community Action Project of Tulsa CountyConsumer Credit Counseling Services of Central OklahomaCount It All JoyCrown Financial MinistriesFAA Credit UnionFederal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Oklahoma City BranchFinancial Planning Association of TulsaGaylord College, University of OklahomaHeart of Oklahoma Chapter of Better InvestingIFMAPS-OCESInternal Revenue ServiceJunior Achievement of Oklahoma, Inc.Junior League of Oklahoma CityMcClain BankOK Homebuyer Education AssociationOklahoma Association of Community Action AgenciesOklahoma Bankers AssociationOklahoma Council on Economic EducationOklahoma Department of Career and Technical EducationOklahoma Money MattersOklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants CPAsOklahoma Policy InstituteOklahoma State UniversityOklahoma State University Extension ServiceOSU Cooperative Extension, Blaine County Cherokee County Comanche County Garvin County Nowata County Okmulgee County Pittsburg County Wagoner CountyRed River Technology CenterRose State College, BIT DivisionThe Assets AllianceThespis Media / 4tNoxTinker Federal Credit UnionTruNorth LifePlanningTulsa Teachers Credit UnionUnited Way of Central OklahomaYWCA

The YWCA and Junior League of Oklahoma City are partnering with the Oklahoma Jump$tart Coalition to get Oklahomans’ finances in shape for Jump$tart Your Money (JYM) Week, April 23-29.

JYM Week kicks off on April 23 with Money Mania, a free community fair on money management from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the YWCA McFarland Branch, 1701 N Martin Luther King Ave. The carnival-style event will educate participants on successfully managing their money and will feature games, prizes and free food with edu-cational sessions and access to local financial services. Vendors at Money Mania include Tinker

Federal Credit Union, the Kan-sas City Federal Reserve Bank’s Oklahoma City Branch and the Oklahoma Society of CPAs, among others.

The YWCA’s Economic Em-powerment Program provides financial literacy, job training and other skills to women who have been victims of domestic violence. The Junior League of Oklahoma City is a partner in the YWCA’s Economic Em-powerment Program’s finan-cial literacy efforts and helped launch Money Mania as a way to provide that financial literacy to the community. Because of the event’s primary sponsor, Tinker Federal Credit Union, the event is free and open to the public.

“We are thrilled to sponsor Money Mania again because it supports our mission of help-ing members achieve their goals and realize their dreams,” said

Cynthia Campbell, assistant vice president of Financial Em-powerment at Tinker Federal Credit Union. “Financial edu-cation is vital to that mission and to Oklahomans working to achieve a better quality of life.”

Oklahoma Jump$tart Coalition board members and member organizations

Renew with Money Mania

The Oklahoma Jump$tart CoalitionYour construction partner in your extreme financial makeover

Remodeling is a long process. Lately, it seems everyone wants (or at least needs) to redo their finances. However, it can be a difficult task if you don’t have a partner on your side who can help.

The Oklahoma Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy is a group of individu-als and organizations across the state whose mission is to make

a positive difference in the fu-ture of Oklahoma families by helping youth and adults im-prove their financial fitness. The members of the Coalition believe that financial literacy is vital to economic growth. Any-one interested in financial lit-eracy is invited to get involved

and learn more about the Co-alition at OklahomaJumpstart.org.

Each year, the Oklahoma Jump$tart Coalition hosts Jump$tart Your Money (JYM) Week to raise awareness about the importance of being finan-cially fit, as well as provide free tools, classes and resources for Oklahomans. On the group’s website, OklahomaJumpstart.org, you can find resources and classes available during JYM Week and beyond.

April 23-29

April 20, 2011 OPUBCO COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

3OPUBCO COMMUNICATIONS GROUP April 20, 2011

By Leann Voss, Director of Operations, IYR, LLC

When storms cause damage to dwellings, owners typically call construction experts to survey the damage, offer ideas for structural reinforcement in crucial areas and submit cost estimates. This process affords owners the ability to identify the areas that can be remodeled or reinforced, according to the changing needs of the owner and the changing costs of construction materials and labor.

So it is with investment portfolios. After recent stock market highs and lows, many investors may feel afraid to venture forth and uncertain how to replace holdings that have lost value. In fact, they may just feel afraid to open the statements which keep coming in the mail.

