Many Russian low-income families face a challenge: how to manage money effectively? Today the financial market offers a variety of financial products and services, such as housing credits, credits for education, everyday or long-term savings accounts, wired transfers, insurance, etc. But how can one understand all these services enough to be able to choose those needed? Financial education answers this and other questions.

Since 2007 Non-profit partnership Integra in collaboration with the Russian Microfinance Center conducts master-classes on personal finances and family budget. Participants include members of low-income families, orphans and orphanage graduates, people who went through rehabilitation programs for drug and alcohol addiction, and people with physical disabilities (who typically have limited access to mainstream sources of information and education). Integra master-classes offer participants practical tools for financial management, which can open for them new opportunities. In fact, a secret of financial well-being is not in the size of one’s income, but in its wise use. Therefore skills in personal financial planning are necessary for substantial people as well as for those (and more so) whose incomes are insignificant.

The Master Class program includes several sessions:

• Budgeting: the wise use of money;
• Savings: you can do it!
• Debt Management: be cautious!
• Banking services: know all choices;
• Financial Negotiations: communicate confidently.