■ Our community has treasures that it has taken me too long to find. One that’s making a substantial positive impact on my life is the free CAP Money management course, sponsored by Eastern Bay churches, writes Ruth Gerzon.

At my advanced age I have learnt a bit about budgeting and overspending but, after just four sessions, I now have access to wonderful tools and ideas that make balancing the budget so much easier.

The CAP online budgeting tool is brilliant and once you’re enrolled it’s available for life. It’s so flexible it enables my partner and me to put in our farm costs and income, too.

I was pleased when I came out in the black the first time I entered all my income and costs, both weekly, monthly and annually.

But the pets were our downfall. Lady Marx is our cat. She was called Lady when she came from the SPCA, which seemed a bit bourgeois for us, so I added Marx to ensure that she understood that she was a proletariat, a working cat. She responded well, becoming an avid rat and rabbiter for well over a decade. However, she is now retired and well into old age, and we pay about $60 a month for her medication.

I did enter that cost the first time around, but I had forgotten the donkeys’ farrier. I need her to come to trim their hooves just about as often as I get a haircut, and she doesn’t come cheap.

My budget didn’t balance after all. I considered giving up some of my favourite luxuries to compensate. But then I looked at the income side and realised that the donkeys could just earn their keep by giving rides.

When I was a child, about 65 years ago or so, my sister and I gave donkey rides on a beach in Whangaparaoa, near Auckland.

I have yet to talk to Uncle Moose and Uncle Tom about this idea, but I think they’ll be excited. Any excuse to get out of their paddock is welcomed. If a reader would like to come and support me to train them into this role, do let me know. They are friendly and never kick or bite, though sometimes their obedience leaves a little to be desired.

The online budget tool is flexible enough to accommodate anyone’s lifestyle. If you don’t know how to use a computer or have internet then, as a fellow student is doing, you can go to the library and get support to use the computer there.

As well as the tool, we were introduced to many ideas of ways to increase our income and reduce costs. We also learnt how to set up bank accounts that encourage us to save for that rainy day. It always comes. Mine came last week with my 30-year-old car now on palliative care, and no longer reliable enough to leave the Eastern Bay.

This course is a true treasure, great for anyone of any age. Readers can be reassured that the facilitators are totally non-judgmental, even when they learn how you have maxed out your credit card or otherwise wasted your hard-earned money.

In fact, confidentially rules and they never ask for confessions and or to see your personal budget.

With rising fuel prices few people are feeling rich these days, and some are doing it really hard.

If that sounds like you then I thoroughly recommend this course. It’s also helpful for anyone who finds it hard to pay off debt or unexpectedly finds their eftpos declined at the checkout.

As the facilitator, Craig Parsons, says, the course enables us to control our money, instead of our money (or the lack of it) controlling us.

I understand the next one begins in July.

Find a friend to go with you and enrol by emailing [email protected], or phone the co-ordinator, Jost Siegfried, on 022 187 5497.