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The Warkworth/Wellsford Budget Service’s longest serving member, Angela Buckton, has retired. She says that after 34 years, the time was right.
“My husband Ron’s health has not been the best lately and my role has mostly been supportive and providing a venue for bi-monthly meetings,” she says.
“It’s very satisfying to leave the service knowing it is in good health with lots of hardworking volunteers. It has been a very friendly and happy group to belong to.”
Originally called the Wellsford Budget Service, it was started by Faye Costello who worked for the law firm Sellars in Wellsford. Angela and Kathy Smith, the former owner of Copyworks in Warkworth, joined her shortly afterwards and underwent training.
The service operated from Faye’s home initially and Angela remembers people learning of the service mostly by word-of-mouth.
She remembers one case fondly.
“It was a young couple who wanted to get married but didn’t think they could afford it. We worked on a budget to make it happen and we are all still friends today.
“I always enjoyed the challenges of helping people get their financial affairs in order.”
Angela says her best financial advice is to recognise when you need help and seek out the support of the budget service.
“It’s so much more difficult for people today with so many enticements, temptations and so much credit readily given.
“In my day, you saved up to buy things, now it’s the other way around.”
The service remains free and currently has 17 trained financial mentors available to give budget advice and help with debt management. It helps around 80 to 100 people each year.
Coordinator Jo Walker says the service is sad to lose Angela, as she was a very dedicated and valued member of the team.
