In order to make the transition from being renters to being homeowners – and to be able to resolve the various issues and problems that come with homeownership – it is essential that people acquire and/or hone a variety of skills. These include what is often termed “Financial Literacy” and some basic home maintenance and repair skills.
Some of the basic financial information and skills that homeowners need are as follows:
Banking
• Brick-and-Mortar Banks
• Online Banks
• Credit Unions
• ATMs
• Checking Accounts
• Savings Accounts
• Debit Cards
• Direct Deposits
Budgeting
• Income
• Expenses
• Emergency Funds
• Investing
• 50/20/30 Rule
Credit
• Credit Scores
• Interest
• Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
Some of the basic home maintenance and repairs skills that homeowners need are as follows:
RE: Plumbing
• How to Fix Leaky Faucets
• How to Unclog Sinks & Toilets
• How to Locate and Shut Off the Main Water Line
• How to Set Hot Water Temperature
RE: Electrical
• How to Locate and Shut Off the Main Electrical Switch
• How to Know Which Breaker to Turn Off
RE: Miscellaneous
• How to Properly Hang Things on Walls
• How to Use Fire Extinguishers
• How to Spot Asbestos and Mold
POLARA believes that most local residents who want to become homeowners can acquire and/or update both their financial literacy skills and their home maintenance and repair skills through existing programs and services. If, however, that is not the case, then POLARA will work with existing community organizations and local hardware stores to ensure that such training is readily available free-of-charge to anyone seeking to learn those skills.