As the snow clears, and temperatures finally begin to warm up, you’re likely preparing to tackle the yearly spring cleaning.  While you are probably thinking of clearing out the clutter in your basement, you should also consider taking some time to clean up your finances!  April is Financial Literacy Month, and a great time to review your budget. 

Winters can be a rough time for people financially.  Between holiday expenses and increases in heating costs, people naturally end up spending more money.  Additionally, the icy weather and dark nights can contribute a lot towards dampening your financial resolve. Instead of braving the cold and heading to the grocery store, did you end up ordering take-out more often than you should have?  Bad financial habits are easy to slip into, so it’s good to periodically review your financial goals to ensure that you are on the right path.

If you think that you might need some additional assistance getting your finances under control, that’s not a problem here in the city.  Did you know that you can receive free one-on-one financial counseling appointments through Philadelphia’s Financial Empowerment Centers?  Appointments can be made directly through their website, or by calling 1-855-FIN-PHIL, and they offer easily accessible locations throughout the city.

The Free Library of Philadelphia also offers free budgeting courses through GCF: Learn Free and Universal Class (available through our databases page), in addition to a variety books to help guide you towards financial well-being. 

Here are a few of our more recent additions:

• Harzog, Beverly. The Debt Escape Plan: How to Free Yourself from Credit Card Balances, Boost Your Credit Score, and Live Debt-Free. New Jersey: CareerPress, 2015.
• Hunt, Mary. Debt-Proof Living: How to Get Out of Debt and Stay that Way. Grand Rapids, MI: Revell, 2014.
• Bucci, Steve. Credit Repair Kit for Dummies. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2014.

If you’re looking for additional information online, here are some great, reliable websites from top government resources:

• “Consumer Financial Protection Bureau”: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/
• “Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia: Resources for Individuals”: http://www.philadelphiafed.org/education/individuals/
• “Investor.gov”: http://investor.gov

If you’re not sure where to start, see your local librarian, or stop by the Business, Science and Industry Department at Parkway Central!