Take Control

Credit unions, mutual building societies and mutual banks are committed to improving financial literacy for communities both in Australia and internationally, through programmes that are run by the not-for-profit development agency Credit Union Foundation Australia (CUFA) in the Asia-Pacific region and in countries all over the world, through the work of the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU).

In Australia, Abacus has produced a series of free consumer education booklets for use by credit unions and building societies to help improve the financial literacy of Australians.

This series of booklets are called the Take Control series, and they cover a range of areas to help individuals improve their personal finances. They include a practical guide on managing credit and basic budgeting, guides on how to purchase a home or car, and information on insurance and wealth creation. The booklets have been made available as a resource to all credit unions, mutual building societies, mutual banks, and to community organisations throughout Australia.

The Take Control series was launched by the Hon Chris Bowen MP, the then Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law and Minister for Human Services.

The six booklets in the Take Control series are:

• Dollars & Cents: A Practical Guide to Budgeting & Saving
• Wheels: A Practical Guide to Buying a Car
• Credit Wise: A Practical Guide to Getting & Managing Credit
• Golden Egg: A Practical Guide to Wealth Creation
• Bricks & Mortar: A Practical Guide to Buying Property
• Lock & Key: A Practical Guide to Protecting Yourself & Your Assets

These are available to download by clicking a cover below or choosing from the PDF listing on the left.

Online versions of Take Control require Adobe Reader.