But net worth building requires a proactive approach to portfolios, which translates to reviewing assets and understanding changing markets. IRAs, Roth accounts and 401(k)s do not take care of themselves, just as a house cannot repair itself. This is where licensed representatives can help. Investments, like houses, require upkeep and maintenance

in the form of time and action. Take time to understand market expectations and be aware of maximum contribution amounts for each retirement account, taking care to treat each like a company that will pay for your retirement.

Because that is what our portfolios are — our private business we expect to pay us dividends. Any business that prospers is a business the owners are paying attention to and nurturing to be the best it can be.

April is Financial Literacy Month. Take the time to visit with a financial professional about your investment portfolio. If you have not signed up to participate in your company’s 401(k) plan, make an appointment with your HR representative and take advantage of the benefit. If you are participating, take the time to review your portfolio with a registered investment representative.

If you have not taken the time to understand stocks, bonds and mutual funds, call a representative and make an appointment to go over these financial tools you should use as soon as possible to build your net worth. It cannot be done unless you do it, so start building your net worth today.

ReCOnSTRUCT your portfolio

After the recession and all the market turmoil, you may want to reconstruct your investment portfolio. Here’s some basic information to help:

The Short-TermEstablish an emergency fund equal to three to six months of living expenses. Invest it in a safe, liquid asset such as a savings or money market account. You won’t earn much interest on it, but you know it will be there when you need it.

The Mid-TermPrioritize your immediate goals, such as saving for col-lege, a new home or a car.

The Long-TermAre your current allocations correct? Are you comfort-able with your level of risk? Is it time to rebalance your portfolio? Do you need the help of a professional?

– Eileen St. Pierre, Ph.D., CFA, CFP®Personal Finance Specialist

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma State University

A Practical Framework for Personal Portfolio ManagementPersonal Portfolio Management should be segmented into three sequential stages.

Personal Inventory > Risk Aversion – What is your risk tolerance?> Timeframe – When do you need the invested money?> Objectives – What is the benchmark for your returns? > Cash Flow – How much money do you have to invest?

Investment Planning> What asset classes? Equities, debt instruments, real estate, cash equivalents, etc.> Which products? Mutual funds, stocks, bonds, EFTs, CDs, etc.> Which professionals? Self-directed, CFP, broker, etc.

Action Steps > Invest the money – Lump sum, auto-deduction each month, etc.? > Measure progress – Are actual returns hitting your benchmark?> Modify plan, if needed.

– Brooks Levonitis, CEO Thespis Media, Ltd. Co.

Visit www.OklahomaJumpstart.org to find free JYM WEEK classes and resources to become financially fit.

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By Melissa Crawford, Outreach Coordinator, Oklahoma Money Mat-ters

Recovering from a lay-off, bad investment or bankruptcy? Although at times you may feel fright-ened or powerless, don’t despair. There are steps you can take right now to get back on your financial feet.

First, address the issues that caused you trouble in the first place. If it’s something within your control, like overspend-ing or relying on payday loans, stop immediately and make a realistic plan to ensure it doesn’t hap-pen again. If an emer-gency caught you unpre-pared, commit to stashing at least six months of in-come in a savings account as soon as you’re able so you have options when disaster strikes.

If the situation was out of your control, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and take action. If you qualify, file for unem-ployment benefits. These benefits won’t be the same as your regular pay-check, so treat your job search as your new full-time position. Update your resume and prac-tice your interview skills. Ask your family, friends and previous colleagues to help you make profes-sional connections. If possible, use this time to start (or finish) a degree or to learn new skills that will make you more mar-ketable to employers.

Until things stabilize, reassess your budget. Take a realistic look at what you can afford and make changes where necessary. What’s a necessity? What isn’t? Consider every ex-pense and cut according-ly. If you’re having a hard

time making your mini-mum monthly payments on accounts, contact your creditors, explain your situation and try to make payment arrangements. Many companies can help motivated borrowers who are experiencing a hard-ship.

Don’t rely on credit cards to make ends meet. While it may seem like an easy answer now, you’ll feel the pain later as you work to pay back the debt. If necessary, con-sider taking a part-time job until you find a full-time position.

During this time, sur-round yourself with peo-ple who want you to suc-ceed. Take comfort in the support of your friends and family and seek ad-vice from people who have experienced what you’re going through. You’re not the first, you won’t be the last and you’re not alone.

