AMERICAN CONSUMERS HELPED BY CAMBRIDGE CREDIT COUNSELING TELL THEIR STORIES

Credit counseling participants reveal how the economy has changed their lives.

Tremendous losses in 401(k) balances, historic numbers of foreclosures, and increasing credit card rates – it all sounds like a Hollywood screenplay about a financial apocalypse, but this is the reality that millions of Americans are experiencing today. Last week, Cambridge Credit Counseling president Christopher Viale reached out to a sampling of the tens of thousands of consumers his agency has counseled over the last six months, encouraging them to share their stories. Dozens responded, revealing how the economy has dramatically altered their lives. Many of these consumers would welcome the opportunity to speak with the media.

“The initial purpose of this outreach was to demonstrate that not enough is being done to help millions of hardworking Americans, and that we have a solution, Home Sweet Home, that deserves serious consideration,” stated Christopher Viale, President and CEO of Cambridge Credit. “In response, we received a number of very moving accounts from everyday people who will continue to struggle, despite the administration’s efforts.”

Cambridge sent the following message to individuals who had previously reached out to the agency for counseling.

“Over the last few weeks, our Home Sweet Home initiative has generated a good deal of interest in the news media. Within that time, I have worked to gain support for the initiative and to create awareness about the financial strain many of you and your loved ones may be experiencing. On St. Patrick's Day, I traveled to Manhattan to speak with reporters about the reforms we are championing, as well as the services Cambridge provides every day.

Several reporters have requested to speak with you, our clients. Specifically, the media would like to interview people who have experienced any of the following circumstances:

• The inability to qualify for the Obama Administration's housing program
• The inability to understand the requirements of the Obama Administration's housing program
• A reduction in your credit limit on your credit card(s), resulting in diminished credit scores, higher interest rates, and/or reduced access to credit
• The inability to maintain payments as a result of changes to the terms of your credit card account(s)
• Overtime, bonus or other wage reductions that resulted in difficulty keeping up with increases in the cost of living

If you've experienced any of these situations, please send me an e-mail outlining your circumstances. My address is cviale@cambridgecredit.org. I will read each and every one of your responses and do my very best to reply to you in a timely fashion. Additionally, I will share some of your stories with the reporters who reached out to us for information. Some members of the media may wish to conduct a brief telephone interview with you, so please indicate your willingness to speak about your circumstances, as well as the best time and telephone number to reach you, if you'd like to participate. I will provide you with advance notice in the event that your story is chosen.

I thank you in advance for your time and effort in helping us to bring focus upon the issues that are affecting you most in these trying economic times. Your participation is greatly appreciated and will help provide insight into the plight of struggling Americans.”

If you are writing a story about how the economy is affecting everyday people and wish to speak with any of those who responded to Cambridge’s query, please contact Christopher Viale at 413-821-6919 or cviale@cambridgecredit.org.

ABOUT CAMBRIDGE CREDIT COUNSELING CORP.
Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. is a professional debt counseling agency dedicated to educating young adults on the importance of sound financial management, and to providing financially distressed Americans with education and debt management services appropriate to their needs. For more information on this article or to schedule an interview, please call 413-821-6919.

Visit Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. online at http://www.cambridgecredit.org/. To learn more about Cambridge and the community, visit www.youtube.com/CambridgeCredit.

CAMBRIDGE CREDIT COUNSELING EMPLOYEES VOLUNTEER TO HELP EDUCATE SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Cambridge welcomes students participating in Junior Achievement’s Groundhog Job Shadow Day.

Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. will serve as host to students from the Springfield, MA, public school system on February 3rd as part of the Groundhog Job Shadow Initiative. Job Shadow Day is the result of a collaborative effort by Junior Achievement and local businesses that is designed to introduce young people to a wide variety of professions, helping students prepare to join the workforce of the 21st century. Students “shadow” mentors through a normal workday – experiencing firsthand how skills learned in the classroom relate to the modern workplace.

Because Cambridge Credit Counseling’s core mission is to provide financial literacy, the agency’s Education Department will conduct its Keeping Money on Your Mind: Entering the American Economy seminar for all students in attendance, educating them on the importance of personal money management. In addition to discussing the nuances of personal finance, the seminar also address the mechanics of the job search, including successful interviewing strategies. The PowerPoint presentation used, complete with speaker notes, is available on Cambridge’s website for download by families, community groups and educational institutions. Please click here to download http://www.cambridge-credit.org/keepingmoneyonyourmind.ppt

“Cambridge is honored to be hosting yet another Job Shadow Day, and we’re happy to help educate students about the workforce,” remarked Christopher Viale, president of Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. “Junior Achievement does wonderful work, and they deserve the support of everyone in our local business community. We welcome the opportunity to share our experience and expertise on their behalf.”

