Tool 1: Client financial empowerment checklist ............................................ 45
MODULE 6: Setting goals ........................................................................................ 49
Setting SMART goals....................................................................................... 50
Turning goals into savings targets .................................................................. 52
What about revising goals? ............................................................................. 54
Saving for education........................................................................................ 55
Tool 1: Goal setting tool.................................................................................. 57
MODULE 7: Saving for the unexpected, emergencies, and goals ....................... 61
What is savings? .............................................................................................. 61
How to save ..................................................................................................... 62
Savings and public benefits............................................................................. 63
Savings plan ..................................................................................................... 63
What are the benefits of a savings plan?......................................................... 65
A safe place to save .......................................................................................... 67
Direct deposit and savings .............................................................................. 68
Tool 1: Savings plan ......................................................................................... 71
Tool 2: Benefits and asset limits .................................................................... 75
Tool 3: Finding a safe place for savings ......................................................... 79
Tool 4: Increasing your income through tax credits...................................... 83
MODULE 8: Managing income and benefits .......................................................... 87
Income ............................................................................................................. 87
Benefits ............................................................................................................ 88
Getting income ................................................................................................ 89
Tool 1: Income and financial resource tracker ............................................... 93
Tool 2: Strategies for increasing sources of cash and financial resources .... 97
ii YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS: A FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT TOOLKIT FOR SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS