Whether you are out of work or simply wanting to learn about proven, money-management techniques, nine classes beginning in September will provide you with tools needed to enhance your life.

"It is no secret to all individuals from every walk of life to attain quality in their lives requires knowledge and education so they will be able to succeed and reach their goals," said Nancy Johnson, Community Resources Council executive director and coordinator of the Toolkit 4 Life series.

Toolkit 4 Life classes are scheduled on the first Wednesday of each month. Topics range from credit cards and payday loans to how to spend leisure time with your family on the cheap. Parents will share their money-saving secrets at the final workshop, Money Strategies that Work, in May.

Housing and Credit Counseling Inc. representatives provide resources for many of the sessions, including "Grow Your Dough" and "Is Debt a 4 Letter Word?"

In December, David Lee King, the library's digital branch manager and international Web 2.0 speaker, presents a beginner's class on social networking and how to use social media outlets to market yourself or your business.

"Your customers are already talking about you - about your business, about your products, about you. Do you know what they're saying, and more importantly, do you know how to join in the conversation?" King said. "This session shows you how to do this, by using social networking tools like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter."

The Toolkit 4 Life series is the "second semester" follow-up to the popular Financial Guide to Planning and Security.

"We had a number of people ask us if we were going to offer it next year," Johnson said. "People are struggling out there. They are wondering what's out there for them."

Toolkit 4 Life schedule
(All sessions are 7-8:45 pm)
2009
Sept. 2 | Stop Squeaking By | HCCI
Oct. 7 | Grow Your Dough | HCCI
Nov. 4 | Is Debt a 4 Letter Word | HCCI
Dec. 2 | Social Networking | Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
2010
Jan. 6 | Taxes | HCCI/Shawnee County Extension Office
Feb. 3 | Getting By on a Dime | HCCI/TSCPL
March 3 | Fun 4 Less | HCCI/TSCPL
April 7 | Go Green to Keep Green | Topeka Water Dept./Kansas Gas/Westar Energy
May 5 | Money Strategies that Work | HCCI/Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library

The library is open from 9am to 9pm Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm Saturday and noon to 9pm Sunday.