ABOUT CAMBRIDGE CREDIT COUNSELING CORP.
Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. is a professional debt counseling agency, dedicated to educating young adults on the importance of sound financial management and to providing financially distressed Americans with education and debt management services appropriate to their needs. For more information on this article or to schedule an interview, please call 413-821-6919.

Visit Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. online at www.cambridgecredit.org. To learn more about Cambridge in the community, please visit http://www.cambridgecredit.org..

CAMBRIDGE CREDIT COUNSELING CORP. ANNOUNCES SEMINAR SERIES, LEARNING TO RUN THE BUSINESS CALLED YOUR LIFE

New financial literacy seminars focus on preparing for economic challenges in 2009.

The year 2008 will likely go down in history as one of the most financially trying in generations. Over the last twelve months, Americans have seen dramatic increases in foreclosure and jobless rates, the erosion of pension plans and retirement savings, and a government opting for unprecedented remedies to prevent further damage. Unfortunately, 2009 looks as if it will be just as challenging. In an effort to provide critical financial education on both the local and national scale, Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. will hold a series of seminars to help people better prepare themselves and their families to meet the difficulties they may face in the coming year.

On January 15, 2009, Cambridge will hold the first installment in this year's series -- Learning to Run the Business Called Your Life. Part one will focus on developing strategic plans to ensure long-term financial success. Among the topics discussed will be creating a practical spending plan, establishing an adequate emergency savings fund, and eliminating debt.

“Decreased access to credit, a struggling job market and the prospect of a worsening economy means that we all have to develop a more aggressive strategy toward our finances,” warns Christopher Viale, President of Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. “If we’ve learned anything from 2008, it’s that a lifestyle built on credit, and not savings, can be disastrous. We owe it to ourselves and our families to adopt a new philosophy in 2009.”

All seminars are offered for free to the public and will be held at Cambridge’s offices, located at 67 Hunt Street, Agawam, MA. Each session is scheduled to run from 5:30 - 7:00 PM, and a full listing of dates is available on Cambridge’s website, www.goodpayer.com. The organization understands that it may be geographically impossible for everyone interested to attend, so a PowerPoint presentation, complete with speaker notes, will also be available for download the day after each seminar. Families, community groups, and educational institutions are encouraged to use the information provided. For more information about Cambridge's seminars, please call the agency’s Director of Education, Martin Lynch, at 413-241-2401.

CAMBRIDGE PRESIDENT URGES MORTGAGE RE-WRITES TO SAVE HOMEOWNERS

Cambridge Credit Counseling President Christopher Viale announces Home Sweet Home initiative to help avert foreclosures and restore market stability

With Wall Street focused on the details of last week’s bailout, millions of American homeowners continue to struggle to avoid foreclosure. Throughout Tuesday evening’s Presidential debates, both candidates acknowledged the need to keep those on the verge of foreclosure in their homes. It is also important to recognize the significant number of homeowners in need of reductions in their monthly mortgage payments who are not yet facing delinquency. These are families living one financial setback away from disaster. Homeowners in this predicament are barely meeting their mortgage obligations and, as a result, have little or no discretionary income, preventing them from full participation in our economy as healthy consumers.

A number of rescue plans have recently been circulated to save American homeowners, and while they are certainly a piece of the puzzle, program costs and eligibility limit the scope of their possible effectiveness on a nationwide scale. As time runs out for ordinary Americans looking to stay in their homes, and before the credit crisis derails more of our economy, Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. President Christopher Viale is proposing common-sense solutions from a consumer perspective. The Home Sweet Home initiative is Viale’s plan to help struggling homeowners, and it ultimately provides a measure of stability to the economy. Both the private sector and the federal government would be required to take action and make reasonable concessions for the strategy to be effective, and, though it may not be appropriate for every situation, Viale believes his plan could be a lifeline for many of those currently drowning in mortgage debt.

