Enhancing household financial management skills through community training in Amuntai

Abstract

This community service program aims to enhance the financial management skills of families in Amuntai, North Hulu Sungai Regency, by strengthening their ability to plan, organize, implement, and evaluate household finances. The initiative was driven by financial challenges encountered during periods of economic uncertainty, particularly when families faced rising expenses, irregular income, and limited understanding of budgeting practices. Many households struggled to assess their financial condition, manage cash flow effectively, and identify safe opportunities for savings or additional income. To address these issues, the training introduced practical concepts of household financial management, including financial goal setting, income allocation, expenditure mapping, simple bookkeeping, and strategies for maintaining financial discipline. The activity was delivered online and employed interactive methods to help participants understand the steps needed to develop structured financial behavior and apply budgeting techniques that suit their daily needs. Participants actively engaged in discussions, especially on how to begin financial recording and manage multiple income streams. Evaluation results indicated that the training improved their awareness and confidence in managing household finances, although the limited duration restricted more in-depth exploration of individual cases. Continued mentoring is recommended to ensure consistent application of financial records and long-term adoption of healthy financial practices. Overall, the program contributed to strengthening financial literacy and resilience among families in Amuntai, supporting them in achieving greater economic stability.

Keywords: household financial management, financial literacy, budgeting skills, community training, family empowerment, economic resilience