​Sticking to a financial resolution can be challenging when our excitement exceeds our preparation. The excitement and drive to set a goal to get out of debt or save for a vacation is so valuable to help keep us going when we’ve taken some time to prepare and plan successfully. Here are my 5 tips to make and stick to a family budget in 2020. 

GUEST BLOGGERS: WILLIAM D. DANKO, Ph.D. AND RICHARD J. VAN NESS, Ph.D.

​​Shop ‘til You Drop?
So many articles have been written about becoming an efficient shopper. It’s exhausting just reading about the techniques that people devise in order to have the ‘best’ shopping season ever. Year-round, buying to assure the best deals, studying the desires of gift recipients, most appropriate wrapping for each person, and on and on. Some even specialize in gift shopping for pets. Seems that all of the major newspapers report on the masters of the creative passion of gift-giving for Christmas and other occasions. Time is a precious commodity, so why do some people participate so vigorously in such activities? Just pause, relax, and breathe. There is no fatal consequence of not attending the circus chaos.

​This time of year is filled with so many fun things! The parties, festive food, and traditions are a big part of what makes the holidays so special! During the months of November and December we’ve been posting tradition ideas over on the Utah Money Moms Facebook page. We want your traditions to feel fun and exciting and not stressful and expensive! Some of our amazing contributors and followers posted their favorite traditions that may spark some good ideas for you too! So instead of scrolling through the last two months’ worth of posts on Facebook, all the ideas are listed here for you to look at. Take a look and let us know if you implement any of the fun ideas!

GUEST BLOGGER: EMMA PARKHURST

​Have you ever scrolled through social media and find yourself admiring pictures and posts of others traveling around the world and wonder to yourself, “how on earth can they afford that?!” I’ll be the first one to admit that this thought used to cross my mind quite frequently. That was until I interrogated a good friend that booked a trip to Oslo, Norway and did so without breaking the bank. Her secrets are now my secrets that I’d like to share with you to become YOUR secrets! Below are some tips I learned from her, as well as others from financial experts: