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
Public Classes
We imagine an equitable and inclusive society where women, people of color, and especially women of color can thrive, which is why we provide free financial education courses and coaching through our Prosperity Programs. YWCA Prosperity Programs empower women to obtain greater financial stability by learning about budgeting, credit and debt issues, developing the skills and resources needed to work towards independent financial future
Our Financial Education courses are free for the public. See the accordion list to learn more about all of our class options and to register for upcoming classes.
Partnerships & Private Sessions
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 specifically for your group.
Choose from one of the courses in the accordion list.
This series of four one-hour classes will help you learn how to better manage your personal finances. While these classes are offered as a series, you may choose to participate in the classes most interesting or applicable to you. The four topics and their dates include:
#1) Goal Setting: Their Role in Your Financial Health
In this course, our focus is on tracking goals and building a framework to help you manage your finances at each stage of your life. Our experienced instructors provide financial guidance to help you find the right path based on your goals. We then take a closer look at achieving goals and how understanding credit, budgeting and savings can support you in achieving good financial health.
Date and Time: August 9 | 5-6pm
#2) Budgeting
Focusing on your goals will teach you everything you need to know and everything you need to do to create a monthly budget. We will then give you guidance on how to stick to that budget and gain peace of mind with your personal finances.
Date and Time: August 16 | 5-6pm
#3) Credit
This class will help you to understand credit basics and learn all the advantages of using credit cards and credit. We will also show you how to use credit in a healthy way and offer some guidance on how to not get in over your head. Understanding credit is key to having a healthy relationship with your money.
Date and Time: August 23 | 5-6pm
#4) Savings
While budgeting and credit can help you take steps towards your dreams, without saving you may not be able to achieve your goals! Learn how to save more money and the basics of making saving a priority in your monthly budget. We will discuss needs vs wants and some changes you can make in your day-to-day spending that will allow you to save more money!
Date and Time: August 30 | 5-6pm
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: TBD
Women in America earn 82 cents for every dollar that white men earn. The amount a woman is paid changes based on her race as well. Black women make 62 cents, Native women make 57 cents, and Latinas are the lowest at 54 cents. Lost wages mean women have less money to support themselves and their families, save and invest for the future, and spend on goods and services. Families, communities, and the economy suffer as a result.
Join YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix in empowering women to close the wage gap! We offer an educational course geared towards providing women with the skills and knowledge to advocate for themselves and their families during wage negotiations. Connect with our coaches and others committed to closing the pay gap for all women!
Dates: TBD
Society tends to dictates certain chronology for life events: First come marriage, then comes buying a home. Not every woman fits this ridged box of expectations.
Despite what society views as norm, more and more single women are redefining those rules by buying homes on their own without a partner! Purchasing a home can be more realistic than you may think. Join YWCA as we show you how in reach owning your own home can be. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn what’s possible, and don’t miss out on joining the many women who have challenged the system and purchased their very own home!
Dates: TBD
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: TBD
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: TBD
Time: TBD
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
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
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
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
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
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
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
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Financial Coaching
Sometimes we need one on one support to help achieve our goals. Financial coaching is available to all at no cost. If you are interested in coaching, please schedule an introductory meeting with our team, below.
Schedule a Meeting with Michelle Ramos!
Michelle has over 20 years of experience in non-profit leadership, including directing multifaceted informal education programs for organizations such as the Phoenix Zoo, Arizona Science Center, and the Arizona Humane Society. Michelle joined the YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix team in 2020 to lead the Prosperity Programs team. Her focus is educating women in transition about healthy relationships with money, and empowering women to overcome obstacles to stand on their own.
Our Partners
