Financial Literacy Events
Run Through May 15th

Understanding Investments, Thursday April 28th @ 6:00pm. The program will cover a range of investment types and strategies, including mutual funds, stocks, bonds, retirement planning and college savings plans. Our area expert will also discuss general financial information and paying off debt.
Getting to Know Your Money. Thursday May 12th @ 6:00pm. Another area expert discusses finance. More details soon
DASH for the STASH CONTEST running through May 15th. Come into the library, read the four informational posters on investing, and answer the online questions correctly to be entered for a $1000 prize drawing. (Prize is not cash but goes directly into a retirement account.)
Color Me Happy, May 16thth @ 5:30pm. Please note new time.The library provides all art supplies. Adults only please.
Stitch with Friends, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ 6pm.

The Livingston County Library is celebrating Financial Literacy Month (April and into May) with several events. On April 28^th the Library is presenting a program, Understanding Investments, at 6:00pm. The program will cover a range of investment types and strategies including mutual funds, stocks, bonds, retirement planning and college savings plans. Our area expert will also discuss general financial information and paying off debt. No registration is required; just bring yourself and your questions.

An additional program on financial matters will be presented May 12^th at 6pm. Further information will be available shortly on this program.

The Livingston County Library is also participating in a contest, DASH for the STASH, which is sponsored by the Office of the Missouri Secretary of State and the nonprofit Investor Protection Institute and runs through May 15^th.

This scavenger hunt-like contest consists of patrons reading each of 4 posters and then answering a question about each poster topic. Questions may be scanned via a QR code at the bottom of each poster (patrons can scan with their own phone or tablet) or by going online (website is provided under the QR code).

4 correct answers (1 for each poster) enters a patron into the drawing for $1000. This $1000 is not cash! The prize money will only be deposited in an IRA account. One winner for the state of Missouri will be chosen by a random drawing. To enter, a patron will have to create an account – name and email address required. A winner will be chosen after May 15^th.

Rules for the contest can be found here: http://www.iinvest.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/DASH-for-the-STASH_2016_Rules.pdf

HOW TO MAKE A BUDGET

How do you create a budget?
It's really not that hard, and it can be very eye opening!

Track all that you spend for a month. You can put it all into an excel spreadsheet, on paper, or use a free app.

Project what you will need for the following month, based on what you spent last month. Keep it realistic. Track expenditures. Find tune it over several months.

“People who succeed…[are] doing something differently than everyone else does.” What is it they are doing?

Robbins gives tips and novel ideas to help get control of money and make saving and investing accessible to everyone. He then walks us through various ways to invest our money, some of which I really hadn’t considered previously.

The second half of the book consists of short interviews with financial giants to glean their inner workings and investing advice.

The end of the book goes a step further by talking about having a satisfying life. Money is one part of that, but money alone won’t make you happy. Be sure to keep it in perspective.

Read the full review at our blog.

Money Tip: Save money by creating a menu for the week. Plan what you'll eat, what ingredients you need, shop with your list, and cook it up. It will not only help your bottom line, it may also help your waistline!

Living with lots of debt is not an easy thing to do. We have become used to it in our society, but there's nothing natural nor beneficial to it. Sure, most folks will need to get a mortgage in order to buy a house, but most other things, argue Dave Ramsey and his daughter Rachel Cruze, should be paid for in CASH. You heard right. That includes cars and college. It is doable. And it is, I'll argue, a better way to live.

Read my full review on our blog here. Learn how to live debt-free and teach this to your children. Escape the "keeping up with the Jones" syndrome!

GET OUT OF DEBT!

First, take stock of where you are. Be honest.

Create a reasonable budget every month. Try to follow that budget, adjusting as you need to.

Gather up an emergency fund of $500-1000. In case something happens, you won't have to use your credit card and thus go deeper into debt. (Where is this emergency fund and extra money coming from? Have a garage sale. Get a part-time job, like delivering pizzas on weekends. Sell stuff you have lying around but aren't using on eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook swap shops. Cut out unnecessary activities, walk or bike instead of driving, buy generic brands at the store, etc.)

Then pour all of your extra money into paying off one debt.Then the next debt, etc. This is called the "Snowball" effect and is talked about by numerous authors.

You'll think about what is really important in your life! Stuff is nice, but peace of mind is priceless.

Financial Literacy Events Run Through May 15th

Financial Literacy Events
Run Through May 15th