The current economy’s hazy horizon may be what encouraged roughly 20 students to file into TR’s Discovery Room Nov. 16 for the lunchtime workshop Money Management.

Shauna Gheen, assistant bank manager for Comerica, said she wanted to “promote financial literacy” offering students a map in the haze.

She covered “basic financials to help you get through life.”

One student asked how to budget the unpredictable amount of money she made as a server and how to deal with the cash from tips taken home after each work shift because money is easy to spend when not in check form.

Gheen advised her to total her weekly earnings to help track savings and spending.

“Budgeting is seeing how much you earn and how much you can save … as long as you are disciplined, it will help you out,” she said.

For those who receive checks, she said to create a direct deposit account with the bank.

“Deposit 90 percent into your checking account and 10 percent into your savings,” she said.

TR student Quintin Hernandez said he’s trying to get the most credit information and decide which bank is best for him.

One student asked if credit card repair agencies are reliable to fix the amount of debt he has accumulated.

“Some are, and some aren’t,” Gheen said. “Most credit card companies will end up settling your account, and be wary. They’re probably going to be expensive.”

She said the flags on a credit card account would still show when someone is in debt, which hurts a person’s credit score.

She said to keep debt below 50 percent of the total credit card line because it hurts the credit score if the balance goes above the limit.

“Take good care of your credit, keep good records of expenses and pay bills on time,” Gheen said, wrapping up the seminar.