ABClatino Magazine Year 9 Issue 6

Mrs. Romer, my third-grade teacher, gave a brief description of the parts of speech: noun, verb, adjective; then asked us to list as many examples as we could for each category which she wrote in brightly colored markers, a different color for each part of speech, on large chart paper. I do remember the colors which pleased my eye.

What makes me remember this entire lesson, however, was when she had the class stand up from our seats to perform the actions of the words we had listed on the “Verbs” poster: jump, skip, walk, stand, dance… Together we

moved. The children of the class jumped. We skipped. We walked in a circle around the classroom. We stopped and stood. We danced!

The whole article HERE

Por / By Maria Alejandra Rojas, Community Liaison

Ulster Savings Bank

(845) 338-6322 ext. 3311

A budget is a powerful tool on your path to financial empowerment. It’s a plan that helps you make intentional decisions about how to divide your money between spending, saving, and paying off debt. Before planning ahead, review your expenses from the past 2–3 months and categorize them into:

Needs: you cannot live without them (rent, utilities, groceries)

Wants: you can manage without them (dining out, personal shopping)

Savings: putting money today for your future goals (emergency fund, future goals)

Debt: (credit cards, loans).

The goal? To spot behaviors that don’t align with your goals and adjust accordingly. A helpful guideline is the 50/30/20 rule:

Allocate 50% of your income for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings and paying debt. If your needs exceed 50%, you may be living a lifestyle that’s not financially sustainable.

Use whatever tool works best for you: a notebook, an Excel sheet, or an app. The key is to track your spending. A tip! When your savings have a purpose like a vacation, an emergency fund, or a down payment for a new home, it’s easier to stay committed.

Budgeting isn’t about restricting yourself; it’s about taking control. It is about spending smarter.

Is debt bad?

Not necessarily

Owing money isn’t always a negative thing. When used wisely, debt can be a powerful tool to help you reach major goals such as buying a home, investing in education, or growing a business. The key is how you manage it.

Many people believe having debt ruins your credit score, but that’s not entirely true. In fact, using credit and paying it on time can boost your credit history and show lenders that you are financially responsible.

So, when does debt hurt your credit?

It may affect your score if:

• You use more than 30% of your credit limit,

• You miss payments,

• You pay late or skip minimum payments.

If your goal is to pay off debt, your first step should be creating a budget. This will help you understand how much you earn, how much you spend, and where you can make adjustments to pay your debt faster.

Remember: Debt doesn’t define your worth. It’s just a tool. And like any tool, what really matters is learning how to use it well.

ABClatino Magazine Year 9 Issue 6 | Page 21