By Dawn Hix, Choctaw Asset Building Program, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

When was the last time you had a goal-setting meeting with yourself? Now is a great time to revisit those goals. Goal-setting allows freedom to brainstorm and focus on what is important to you. Where would you like to be in three to five years? Break your goals down into categories (for example health, profes-sional, personal) and then into long-term and short-term goals.

Long-term goals can take about three to five years to achieve, while short-term goals are reachable in one to three years. Short-term goals are often a stop along the way to our long-term goals. Remember to pe-

riodically evaluate your short-term goals as they should be stepping stones to reach your long-term goals.

Grab a sheet of paper and a pencil and get busy. What would you like to see in your future? Home ownership? A career change? A new business venture? Additional ed-ucation or training? Start with the long-term goals and break those down into short-term goals, which will be the steps to arrive at your destination long-term goal.

Ensure each of your goals by following the SMART concept: Specif-ic, Motivational, Action-oriented, Relevant to your situation and Time bound.

For example:Goal: I want to in-

crease my income and

career status.Smart goal: I want

to earn my registered nursing license (spe-cific) by June 1, 2014 (time-bound), and I will visit three campuses offering this program (action-oriented). I will apply for financial as-sistance through a local Educational Opportunity Center for all programs (action-oriented). I will make my decision on which campus to attend based on what fits my financial plan the best (relevant to your situa-tion). I will let my fam-ily and friends know my goals (motivational).

What about you? Write down your SMART goals. Revisit them often to reach your ultimate goals in no time.

Re-CReATe your path to long-term goals


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ReCOVeR your financial crisis plan


• Multi-session, 12-hour workshop • Provides teachers with financial knowledge for use both in the classroom and their personal lives. • Each session will consist of small group interactions, lessons from expert speakers and large group learning sessions. • Meals provided. • Mileage reimbursements of .51 per mile available for teachers attending from locations more than 60 miles from the training site. • For more information or to sign-up, go to the workshop registration page at www.econisok.org

Fiscally Fit Boot Camp for Teachers - OKC

United Way of Central OK Dates: June 9, June 30,

July 14 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Fiscally Fit Boot Camp for Teachers - Tulsa

Location TBA Dates: Sept. 8, Oct.13,

Nov. 10, Dec. 8 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Oklahoma Council on Economic Education 100 N University Drive, Box 103 Edmond, OK 73034 (405) 974-5343

ReInVenT your career commitment

By Tricia Auberle, Director, Oklahoma Homebuyer Education Association

The Internet offers numerous tips for how to maneuver through the process of selecting and financing a house. Here are some tips on how to make sure you will be happy with your decision for years to come.> Write down what you need and what you want. Talk it over with your co-buyer. Determine what’s negotiable and what isn’t. Take your checklist with you and compare every house to your stan-dards. > Be realistic about what you can afford. Housing should cost around 30 percent of your net income. Your house payment should leave you plenty of room to estab-lish a reserve account for maintenance and to put away at least six months in-come to ensure against emergencies. Put money in these accounts every month and don’t use them for gifts, vacations or other purchases. Can’t afford all that? Then think twice about homeownership.> Look for information, not advice. Homeownership is a big commitment. Make your decisions based on your needs,

not someone else’s opinion. Be especially aware of potential conflicts of interest. What’s in it for the agent or loan officer can affect what that person tells you.> Never sign anything that is different from what you were told about the deal. The person who tells you “it doesn’t mean that” or “that won’t happen” isn’t the person who will have a problem later. The only thing that matters is what it says in the document you sign. Make sure you can live with every word of it.> Don’t commit to homeownership to make your spouse happy or because your parents think it’s time. Homeownership doesn’t make you responsible; it gives you responsibilities.

Interact with other buyers who may have good questions you haven’t even considered. Talk to a housing profes-sional who has nothing to gain from your decision to buy — or not buy — a home. Attend a homebuyer education work-shop. The more prepared you are and the more you know going into homeowner-ship, the happier you will be with your decision toward actualizing your Ameri-can dream.

By Amy L. Welch, APR; Director of Communications, Oklahoma Society of CPAs

It’s important to keep your resume polished and your skills up-to-date. Here are some tips on recession-proofing your career and reinventing your commitment to your career.

