If day-to-day expenses are crimping your style, help is as near as the library.

Catawba County Library System is hosting a series of drop-in consultations with Jim Escuder, economic support outreach coordinator at the Catawba County Department of Social Services. Escuder will be on hand from 2-4 p.m. weekly at three locations to discuss options with unemployed, under employed and anyone else having money problems. The consultations are free as a service to help area residents better cope with tough economic times and be aware of public services available to them.

Local residents may stop by to talk finance with Escuder from 2-4 p.m. Mondays at Southwest Branch in Mountain View, 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays at St. Stephens Branch or 2-4 p.m. Wednesdays at Main Library in Newton. Appointments are not necessary and there is no charge for the service which will continue into 2010.

Escuder will offer free workshops in budgeting and Money Smarts in January. Those times at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19 at St. Stephens for a budgeting workshop and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20 at Newton for Money Smarts program. Reservations are not necessary. For more information, contact Escuder at 695-2209.