By using excellent materials and having prizes for participants, these workshops are fun, as well as helping people plan for their futures.

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling reports 41 percent of U.S. adults, or more than 92 million people living in America, gave themselves a grade of C, D, or F on their knowledge of personal finance (April 2009).

Financial Literacy and Education Commission. Report: Taking Ownership of the Future The National Strategy for Financial Literacy, 2006 from the U.S. Government's MyMoney.gov website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education. Whether you are planning to buy a home, balancing your checkbook, review your credit reports, or investing in your 401k, the resources on MyMoney.gov can help you do it better. Throughout the site, you will find important information from 20 federal agencies government wide.

Financial Literacy Program Supporters

Community-based organizations such as Marin Family Action hold workshops throughout the year, with assistance from Center for Neighborhood Enterprise and HSBC. Topics covered in the workshops include Banking, Credit History, Homeownership, Identity Theft, Managing Your Money, Managing Your Mortgage, Using Credit, and Borrowing Basics.

Clients in The Financial Self-Help Program review their financial goals and develop plans, i.e.:

• Establish a personal financial budget with income/outgo looking for warning signs of too much debt based on credit history and current spending;
• Negotiate with creditors to lower balances and/or interest payments;
• Make restitution with lenders to secure checking and savings accounts;
• Review predatory lending practices: Buyer Beware! Legal recourse for buyers;
• Establish a 3-5 year plan to reach/maintain financial stability and attain goals; include means of increasing income;
• Home Ownership (Do not use your home as an ATM).

RESULTS: Adult Financial Literacy Program Results 2009

Following are excerpts from results (the full report can be accessed by clicking on the above).

Through Marin Family Action's program, 252 more consumers were reached than originally planned for California (and Florida and Nevada). One-on-one foreclosure assistance was provided to consumers within California and Nevada. Some consumers avoided foreclosure and saved their homes as a result of these services. (Saving homes from foreclosure has become a large part of Marin Family Action's outreach due to America's current financial crises.)

• 3,681 were age 26-55
• 1,271 were seniors, age 56 and above

Notes From Our Financial Literacy Class