GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: MELANIE DABB, USU EXTENSION ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Receiving a windfall of cash (money that you were not planning on or expecting) can be really exciting! The temptation is probably to go on a spending spree. But, taking the time to explore other alternatives may just turn that windfall into an opportunity to build your wealth or get ahead. If you don’t need your unexpected cash influx to pay your bills, here are two important questions to ask yourself: 

​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. 

According to debt.org, in 2018 Americans had a combined total of $13.51 trillion of debt. This number is $837 billion above the previous high! So, if you are one of the many contributing to that $13.51 trillion of debt, here's a resource you've got to know more about: PowerPay. 
PowerPay shows you the most efficient and money-saving way possible to get out of debt. First of all, to use PowerPay you’ll need to create an account. Head to powerpay.org and click “New? Sign Up Now” to get started. It shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes to get your account set up. You can also use the free app on your Apple smart phone. Once it’s up and running here’s what you’ll need to gather: