Low-Income Client Resources/Handouts

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Preparation Checklist

Meeting Agenda

Resources/Handouts

Manage Your Money, Manage Your Life! A presentation intended as basic information to help clients get control of their finances. This PowerPoint presents general information on saving, retirement planning, emergency funds, large purchases, budgeting, credit, and insurance.

Understanding How a Pro Bono Financial Planner Can Help. An exercise that shows the various ways a financial planner can help a client.

Budgeting

Adding a Car to Your Life. A handout detailing the total costs of owning a vehicle.

Estimating Expenses Before the First Paycheck. A worksheet to help unemployed clients plan their expenses until they receive their first paycheck.

Making a Spending Plan. An exercise clients can use to create a simple budget.

Making Plans to Pay Bills. A worksheet for tracking bill-payment negotiations.

Plugging Spending Leaks. An exercise demonstrating how "little" choices can add up to significant dollar amounts over time.

Reducing Household Expenses. An exercise clients can use to see the potential savings possible by reducing ordinary and routine household expenses.

Separating Needs from Wants. An exercise that demonstrates how perceptions of needs and wants affect client spending choices.

Taking a Look at Wants: Asking the Big Questions. An exercise challenging clients to examine why an item or service belongs on their "Wants" list.

Tracking Household Expenses: Week by Week. A handout clients can use to track weekly expenses.

Using a Bill-Payment Calendar. A handout showing how to use a calendar for a simple bill-payment reminder system.

Avoiding Scams and Predatory Lenders

Avoiding Loan Rip-Offs. A handout describing techniques used by predatory lenders to take advantage of financially vulnerable individuals and families.

Avoiding Money Traps. A handout describing payday loans, rent-to-own stores, and other sources of high-cost short-term loans.

Spending/Shopping

Shopping Smart. A handout of tips on how to save money while shopping in general, plus tips on saving money on food, transportation, entertainment, clothing, appliances, and more.

Checking Accounts

Checking Account Tips. A handout of tips for using and balancing a checking account.

Comparing Checking Accounts. A worksheet clients can use to compare the features and costs of checking accounts from banks and credit unions.

Opening a Checking Account. A handout describing the benefits of a checking account and how to open one.

Tips for Using a Checking Account. The following tips can help keep your checking account under control.

Using a Deposit Slip. A handout showing how to use a deposit slip.

Saving/Investing

Saving for Emergencies. A worksheet clients can use to determine how much to save for an emergency fund.

Saving Simply. A handout of simple tips on saving money to put in a savings account.

Seeing How Savings Grow. A handout showing how the growth of various monthly savings amounts over time.

Using the Rule of 72. A handout showing how the Rule of 72 works in investing.

Using Credit

Locating Nonprofit Credit Counseling Information. A blank worksheet to list names and phone numbers of credit counseling agencies. The planner should collect local agency information prior to meeting with the client.

Managing Credit and Debt. A handout explaining how to build good credit.

Taking Control of Credit Cards. A handout describing the wise use of credit cards.

Using a Debt Recovery Worksheet. A worksheet showing clients how to prioritize a debt-repayment plan.

Child Care

Looking at Child-Care Options. A handout comparing a variety of child-care options.

Paying for Child Care. A handout describing ways to pay for child care.

Screening Child-Care Providers. A handout of questions to consider for finding quality child care.

Health Care

Applying for Children's Insurance Programs. A handout describing public health-care programs specifically for children.

Applying for the Women, Infants, and Children Program. A handout describing the WIC program, which provides healthy foods and nutrition education for low-income women.

Save Money On Taxes

Getting Your Taxes Done Free. A handout explaining the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

Taking Advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit. A handout describing how to qualify for the earned income credit and how to apply for the advance earned income credit.

Getting Organized

Getting Your Life Organized. A handout of tips for organizing a home, clothes, paperwork, etc.

Preparing for Transitional Housing. A worksheet to collect important personal data used to fill out a rental application.

Setting SMART Financial Goals. An exercise clients can use to establish SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Trackable).

Homelessness

Finding Emergency Help. A handout of possible resources for money needed in a hurry for housing.

Finding Helpful Programs and Credit. A handout listing many government programs available to low-income individuals.

Getting Family Loans Without a Family Feud. A handout about establishing rules for borrowing from family members in an emergency.

Handling Eviction When it Cannot Be Stopped. A handout describing temporary housing ideas and tenant rights.

Working with Your Landlord. A handout with suggestions for negotiating overdue rent.

Working with Your Mortgage Company. A handout with suggestions for negotiating with a lender when you can't make your mortgage payment.

Post-Secondary Education

Updating Job Skills. A handout listing several groups that may offer job-training classes.

Additional Resources

For information on providing your pro bono clients with LifeBridge, a free life insurance program for low-income individuals provided by MassMutual, click here.