Those constantly in need of financial assistance who find themselves strapped for money at the end of the month may be in luck. Local agencies offer financial education and planning that is available free of charge.

The Salvation Army created a program recently that offers one-on-one financial planning assistance for households. Labeled as “budgeting counseling,” Salvation Army officials meet with individuals to provide financial assistance.

“We kind of look at their budget and see if there are changes can be made,” said Elizabeth Lopez, emergency basic needs supervisor with the Salvation Army. “Sometimes there are not changes that can be made. It’s hard to teach you how to budget $700 to meet your needs.”

Lopez said the program was created to help people help themselves. Typically, those utilizing the counseling sessions are those who frequently need the organizations emergency food services.

“We don’t want to be just hand out,” Lopez said. “We want to help people succeed. There was a call for it.”

Within the individuals sessions, members of a given household are educated on wants, needs and obligations. Lopez emphasized that differentiating between the three concepts is important while trying to not “devoid people of fun.”

“They just need someone to gently tell them the importance (of their financial situation),” she said.

Households are taught concepts like how to stretch food dollars, utilize the food pantry and use a spending diary.

“We provide this information to those that are willing to learn and take it in that would benefit (from it),” she said.

Lopez, while acknowledging the need for it, said there wasn’t one specific reason for the program’s creation. Rather, the budgeting counseling was formed out of multiple factors.

Created just this year, Lopez said it’s difficult to judge the success of the initiative. “It depends on what you consider success,” she explained. “People signing up for the class to receive this information is a success. It’s kind of difficult to measure.”

The program, thus far, has impacted 32 households. The Salvation Army generally provides services, not limited to financial and food services, to about 800 to 1,000 households a month.

Lopez said the majority of its community outreach to those households involve emergency food services. In the summer months, the amount of households needing services increases. According to Lopez, it’s because people without transportation can now walk to the Jamestown building.

Above all, Lopez was aware that each household’s situation was different. A pre-survey is implemented to gauge the specific situation for a particular household.

“I look at every situation case by case,” she said.

Struggles with financial planning doesn’t end as you age, at least according to the Chautauqua County Office for the Aging. The organization also educates aging individuals on the importance of financial fitness.

Under the umbrella of the Aging Mastery Program, older individuals in the area are made available to financial planning lectures.

Dana Corwin, director of the aging health services, said “there’s a little bit of financial planning in everything we do.”

Corwin said the Officer for the Aging offers a “comprehensive approach” on money management. This plan includes teaching the aging community about financial scams, balancing a checkbook, planning for a longer life expectancy and getting connected with local and state services.

“The Aging Mastery Program does a great job initiating the thought about how they manage their money,” Corwin said.

Despite age and circumstance, the Office for the Aging and the Salvation Army think it’s important to stay financially fit.