September Financial Household Resiliency Series
*Tuesday, September 10th 5:30-7:30 pm: Making Ends Meet
*Tuesday, September 17th, 5:30-7:30 pm: Budgeting and Saving
*Tuesday, September 24th, 5:30-7:30 pm: Hands-On Banking
*Tuesday, September October 1st, 5:30-7:30 pm: Building, Repairing, and Protecting Credit
IDA Orientations
*Friday, September 6th from 10-11am
*Thursday, September 12th from 5:30-6:30pm
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| Stay tuned for our next Innovative Connections Issue on: | |
Long-term Life Planning Resources
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| For Past Issues of Innovative Connections | |
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| Editors | Talia Kahn-Kravis
Deanna Oothoudt
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Greetings!
If you're like us at IC$, you're likely wondering how it's already mid-July. Where does the summer go? With the weeks passing by so quickly, it's not too early to be thinking about the upcoming school year. So we've put together resources to help you be prepared well in advance:
Innovative Changes
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Summer Event Spotlights: Join the Fun!
 The start of school is coming up, but there's still time for summer fun before the rain returns. Money saved during the summer, can help cover costs for back to school and even throughout the school year. Here are some places to start:
Summer Health-Check:
Planned Parenthood's Rock Ya Body Block Party!
On Saturday, August 17, from 4 to 8 pm, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette (PPCW) and other community health partners will be throwing a Rock Ya Body Block Party. There will be free HIV testing, STI testing, music, food, and more! The event will take place at PPCW's Regional Service Center located at 3727 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Come celebrate community health!
Movies in the Park
Check here to find what movies coming to grassy space near you!
Outside Music
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Back to School Resources
 Worried about all the new clothes and supplies you're going to have to buy once school gets started? Look to community resources to help meet your needs and alleviate the strain on your budget!
Back to School Clothes: - There are clothing closets operating in partnership with Portland Public Schools http://www.pps.k12.or.us/community/index.htm
- The PTA Clothing Closet: at Marshall High School, 3905 S.E. 91st Ave., Room C-56. Mondays and Thursdays, Families may select free clothing from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
- The Roosevelt/SouthLake Church Clothing Closet: Corner of N. Smith and N. Ida streets. Second Tuesday of each month, starting Sept. 11, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Clothing for infants through adults. Families may have up to two bags of free clothing.
Other: - Many of the back to school resources are not yet listed, but 211 usually has many back to school resource listings come August, so keep checking here: http://211info.org
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Create Cheap, Healthy Lunches for Kids  With the start of school, it's time to consider healthy, inexpensive, and easy-to-pack lunches for your kids again. Sandwiches are the first thing many of us think of for lunch. Consider some of these options:
- Whole grain bread is healthiest; you can find great deals at discount stores like Grocery Outlet.
- If your school allows peanut butter, consider pairing it with low-sugar jam, bananas, strawberries, or grapes.
- Try hummus in different flavors, layered with sliced cucumbers and lettuce in a sandwich. Or pack it in a small container for your child with sliced veggies and pita chips.
- Tortillas and wraps can be used in place of bread to mix things up. You can buy them in bulk and freeze the extras until you're ready to use them.
Leftovers from dinner can make the perfect meal. Soups or chilis in a thermos, pastas, stir-fried dishes, curries, and even burritos all taste great the next day.
As for side dishes and snacks, pasta salad with a light vinaigrette, sliced veggies, fresh fruit, and yogurt are all affordable, healthy choices. If your kids ask for chips, choose baked varieties or try pretzels. Keep the cost down by purchasing large bags when they are on sale. Store them in an airtight container, and pack a small portion in a reusable container for lunch.
If you want to send a dessert, use the same principle: purchase a large pack and just send one or two cookies with your child. You can even do this with yogurt if you have small, watertight containers to send it in.
Packing Tips
- Make sure to put heavier items in the bottom of lunch bags so sandwiches don't get crushed.
- A small ice pack will help keep veggies crisp.
- Avoid mayo, eggs, and other ingredients that may spoil if not refrigerated.
- Purchase a reusable lunch bag and pack foods in small reusable storage containers (try reusing yogurt, cream cheese, or margarine tubs). The investment will save money in the long run.
By Rachel Stein
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Save Money with a Time Budget
 If time is money, then it stands to reason that saving time saves money. While many are familiar with a financial budget, fewer are acquainted with a time budget. A time budget is similar to a financial budget in that both allocate a resource. However, the only way to "gain" time is to become more efficient and organized.
With the school year coming up, we know there are many activities competing for your and your kids' attention. Consider implementing one or more of the following ideas to make the most of your time:
- Emphasize your strengths. As much as possible, do what you love or are good at. Barter these services.