“Everyone in a position to share their expertise - politicians, financial executives, economists and others, must come to the table to help contribute solutions to this crisis. Our agency hears from thousands of consumers every month, and we know the kind of relief they need. The federal government is providing massive amounts of aid to banks, and we need that kind of effort at the consumer level, as well. I’m confident that Home Sweet Home could be an important part of the solution,” notes Viale.

ABOUT CAMBRIDGE CREDIT COUNSELING CORP.
Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. is a professional debt counseling agency dedicated to educating young adults on the importance of sound financial management and providing financially distressed Americans with education and debt management services appropriate to their needs. For more information on this article or to schedule an interview, please call 413-821-6919.

Visit Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. online at http://www.cambridgecredit.org/. To learn more about Cambridge and the community, please visit www.youtube.com/CambridgeCredit. or check out the Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. financial literacy blog at http://www.cambridgecredit.blogspot.com/.

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CAMBRIDGE CREDIT COUNSELING’S FINANCIAL EXPERTS AVAILABLE TO THE MEDIA

Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.'s public outreach staff offers assistance to journalists in forecasting impact of recent economic changes on average consumers.

While news of the upheaval on Wall Street continues to dominate the daily headlines, little attention has been paid to the impact that the recent string of bankruptcies and bailouts will have on the average consumer. As one of the leading credit counseling agencies in the country, Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. hears first-hand every day the effect that America’s credit crisis is having on family budgets. At a time when 71% of Americans are already living from paycheck to paycheck, additional hikes in credit card interest rates and reduced access to new credit will pose financial challenges that this country hasn’t experienced for decades. Journalists interested in developing stories focused on the average consumer are encouraged to contact one of Cambridge's public outreach staff. Brief biographies are provided below.

Christopher Viale is the president and chief executive officer of Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. In addition to his responsibilities as president, Mr. Viale is an AFCPE Accredited Credit Counselor and IFL Certified Educator in Personal Finance, and he personally oversees and implements the company's educational outreach program, Learn Now or Pay Later. Under Mr. Viale’s direction Cambridge’s educational efforts reach a diverse population, and are focused on teaching the importance of sound money management principles. Mr. Viale is also active within the business community, serving as a volunteer on the Business Development Committee for the United Way of Pioneer Valley, and as a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Mr. Viale continues to stay abreast of issues affecting the credit counseling industry and is recognized as an expert in the field. Among the outlets that have featured Mr. Viale are Bankrate.com, the Washington Times, CNBC, the Dow Jones Newswire, CNN Money, the Wall Street Journal, MSN Money, and the Los Angeles Times.

Contact Information:

cviale@cambridgecredit.org

Office: 413-821-6919

Thomas Fox is the Community Outreach Director of Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. He is an AFCPE Accredited Credit Counselor and IFL Certified Educator in Personal Finance, and has authored a number of financial guidebooks, DVDs and curricula designed to educate young people and low-income individuals about personal finance. Mr. Fox has also consulted on a number of educational initiatives, including the finance unit of Springfield Public School System and the Net Gain youth financial literacy program, which is produced in partnership with USA TODAY.

Mr. Fox has conducted seminars for a wide variety of audiences across the country, including appearances at Arizona State University, Rider University, UCONN, Springfield College, AIC, Western New England College, and numerous other organizations. He has also served as a guest lecturer for the Bruce Wells Scholar Upward Bound program, and as a panelist for Nichols College's forum on the Cycle of Debt In America, and for the California JumpStart Coalition’s Financial Literacy for Youth conference.

Recognized as an expert in his field, Mr. Fox has been interviewed for a variety of news segments regarding personal finance. Some of the outlets that have utilized his expertise include CNN, CN8, Bankrate.com, CreditCards.com, The Wall Street Journal, and local television stations WWLP, WGGB, and CBS-3 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Contact Information:

tfox@cambridgecredit.org

Office: 413-241-2362

Cell: 413-330-5254

CAMBRIDGE CREDIT HELPS PREPARE COLLEGE STUDENTS TO DEAL WITH CREDIT CARD DEBT

Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp., 67 Hunt St., Agawam, MA, 01001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Thomas Fox
Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.
413.821.6919
tfox@cambridgecredit.org

CAMBRIDGE CREDIT HELPS PREPARE COLLEGE STUDENTS TO DEAL WITH CREDIT CARD DEBT

America's college students face unparalleled challenges in dealing with credit card debt!

