America Saves Week, Feb. 26 – March 3
Free events from the City of Boston to help you save money!
The City of Boston and the Mayor’s Office of Financial Empowerment are celebrating America Saves Week with free events to help residents save for their future. Be sure to take advantage of these great opportunities!
Build Your Credit Score
Mon, Feb. 26
Learn simple strategies to build your credit score at this free Boston Builds Credit workshop. Afterward, you can review your credit score with a trained guide in a one-on-one Financial Check-Up. The City of Boston Credit Union will also be on hand with helpful information for opening a bank account. The event includes a story hour for children and free parking at the nearby Blair lot. Space for the event is limited. Be sure to RSVP here.
When: 6-7:30 p.m.
Where: Central Boston ES, 2315 Washington St., Roxbury
Open a Bank Account/Get Tax Help
Tue, Feb. 27
Open a bank account that is safe, reliable, and affordable with help from Bank On Boston. The Boston Tax Help Coalition will also be providing free tax preparation for residents who earned $54,000 or less in 2017. If you plan to get your taxes done, please check the list of documents to bring.
When: 4-8 p.m.
Where: Codman Square Health Center, 450 Washington St., Dorchester
Link Your Child’s Boston Saves Account
Wed, Feb. 28
*For Boston Saves families only*
Save for your child’s college or career training with Boston Saves, the City’s children’s savings account program. Families of kindergartners at participating Boston Saves schools will be able to link a personal savings account to their child’s Boston Saves account to in order to earn rewards, track saving progress, and gain helpful saving tips all in one place. Linking events will be held at Harvard-Kent Elementary School, Haynes Early Education Center, Mattapan Early Elementary School, and Winship Elementary School.
To learn more, contact Kim Lucas at kimberly.lucas@boston.gov.
Get Tax Help
Thurs, March 1
The Boston Tax Help Coalition provides free tax preparation from January through April for residents who earned $54,000 or less in 2017. Check the list of documents to bring.
When: 3-7 p.m.
Where: Roxbury Center for Financial Empowerment, 7 Palmer St., Roxbury
When: 1-8 p.m.
Where: Brighton Public Library, 40 Academy Hill Rd., Brighton
When: 4-8 p.m.
Where: DotHouse Health, 1353 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester
When: 5-8 p.m.
Where: Urban Edge, 1542 Columbus Ave., Roxbury
Talk Economic Advancement
Fri, March 2
The Economic Mobility Lab visits Boston’s neighborhoods with City Hall to Go to talk with residents about saving money, planning for the future, and getting ahead. This is a great chance to talk with City employees who are working on solutions to economic inequality.
*Note: This event has been canceled due to weather.*
When: 2-4 p.m.
Where: Hyde Park Community Center, 1179 River St., Hyde Park
Get Tax Help – Uber & Lyft Driver Clinic
Sat, March 3
*for Uber/Lyft drivers only*
In this customized tax clinic, the Boston Tax Help Coalition provides tax preparation specifically for part-time Uber drivers who are residents of Boston and earned $54,000 or less in 2017. Tax preparation sessions are available by appointment only.
- Were you a part-time driver in 2017 using your personal vehicle?
- Did you make more than $400?
- Your gross income must be $54,000 or less
- Your business expenses cannot exceed $25,000
- Your business cannot have a net loss (expenses greater than income)
- You cannot claim actual expenses such as maintenance and repair costs on your vehicle, instead you must be claiming the standard mileage rate
- You cannot have any employees or sub-contractors
- You cannot deduct any portion of your home for business use
If you meet these criteria, RSVP here. Space is limited.
When: 2-6 p.m.
Where: Roxbury Center for Financial Empowerment, 7 Palmer St., Roxbury
Share the America Saves Week flyer to spread word of these free events!