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Take charge of your finances before retirement

A free four-part AARP series in Northern Virginia offers practical steps for budgeting, managing debt and planning for the future.

Ed Kemp,

AARP Virginia

Published September 09, 2026

Mature couple managing expenses and bills at home

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Planning for retirement can feel overwhelming, but understanding your income, expenses, debt and assets can help you make informed decisions. AARP’s free, four-part, in-person financial education series, Making the Most of Your Retirement Resources, offers practical guidance for people who want to take a closer look at their finances before and during retirement.

The Northern Virginia workshops cover budgeting, debt and assets, retirement planning and Social Security. The sessions are designed for people who are managing their finances on their own, as well as those preparing to meet with a financial professional.

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Start with a clearer budget

The first workshop, “Tracking Your Expenses and Adjusting as Necessary,” will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 17 at Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia.

Participants will learn how to create a simple budget and identify realistic ways to reduce expenses or increase income. Each 90-minute session builds on the previous one with examples and practical tools. The series encourages participants to focus on the parts of their financial situation they can control and also includes fraud prevention tips.

About the presenter

John Caskey of Centreville will lead the first two workshops. An AARP volunteer, he educates people about scam prevention and advocates for fraud protections at the state and federal levels. Caskey, who has decades of engineering experience, does not represent an investment advisory group.

John Caskey will lead the first two workshops. Photo courtesy of AARP Virginia.

“I hope these sessions provide new insights into how to adjust expenses and top-up income so Americans 50-plus can live their fullest lives,” Caskey said.

Caskey has helped relatives and others with a range of incomes create simple, personalized budget plans.