ORONO - The University of Maine School of Economics will offer free financial instruction this year in Farmington and five other areas to help people facing rising energy costs and falling temperatures, and other money issues.

UMaine economics professor George Criner and master's degree students Hugh Stevens and Sharon Hageman will serve individuals and groups through The Financial Education Initiative.

"We're interested in helping people realize what their situation is before it reaches a crisis level," Criner added.

Instruction will include setting up household budgets, money management and how to connect with organizations and programs that can provide heating and financial assistance, he said.

"Maine uses the highest percentage of heating oil, and for a lot of lower-income folks, it's been a big jump (in their oil bills). Nobody knows how this will unfold but at least we have people who are willing to help," Criner said.

Some towns require General Assistance recipients to have a budget in place to show how they plan to get back on track, and the master's degree students can teach how to formulate a budget, let people know how much money they'll need to heat their house this winter, how to open a bank account and how to get out of debt, he said.

"There's a need for this but we wish we'd thought of this three years ago ... we could have been more preventive," Hageman said. "Given funding, we'll involve all UMaine campuses adding manpower to work more in those campus areas."

Classes will be held around UM campuses: Belfast-Bucksport, greater Bangor, Millinocket-Houlton and Washington County.

"We're going to them, to each and every community our budget allows ... if we can get two people who are interested, we'll meet with them," Stevens said in a written statement. "Giving somebody money is a one-time action. We would hope that increased financial education would provide people with a long-term financial coping skill."

The team is working with UMaine Cooperative Extension, the Maine Municipal Association and the Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community, one of which is in Farmington, Criner said. The pilot program hopes to expand statewide, if funding allows.

The location and dates of the Farmington sessions have not been set, Criner said. People interested in the free counseling may call Sharon Hageman at 581-1853.