Increase your visibility and aim for excellence in everything you do. Develop a reputation for reliability, cooperation and other positive attri-butes. Even if you were doing a great job before, work harder to prove just how indispensable you are.

If you strictly work eight hours, consider a change in habits. Arrive early and stay late to demonstrate your commitment. If your boss needs project volunteers, get on the list. Keep a realistically cheerful attitude that positively influences co-workers and, whenever possible, go the ex-tra mile so your boss knows whom to count on at all times.

Don’t be shy about accomplish-ments. Create a list of achievements, with specific details about contribu-tions you’ve made. Also, be ready to talk about it. When these subjects come up, remind your boss about your

contributions. If your company is on the verge of layoffs, consider meeting with your boss to explain the positive things you’ve brought to the table and what you can add in the future.

Taking home less money for the same job doesn’t sound like a good deal, but it may be right now. Em-ployment can be hard to find in a recession, and you lose out on your entire salary during the weeks, even months, that it may take to find a new position. That’s why a pay cut or fur-lough may be a good compromise. In fact, if you are subject to a layoff, of-fer to work for reduced pay instead. Companies are usually reluctant to lay off good employees but may feel they have no choice — unless you give them one.

The world we live in constantly evolves, so your skills should too. Take classes or attend conferences to increase your knowledge about vari-ous topics. Think about this: When college graduates start looking for work and they have more up-to-date knowledge about your industry — and might be willing to work for less money — employers may opt to take less-seasoned workers.

Visit www.OklahomaJumpstart.org to find free JYM WEEK classes

and resources to become financially fit.

ReSHAPe your American dream

6 April 20, 2011 OPUBCO COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

ReMODeL your tax plansBy Amy L. Welch, APR, Director of Communications, Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants

While thoughts of tax season can conjure up feelings of anxiety for many, there are ways to make it as stress-free as possible. > Get organized. By February, organizations should have sent you many of the documents you need to complete your return. This in-cludes W-2s, 1099 forms and statements from your mortgage company, bank or other lender with details you’ll need. Get documentation of medi-cal bills you’ve paid and charitable donations or financial investments you have made. As soon as it’s received, set it aside in a special folder so you don’t have to search for it when you’re ready to tackle your return. You’ll also need last year’s re-turn for background in-formation and to see if you need any additional paperwork. > Make order from chaos. Gathering docu-ments is a good first step, but it’s also important to put them in order. Sort papers in different files or folders based on whether they relate, for example, to income or deductions.

Make a primary list of all documents and amounts involved with each. That will make it easier to get started. > Prepare year-round. Not all the documents you need will arrive in January and February. For example, you may need credit card or bank statements, receipts and records of cancelled checks showing deduct-ible expenses, purchases or donations. > Stay informed. It’s easier to organize your tax return information if you understand more about how tax laws affect you. > Ask questions. If you use a tax preparer, first verify his or her quali-

fications, education, professional member-ships, etc. Don’t assume someone is qualified be-cause of a job title. Did you know, for example, that all CPAs can be con-sidered accountants, but not all accountants are CPAs? Many people who call themselves “accoun-tants” or “tax preparers” may have minimal quali-fications or experience. Once you’ve established the person is trustworthy enough to hand over your personal financial infor-mation, then ask what else your might be need-ed, how he or she can save you money on taxes this year or what you can do to save on taxes next year.

By Lacy Myers, Communications Coordinator, Oklahoma Money Matters

If you’re like many adults, you’ve prob-ably tried to implement a budget, failed and la-mented, “Budgets just aren’t for me!” You’re right. Standard bud-gets aren’t for you. They aren’t for anyone, really. Why? Budgets aren’t made to be one-size-fits-all. They’re unique to your situation, your values and your priori-ties.

If you feel like your budget is busted, it’s time to rebuild. Forget about the standard, pre-built variety and focus on cre-ating your own one-of-a-kind, custom-made spending plan.

Your budget should start with an evaluation of your goals. Do you

want to get out of debt? Give more to charity? Save more for retirement or your kids’ college funds? Afford a bigger home? Whatever your goal, remind yourself of it often when allocating your money and sticking to your spending plan.

Next, examine why your last budget didn’t work. Were you fully committed? Did you re-strict yourself too much? Were your spouse and children on board? Iden-tifying the reason you failed will help you avoid making the same mistake twice.

