Increase your financial knowledge, develop confidence in your decision-making ability, and gain control of your life through informed money management.  Join a seven-week series of  classes about money, developed by women for women.  The class will be at Washburn University Henderson Hall in Topeka from September 9 through October 21, 2010, 6 to 8:30 p.m.

• September 9 – Money and You and Financial Basics, Welcome – Marc S. Wilson, Commissioner, Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner; Marilyn Stanley, Chief Operating Officer, Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc.
• September 16 – Getting Organized, Cindy Evans, County Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Science, Kansas State Research & Extension – Shawnee County
• September 23 – Banking and Credit, Kimberly Geels, Vice President, New Century Credit Union
• September 30 – Investment Basics, Judy Thomas, CFP® and Kris Welborn, CFP®Wells Fargo Advisors
• October 7 – Retirement Planning (Social Security and other employer based plans), Nancy J. Sumpter, AAMS, Edward Jones Investments, Emily Schalansky, Social Security Administration
• October 14 – Investigate Before You Invest, Kathy Diehl, Director of Compliance; Gail Bright, Associate General Counsel, Erin Hoestje, Associate General Counsel, Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner
• October 21 – Planning for Future Life Events, Susan Krehbiel William of Coffman, DeFries & Nothern PA

Register through Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc., 1195 SW Buchanan, Ste. 101, Topeka, KS 66604.  For more information contact Marilyn at 234-0217 x312.

Ten Things to Think About Before Using Your Credit Card After Bankruptcy

1.  Establish a realistic budget.

Before using a credit card after bankruptcy, try paying cash for a while.  This will help you learn how much money you need each month to pay the basic necessities.  Don’t forget to budget for the payments on any debts you reaffirmed in your bankruptcy.

2.  It is important not to use credit cards to make up for a budget shortfall.

Credit card debt is expensive.  Sometimes credit cards are so easy to use that people forget they are loans.  Be sure to charge only things you really need and plan to pay the balance off in full each month.  If you find you are constantly using your card without being able to pay the bill in full each month, you need to consider that you are using cards to finance an unaffordable lifestyle.

3.  If you get into financial trouble, do not make it worse by using credit cards to make ends meet. [Read more…]

Ten Things to Think About Before Getting a New Credit Card After Bankruptcy

1.  Don’t apply for a credit card until you are ready.

Unfortunately, bankruptcy may not have permanently resolved all of your financial problems.  It is a bad idea to apply for new credit before you can afford it.

2.  Avoid accepting too many offers.

There is rarely a good reason to have more than one or two credit cards.  Having too much credit can lead to bad decisions and unmanageable debts, and it will lower your credit rating.  This can make it harder for you to get other lower interest rate loans.  Avoid accepting a credit card just to get a discount at a store or a “free” gift.

3.  Remember that lenders are looking for people who run up big balances, because those consumers pay the most interest. [Read more…]