Basic Budgeting Seminars

Basic Budgeting Seminar
A Community Service from Westamerica Bank - Basic Budgeting Brochure (PDF)

Money does not come with instructions.
Managing money is a skill that must be learned. But there are few places where you can go to learn this skill. The reverse is almost true. We are surrounded by messages and images urging us to keep spending. For many in our society, this has caused real problems. Did you know:

• Most families have no savings.
• Family debt has increased dramatically and the percentage of families spending more than 40% of their income on debt has increased significantly.
• Most Americans believe they have a better chance of winning the lottery than saving for financial security.
• 30% of all Americans have "poor" credit.

Who benefits from attending a Budgeting Seminar?
The Westamerica Bank budgeting seminars are aimed at those individuals and families that are at financial risk.

• Women re-entering the work force.
• Welfare to work training recipients.
• Low-income families who are seeking basic financial education to manage their money.
• At-risk youths completing job training courses.

We specialize in helping people who are in transition into the work force. Our seminars are designed for people who are looking for financial education to obtain the tools to become financially independent, or at least, free from money worries.

About the Seminars.
Seminars are taught in the local communities in partnership with locally-based, non-profit agencies.

• These non-profit agencies coordinate the seminar dates, locations and notification of the participants.
• Seminars are small in order to encourage 100% participation. The typical seminar works best with
10 - 20 participants.
• Seminars are held throughout Westamerica Bank's 21 county service area.
• A Westamerica employee will facilitate the training.

Why the Budgeting Seminars are worth the time and effort.
The budgeting seminars are a comprehensive presentation that makes managing money fun and interesting. By forming a special relationship with The Jelly Belly Candy Company that allows us to use their Jelly Belly as a visual training tool, we introduce the concept of budgeting and money management in a new and painless way. The seminars are not information only. By the end of the seminar, participants will have made a budget that fits their own financial condition.
The seminar also provides many useful tips on money management. For example:

• How to avoid falling into the maxed-out credit card trap.
• Tips on why budgets fail and how to keep your budget on track.
• Tips on how to be a wise consumer and how to avoid falling for marketing gimmicks.
• The importance of creating a savings plan to prepare for emergencies.

The entire seminar is designed to give participants the knowledge needed to successfully manage money. For many, this is the starting point to becoming self-sufficient.

Every participant will receive a free Personal Budgeting Kit.
Our Personal Budgeting Kit is designed to give participants everything needed to make and maintain a budget. Each kit contains an information packet participants will use in making a budget – along with budgeting forms, a calculator and a pen.
Participants keep the free kit and, by following instructions, can convert their kit into a home-budgeting filing system. Each kit is an accordion folder separated into months for use as a handy, bill-paying, filing system. Participants can store paid bills, receipts and other important records in the folders.

What participants have said after taking the seminar.

• "I had no idea where my money was going until now."
• "One of our clients called the day after our seminar and said she was so excited, she had started using her budget immediately."
• "I wish I had this information years ago to help me."
• "This would be perfect for my children."
• "I feel that I can now see how to manage my money."
• "This is such a good introduction to money management and we are most appreciative of Westamerica Bank for offering this to our clients."

At Westamerica, we want to do more – and you can help!
A partial listing of non-profit agencies who have helped us arrange seminars in their communities:

• Haven Women's Center in Modesto
• Battered Women's Alternative in Concord
• Headstart in Madera County
• Image for Success in Marin County
• Women's Empowerment Project, Loaves & Fishes, Sacramento
• Solano County Independent Living Program/Foster Kids
• Homeward Bound in Marin

If you are a non-profit agency with clientele that could benefit from this seminar, please contact us. If you can arrange for the participants to attend the seminar, we can arrange for the instructor, materials and every other assistance possible. There is no cost to you.
The number of people who could benefit from basic budgeting education is large and growing. Every day, people and families are re-entering the work force or in the process of being trained to enter the work force. Personal budgeting is a skill they will need to be successful.
Call us. Together, we can make a difference for individuals in your community who need help.