GUEST BLOGGER: EMMA PARKHURST

Every January it seems many of us set a resolution to go to the gym and exercise more frequently. If you have decided to tackle those fitness goals this year, getting a gym membership may be a smart move. Did you know that research shows those with a gym membership were 14 times more likely to meet the weekly physical activity guidelines? Sounds great, right?! But what if your budget is tight and a gym membership doesn’t quite make the cut for your 2020 financial goals? Not to worry – there are many ways to shave costs off your monthly gym bill:

​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 BLOGGER: LIZ VANCE

​The most common New Year’s resolutions seem to always be about health and money. But we all know those resolutions can end up being frustrating or forgotten all together a few months, or even weeks, into the year. If only keeping our resolutions was as easy as making them! We’d accomplish so much! Try some of these tips to help make financial resolutions a little easier.

GUEST BLOGGER: ELIZABETH DAVIS

Paying for college can be an overwhelming task. According to the Federal Reserve (2019) the average student loan debt per students finishing an undergraduate degree is $32,731. 
I was in graduate school when my daughter was born. Ironically the semester that she was born I was in a social policy class that discussed the expense of having children. I was overwhelmed and disheartened to learn that on average it costs $233,610 to raise a child to the age of 18 and that was NOT including college expenses! I was pregnant, sick, and overwhelmed by what seemed like the impossible task of planning for my child’s future while I was still in the throes of finishing my own education. 

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: