WIXLIB

Love and MoneyWE ARE NEW YORKMagazineE ng l ish

Learn English on tvwith our storiessuccessCommunityLearn English on tvHopewith ourstoriesLoveFamilysuccessCommunityFriendshipWE ARE HopeNEWA nEWYORKtv editsWe Are New York Magazines created and written by Kayhan Irani and Anthony Tassi. Illustration and Art by Stedroy Cleghorne. Translations byEriksen Translations Inc. Design Director: André M. Pennycooke.WE ARE NEWA nEWYORKtv shoWSpecial Thanks: Leslee Oppenheim, David Hellman, K. Webster, Fatima Ashraf, John Mogulescu, Dennis M. Walcott; Malvina Acevedo, Dan Apfel,Vanessa Bransburg, Caitlyn Brazill, Jennifer Chin, Courtney Collins, Deyanira Del Rio, Irene Dominguez, Demetric Duckett, Shaifa Farooqui,Lynn Fitzgerald, Brian Gately, Mae Watson Grote, Jeniffer Herrera-Andujar, Lai-Sheung Huie, Cathi Kim, Anja Luesink, Deborah Mack, CathleenMahon, Millard Owens, Pam Ownes, Rachel Pierre, Blondel Pinnock, Perquida Williams, The Neighborhood Economic Development and AdvocacyProject, New York City Department of Consumer Affairs, New York City Office of Financial Empowerment.www.nyc.gov/LearnEnglish

What’s InsideThe Story: Love and MoneyPages 2 - 7Who We ArePages 8 - 9How We Did ItPages 10 - 11What You Can DoPages 12 - 13What You Can SayPage 14Helpful WordsPage 15 1

the storyLove and MoneySophie works in a nail salon. She meets Jorge who works in a restaurant.They like each other. Jorge wins a free dinner at his restaurant and invitesSophie for their first date. The restaurant is so expensive that Sophiethinks Jorge is rich. Sophie’s dress is so fancy that Jorge thinks she’s rich,too! With the help of their friends, Jorge and Sophie learn a lot aboutmoney, banking, and love in New York City. In the end, will they tell eachother the truth?2 we are new york love and money

3

At Jorge’s JobJorge is employee of themonth, and he’s got a datetonight. The boss is givinghim a free dinner.12You’ve been here onlytwo years? You’re sosuccessful!Later That Night3Here. Wear my jacket. Thiswill really impress her.Well, I know howto take care of mymoney.44 we are new york love and moneyMy Bank? OhNo!5I’m sure you have a verygood bank. Which bankdo you use?6Uh, um.

The Next Day7You have to opena bank account forme!Abdul, you have to help me.She thinks I’m rich! She askedme about my bank. I don’t evenhave a bank account!8No way, man. You have toopen your own account. Youhave to do it yourself.910Come with me. After work,we’ll look for a good bank.You have to ask questionsto choose a good bank.At The BankGood question. We havea basic bank account. Ithas very low fees. Everybank has one.Do you have a simple bankaccount – something thatdoesn’t cost a lot?1112 5

At Sophie’s JobThat place?! They are so expensive.At my bank, I cash checks for free.Immigrants can open bank accounts inNew York City.I don’t have a bank account. I go to thecheck cashing place on the corner. I cansend money back home to Haiti.1413Jorge, you have to bevery careful with creditcards. If you don’t paythe whole amount rightAt The Restaurantaway, they chargeyou a lot of money.You shouldn’t spendmore than you have.I opened a bank accountand look what I can get!A credit card!1516Hey, look at this! It’s a way toget money back from taxes – ourmoney. It’s called the EarnedIncome Tax Credit (EITC).176 we are new york love and moneyCall 311 to find out aboutthe EITC and to get helpwith your taxes.18

The Next Date And being herewith you Sophie This is perfect!I love this park 1920Are you sure you wouldn’tprefer going to that fancyrestaurant? Don’t you gothere all the time?21Really? I work in a nailsalon. You know, Jorge Ireally like you.22Well, I do go there all thetime I work there.I really like you, too.23 7

Who we areJORGEI came to New York City two years ago. I live inCorona, and I work at a restaurant in Manhattan. It’shard work, but I have good friends there. We arelike family! We take care of each other. We helpeach other. With them, I’m never lonely.ABDULSUEJorge is my best friend at work.Whenever he feels sad, I cheer him up.I come from a large family. I’m usedto helping my brothers and sisters. Ialways tell Jorge, “You’ve got to askquestions.” If you ask good questionsyou can figure out how to do anything!That’s how I made it here!I work with Jorge and Abdul in therestaurant. I’m the boss in the kitchen.I make sure the food tastes good andthe kitchen is clean. I also make surethe kitchen is safe for the workers sothat no one gets hurt. I’m not rich, butI know how to manage my money. Iknow exactly how much I make, and Inever spend more than I have.8 we are new york love and money

SOPHIEI live in Flatbush, and I work in a nail salon. The money Iearn in the nail salon helps my family back home in Haiti.My friend, Rose, knows I need to send money home.She showed me how I could save money by doing littlethings, like using coupons when I go shopping for food. Ialso shop around for the best prices on everything I buy.ROSEBANK MANAGERWhen I came to New York from Korea,I didn’t have a lot of money. When Igot a job, I opened a bank account. Iwent to four different banks to find thebest one. My bank account has verylow fees – all banks have a basic bankaccount like mine. I always tell peoplewhat I’ve learned about banks andsaving money. That’s one way I helpmy friends.I’m the manager at a bank. I helpmany immigrants open bankaccounts. It’s my job to answerquestions and I try to be helpful.I know how it feels to be in a newcountry. When I came to New Yorkfrom Nigeria ten years ago, I had tostart all over. I like it when customersask questions. It helps them makebetter decisions about their money.The more they know, the better. 9

