Here’s Help for Keeping a Hold on Your Money

After the busy shopping season, it’s no surprise that many of us resolve to get a grip on our finances in the new year. Whether it’s saving, investing or eliminating debt, here are a few resources to help make those resolutions stick.

L.A.’s Consumer Credit Counseling Service offers free daytime and evening financial workshops at seven sites. Course titles include “Budgeting 101,” “Piggy Banks to Portfolios,” “Wise Use of Credit” and “Cleaning Up Your Credit Report.” Call (800) 750-2227 for schedule information and reservations.

Many community colleges hold workshops on money management. Santa Monica College’s January offerings include: “Stocks: Understanding the Market” and “Women and Investing.” Call (310) 434-3400 for information and to register.

For online financial tips, the Women’s Wire Money Mode (https://www.womenswire.com) is an excellent resource, featuring articles on spotting scams, getting started on a financial plan and organizing financial paperwork. Women’s Wire has several calculators that can be used to estimate savings and retirement funds. U.S. tax forms can also be downloaded from the site.