Agawam, MA –Thursday, August 21, 2008 -- As another summer comes to a close, more than 15 million college students are busy preparing to return to their college campuses. The rush to purchase school supplies and replenish wardrobes has become a familiar ritual, however, many college students are not as prepared when it comes to their financial choices. College student credit card debt is on the rise, but few young adults are ready for the long-lasting consequences that come with it.

The debt accumulated by today’s students already forces many of them to work longer hours than their counterparts in preceding generations, often resulting in reduced academic loads and increased dropout rates among undergraduates. In fact, after academic difficulty, the need to deal with troublesome debt has become the second-most cited reason that students interrupt the traditional four-year college track. And for those who do make it to graduation, heavy student loan burdens and credit card debt pose a challenge that will make life after college a bigger financial challenge than ever before.

“Graduation from college is a wonderful achievement for students and parents, but these days it’s often a stressful experience, as well. Today’s students come face to face with the prospect of repaying their student loan debt at a time when they’re just discovering the realities of independent living on an entry-level salary,” notes Christopher Viale, president and CEO of Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. “When a student complicates matters by taking on more credit card debt than they can properly manage, they’re also pushing back the clock on buying a home and starting a family, the traditional benchmarks of the American Dream.”

Cambridge Credit Counseling distributes a free guidebook called Learn Now or Pay Later to help educate students and their parents about the fundamentals of credit, debt and personal finance. According to Viale, “The goal of our free e-guide is to empower young adults with the knowledge they need to make sound financial decisions, allowing them to build a strong foundation for success.” The guide can be downloaded at no cost from the company’s financial education website, www.goodpayer.com or by clicking download Learn Now or Pay Later e-guide.

Cambridge's education staff also conducts seminars on a variety of financial topics for colleges and universities. Interested parties should contact Martin Lynch at (413)-241-2401 for more information.

ABOUT CAMBRIDGE CREDIT COUNSELING CORP.
Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. is a professional debt counseling agency, dedicated to educating young adults on the importance of sound financial management and to providing financially distressed Americans with education and debt management services appropriate to their needs. For more information on this article or to schedule an interview, please call 413-821-6919.

Visit Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. online at http://www.cambridgecredit.org/. To learn more about Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. and the community, please visit our YouTube page. For more helpful information, check out Cambridge’s Financial Literacy Blog.

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CAMBRIDGE TO HOLD FIRST ANNUAL “BRING YOUR CHILD TO WORK DAY” IN RECOGNITION OF EMPLOYEE EFFORTS TO PROVIDE CREDIT COUNSELING

Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp., 67 Hunt St., Agawam, MA, 01001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Thomas Fox
Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.
413.821.6919
tfox@cambridgecredit.org

CAMBRIDGE TO HOLD FIRST ANNUAL “BRING YOUR CHILD TO WORK DAY” IN RECOGNITION OF EMPLOYEE EFFORTS TO PROVIDE CREDIT COUNSELING

As public demand increases for credit counseling, Cambridge’s employees sacrifice to rise to the challenge.

Agawam, MA –Thursday, August 14, 2008 --The demand for credit counseling has risen over the last few months as the sub-prime lending crisis continues to plague the economy. To meet the needs of the public, Cambridge has instituted extended service hours to help those scrambling to make sound financial decisions. These longer hours have required that many of Cambridge’s personnel rearrange their schedules to accommodate helping those in the community -- taking time away from their families to do so. As Cambridge is a family orientated organization, President Christopher Viale wanted to show employee’s children the fantastic work their moms and dads are doing in the community.

“Our office has been inundated with calls from people who desperately need advice in managing their financial challenges. In an effort to meet callers’ needs, my staff volunteered to change their hours,” stated Viale. “Our employees have really stepped up to the plate in developing our extended service schedule -- Monday through Thursday 8:00 am –10:00pm, and Friday and Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.”

The “Bring Your Child to Work” event will be held on Friday, August 15 and recognizes employee sacrifice to help the community. Throughout the day, children will have the opportunity to shadow their parents as they work to help individuals manage the stress that financial burdens create. The day itself will not be all work. “This day is a celebration of our family helping other families throughout America,” continued Viale. The employees at Cambridge have devised a fun filled day of arts and crafts, computer gaming and movies. The centerpiece of the event is the Pizza Picnic which will play host to a scavenger hunt, egg spoon, three legged and potato sack races and a rousing game of wiffle ball.

