Emily Plihal
Smoky River Express
Smoky River Adult Learning will be providing a budgeting course on April 16 called Stretching Your Dollars.
With a looming recession in Alberta, many people have lost their jobs or have been cut in hours for businesses to save money.
Thus, people have been forced to pinch their pennies and closely observe how they’re spending their money, and if the money is being well spent.
“In the past few months we have heard more and more people talking about the economic downturn or recession,” says Smoky River FCSS director Penny Fox. “People are thinking more about money and as it gets harder to find, these conversations will continue to grow. A recent article in the Express on being able to spend only $80 per month on food was a good example of how people are attempting to tighten their budgets.”
Throughout the world, with a focus on Alberta, the financial situation has changed.
While once there were a plethora of jobs available in the oil industry, many of the companies have started to lay off employees and reduce the number of men and women they have on staff.
“Credit is harder to obtain then in the recent past,” says Fox. “More jobs losses have been showcased in the news and people are being affected by the overall slowdown of the economy.”
In Alberta, the economic change of pace has been hard for people to accept.
The economy has been flying at a high pace for years in the past, and many people have had to drastically cut the money they’re spending, focussing mainly on basic needs.
“Many people are finding out what unemployment is like and even those that are working are looking around to see just how secure their employment situation is,” says Fox. “Now is a great time for people to focus on your habits with money. What are your credit and savings habits?”
Many individuals have tightened their budgets with the recession scare.
Some individuals are unsure of how they’re supposed to budget and how they can save money.
“With everyone talking about money, we are motivated to look at our own personal situations and decide if we need to act,” says Fox. “There is no better time than the present, if you do need help this course may be for you.”
Stretching Your Dollars will be held at April 16 from 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at the MD building in Falher.
Cost for the course is $5 per person, but organizers remind individuals the amount of money that could be saved over the course of their lifetime as a result of this course is priceless.
To register or for more information call Marilyne Despins with Adult Learning at 780-837-3013.