Equally important is finding the budgeting method that’s right for you. To be effective at managing your money, you don’t have to use a spreadsheet or pinch every penny. There are alternatives to the typi-

cal budget. For example, some use a cash-only method called the en-velope system. Others decide to cut monthly expenses or trim over-all spending by a cer-tain percentage. Other methods involve setting up multiple banking ac-counts: one to stash sav-ings; one to pay monthly fixed expenses, like rent, car payments and utili-ties. Another account would be set up to handle daily variable expenses, which requires close monitoring because you only have a set amount in this account to spend.

Whatever your meth-od, it may take a few times to get your budget right. If you try it one month and it doesn’t work out, don’t lose hope. Rethink your spending or rework your method and give it another try.

Visit www.OklahomaJumpstart.org to find free JYM WEEK classes

and resources to become financially fit.

Oklahoma Society of CPAs1900 NW Expy, Ste. 910 • Okla. City, OK 73118-1898(405) 841-3800 • (800) 522-8261www.KnowWhatCounts.org

Trust. Quality. Objectivity.Since 1918, Oklahomans have relied on members of the Oklahoma Society of Certified

Public Accountants to provide trustworthy advice, quality services and objective insights.

Find out more at www.KnowWhatCounts.org.

ReBUILD your budget


Supporting financial & economic education in Oklahoma

• No cost publications and lesson plans • Interactive Activities • Teacher Resources

www.kansascityfed.org/oklahomacity (405) 270-8619

Re-TeACH your kids about moneyBy Pamela Gutel, APR, and Michele Wulff, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Oklahoma City Branch and Omaha Branch

During the average day, parents spend time with their children on the way to school, at the dinner table and in front of the TV. It’s important to use these ev-eryday opportunities to incorporate les-sons on money management.

Use car trips to discuss the importance of setting financial goals in the areas of savings, earning, spending and donat-ing. Ask them to discuss or list what they would like to save for in the next year or so. Once goals are set, have them decide what portion of their income should be saved to accomplish those goals. This is also a good opportunity to discuss sav-ings vehicles and compound interest.

Next, discuss how they will earn mon-ey to meet those goals. Children should list current income sources, includ-ing allowance, cash gifts and odd jobs. Ask them to brainstorm potential new sources, such as garage sales, dog walk-ing and outdoor work. Teens might include baby-sitting and part-time employment. Challenge them to pursue new income sources to reach their sav-ings goals.

Your family dinner is another good chance to talk money. Examples include planning the grocery shopping by mak-

ing a list of necessary items, checking ads for the lowest prices and shopping accordingly. Tell them how their pur-chases could be made the same way us-ing preparation and comparison shop-ping. Plan a shopping trip to help them visualize how this is done.

While the family is watching TV, point out commercials sending unrealis-tic messages, such as the need to buy a product to be cool, popular or fashion-able. Discuss how this can affect spend-ing choices and the importance of be-coming a more aware consumer. When a public service announcement comes on, discuss donating a portion of their income. Whether it’s the Humane Soci-ety, a health organization or a kids’ ad-vocacy group, it’s satisfying for kids to know they have helped others.

It’s important to take advantage of those teachable moments to work in messages of money with children. They will make financial decisions their entire life and no one is better to teach these important lessons than parents.

By Shannon TruaxCompliance & Internal Control OfficerFirst Bank & Trust Co

When my husband and I began dating, one of the first things we dis-cussed was our personal financial philosophies. For some couples this is one of the hardest topics to talk about, harder than prior relation-ships, health history, politics and re-ligious beliefs. Many folks view their personal finances as more sacred than anything else. However, my husband and I knew that in order for us to start a relationship built on honesty, we had to get it out in the open.

Both of us had been married be-fore, and both of our former mar-riages lasted more than 15 years. We had some financial baggage, but we each had worked hard since then to

become more financially fit. Neither one of us wanted to have setbacks, so it was refreshing to find out we were on the same page. As we started mak-ing wedding plans, we were careful not to overspend. We decided where to focus our wedding dollars, which, for us, was on a honeymoon. Our pri-ority was on length, not location, so we picked a place in driving distance and rented a house.

Together we decided to save regu-larly. Even when we receive bonuses or tax refunds, we carefully weigh any needs and wants and try to save as much as possible. Having an emer-gency fund kept us afloat for six months in 2009 when my husband was laid off. Our kids may get tired of ordering from the dollar menu, but as they get older, we see them doing the same thing with their paychecks!