- Identify your peak production hours to increase productivity. Use peak hours for high-priority tasks.
- Reduce time spent running errands by consolidating trips. Limit errands, appointments, and lessons to one area of town.
- Use the Internet to bank, correspond, pay bills, send e-cards, and shop.
- Outsource tasks by using meal planning, grocery delivery, or meal delivery services.
- Reduce time spent commuting. Live closer to where you need to be. Merge time spent commuting and exercising by biking, skating, or walking to work.
- Eliminate unnecessary activities. Learn to politely decline requests for your time that are of little interest or value.
- Make good use of time spent waiting for appointments by catching up on reading and writing.
- Pare down possessions. The cost of ownership goes beyond the initial acquisition costs and generally includes time-consuming maintenance costs. If you don't love it or need it, find someone who does.
By Elaine Lord
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Start off the School Year with an Added Boost!
We have completed our summer IDA enrollment, but don't fret, we will be enrolling again in the Fall!
If you are interested in the IDA program, or know someone who may be interested,come to our next orientation which will be:
- - Friday, September 6th from 10-11am at our office in Suite 2010 of the Lloyd Center.
- - Thursday, September 12th from 5:30-6:30pm at our office in Suite 2010 of the Lloyd Center.
Register for an orientation here or call Misha at (503)-249-5205. The IC$ IDA program offers a 3:1 match for those saving to attend an institution of higher education. Savers must put at least $25 into an account every month, complete financial education requirements and plan to go back to school or already be attending school. Savers can save for themselves or a loved one. For more information about the IDA program visit our website .
Register for an orientation here or call Misha at (503)-249-5205. For more information about the IDA program visit our website.
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Financial Education Galore
Upcoming Financial Household Resiliency (FHR) Workshops:
July Financial Household Resiliency Series
Tuesday, July 16th 5:30-7:30 pm: Hands-On Banking
Tuesday, July 23rd 5:30-7:30 pm: Building, Repairing and Protecting Credit
July Morning Financial Household Resiliency Series
Friday, July 19th, 10am-12pm: Budgeting and Saving
Friday, July 26th 10am-12pm: Hands-On Banking
Friday, August 2nd 10am-12pm: Building, Repairing and Protecting Credit
These classes will be held at our Lloyd Center office on the 3rd floor of the Lloyd Center Mall (between Nordstroms and the food court), 2010 Lloyd Center.The classes can be taken individually or as a series. They are $5 each and $15 for all four classes. Fee waivers are available for those who qualify. Register here or call or email Misha at (503)-249-5205/ [email protected].
Talleres sobre Estabilidad Financiera
Como Llegar a Fin de Mes, mi�rcoles el 10 de julio de 5:30-7:30pm
Ahorros y Presupuestos, mi�rcoles el 17 de julio de 5:30-7:30pm
Servicios Bancarios, mi�rcoles el 24 de julio de 5:30-7:30pm
Introducci�n al Sistema de Cr�dito: C�mo obtenerlo, repararlo y protegerlo, mi�rcoles el 31 de julio de 5:30-7:30pm
Para registrar en contacto Violetta: 503-961-6419 o [email protected]. Las clases ser�n en la Hacienda en 5136 NE 42nd Ave, Portland.
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For Our Borrowers
 Are You Receiving Your Payment Reminders? If you chose to receive your payment reminders by email, make sure that they are coming to your inbox and not your junk mail. If you would like to change the way that you receive reminders (by mail, by email, or by phone call) let us know! Call Misha at 503-249-5205. How to Make Your Loan Payment- You can mail your payment by check or money order to Innovative Changes, 2010 Lloyd Center, Portland, OR 97232.
- You can sign up for us to automatically deduct your payment from your bank account each month. Contact us if you would like to do this at 503-249-5205.
- You can drop off your payment (check, money order, or cash) at the Lloyd Center, 3rd Floor, Suite 2010 (2010 Lloyd Center Mall, Portland, OR 97232) Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm, or drop it through our mail slot on other days/times.
- You can also pay via PayPal by following directions on our website here. Please note, it asks you to fill in a donation amount, but this is not a donation, it will go towards your loan payment.
We Are Here to Help!
Are you having trouble making your payment this month, or afraid that it might be a little late? Let us know! We understand that unexpected events and expenses can make it hard to keep your finances on track, and Innovative Changes wants to be there for you in such cases. Innovative Changes is flexible and willing to work with our borrowers to satisfy loan obligations, and in return we ask for honest and timely communication. Remember, if you know your payment is going to be late, let us know ahead of time and we might be able to avoid charging a late fee or sending out a late notice.
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