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By JERRY LYNOTT jlynott@leader.net
Monday, March 10, 2003 Page: 1C
WILKES-BARRE – Just as dieting has its basic laws, so does personal
finance.
Take in more calories than you burn and the pounds pile on.
Spend more than you earn and find yourself in debt.
But don’t allow yourself to get into debt, because it can have long-lasting
effects on your ability to borrow money, buy a house or car, advised Bill
Jones during recent seminar on personal finances.
Many people don’t know the basics of budgeting, how to establish credit or,
once they have, how to use it, said Jones, chief operating officer of
Volunteers of America.
“We’re attempting to change behavior, that’s what this is all about.”
It’s much like dieting, he added. Controlling one’s weight by eating
sensibly and exercising takes effort. And, it becomes a lifestyle.
So, too, with taking control of one’s finances. “Folks don’t get into a
difficult financial situation overnight and don’t get out of debt overnight.”
One night last month Jones helped lead the two-hour seminar before a group
of 15 people in the basement of St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church on South
Washington Street.
Sponsored by the United Way of Wyoming Valley, the Financial Literacy and
Money Education program was developed to answer a public demand for financial
literacy training.
“Lots of us have champagne tastes, but Kool-Aid incomes,” he said.
Distinguishing between wants and needs is critical to establishing
financial goals. Achieving those goals takes discipline. Write down how much
you make and where you money goes. Seeing the numbers on paper will help track
expenses.
The paper exercise might raise some eyebrows and identify areas to trim,
like that daily purchase of a cup of coffee or lunch at a fast-food
restaurant, said Terri Stocki of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of
Northeastern Pennsylvania Inc. Stocki, education director, also participated
in the seminar.
“If you do that every day, you could be spending a small fortune,” Stocki
said. Make your coffee at home and purchase a travel mug to take with you.
Bring a brown bag lunch to work instead of buying one every day.
“Act your wage” is more than a catchy phrase, it’s a strategy to handle
your money. “Your spending habits have to go hand in hand with your income,”
said Stocki.
After tracking and trimming expenses and preparing a budget, tune it to
meet your goals and needs. It takes work and likely will require fine-tuning
as needs change, especially family needs.
As difficult as it sounds, budgeting is not meant to impose hardships on
people. “We do not want people to not enjoy life,” said Jones.
Rather, the advice is to assist people establish priorities.
The most recent seminar was scheduled to help people deal with their
holiday spending. “Now people are really feeling the credit crunch of their
credit card purchases,” said Jones.
Neither he nor Stocki advised getting rid of all credit cards. They
recommended having at least one major credit card.
“Credit is an excellent tool, it depends how you use it,” Stocki said.
Don’t use credit to subsidize your income. And, don’t just pay the minimum
balance when the bill comes due, because that could take years and include a
hefty interest charge.
If you decide to use credit, match it with the right credit vehicle, said
Jones.
“You wouldn’t want to take a $5,000 car loan and put it on a credit
card.” A car loan paid in monthly installments is the perfect match.
With people preparing their income taxes and expecting refunds, they might
want to consider how to best use the money.
Instead of splurging with a refund, apply it to reducing your debt, maybe
even from Christmas, advised Jones.
But to ensure you won’t be caught playing credit card catch-up next year at
this time, plan ahead, he said.
“If (consumers) start putting aside $10 to $15 a week now, by November or
December they’ll be much better prepared to have a better Christmas.”
For additional information on financial literacy contact the Volunteers of
America at 825-5261 or the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northeastern
Pennsylvania Inc. at (800) 922-9537. Information also is available on the
counseling service Web site is www.cccsnepa.org.
Jerry Lynott, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7237.