December 2015
Greetings!,

We are collecting stories about a time when someone took a chance on you. How did it impact your life? We will be displaying these stories. You can decide if you would like your name displayed or not with the story. 

story (2)

All the best,
Innovative Changes
The Innovative Changes staff wishes you happy holidays and a very happy New Year!
Credit Tip of the Month
 
Credit cards can be scary, but they can also be a great tool to help build credit. Here is a tip for using credit cards responsibly: Choose one household bill that is about the same amount every month, such as a cell phone bill. Set up your credit card to automatically pay that one bill, and then have your bank account automatically pay your credit card. That way you are using a small amount of credit every month and always paying it off, and there are no surprises! Then you can leave the card at home so you aren't tempted to use it for impulse purchases.
 
Interested in learning more about how to build credit?  See if a credit builder loan is right for you.

Holiday Recipes on a Budget
By Katie Kasabian 

As the holidays roll around, you may be thinking about making a little treat for your family or what to bring to the holiday work party. The options are almost limitless but what do you cook that doesn't end up costing a fortune? Here are some baking recipes that are under 50 cents per serving, so that you can spread holiday cheer without busting your budget.

Holiday DIY Gifts
By Rosalia Harte 
 
With the holidays just around the corner, it might be time to think about the perfect gift for those in your life. While we may think of heading to big box stores, the best gifts might actually come from your home. Something homemade or D.I.Y. can cost less and bring more cheer to family members. We have compiled a list of some simple, low cost, D.I.Y. gifts that you could put together this holiday season. 
SaveHolidays Around the City
 


Gearing up for the holidays can become stressful when thinking about your budget. Portland has some free or budget friendly events around the city to help take your mind off of all the bustle and get into the holiday spirit.

 

SaveStay Safe This Winter
 
The weather is changing out there. Stay safe out there. If you are interested in staying up to date with public alerts including flooding alerts with all the rain we have been getting recently visit: Public Alerts. We wish you all happy holidays and a very happy new year.
 

Free FAFSA Clinic on MLK Day!  January 18th 1 pm to 4 pm

We believe everyone has a right to access a high quality, affordable post-secondary education.  To help you navigate the funding system, we are holding a free FAFSA Clinic at our Lloyd Center training site on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step in receiving grants (free money), work study, and loans from federal sources. Experts will be on hand to answer questions and help you file your FAFSA. The clinic is open to students and their parents. We will be able to accommodate both English and Spanish speakers. 
 
 Upcoming Workshops & Orientationscb
 
The next Financial Household Resiliency workshops will be:
 
- Tuesdays 5:30-7:30 pm  

Dec. 15th: Budgeting and Savings
Dec. 22nd: Hands on Banking
Dec. 29th: Building, Repairing and Protecting Credit
Jan. 5th: Making Ends Meet
Jan. 12th: Budgeting and Savings


This workshop series will be held at our NEW office in 2027 Lloyd Center Mall.
You can register for the classes 
 
Our next Credit Builder Orientations will be:


Wednesday, December 16th, 5:30-6:30 pm
Thursday, January 7th, 5:30-6:30 pm
Wednesday, January 13th, 1-2 pm
Thursday, January 21nd, 5:30-6:30 pm
Orientaci�n en ESPANOL viernes 29th de Enero, 5:30-6:30 pm


All take place at our office, 2027 Lloyd Center.
Register here.
  
Quick Links

Innovative Changes | 2010 Lloyd Center | Portland | OR | 97232