[top photo - EAGER CROWD: Over 60 people turned up for Focus on the Family Singapore's talk, Rising in Resilience.]

By Dawn Tay

SINGAPOREANS, like pharmaceutical- research nurse Jasmine Lee-Brayman, are turning to financial- management talks to get a better grip on their finances.

Family organisations and community development councils (CDC) are rising to the challenge.

Mrs Lee-Brayman, 36, who is married to an American, turned up recently at such a talk organised by family organisation Focus on the Family Singapore (FOTF) to learn more about how to plan her family finances.

On the talk, Mrs Lee-Brayman, who lost a five-figure sum in an investment last year, said: "I learnt to avoid making payments with credit cards and the importance of not letting financial stresses affect family relations between husband and wife, and parent and child."

Talks like these are becoming increasingly popular - especially with companies - in anticipation of tougher times ahead.

FOTF senior vice-president Chong Cheh Hoon said: "Companies facing layoffs and pay cuts want to prepare their staff and help their families ride through the hard times."

At the financial talk organised by FOTF last Saturday, over 60 participants - mostly young working parents - analysed their own budgets and also got tips on how to remain debt-free.

Besides financial management, managing family relationships is also vital, Ms Chong said. She added: "In hard times, society tends to go into increasing disarray, with growing discontentment over high unemployment rates, more insolvent businesses and possibly higher crime rates.

"These have a trickle-down stress effect on family relationships and we believe that fortifying family relationships is crucial."

The organisation is prepared to hold more talks and provide more counselling support this year and is working with various government organisations.

The CDCs are also getting into the act, with talks on financial literacy like their Talking Dollar and Sense workshop for needy families.

In response to the downturn, Central CDC has already organised three money-management workshops for the public since January this year, said manager Chiang Wei Hong.

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