College Course Packs a Punch in the Fight against the Credit Crunch

Ease the agony of the credit crunch and put your financial affairs in order with a brand new course on debt and money management at City College Plymouth.

With rising food costs and energy bills, everyone is feeling the squeeze from the current economic climate - but help is at hand through the Managing Your Money course, part of the College's Skills for Life learning packages.

If you're finding it hard to balance your books and your outgoings exceed your income every month, the course will help put your finances back on track by focussing on developing key numeracy skills and supporting you towards a national numeracy qualification.

Anyone joining the course will be taught how to check bank statements and keep records, working out a budget and sticking to it, calculating the cost of borrowing and interest on savings and advice on how to shop around for the best financial deals.

Chris Grundy of Skills for Life said the course would be invaluable for those people who find the world of personal finance management a minefield.

"Everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment so now is the perfect time to take back control of your finances and defy the credit crunch," said Chris.

"The course is ideal for people who want to raise their awareness of financial literacy and develop the skills and confidence necessary to manage their own finances."

Tutors will initially give course members a basic understanding and develop confidence in tackling their financial affairs before going on to arm them with the necessary skills to achieve their objectives.

The 15 week course, which is being ran at Keyham Green Places and Hilltop Community Centre - starting in January - is free to anyone who has not yet gained a level 2 maths qualification.

For more information, call the Skills for Life centre on 01752 301301, Hilltop on 01752 772470 , Keyham Green on 01752 569340, or visit the College's open evening on Tuesday 6 January from 4.00pm.