Forget the Fluff: Finances for Real Life

Student Loans

Rutland, Vt. – NeighborWorks and Castleton Downtown will host a free workshop on getting out of student debt as part of their “Forget the Fluff: Finances for Real Life” series. The first workshop in the series will be Thursday, April 16, 2015 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Castleton Downtown in the Opera House on Merchants Row in Rutland.

An expert from Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, Mattie Pontecorvo, will discuss loan repayment options and practical strategies for getting out of student debt. Pontecorvo will be on hand to answer questions and offer expert advice to audience members. The workshop is free, but space is limited. Email [email protected] to save a seat, or call (802) 797-8604.

Two thirds of Vermont college graduates leave school with an average of over $28,000 in debt, according to “Vermont’s Financial Literacy Action Plan,” released in December 2014. Many grads see student loan debt as a barrier to other financial goals, such as saving to buy a home, start a business, or invest in retirement.

“Forget the Fluff: Finances for Real Life” is designed to connect recent college grads, aspiring homeowners, young professionals, and entrepreneurs with tools and expertise to invest wisely in their financial futures. The series will continue with a homeownership workshop on April 23rd and an investing workshop on May 14th.

Castleton Downtown’s mission is to support the region’s communities, schools, organizations and business through its Center for Entrepreneurial Programs, Center for Schools, Center for Support and Study of the Community, and Polling Institute. Learn more at www.castleton.edu.  NeighborWorks of Western Vermont is a nonprofit one-stop shop, providing all the answers and support homebuyers and owners need: homebuyer and financial management classes, realty, lending, home repair, energy efficiency and more.