Jennifer Wallis, Vice President, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central Oklahoma

It’s scary to think that financial is-sues can be so overwhelming that they are the number one cited reason for divorce. The good news is that money troubles can be 100 percent preventable and 100 percent treatable with the right plan of action. When you and your significant other differ when it comes to money habits, dis-agreements are a natural result.

The key is to find some common ground that meets the needs of every-one involved. If one of you is a spender and the other is a saver, consider set-ting a spending allowance. This gives each of you a portion of extra money to be spent however you see fit. If one of you handles everything financial and the other is left in the dark, con-sider sharing duties. By talking more openly about your financial situation, you share the responsibility and sup-port one another.

Each of us has our own feelings and experiences regarding money. Some of it may be positive and some may be upsetting or negative. Think

about how you grew up and how you felt about finances. Realize how that affects your reactions today when it comes to money. Talk over with your spouse any differences in your at-titudes. This will help you recognize any potential conflicts and find ways to avoid them. Also, by identifying common feelings, you will uncover ways to work together more peace-fully.

Another important tip is to sit down to discuss finances when you are calm and clearheaded. If you wait until a crisis occurs (such as an overdrawn checking account or late fee), you will be much less likely to find a successful outcome. Instead, stick to facts and figures and don’t blame each other for poor choices. It just isn’t construc-tive to rehash past mistakes. Focus on moving forward.

Discuss your past, credit history and goals with each other. With a lit-tle planning and a lot of compromise, couples can find common ground when it comes to finances. Remember you are on the same team and your family’s success and security depends on the two of you working together.

Taboo discussion for daters? No way!

ReDeSIGn your financial relationship

By Cynthia Campbell, AVP Financial Empowerment, Tinker Federal Credit Union

Many families find that their debt level is increasing because of rising prices at the pump, reduced overtime, furlough or unemployment. It can be frus-trating to try to hit a target, like a balanced budget, when the target always seems to be mov-ing!

The traditional response is to look at the budget with even more scrutiny. So the finan-cial manager of the household decides to revise the budget. However, problems arise when this is done without consulting the rest of the family members. These budget changes never take root because they were never communicated to the other members of the family.

Remember, communication involves sending a message and receiving a message. Merely telling your husband that he needs to cut back on eating out is not communication. If a

family budget is going to work, it must involve the entire family since all members of the fam-ily are consumers. By involving the whole family in the process, all members will be more sat-isfied with the decisions that are made because they helped make the decisions. Create goals as a family.

Working towards a common goal, like a summer vacation, can be a great way to create a family bond. When each fam-ily member knows that his or her spending sacrifices will re-sult in enjoyment for the whole family, it is amazing what can happen. Discuss the financial situation honestly.

Behavior changes when peo-ple understand why it needs to change. If your spouse does not know how bad it really is, he or she may lack the motiva-tion to make necessary chang-es. No one should have to bear the stress of a financial burden

alone. Have a meeting and get on the same page financially. Cut budgets together.

Have each family member create a list of his or her own expenses. Then ask everyone to reduce their expenses by 10 percent. The reduction may still hurt, but they get to decide where it hurts.

Reducing debt becomes eas-ier when the family works to-gether.

Money Smart workshops for the whole familyTuesday, April 26 6-8 p.m.

Adults: Raising Money Smart kidsHigh School: Make the most of your money4th – 8th grade: Making Money Smart decisions

Credit Union House of OK631 E Hill StreetOKC, OK 73105Dinner provided – RSVP requiredRSVP (405) 702-8622

ReGeneRATe your commitment to getting out of debt


Keep Financially Fit.F I N A N C I A L C O A C H I N G S E M I N A R S

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Choose from these topics:• First Time Home Buyer

• Plastic Surgery: Getting Out of Debt

• Raising Money-Smart Kids

• Ten Steps to Financial Success

• Financial First Aid

• Building a Better Budget

• Checking 101

• Teens and Money

• On the Road to Riches

• Solving the Mystery of Credit Reports

• Understanding Credit

• Identity Theft

• College Financing 101

• Personal Finances for College Students

• Psychology of Spending

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April 20, 2011 OPUBCO COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

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Jump$tart Your Money