Changing Your Life Through Better Money Management

This Web site, a collaboration of the Community Action Partnership and the National Endowment for Financial Education, was created to provide you with quick access to financial information that your program participants may need.

Here you’ll find financial topics presented in easy-to-understand ways to help participants set and reach their goals, manage their money, find a new or better job, open an Individual Development Account, and find housing that meets their needs.

This Web Site Guide provides:

Site Organization: a look at the site’s structure and its features; this information will help you easily navigate the site and quickly find the information you need

Site Use Tips: suggestions for using the site, whether for one program participant or in a classroom situation

Site Content: a short index of the main topic categories found in the site, plus direct links to those pages

Site Organization

From the home page of this Web site, on the left side of the page, you will see links to the five main sections of the site:

Also on the home page, you will see logos for CAP and NEFE at the top of the page, and a "For More Information" link at the bottom of the page. Clicking on any of these takes you to a page that has descriptions of each organization, links to their Web sites, a standard disclaimer, and copyright information.

When you click on one of the main section titles on the left-hand side of the page, you will go to the first page of that topic section. There, you will read an overview of what the section contains and see links to the subsections of each topic area in a list marked with yellow bullets and red text.

By clicking on any of these subsection links, you will go directly to that information in the site. You will also see links to Worksheets/Tips, which open each worksheet or tip sheet in a new window that you can print, as well as a Resources link, which takes you to a page with suggested resources for that topic area. In addition, each section features a success story—real-life examples of people who have benefited from the CAA in their area.

At the bottom of each page in a section, you will see small gray letters spelling out the title of the section of the site you’re in, followed by the subsection title as appropriate. These markers tell you where you are in the site. Underneath the marker, there’s a long blue bar with yellow links inside it. These are the links to the different subsections of the main topic area you are in, repeated here for your convenience. Notice that they are abbreviated versions of the subsection links that appeared on the main topic pages, but they go to the same information.

To return to a page you previously viewed, click on the Back button at the top left of your computer screen. If you want to go back to the main page of a particular section, click on the section title in the left-hand box that contains all the major section titles. If you want to go back to the home page for Changing Your Life Through Better Money Management, click on the Home Page link in the top graphic between the CAP and NEFE logos.

PRINTING TIP: To print a page off the Web site, be sure to first click on the text you wish to print.

Back to Top

Site Use Tips

In the course of a typical day at a Community Action Agency, you likely work with program participants who need a wide range of assistance, information, and resources. Some participants may come into the CAA only once to get the information they need. Others may come on a regular basis. A few might return frequently and strive to learn as much as they can about becoming self-sufficient.

This site can help you meet the needs of all these different CAA participants.

Every CAA is unique and has its own local issues and concerns. We encourage you to use this site in whatever way best suits your needs and the needs of your participants.

Back to Top

Site Content

Turning Your Dreams Into Goals
As you know, everyone needs goals. Without goals and dreams—and a way to make them a reality—people have nothing to work toward. Some dreams and goals require money, but many other worthwhile goals do not. This section can help program participants clarify goals and develop plans to reach them.

Goals—Subsections

Building a Path to Your Dreams

Managing Your Money
To many of your program participants, managing money may seem like a distant dream. But managing money wisely is one of the biggest steps CAA participants can take to meet their goals and live a more self-sufficient life. Like any new skill, money management can be learned. This section gives participants tools to do just that.

Managing Money—Subsections

Living Within Your Means

Employment ABCs
As you know, a steady income is crucial to a secure future. In addition, the income needs to be high enough to cover adequate housing, clothing, and food at the very least. Your program participants may be looking for a job after a period of unemployment, or they may have jobs, but need to earn more money or have better benefits. This section gives them information to find a job that can open the door to a brighter future.

Employment—Subsections

What Do You Want in a Job?

Individual Development Accounts

Saving money is important for anyone. An IDA can help program participants with fewer resources reach their financial goals faster as sponsoring organizations match the money saved by the account holder. This section explains more about IDAs, how to find where they’re offered, and what the account can be used for.

IDAs—Subsections

What Is an IDA?

Your Housing Options

Having a safe, decent, affordable place to live is one of life’s basic necessities. This section can help program participants who need to upgrade their housing or are considering buying a home. It also has information for those who may be facing a housing crisis and are in jeopardy of losing their housing.

Housing—Subsections

Tips for Renters

Case Manager's Mentoring Guide

Was this website helpful? Click here to tell us!