By Felix Hoover

For YourNewsColumbus.com

 

As part of their commitment to service, members of a local sorority chapter hosted a seminar of basic finance on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Urban-Spirit Coffee Shop Loft, 893 E. Long St.

About 20 people took advantage of the workshop, Blue Chips 101, presented by Zeta Phi Beta, Columbus Graduate Chapter, said Sheena Boswell, second vice president.

The theme was Surviving the Financial Crisis by Improving Your Financial Health.

“We wanted to educate people in the community about different methods of saving and credit,” Boswell said.

Many groups present information, but the Zetas wanted to make sure that the presentation included practical advice that people could act on immediately.

For her, that meant learning strategies for paying off some credit card instead of paying equal amounts to each account, she said.

The session was conducted by Robert Bethea Jr. and Ray Campbell II, both of KEMBA financial credit union.

Campbell, senior business development officer for KEMBA’s corporate office in Gahanna, said the presentation to the Zetas was similar to one he does monthly for the Columbus Housing Partnership.

“People know to save money, they know to invest, they know to reduce debt,” said Campbell, senior business development officer for KEMBA’s corporate office in Gahanna.

The basics seem to set in when a third party reinforces them, he said.

It’s important for consumers to adjust their mindset about spending and to ask whether potential purchases are needs or mere wants and act accordingly.