ELLSWORTH — This fall, the Ellsworth Public Library is pleased to offer a free workshop series in collaboration with Key Bank. Eric J Mihan, personal banker, will guide participants through the program. The series will cover topics like day-to-day spending strategies, maintaining a healthy credit score, debt management, and how to avoid identity theft online. Registration is required.
Please find an overview of the individual workshops below:
Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m.: Making Budgets Work
Participants will identify personal obstacles to budgeting and create and apply a structure to track and analyze spending. They will also list short, medium, and long-term goals and discuss the importance of debt reduction and building emergency savings. Ultimately, participants will learn to apply strategies to manage day-to-day spending.
Oct. 22 at 5:30 p.m.: Credit Scores & Reports
In this workshop, participants will learn what a credit score is, its importance, and how to read a credit report. They’ll also learn the tools to maintain a healthy credit score and repair credit.
Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m.: Identity Theft
In this workshop, participants will learn about the methods used by identity thieves to steal personal information and how to protect themselves. They will also understand what information is at risk and red flags to watch out for with regard to common scams.
Dec. 10, at 5:30 p.m.: Debt Management
Participants will explore common reasons why people find themselves in debt and the most common types of debt. They will also describe the value of using debt management strategies such as loan consolidation, budgeting and debt management plans. Finally, participants will compare various debt management solutions and create a personal plan about how to manage their debt.