Copy
Contact us to make an appointment or to get more information
FECSoCo.org / 703.704.6101 / info@fecsoco.org 

Get direct access to financial services and guidance at no cost.


Visit us at the Financial Empowerment Center and use our free services to gain more control and knowledge over your finances in a welcoming and private environment.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL TAX-FREE HOLIDAYS

For parents looking to save a little money on outfitting their children for school here are the tax-free holiday dates, Please review each state's list of items that will be tax-exempt during this time, 
 
Virginia     3  Days    August 5-7
Maryland  7 Days   August 14-20
 
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 
2022-2023

 
Fairfax County PS - August 22
Prince William County PS - August 22
Loudoun County PS - August 25
Prince Georges County PS - August 29
Montgomery  County PS - August 29
District of Columbia - August 29


If you are interested in helping families with supplies, please support Britepaths Back-to-School program
De vuelta a la escuela - Compra de utiles escolares libre de impuestos
 
En las fechas indicadas abajo, no se pagará impuestos en los articulos necesarios para equipar a sus hijos para la escuela. Revise la lista de artículos de cada estado que estarán exentos de impuestos durante este tiempo:
  • En Virginia 3 días del 5 at 7 de agosto
  • En Maryland 7 días del 14 al 20 de agosto
HEALTHY EATING AND COOKING WORKSHOP

The Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Family Nutrition Program offers a wonderful program to help individuals and families learn how to eat smart and be active. The FEC has partnered with them to offer this one-hour, four-session program that offers a  wealth of valuable information. Some of the topics they cover:
  • Get Moving and Plan, Shop, and Save
  • Fruits and Veggies Half Your Plate
  • Make Half Your Grain Whole
  • Go Lean With Protein
  • Build Strong Bones
  • Make a Change
  • CELEBRATE what you have learned!
They have great gifts for participants who complete all four sessions, including a certificate of completion. We look forward to providing this workshop again this fall. Please check in with the FEC for dates and other requirements to participate at info@fecsoco.org.
The Healthy Eating class teaches clients how to read product labels and understand product ingredients to make informed purchasing decisions for healthier options.
TIPS TO LOWER YOUR GROCERY BILL
 
All of America is trying to weather the economic crisis we are experiencing during this time. Gas prices are higher than ever before and food prices are increasing too. Everyone is searching for ways to save money without sacrificing enjoying life. Here are a few things you can try to help with lowering your grocery bill
  1. Plan your meals for the week. If you know what you will be preparing you can shop for those ingredients. 
  2. Always check your pantry, freezer, and refrigerator to see what items you have on hand. Also, check expiration dates on items and use those things first.
  3. Shop grocery stores' weekly ads for sale items and any BOGO (buy-one-get-one) deals. This can help replenish items that you use regularly. 
  4. Buy generic items. Most of the time the only difference between brand-name products and store-brand products at the grocery store is the packaging
  5. Buy produce in season. This is the time to hit your local farmer's markets and check your grocer for in-season produce. You can enjoy them now or even freeze them to consume during the fall and winter. 
  6. Fresh is not always better. When produce is out of season, buy it frozen, canned, or dried. It usually costs less than fresh produce and has the same nutritional value.
Before tackling your grocery bill, you must have a good understanding of your budget.  The FEC can help you create or review your budget. 

Contact us to attend one of our budgeting classes or to have confidential financial coaching sessions to discuss your personal finances. Visit our Booking Page or email info@fecsoco.org for more information.
FEC UPCOMING CLASSES Click Images Below to Register
PRÓXIMAS CLASES DE FEC Haga clic en las imágenes a continuación para registrarse

By Ken Kozloff

Britepaths and Financial Empowerment Center at South County Volunteer

Are you stressed out about money and having trouble meeting all your expenses each month? Working with a Britepaths volunteer Financial Mentor might be for you.

Britepaths offers FREE and confidential help to adults in Northern Virginia or the Washington, DC metropolitan area working a minimum of 30 hours per week and meeting other program requirements.  Britepaths Financial Empowerment Programs.

Your Mentor will be your guide while you identify your financial priorities and develop a personalized plan to tackle them. These might include:

  • How to stop living paycheck-to-paycheck
  • How to build your savings by “paying yourself” first
  • How to prioritize paying your bills
  • How to get out of debt

With the help of a Financial Mentor, you will have a minimum of two free coaching sessions per month to review and discuss your financial situation. All information is held in confidence and is not shared with outside sources.

Britepaths’ Mentors are trained volunteers who often have backgrounds or interests in personal finance. They do not suggest or sell financial products or services to their mentees.

A Mentor Perspective

I have been a Financial Coach and Mentor for over nine years and have had many clients complete the program. As a Mentor, it has been my experience that those clients who are motivated, attend the two minimum required meetings per month, whether virtually or in person and are open to sharing their financial issues are successful in completing their goals.

Client Impact Story

Perhaps my best client success story concerned a single mom who had a high school student ready to start college. My client was underemployed, needed a working resume, did not have a budget or savings, and usually paid her bills late. After working together for a year, she was able to obtain a better job with a $20,000 salary increase, redo her resume, improve her interviewing skills, develop a working budget and savings program, and pay her bills on time.  With financial assistance, she was able to contribute money to her son’s college education.

Get Started

Are you interested in learning more? The first step is to schedule a free one-on-one virtual Financial Coaching session through the Financial Empowerment Center at South County (FECSoCo), where a Coach can help you assess your financial situation. You might meet a few times.
 

Click Here to Get Started

Questions? Contact Carole Rogers at crogers@britepaths.org

THE FEC SUPPORTS YOUTH PROGRAMS

Swimming pools, camps, bike rides, and sleeping were not the only things community youth had on their calendars for the summer. The FEC coordinated with some community partners to provide some financial education programs to their youth. We had a total of fourteen sessions with over thirty participants. Thank you to Culmore Family Resource Center, Annandale Safe Youth Project, and Kingsley Computer Technology Program for having the Financial Empowerment Center as of your programs this summer. We are glad that the students enjoyed the sessions and gained an understanding of money and finances.
COMMUNITY NEWS, EVENTS & RESOURCES
 

FCPS Summer Meal Service
Summer meal kits will be ending on August 9. Meal kits contain seven days of breakfast and lunch items packed in bulk. All meals are available at no cost to FCPS students and children 18 years of age and under. 

FCPS Free and Reduced-Priced Meals (FRM)

Families who earn less than 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals and those with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the poverty level qualify for reduced-price meals. To learn more about the program and application process visit https://www.fcps.edu/frm.

Comidas gratis y a precio reducido (FRM) de FCPS
Las familias que ganan menos del 130 por ciento del nivel de pobreza son elegibles para comidas gratis. Las familias que tengan ingresos entre el 130 y el 185 por ciento del nivel de pobreza califican para comidas a un precio reducido. 
Para obtener más información sobre el programa y como aplicar, visite https://www.fcps.edu/frm

Join our LinkedIn Group to receive updates on offerings and services

LET'S STAY IN TOUCH

Facebook
Twitter
Email
Join our LinkedIn Group to receive updates on offerings and services.
Copyright © 2019  Financial Empowerment Center, All rights reserved.


Our mailing address is:
8350 Richmond Highway, Suite 125
Alexandria, VA 22309

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

 






This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences
Financial Empowerment Center · 8350 Richmond Hwy Ste 125 · Alexandria, VA 22309-2344 · USA