Money Smart Week at Russell Library

Russell Library offers several programs to help you learn about money!

Russell Library will be offering several events that help people gain a deeper understanding about money issues beginning March 31st. 

Sponsored by the Friends of the Russell Library, all events take place in the Hubbard Room! Please call (860) 347-2520 to register, or register at the Information Desk at the library.

Here is the line up of our Money Smart Week programs: 

Finding Low Cost Rentals in the Middletown Area

Sunday, March 31, 2:00pm. Ann Faust, Executive Director of the Middlesex Coalition on Housing and Homelessness, provides an overview of the Middletown area rental market, focusing on lower cost rentals for individuals and families. Drop in; no registration required. Questions and/or experiences are welcome. 

Using Excel to Manage Your Investments: A Money Smart Week Event

Monday, April 1, 10:00am. Bob Carlson will demonstrate a variety of techniques for using Excel as a money management tool. Registration is required. Register at the Information Desk or by calling 860-347-2520.

Market Corrections and How They Affect My Retirement

Monday, April 1, 6:30pm. This program will cover investments’ rates of return, how pensions and social security affect plans, ways to hedge or shelter a portfolio, taxes, buy-low / sell-high strategies, and weathering market storms. Michael Alimo has many years of experience on Wall Street and with various brokerage firms, much of that time devoted to clients in CT, with a focus on retirement planning, risk management, and wealth preservation. Registration is recommended. Register at the Information Desk or by calling 860-347-2520.

Grants--How to Get Them and Then What: A Money Smart Week Event           

Tuesday, April 2, 9:30am – 12:30pm. Judi Margolin, formerly an executive with the Foundation Center in New York and a consultant in the area of philanthropy, will present this robust workshop. Topics covered include details on the types of grants available and the merits of each, writing proposals, alternatives to cash grants, what to do when you receive a grant, and how to best position yourself for the next grant. Registration is required and limited. Register at the Information Desk or by calling 860-347-2520. 

Planning for Long Term Care: A Money Smart Week Event

Tuesday, April 2, 6:30pm. Not knowing the rules can be devastating to your estate. Attorney Czepiga, of Czepiga, Daly, Pope and Perri, will discuss asset protection, gifting a home, the five-year look-back (another way to protect savings), and spending down resources. He will also discuss Medicaid and its often confusing rules. Registration is required. Register at the Information Desk or by calling 860-347-2520.

Buying Your First Home                              

Wednesday, April 3, 6:00pm. Whether you’re buying or building your first home, a lot depends on your lender. With market conditions and mortgage programs changing frequently, it is important to have expert guidance throughout the process. David Colan, a Community Development Mortgage Officer, will lead the discussion. Registration is required. Register at the Information Desk or by calling 860-347-2520.

Get Smart with Money at Russell Library This Week!

This week, April 23 - 27 is "Money Smart Week" at Russell Library. We've got a great line up of programs designed to give you some insights into how to control your money:

Monday at 10:30am is 
Introduction to Grant Resources
Join this discussion and hands on session related to grant seeking. Participants will be introduced to several online resources that describe grants and funding options as well as providing information on the grant seeking process. There will be some formal instruction and then time to explore your own needs. These sources are most helpful for individuals who in the nonprofit world, with some options also for individual needs.  If you have an interest in pursuing grant funding please also consider attending the workshop on Friday, April 27th at 10am, 'How to Secure Grant Funding,' led by Judi Margolin. Registration is required for both events, available online or by calling 860-347-2520.


Tuesday at 6:00pm is: 
Become a Master of Your Money
Organize your finances! Using Excel to Manage your Investments, we will focus on creating and using a spreadsheet to list all of your investments, bank accounts, savings and stock information in a single location (in case of an injury or death in the family).  Financial security topics will also be discussed.

This hands-on class is taught using library- supplied laptops on Windows 7 and Excel version 2013. Seating is limited to 8 students.

Wednesay at 1:30pm is: 

Budgeting with Excel

In this introductory course, participants will learn how to create a monthly household budget using Microsoft Excel. Topics will include working from templates, formatting spreadsheets, and creating basic formulas. Bring a rough draft or working file to start simplifying and streamlining your budget in this hands-on workshop.

A general understanding of computers and comfort using the keyboard and mouse is recommended.

Class capacity is 8 seats. Registration recommended; drop-ins suggested if there’s room.

Please sign up on-line or call the Information Services Desk at 860-347-2520.

Thursday at 6:30pm is:

From Millennials to Boomers - Financial Advice Built for the Generations

Whether you are in your 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s or approaching retirement, you experience many of the same

financial pressures. For all of our differences, there’s much we can learn together about how to overcome the

challenges we face. Whether you’re just starting down the path of your life’s financial journey, or you’ve already

walked a mile or two, attend this seminar for some helpful strategies and financial habits to help get you headed.  Light refreshments included.

in the right direction.

What you will Learn:

• Common 'debt traps” and how to avoid them

• How much to invest and what investment vehicles make sense for you

• The importance of creating and sticking to a financial plan, regardless of your age

• How fees (obvious and not so obvious) reduce your returns

• If you and your family are protected with your current insurance coverage

Friday from 10am to 1pm is: 

How to Secure Funding from Foundations

Foundations are mysterious institutions to those unfamiliar with them. This workshop demystifies the process of securing foundation funding. It provides a thorough grounding in what foundations are all about, including how many there are, who runs them, trends in foundation giving and how to learn more about them.  The workshop focuses on what motivates foundations to give and helps participants determine why a funder might or might not support their organization. Built into this session will be an overview of the Foundation Directory Online, the premier source for finding funders, available at the Russell Library. Light refreshments included.

Registration is required, drop-ins are welcome if space permits.  

This program is made available through the generosity of the Friends of the Russell Library.