HOW WE DID ITHere’s how we got help with managing our money.Maybe these ideas will help you too.1 I had to ask questions and get advice. I talked topeople I trust, and I called 311.2 I n New York City immigrants can get bankaccounts. Anyone can go into a bank or acredit union and ask questions. Banks are notall the same – you have to find the best one foryou. You can ask for someone who speaks yourlanguage.3 I called 311 to find a Financial EmpowermentCenter. You can get help there with yourmoney. y best friend, Abdul, found out4 Mabout the Earned Income TaxCredit (EITC). It’s a way to getmoney back from taxes. He toldme about the EITC. It helped mea lot.5 I stopped going to the checkcashing store. They werecharging me too much moneyto cash my checks and to sendmoney home. the best advice:6 Here’sYou don’t have to be rich tobe happy.10 we are new york love and money

HOW WE DID ITBanks are not the only place to keep your money.Credit unions are also a good choice, and yourmoney will be safe.Every bank in New York has a basic bank accountwith very low fees. But, you have to ask for it! Go todifferent banks or credit unions before you chooseone. You will find the right place for your money.If you learn how to manage your money,you’ll have more to spend on the things mostimportant to you. Start by listing everything youspend money on for one month. Next write howmuch you paid for each thing on your list. Then,you’ll know where your money is going.I learned not to ask anyone else to open an account forme. I had to do it myself. You don’t need a lot of moneyto open a bank account. And your money is safe! It’sbetter than keeping it under the bed! 11

WHAT YOU CAN DOHere are some ideas for helping peoplemanage their money.Share the information in this magazine with your family andfriends. You can make a difference in their lives.GoalYou want to open abank account.the banks and credit unions in1. Visityour neighborhood. Bring a friendwith you.or credit union what kind2. AofskIDtheyoubankneed to open an account.There may be different rules.GoalYou want to savemoney for thefuture.12 we are new york love and moneya budget – a plan for saving1. Makemoney and controlling your spending.311 to find a Financial2.Call Empowerment Center where youcan get help with your money.

bank or credit union3. Aforskathewrittenexplanation ofall the fees they charge forhaving an account.about fees for:4. Ask Using an ATM or debit card.City’s Financial Empowerment3. The Centerscan help you find a bank orcredit union. Having less money in your accountthan the minimum balance. Cashing checks. Writing a check for more moneythan you have in your account. Sending money to your family.can call 311 for free,5. You24 hours a day.311 speaks your language.311 for free help with your taxes.4. CallAsk about the Earned Income TaxCredit (EITC). It can give you moneyback from taxes. 13

WHAT YOU CAN SAYAt a bank or credit union, you can say: I would like to open an account. What kinds of accounts do you have? Please tell me about your basic bank account. I want an account withvery low or no fees. Do I need to have a minimum balance in my account? How much?Write down the answers and read them at home later. This will help youto compare the banks and credit unions and make the best choice.At a bank or credit union, you can also say: A re there any fees for using an ATM card? What if I use my ATM card atother banks or other places? Will you charge me a fee if I write a check for more money than I havein my account? How much? Can you please give me a written statement of all the fees you willcharge me to have an account here?You can also ask if someone at the bank speaks your language.If you call 311 for help, you can say: I would like information about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). I want help finding a bank. I want help with my taxes. Is there a Financial Empowerment Center in my neighborhood that helpspeople with money problems?You can also ask for an interpreter. 311 speaks your language.24 hours a day.14 we are new york love and money

HELPFUL WORDSAdviceSuggestions and opinions aboutwhat you can do.BudgetA plan for saving money and controllingyour spending.Credit UnionA safe place to keep your money.Earned Income TaxCredit (EITC)Money that you can get back from yourtaxes. Many working people and familiescan get this refund.FeeA charge for a service.FinancialEmpowerment CenterA place to go for free help to manageyour money.MinimumBalanceThe lowest amount of money youmust have in your account to avoidpaying a fee.311The free telephone number you can callfor information about City services.You can get good advice aboutmanaging your money by calling 311.A budget can help you manageyour money to make sure youdon’t spend more than you earn.Everyone needs to make one.To keep your money at a creditunion, you join and become amember.Many New Yorkers get money backfrom their taxes with the EITC. Call311 and ask about it.Every bank has a basic bankaccount with very low fees. Askabout it.New York City has new FinancialEmpowerment Centers to helppeople. Call 311 to find one.Make sure you know how muchthe minimum balance is. Somebanks and credit unions chargefees if you go below the minimumbalance.You can speak your languagewhen you call 311. 15

WE ARE NEW YORKLearn English with our storiesWatch all nine episodes on tv.read the study guides.Join a group to practice your English.To get your free study guideand to join a group, go towww.nyc.gov/LearnEnglish

send money back home to Haiti. Jorge, you have to be very careful with credit cards. If you don't pay the whole amount right away, they charge you a lot of money. You shouldn't spend more than you have. 13 15 17 18 16 14 6 WE ArE nEW YorK LovE And MonEY