“Cambridge has undergone a lot of changes over the last decade, and our employees have hung in there with us. This is a small thank you to them, and their families, for believing in the wonderful work Cambridge has done in servicing over 2 million Americans in their quest to become debt free,” concluded Viale.

ABOUT CAMBRIDGE CREDIT COUNSELING CORP.
Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. is a professional debt counseling agency, dedicated to educating young adults on the importance of sound financial management and to providing financially distressed Americans with education and debt management services appropriate to their needs. For more information on this article or to schedule an interview, please call 413-821-6919.

Visit Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. online at www.cambridgecredit.org. To learn more about Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. and the community, please visit www.youtube.com/CambridgeCredit. For more helpful information, check out Cambridge’s financial literacy blog at www.cambridgecredit.blogspot.com.

The proposed “Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights” may protect consumers, but becoming a financially literate society would help even more.

Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp., 67 Hunt St., Agawam, MA, 01001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Thomas Fox
Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.
413.821.6919
tfox@cambridgecredit.org

CAMBRIDGE CREDIT REMINDS CONSUMERS THAT UNDERSTANDING CREDIT IS THEIR BEST DEFENSE

The proposed “Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights” may protect consumers, but becoming a financially literate society would help even more.

Agawam, MA – August 7, 2008 -- Many Americans have been directly affected by the housing crisis over the past two years, and almost all of us are feeling the effects of higher prices and tighter creditor policies. Recent statistics indicate that many consumers have begun relying on their credit cards more often to meet their day-to-day expenses. Not surprisingly, credit card debt has spiked - the national personal total is approaching $1 trillion dollars - and account delinquencies are on the rise. There may be no better time to enact a Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights, and that’s precisely what Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) has put before Congress.

“The Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights Act of 2008 is needed to protect consumers,” notes Christopher Viale, president and CEO of Cambridge Credit Counseling, a Massachusetts-based agency that assists financially troubled individuals nationwide. “This type of legislation can help ensure the economic prosperity of all Americans by shielding them from potentially harmful consequences they may not understand.”

Some of the key provisions of the Act include:

Elimination of Universal Default policies – A creditor would no longer be able to change the terms of its agreement with a cardholder if late payments are made to other lenders.

Arbitrary increases in interest rates minimized – A creditor would only be able to increase its rates as stipulated in the original contract with the cardholder.

Advanced notice of intended rate increases – If a creditor wants to increase the interest rate charged on an account, it would have to inform the cardholder at least 45 days in advance, and allow for the consumer to decline the increase by canceling the account. The balance would then have to be repaid at the interest rate currently being charged.

Over-limit management – Consumers would be able to prohibit their creditors from extending credit beyond the original terms of their contract, thus eliminating over-limit fees.

Elimination of double-cycle billing – Double-cycle billing allows a creditor to charge interest on the cardholder’s average daily balance by including the purchases from that billing cycle and those from the month before.

Sufficient notice of payment – Creditors would be required to mail statements at least 25 days in advance of the cardholder’s due date.

“It may sound cliché, but knowledge really is power,” commented Viale. “While this legislation is long overdue, so is the need for financial literacy. Many of the people in trouble today could have avoided difficulty if they knew the fundamentals of personal finance.”

Cambridge offers a host of FREE financial literacy materials at its goodpayer.com website. Individuals are encouraged to visit the site to download Cambridge’s Learn Now or Pay Later guides. Currently, these guides are offered in two versions – one for adults, and one for young adults. In addition, Cambridge offers a variety of financial literacy videos on its YouTube page, which can be accessed at www.youtube.com/CambridgeCredit.

ABOUT CAMBRIDGE CREDIT COUNSELING CORP.
Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. is a professional credit counseling agency, dedicated to educating young adults on the importance of sound financial management and to providing financially distressed Americans with education and debt management services appropriate to their needs. For more information on this article or to schedule an interview, please call 413-821-6919.

Visit Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. online at www.cambridgecredit.org. To learn more about Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. and the community, please visit www.youtube.com/CambridgeCredit. For more helpful information, check out Cambridge’s financial literacy blog at www.cambridgecredit.blogspot.com.

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Free e-guide from Cambridge Credit Counseling offers comprehensive advice to save on gasoline.

Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp., 67 Hunt St., Agawam, MA, 01001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Thomas Fox

Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.

