CIEDC and CEFCU assist citizens who budget from paycheck to paycheck

[JAN. 11, 2006]  The Central Illinois Economic Development Corporation and CEFCU are co-sponsoring a workshop on Jan. 19 called "Financial Fitness: Budgeting 101." The workshop is open to the public and will be conducted at CIEDC headquarters, 1800 Fifth St. in Lincoln, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

As a Community Action agency, CIEDC is charged with preventing and eliminating poverty. This workshop will give participants tips about budgeting, decision-making, goal-setting and more. Families living paycheck to paycheck will benefit from the workshop as they learn the benefits of budgeting and how to create a monthly budget.

"There are many pressures on today's families," said Angela Stoltzenburg, executive director at CIEDC. "Many people do not have enough money to pay bills when they are due. It's a challenge for many to support themselves with the amount of income they receive. CIEDC and CEFCU hope to encourage proper money management so families can avoid or decrease strained relationships and the stress that financial frustrations can cause. We also hope to empower people to improve their use of financial resources. If the program is attended well, we will look into creating a program series to address other concerns of the low-income and elderly."

Florese Bright of CEFCU will present the workshop. Bright has worked at CEFCU for 24 years in several areas, including member center services, checking, Visa credit and marketing. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska, where she earned a bachelor's degree in marketing.

CIEDC is a nonprofit Community Action agency that serves the low-income and elderly in the following counties: Mason, Menard, Logan, Piatt, Fulton and DeWitt.

[Central Illinois Economic Development Corp. news release]