Money Smart Week at CCPL

Everyone can use a little help improving their money management skills. But where can you find the resources and information you need to make sound financial decisions? Your local library, of course!

Spend Money Smart Week, from March 30 to April 6, with Charleston County Public Library as we host a collection of events designed to help everyone with their finances, whether the questions are about establishing a budget to first-time home buying to estate planning.

Money Smart Week is the broadest and most comprehensive financial education program in the country. Started in 2002 in Chicago with just 40 programs, it has expanded significantly to become the only national educational program for people at all stages of life.

Saturday, March 30

Investment Basics by Better Investing: Stock Screening with Value Line
Main Library from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Ready to dip a toe in stock investing, but not sure where to start? Or are you a seasoned investor just looking for a new tool to help you screen stocks? The library offers a stock screening resource you can access from home! Learn all about Value Line, and what it can do for your bottom line.

Business Startup Funding Options with LDC Lending Group
Mt. Pleasant Regional Library from 10:30  - 11:30 a.m.
Discover several different potential sources of financing for your startup business. Learn what factors lenders consider in determining whether to offer financing, and decide which funding option best fits your needs.

Student Loan Debt: You Have Options
Hurd/St. Andrews Regional Library from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Buried under student debt and unsure how to manage it or move forward? Terms like consolidation, forgiveness, and pay plans can be confusing. Learn about various options for getting out from under student debt, ask questions and get answers from an expert from the Office of Financial Aid at The Citadel.

Sunday, March 31

Intro to Credit Improvement and Budgeting with OriginSC
Main Library from 3 - 4 p.m.
Learn how to build your credit and become financially stable. Learn what creditors are looking for, strategies to control your day-to-day finances, disputing inaccurate items on your credit report and more.

Monday, April 1

#MoneyMatters: Money Management Apps for Young Adults
Otranto Road Regional Library from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
#MoneyMatters is a Palmetto CAP program for teens and young adults covering the newest apps for managing spending and budgeting. Share money tips with friends, talk about spending goals, and plan how to achieve them. Remember to bring your smart phone! 

Urban Ambition Lunch and Learn Workshop with Palmetto CAP: Dressing for Interview Success 
John L. Dart Library from  12 - 1 p.m.
Sharpen your professional skills by learning tips and best practices to help you land your next job. Today’s topic in this three-part workshop series is dressing to impress and presenting yourself well. Lunch is provided and registration is required. Please call 843-722-7550 or email [email protected] to register.

Intro to Credit Improvement with OriginSC
Dorchester Road Regional Library from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. 
Learn how to build your credit and become financially stable. Learn what creditors are looking for, strategies to control your day-to-day finances, disputing inaccurate items on your credit report and more.

Buying and Selling Online
John’s Island Regional Library from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.   
Want to know more about classifieds sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace? Ever ordered from Amazon or Etsy? Learn how to shop for items and collectibles, how to effectively post your own items for sale and how to stay safe while doing it. Demonstration by the CCPL Tech Team.

Eight Steps to Money Management Success: Handling Debt
Hurd/St. Andrew’s Regional Library from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.  
Learn about money management skills, credit scores, and most of all how to manage and reduce debt. The goal being to help you reach financial stability and achieve your dreams. Taught by Increasing H.O.P.E., a long-standing local nonprofit that provides many additional resources for your financial success.

Tuesday April 2

Urban Ambition Lunch and Learn Workshop: Building a Better Resume
John L. Dart Library from 12 - 1 p.m. 
Sharpen your professional skills by learning tips and best practices to help you land your next job. Today’s topic in this three-part Palmetto CAP workshop series is writing a more effective resume. Lunch is provided and registration is required. Please call 843-722-7550 or email [email protected] to register.

Career Guidance and Assistance with SC Works
John’s Island Regional Library from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. 
Learn about local opportunities for career guidance, skills training, and even financial assistance to achieve employment goals. Learn more about how you can increase your chances of getting hired with desired employers.

Borrowing to Meet Nonprofit Community Goals
Main Library from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.  
Are you already part of, or just starting, a 501(c)3 and unsure how to move
forward without funding? Learn from SC Community Loan Fund about the different options you have for funding and when borrowing may be your best option for meeting large community improvement goals.

Intro to Homeownership with OriginSC
Otranto Road Regional Library from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. 
Learn the basics of homeownership and how to achieve your goal. You will learn about mortgage applications, real estate agents, homeowner’s insurance, down payments, closing costs and more.

Wednesday April 3

Urban Ambition Lunch and Learn Workshop: Interviewing with Confidence
John L. Dart Library from 12 - 1 p.m.
Sharpen your professional skills by learning tips and best practices to help you land your next job. Today’s topic in this three-part Palmetto CAP workshop series is becoming a confident speaker to better sell yourself at interviews. Lunch is provided and registration is required. Please call 843-722-7550 or email [email protected] to register.

Career Smart Money Moves with SC Works Youth
John’s Island Regional Library from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Figuring out what you want to do after school is hard, but knowing how to manage your money can make it easier. We will discuss career plans and think about what steps are necessary for you to achieve your individual career goals.

Thursday April 4

Are you Ready to Start a Business? SCORE Workshop
Main Library from 6 - 7:45 p.m.
This free workshop covers the basics you need to consider when planning to start a business: your personal traits, testing the business concept, developing a marketing and business plan, financial considerations, and resources available to support your success.

Urban Ambition Job Fair
John L. Dart Library from 12 - 1:30 p.m.
Calling all job-seekers! Network with representatives from Charleston County Public Library, Charleston County Government, Charleston County School District, City of North Charleston, MUSC and College of Charleston. Find out about job openings, how to apply, and the benefits of working at these organizations.

Intro to Budgeting with OriginSC
Dorchester Road Regional Library from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. 
Learn basic budgeting techniques and reduce the stress of living paycheck to paycheck. Learn about managing credit, creating a budget, day-to-day money management strategies and more.

Keeping a Budget with Excel
Mt. Pleasant Regional Library from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. 
Learn how to create a budget with Excel, complete with formatting, simple formulas and a chart. Discuss sorting and printing options, and take a look at some related apps for easy management. Demonstration by the CCPL Tech Team.

Financing a New Business with SBDC
Otranto Road Regional Library from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Discover several different potential sources of financing for your new business. Learn what to consider before commitment, and the pros and cons of different funding options. Decide which funding option best fits your needs.

Business Startup Funding Options with LDC Lending Group
Hurd/St. Andrews Regional Library from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Discover several different potential sources of financing for your startup business. Learn what factors lenders consider in determining whether to offer financing and decide which funding option best fits your needs.

Friday April 5

Starting Your Own Business for Teens!
Dorchester Road Regional Library from 4 - 5 p.m.
Explore the characteristics of an entrepreneur and what makes them successful, the steps necessary to starting a small business and the planning involved prior to opening the door or making your first sale. SBDC will cover the basics of a business plan, market research and a marketing plan. Also, and most importantly, a financial plan and how to finance your business.

Saturday April 6

Paying for College: FAFSA, Grants, Savings, or Choosing the Right Loan for You
Mt. Pleasant Regional Library from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.  
Are you a parent or young adult curious about college for yourself or your child? Unsure what to expect when it comes time to pay for education? Hear from the Office of Financial Aid at The Citadel about all the many options available to you in paying for a college education.

College Fair: Financial Aid 101
Hurd/St. Andrews Regional Library from 1 - 5 p.m.  
Are you thinking about college for yourself or a child, but unsure about how to pay for it? Network with professionals from SCCANGO, a nonprofit dedicated to helping SC youth go to college. Ask questions and get answers to your questions about the FAFSA, grants and more.