By Crystal Davis —

In a world where money is a common language, we are often faced with a list of challenges and more than most of the time that we find ourselves out of the loop. In concept, when we find ourselves not knowing nearly as much as we should about money management and we are at a loss. Understanding the distance that that plain and overly used dollar bills can take us far is only just the beginning, it is the idea of what we can actually do to benefit ourselves in the long run.

Luckily, a group of genuine student leaders found in our very own New Jersey City University offers just the thing to get most of us on the right track, FLEX [Financial Literacy Expert]. FLEX is an organization composed of student leaders from various levels who are dedicated to the forming and vocalization of activities that will help their peers, as well as themselves on how to promote financial responsibility. FLEX focuses on sending a message that anyone can understand, and quite frankly that anyone can be even you.

They sponsor both captivating and informational seminars to help educate students on financial health as well as tasks, and having the ability to shop with controlled spending can take you a very long way. The members of FLEX provide a wide variety of support systems that could be seen as very helpful in any particular financial situation—stranding from debt to money management as well as creating financial journals for one’s self.

Clearly enough the members of FLEX know exactly what it is that they are talking about, I for one would know after once attending one of their beautifully prepared workshops conducted in a structural manner: they thoroughly explained what they were about and made their visitor feel welcome, including each and every one of us present into the current conversation. As a follow up to what would be explained or had been explained the members would then ask for factual positions that a person would find themselves if ever in the predicament of being “low on cash,” or “stuck in a rut.”

In a timely manner we were each given various informational sheets to overview which explained the tragic as well as non-tragic possibilities that one might find themselves in. What better way to make shy and silent newcomers feel more welcome into their workshops? Well by giving away Hersey’s Kisses of course.

Ultimately, the members on the FLEX team make it their priority to ensure the financial success of all those who seek their assistance, you could be anyone ranging from a debtor to even a curious mind; I guarantee you will walk away with something to think about. When it comes to finding yourself on a common ground when money is involved, any FLEX workshop will have you walking away with the idea in your mind that you can actually look in your wallet and be a little joyous in the moment.

Money is something we all love to play with, it makes the world go ‘round but it also enables us to seek a higher enlightenment in our lives, we so clearly dedicate ourselves to the ideas of what our futures hold for us but not many of us know exactly how we should proceed with these thoughts.

Creating our financial plans is what will help us in the long run, analyzing what we have in our accounts now as opposed to what we plan to have in the future it what we should look forward to, and it is the members of FLEX who are more than willing to aid anyone who might just choose to take a minute and listen quietly in the background.

So do yourself a favor, do not be afraid to take a peek in on one of FLEX’s very own workshops here on campus, you might learn a thing or two.