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A new group in town wants to give women a leg up on finances.

The Women's Financial Network has planned its first local workshop, "How Money Works," for this week. Events are Monday in Steamboat Springs and Tuesday in Hayden. It's free, and no men are allowed, said Pam Landy, the network's regional coordinator.

The nonprofit group aims to provide an opportunity for women to ask questions and learn about finances without men in the room. Men change the dynamic, Landy said.

"We find that women open up more if there's no guys there," she said.

Sometimes, women are afraid to ask questions around men because they don't want to sound stupid, Landy said.

"So many women raise their families, right," she said. "Maybe they went to college and maybe they didn't, but it doesn't matter. Once you're out of the world for five, six, 15 years : things change, and you forget things. And the financial world, think about all the different things they've come up with over time, from junk bonds to derivatives."

The Women's Financial Network started about four years ago in the Denver area and has spread across the state. Network founder and director Jo-Ann Holst will present the workshop.

She plans to cover the basics of money and saving, Holst said.

"We talk about things that help you grow your money, things that get in the way," she said. "We talk about inflation and debt and taxation, tax-deferred accounts - things like that. Things it would have been good if we learned in school or college but most people haven't learned."

The lessons are crucial for everyone but specifically for women, Holst said. Women get divorced or lose their husbands, she said, so most women eventually will handle their own finances. On average, they often spend less time in the work force and make less money than men, she said.

Women need to know what options are available. Saving even $5 a day adds up, Holst said.

"Rich people have financial advisers," she said. "We really try to help middle America."

Holst also encouraged young women to attend. It's best to start planning as soon as possible, she said. But it's never too late to start saving, Landy said.

"If we left it up to someone in the past, a spouse or an employer, we need to make decisions, and the earlier the better so we're set, we can make our money work for us," Holst said.

It's also important for women to know that there are saving options, Landy said. Many think that their only choice is to put money into the stock market, she said. But women tend to tolerate less risk than men, Holst said. That changes their situation.

"It's not hard," she said. "There are just some principles we need to educate ourselves on so we're set and our families are set."

The Women's Financial Network plans to hold its events the first Monday of each month for at least a year, depending on topics and interest, Landy said. She plans to move the Steamboat events to Bud Werner Memorial Library starting in September.

Other network events have focused on wealth, health insurance, small businesses, credit, divorce and estate planning. The network is all about education, and Landy encouraged women to come with questions Monday and Tuesday.

Monday's event is at 6 p.m. at Real Living Professional Group, and Tuesday's event is at 6 p.m. at Hayden Public Library. Women from all walks of life are welcome, Landy said.

"It doesn't matter if we have the CFO of a Fortune 500 company in the room or somebody that takes care of beds over at Steamboat Resorts," she said. "It doesn't matter what kind of understanding they have. Everyone should feel comfortable to ask anything."

Plus, Holst said, it'll be a good time.

"We have fun," she said. "It's not stuffy."