These days, the economy is on the minds of many. Weekly through mid-March, we’ll pass along practical advice on ways to keep yourself in the best financial shape possible.

Find the whole series here, on roanoke.com, and every week in The Roanoke Times.

And, in the meantime, let us know what you think. Has it been helpful? What else would you like to know? What financial tools and tips have been helpful to you?

 Hello

I found your article on budgeting wonderful but do have some information to share. I am a Certified Financial Social Work Educator/Coach. I received my certification through the Center  for Financial Social Work located in Asheville, NC. I am the only person in Virginia to receive this certification.

What I do is work with clients on educating, motivating and supporting long term financial behavioral changes. It is working with the client on how their behaviors impact their financial choices. It is like an onion peeling back the layers and only unitl you get to the root of the problem will you see change. I don't use the word "budget" it is to tight. I prefer to use the term spending plan, which is more user friendly. It is establishing a relationship with the client, listening to their needs, dreams and hopes. There is much more to this work I do.  

I encourage you to contact the website or me for further information.

michellet

I am really excited to see the RT using the power they have to do this series I would however like to add to the budgeting discussion.  

One of the most interesting things I come across in my own life as well as in honest discussions with others is the hard fact that almost all these issues in the economy come down to our decisions.  I would agree however that the underlying issues which cause the decisions are vast.  For example, one person might choose to not buy insurance but continue to smoke and when they get bronchitis due to their choices they have to pay for the hospital bill.  When the hospital bill comes they do not have money to pay it, rather they spend $100 a month on cigarettes.  Then the hospital chooses to collect the money for the service it provided and they put a lien on your home.  The cycle continues.

This is one simple example but if you were to follow this as it plays out you would see a pattern in this person's life as well as all of us.  There is an ancient proverb which says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it". 

The question I would raise is this:  "How might a person look at their life and see pattern of poor decisions and consequently BREAK the cycle in order to do something different?".  I would guess many of us, me included do not like to look at our decisions; especially the poor ones so evaluating them and trying something different might be difficult unless tragedy strikes.  I am guessing this poor economy will allow many of us to do just that, try something different.

I have heard it said that the definition of insanity is doing something over and over expecting a different result.

I my ministry we work with people to train them in new behaviors which will moved them from a poor set of habits into a life changing set.

Tony M

Cornerstone Financial Counseling