The Bottom Line
By Susan L. Smith,
Director of Training & Financial Education

Meet Susan L. Smith:

For the past five years, Gail Cunningham, VP Business Relations for CCCS of Greater Dallas, Inc. has written this column. Gail has moved on to accept new and exciting challenges. We will miss her and I'm sure you will also.

My name is Susan Smith and I have been with CCCS for 16 years. The past 14 years as a Counselor and District Manager. I now serve as Director of Training and Financial Education in our corporate office and will continue to provide financial information and education through this column.

My background is in bookkeeping and money management through a family business. I'm originally from North Carolina, but moved around the country a bit until we came to the Dallas area in 1980.

I've learned a lot about money management from my association with CCCS. Many think managing money just comes naturally and few of us receive instructions on how to handle our budget. Or for that matter, what is a budget? Don't be fooled, money management is not easy and does not come naturally. That's one reason CCCS of Greater Dallas has 24 locations around the Dallas Metroplex, Corsicana, Longview, Tyler, Wichita Falls, Austin, and Amarillo, TX plus Ardmore, OK, Clovis, NM, Colorado Springs and Pueblo, CO. Our Telephone Counseling Department is available to take your calls Monday through Friday 7:00 AM through 9:00 PM with certified counselors to assist you in establishing a budget and maintaining sound money management.

I've frequently heard clients say they can't stay on their budget. A budget is not what you spend; it's what you can spend in each category of expenses you have. It's personal and unique to you. We all have different priorities and that is a consideration when establishing a budget. So think about it.

Give us a call. We'll get you started. You have to do the work, but we provide the education, encouragement and support. Call 800-249-2227 or browse this website to find the branch nearest you.

Susan L. Smith, Director of Training & Financial Education of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas. You may email her at TheBottomLine@cccs.net.