— The Limestone County Extension Office is again offering the popular “Money Management Institute” for fall 2012. The four-week course is designed to provide basic financial information and help participants be better prepared to make financial and legal decision that affect them and their families. 

The 2012 Money Management Institute will be held on Wednesday mornings, beginning Oct. 10 at the Market Street County Building at 1109 W. Market St., across from the post office, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. through Oct. 31.

Each of the four sessions will consist of a presentation on a subject related to family finances. The sessions will be taught by local professionals highly trained in their topics. Topics for the classes include:

• The Basics of Financial Management;

• Banking & Credit;

• Legal Matters; and

• Savings and Investments.

This course has a long history of success and a similar program has been conducted through Extension Offices throughout Alabama. As an indication of the success, personal stories continue to be shared:

One story involved a woman who ventured into the Extension office late one afternoon. She had attended the Money Management Institute a few years ago. She related her story of how much she had learned in the course and how she had enjoyed it. She told that the course had motivated her to get organized.

As a result of the course, she had organized her home records and filing system and had updated several banking accounts. Also, both she and her elderly mother had visited an attorney and had prepared advance health care directives, a power of attorney, and wills.

She went ahead to share that her mother had become seriously ill and subsequently died. The visitor then mentioned what a difference the advance preparations had made in her life.

She said, “Thank goodness, we were prepared. Thanks to the things I learned in the class, we were organized and had our paperwork in order. I saved lots of heartache and money because both of us were ready.”

Advance registrations are now being taken for this class. Thanks to local sponsors, there is no fee, but preregistration is required by Oct. 4. Registration should be made through the Limestone County Extension Office at 256-232-5510.

The course will be limited to 35 enrollees and filled on a first-come basis.