Marsha Barnes is a young woman who was inspired by the sound financial example of her parents. They lived modest lives taking care of the family, skipping on luxuries like call waiting or shopping at designer stores for clothes. They were saving their funds for retirement.

Therefore, when they were both laid off their jobs of 20 years in 2006, they didn’t panic. They were prepared. They have saved, managed and invested their money very well over the years.

Barnes learned from her parents and was inspired to pursue personal finance and teach these principles to others. She did so by starting The Finance Bar

The Finance Bar is a mobile personal finance business offering face to face group engagements, seminars, and workshops to organizations and people interested in ensuring a strong financial future. What’s unique about The Finance Bar is the retro-fitted school bus used as the mobile hub of the business.

Most people would have used a store front, but that makes The Finance Bar different.

[ADSENSE2]Instead of going the traditional, expensive storefront route, Barnes decided to use a school bus. She said she was inspired by the recent Food Truck boom in the Charlotte area and invested ,500 in a school bus.

The repairs and interior design cost about ,000 in renovations.

From the Charlotteobserver: She drivers her “financial literacy bus” around town, consulting with clients on budgeting and saving strategies. Barnes also has an online club – with members as distant as Guam – through which she helps clients build healthy financial habits.

Barnes says she is not a financial adviser, but a personal finance consultant who helps people with the basics: “Why is credit important? Why shouldn’t I use my credit card all the time?

Why is savings important? I just wanted to bring that to the forefront.”

The Financial Bar has a dream of helping people have a better relationship with money. This is something we all know we need in our community.

Source: Charlotteobserver.com