Budgeting or Debt Assistance Programs

Financial Counseling and Debt Management

Description: Financial counseling and debt management is offered through the Accel Financial Management Program, which provides the following services:

• Personal and financial budgeting
• Understanding credit reports and how to improve the score
• Achieving financial goals
• Personal money management
• Debt repayment
• Avoid bankruptcy, foreclosure, and repossession.

Eligibility: Available to members of LAFCU credit union.  People who live within Ingham, Clinton, and Eaton Counties are eligible to apply for membership with LAFCU.

Cost: There is no cost to use Accel for LAFCU members.

Location:  The service is offered by phone, so it can be done from anywhere.

Time/dates: Monday – Thursday 8:00 am to 9:00 pm; Friday 8:00 am to 7:00 pm; Saturday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Contact information:  Contact LAFCU Credit Union at 800-748-0228.

Quality Living Budgeting Program

Description: This weekly budgeting program utilizes group support, Biblical teaching, individual budget counseling and a safety net of resources provided by the Christian Services network of churches, to help families learn the path to financial freedom.  There are several classes being held in different churches across the greater Lansing area. 

Eligibility: Anyone living in the Greater Lansing area.

Cost: Free

Dates/Times:  Call for details.

Contact Information: Anyone interested in information about developing Quality Living can call 394-5413.

Greenpath Credit Counseling

Description: Provides many services that may help those seeking relief from the complexities of credit and finances.  Services include; a free confidential interview by a qualified counselor who is trained to analyze person financial situations, practical solutions to help resolve immediate financial crisis (like shut-offs) and long-term debt problems.  

• A Debt Management Program (accepted by both consumers and creditors) is available for a reasonable fee.
• A Money Management course, Credit When Credit is Due, is offered to teach people how to better manage their money.

Eligibility: Clients need some form of income that is enough to make payments to creditors and still get by with basic living expenses.

Cost:

• Set up fees:  $25.00
• Educational Costs:  $50.00
• Monthly service fee:  Never exceeds $50.00 per month.

Dates/Times: Site Hours: 8-5, M-F.  Alternate hours available on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Contact Information/Location: Greenpath Debt Solutions; 612 S. Creyts Rd., Suite C, Lansing, MI 48917.  Phone: (517) 321-5836.  

Christian Credit Counselors & MoneyHarvest Institute

Description: Offers Credit Counseling, Budget Coaching, Educational Workshops, Prosperity Thinking Seminars, Housing Counseling (local Detroit area, a HUD approved Housing Counseling Agency) and Financial Education to consumers nationwide. 

The Credit Counselor works with clients and the creditors to consolidate bills including credit cards, back utility bills and medical debts. 

MoneyHarvest Institute offers Tele-classes (via the phone from the comfort of your home or office):

• 12 Secrets for Prosperity Thinking (How to change your mind, your finances and your life!)
• Creating Wealth – A Successful Budgeting System (How to create and stay on a budget)
• Cultivating Credit – ABC’s of Credit (Understanding Credit Reports & Using Credit Cards)

Call office to apply or register for Tele-classes.  Application can be done over the phone.  No in-person appointment is needed.

Eligibility: Anyone in the state of Michigan struggling with debt and / or money management challenges.

Cost: None.  Agency asks for a voluntary $29 per month tax deducible donation for the Debt Management Program.  All other services and education programs are free to all.

Dates/Times: Site Hours: 9-7, M-TH; 9-6, F.

Contact Information: Christian Credit Counselors; 24300 Southfield Rd., Suite 215, Southfield, MI  48075.  Phone: (800)557-1985. Website: www.iBudget.org.

Paving the Road to Your Financial Success*

Description:  CapCom Credit Union (formerly known as Capital Community Credit Union/LSI Financial) teaches an award winning class that provides helpful, practical and simple tools for budgeting personal finances and maintaining a healthy credit standing.  The budgeting portion of the program covers practical ways of saving money (when you have very little) because every little bit helps!  The credit analysis portion of the program is the “how to” behind credit scoring:

• basic information about how the importance of a good credit score
• how to obtain good credit if you need it
• how credit scoring works
• how to improve your credit score if necessary
• how to access a ‘free’ credit report

Eligibility: Programs are open to credit union members and the community at large.

Cost: Program participation is free.

Dates & Times: Every Thursday (12:30pm to 4:00 pm) at Capitol Area MichiganWorks! (2110 S. Cedar Street, Lansing, Michigan 48910 – 517-492-5500).  CapCom Credit Union has dedicated a credit union staff member to instruct the class every Thursday. 

Contact information:  Alicia Bruski (Marketing Coordinator) at 800-831-7380.

*CapCom CU received the 2007 First Place MCUL Dora Maxwell Award for “Paving the Road to Your Financial Success”.

Budget Counseling 

Description: CASE Credit Union offers one-on-one assistance to help members with developing a budget plan, how to achieve their budgeting goals, and developing strategies for improving credit history and score. 

Eligibility: CASE Credit Union members, those eligible for membership, general public

Cost: No cost for counseling. 

Times/Dates/Location: Personal and confidential budget and credit counseling by appointment at CASE Credit Union, 4316 S. Pennsylvania, Lansing, Michigan.  Counseling and Financial Education Seminars available at various branches—see our website www.casecu.org for further information.

Contact information: Karen Casler, Financial Counselor 517.393.7710 or 888.393.7716 x1024