413.821.6919

tfox@cambridgecredit.org

Agawam, MA – Friday, June 20, 2008 – Over the last few months the counselors at Cambridge have witnessed an increase in concern regarding the impact of record gasoline costs. Many Americans are having tremendous difficulties in managing the rising costs of travel within their already tight budgets. To assist the public with the burden of gasoline costs, Cambridge has developed the Driving as if Your Budget Depends on It e-guide. This guide discusses various options to reduce gas usage and protect your budget in these challenging economic times.

“So many individuals are feeling the crunch at the pump that we felt compelled to develop this insightful guide,” stated Christopher Viale, president and CEO of Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. “These tips are but among the many solutions consumers can implement to manage the demand gasoline has upon their finances.”

To receive a FREE download of Driving as if Your Budget Depends on It, please visit http://www.cambridgecredit.org/. As always, Cambridge’s Certified Credit Counselors are prepared to help the public should they need further assistance in creating a workable budget. To speak to a Certified Counselor, please call 1-800-CAMBRIDGE.

ABOUT CAMBRIDGE CREDIT COUNSELING CORP.

Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. is a professional credit counseling agency, dedicated to educating young adults on the importance of sound financial management and to providing financially distressed Americans with education and debt management services appropriate to their needs. For more information on this article or to schedule an interview, please call 413-821-6919.

Visit Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. online at www.cambridgecredit.org. To learn more about Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. and the community, please visit www.youtube.com/CambridgeCredit. For more helpful information, check out the Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. Financial Literacy blog at www.cambridgecredit.blogspot.com.

Financial literacy seminar at Western New England College

Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp., 67 Hunt St., Agawam, MA, 01001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Thomas Fox
Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.
413.821.6919
tfox@cambridgecredit.org

CAMBRIDGE CREDIT EDUCATES COLLEGE SENIORS ABOUT LIFE AFTER GRADUATION

Financial literacy seminar at Western New England College to focus on making the right financial choices after graduation.

Agawam, MA - Thursday, February 28, 2008 - On Saturday, March 1, 2008, Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. will once again participate in Western New England College’s “Life After College Explained” seminar series. For the last several years, representatives from Cambridge’s Education Department have helped to educate students about the proper management of credit and the steps to building wealth.

When it comes to credit, college students are among the most vulnerable consumers. From the moment they set foot on campus, they are the focus of intense marketing efforts, particularly on the part of the major credit card banks. This is despite the fact that students rarely have meaningful full-time employment during their college years. Over the past few years in particular, rising levels of student loan and credit card debt have combined to place a unique burden on graduates. Many are entering the workforce with large monthly debt payments that not only prevent them from giving full attention to their career, but that will continue to hinder them as they pursue the American Dream of homeownership.

The seminar series at Western New England College is a cooperative effort to help graduates deal with the financial demands that will be made on them as they begin to live independently. Christopher Viale, president of Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp., is looking forward to the opportunity. “We are honored that WNEC has invited us to help prepare their seniors,” Viale noted. “The forward thinking approach of the university is exactly what will help to prepare our youth for the financial challenges that await them after graduation.”

The one-hour seminar will focus on credit scores, the cost of credit, and the importance of establishing an appropriate budget to meet financial goals. Each seminar participant will also receive a copy of Cambridge’s Learn Now or Pay Later financial literacy guide for young adults.

Other area colleges interested in establishing a seminar for their graduating seniors are encouraged to call Thomas Fox, Cambridge’s Community Outreach Coordinator, at 413-241-2362.

About Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.
Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. is a professional debt counseling agency dedicated to educating young adults on the importance of sound financial management and providing financially distressed Americans with education and debt management services appropriate to their needs. For more information on this article or to schedule an interview, please call 413-821-6919.

Visit Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. online at www.cambridgecredit.org. To learn more about Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. in the community, please visit www.youtube.com/CambridgeCredit. For more helpful information, check out the Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. Financial Literacy blog at www.cambridgecredit.blogspot.com.

Cambridge Credit Counseling – Christopher Viale Interviews

The New Year has started off rather busy as many consumers are looking for advice on how to manage their finances. Along with the increase in the education Cambridge is providing is an increased interest from the media as to the state of America’s consumers. Recently, our president, Christopher Viale, was interviewed by Bankrate.com for several important articles that address the financial concerns facing Americans.

To view these articles, please click on the links below.

Tallying the true costs of debt

6 powerful debt-paydown strategies

Tackling debt as a family

National poll: What, us worry about debt?