Middlesex Community College

Financial Empowerment Series

October is MCC’s Financial Empowerment Month. Throughout the month, our Financial Wellness Coach will host a workshop every Tuesday that is designed to equip you with essential knowledge and practical tools.

The workshops will help you:

• Enhance your financial literacy
• Make informed financial decisions
• Plan for a secure future

By attending the sessions, you will gain valuable insights and strategies.

Learn how to:

• Find ways to pay for college
• Manage debt effectively
• Plan for your next big purchase

Time:
All sessions are from 1:00 p.m to 2:00 p.m.

Location:
Lowell Campus, Lower Cafeteria • Cowan Center

For in-person sessions, lunch will be provided. Register to confirm you attendance.

You can also attend the sessions virtually through Zoom.

Email Serrahtani Parrish or call 978-656-3215 for more information.


*October 1
Budgeting and Maintaining Personal Expenses (BME)

The BME workshop is a fundamental session designed to introduce participants to the fundamentals of personal budgeting. This workshop will teach you how to create and maintain an effective budget, emphasizing its crucial role in achieving financial freedom.

You'll learn about the numerous benefits of budgeting, including improved financial awareness, better debt management, and enhanced ability to reach financial goals. Through hands-on exercises, you'll gain the skills to develop a personalized budget that aligns with your financial objectives, setting you on the path to long-term financial success and stability.
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October 8
Creating a Strategic Savings Plan (SSP)

The SSP workshop is a practical and informative session designed to help participants develop effective money-saving strategies for vacations and emergencies. This workshop will also provide valuable insights into the marketing tactics businesses use to influence consumer behavior.

By the end of the workshop, attendees will have the knowledge and tools to create their own Strategic Savings Plan, make informed financial decisions, and become more aware consumers in today's marketing-driven world.
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October 15
Paying for School (P4S)

The P4S workshop is a comprehensive session designed to help students navigate the various options for financing their education. This workshop focuses on two key areas:

1. Free Community College: Participants will learn about eligibility criteria for free community college in the state of Massachusetts and receive guidance on the application process.
2. Alternative Payment Choices: For all non-FAFSA eligible students this session will cover a range of other financing options, including finding institutional and local scholarships, and creating a financial payment plan to pay for school. Through interactive presentations and practical guidance, attendees will gain valuable insights into maximizing their educational funding opportunities.

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October 22
Understanding and Managing Credit (UMC)

The UMC workshop is a focused session designed to equip students with essential knowledge about credit scores and reports. Participants will learn how to obtain and interpret their credit reports, understand the factors that influence credit scores, and discover effective strategies for maintaining healthy credit.

This workshop emphasizes the importance of good credit in financial decision-making, particularly for debt management and major purchases. Through interactive learning, students will gain practical skills to navigate the credit landscape, make informed financial choices, and build a strong foundation for their financial future.

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October 29
Reducing and Eliminating Debt (RED)

The "RED" workshop is a comprehensive session designed to help participants understand and manage various types of debt effectively. This workshop will cover:

1. Overview of different debt types (e.g., credit card, student loans, personal loans)
2. Introduction to debt reduction tools and strategies
3. Methods for creating a personalized debt reduction plan

Participants will learn practical techniques for tackling their debts, including the debt snowball and avalanche methods. The workshop will also provide guidance negotiating with creditors, and avoiding common debt pitfalls. By the end of the session, attendees will have the knowledge and tools necessary to create an actionable plan for reducing and ultimately eliminating their debt, setting them on the path to improved financial health.

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*If you attend three or more workshops, you will be entered in a raffle. The more workshops attended the higher your changes of winning.


iGrad

iGrad is a FREE online platform that provides you with 24/7 on-demand money management tips, financial aid education, and several other resources and tools.

You can access:Personalized, takeaway-loaded content
Pinpointed knowledge-building exercises
How to tutorials
Clever games and progress tracking

Meet with you and answer your questions
Assist you in applying for student loans
Get you started on iGrad
Coordinate and implement opportunities to support understanding of FAFSA
Through face-to-face instruction, advising and workshops, your personal money management skills and knowledge will improve!

We provide assistance in: