Financial Education
YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix seeks to advance its mission through educational programs and community collaborations focused on creating positive systemic change, ultimately building financial equality for women and families. If you prefer to view this page in another language, please choose your language preference at the top of the page.
Financial Education Courses
Our Financial Education courses are free for the public and are scheduled on a quarterly basis. See our Event Calendar for future classes, or use the accordion below to learn more about all of our class options.
We welcome businesses and organizations to partner with us! Want to host a class for your staff, clients, or volunteers? Contact our Prosperity Program team at learn@ywcaaz.org to schedule a class with our team specifically for your group.
YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix is thrilled to be partnering with W!SE and the FPA of Greater Phoenix to offer a 12 session financial literacy certification program.
Would you like a more secure financial future for you and your family? Becoming more financially literate can free you from stress and worry over money, enhancing your ability to handle monthly bills, as well as inevitable unplanned financial needs.
Imagine yourself just a few months from now with a graduation certificate, proving to yourself and others that you have attained a significant level of financial literacy! Not only can this certification impact your family’s finances, but it can also be added to your resume and/or job applications to demonstrate your financial skills.
Dates: Tuesdays & Thursdays, January 11th through February 15th
Time: 5:30-7:00pm
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE SEE OUR OTHER UPCOMING CLASSES BELOW OR VISIT OUR CALENDAR.
Join YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix, Joyce Harper Medina, and Giovanna, The first Gen Mentor, for this conversation about:
- how to empower yourself as a young professional woman
- entering the workforce
- and managing student debt.
Date: January 27th
Time: 12:00-1:00pm
Figuring out how to pay for college can be difficult. Finding scholarships and grants is typically time-sensitive, student loans can be confusing, and other financial aid opportunities are hard to find.
Turns out, there are many ways to finance your next semester. YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix is proud to partner with Megan Tena, Financial Literacy Specialist Sr. and member of Phoenix College’s Default Prevention Taskforce. Megan will walk you through the options to pay for school and help you determine the right path for you!
Date: January 19th
Time: 12:00-1:00pm
Looking for a home to rent?
Wondering what your rights as a renter are?
Interested in navigating your best lease?
Finding and securing a home or an apartment to rent can be an overwhelming process, especially for first time renters. In Renting 101 we discuss how to avoid fraud, navigate lease agreements, your rights as a renter, and more. After attending Renting 101 you will have the knowledge and skills to confidently select a place to live and feel safe and secure about the process.
Dates: Wednesday, January 12th
Time: 5:45-7:15pm
Own It! is four-week program offered at two levels. Both levels of learning provide students with the knowledge and tools they need to become financially stable and independent. We offer our Own It! Level I & II classes in both English and Spanish. Our instructors have knowledge and experience in a wide variety of financial topics.
Enroll today and take the first steps to financial freedom!
Own It! Series Level I
Our level I course focuses on introductory financial topics. This four-week program provides students with the knowledge and tools they need to become financially stable and independent. During the level I course we will explore the following topics:
- SMART Goals
- Expense Tracking
- Spending Plans
- Using Credit Wisely
- Increasing Savings
- Reducing Debt
Own It! Series Level II
Our Own It! Level II course continues lessons in Own It! Level I in further depth and detail. Our expert instructors will dive deep into budgeting, financial planning, credit and debt management. If you enjoyed Own It! Level I we guarantee you will walk away from our second part to the series of classes feeling empowered to take on your finances! Topics in Level II include:
- Assess your current financial condition
- Create a spending plan to guide your spending and saving
- Understand the benefits of using credit wisely
- Recognize the signs of debt distress
- Understand the difference between good and bad debt
- Implement goal setting
- Understand basic investing
- Understand the importance of retirement planning
- Understand basic estate planning
The Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan provides the largest Child Tax Credit ever and historic relief to the most working families ever – and as of July 15th, most families are automatically receiving monthly payments of $250 or $300 per child without having to take any action. The Child Tax Credit is meant to help all families succeed but navigating the portal and understanding the details can be confusing. YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix is here to walk you through all the details and help you understand how your family can benefit from the Advanced Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan. The class will cover:
- What is the CTC and when payments should be received
- Who qualifies for the CTC
- How to receive or opt out of payments
- What to do if you haven’t received payments
- How to use the portal
For many buyers, the process of purchasing a home can seem complicated and overwhelming.
Our Homeownership 101 class is led by industry experts and is designed to help you surmount all these hurdles. Taking part in homeownership education offers huge financial and practical benefits and can help a buyer understand the process, ultimately, reaching a position of being mortgage-ready. This two-hour class will cover the following topics:
- Budgeting and saving for a home
- How much home can you afford?
- Mortgage process
- Resources for homebuyers
- Credit reports and how they are scored
- How to improve your credit for homeownership
- New responsibilities of homeownership
- How to choose a real estate agent
- Shopping for a mortgage loan and the closing process
- Roles of professionals involved in home purchases
Understanding health insurance and the many options can be very overwhelming. Knowing how health insurance can help you is very important, as it is a good way to manage your health care costs. Health Insurance 101 will teach you what you need to know to make informed decisions on the variety of insurance options. Join us and prepare yourself and your family for future medical needs. This two-hour class will cover the following topics:
- How health insurance works
- Health insurance type, coverage, and options
- Health insurance terms
- The cost of health insurance
- Types of health insurance and options
- How to acquire health insurance
- Supplemental Insurance types:
- Cancer
- Disability
- Long term care
- ABLE and PASS accounts
All Events & Workshops
Visit our Events Calendar to see all of our scheduled workshops, classes, and events.
Learn more about our mission and participate with us more broadly! Check out all of our signature events that we offer annually.