Beehive.org – A Valuable On-Line Tool for AFI Grantees and Their Partners

Developed by the One Economy Corporation, the Beehive is an award-winning, multilingual Web portal that provides low-income individuals web-based tools and information about financial services, education, jobs, health care, and family. The site features topics that can help people access information and take action on issues that are important to them and can change their lives.

The site features several money management tools ranging from understanding check cashing and saving for college to collecting child support and getting the biggest tax refund possible. A few of the tools are highlighted here:

• Budget Builder. This tool allows you to input your income from employment and child support, your expenses such as groceries, credit cards, and transportation, and your savings including emergency, standard, education, and retirement. When you finish inputting the information, it gives you an easy-to-read graph showing your savings and expenses versus your income as well as pie chart showing all of your expenses. It also gives you the option to export your budget into excel.
• Understanding Check Cashing and Payday Loans. This resource gives you alternatives to check cashing and payday loans, ways to avoid predatory scams, and the costs of using a cash checker. It also includes a tool that helps you Find a Better Bank by comparing nearby banks based on the features you care most about.
• Financial Coach. This section provides financial quick fixes, including steps for how to cut unnecessary expenses, how to build an emergency fund, who to contact for help with your medical bills, and how to open a high yield savings account. You can share your story with a financial coach or ask your questions to a financial expert.

These are just a few of the tools available on the Beehive. Be sure to check out the rest of their resources today!

This article originally ran in the IDAresources.org Update Newsletter on 05/21/09 and is available for archival purposes.
For updated information on asset building and the AFI program, please see www.IDAresources.org.