Two characters, both first-time offenders, illustrate common problems faced by ex-offenders: James Miller, a black teenager who has no employment history, but a supportive family; and George Williams, a middle-aged white man who had his own business, but is estranged from family and friends. The segment on temporary lodging identifies agencies that offer bed and breakfast for a limited time, such as the Salvation Army. Suggestions on finding a job cover assessing individual abilities, information needed for interviews and application forms, appearance, keeping a job, and handling questions about the past. Affordable housing, leases, deposits, and using the newspaper want ads are among the areas discussed in the section on finding a room or apartment. The video describes banking procedures, such as opening a checking account and recordkeeping. The last segments deal with buying a car and then obtaining bank financing for the purchase. Budgeting, evaluating a used car, and extra costs such as insurance and registration are examined.