GUEST BLOGGER: TASHA KILLIAN

Where are all the single ladies at? There’s got to be more than just me out here who follow this account that aren’t yet Utah Money “Moms”, right? If that’s the case, this blog post is for YOU. Let me introduce myself, I’m Tasha Killian. I’m an Assistant Professor for Utah State University Extension and I am single.
As a single person, budgeting, money, and finances are approached in a way that is different than our friends and family members with partners. According to research done by Ameritrade, less than one third of single people feel secure in their finances, and to top that off, the majority of single people who reported feeling secure were men. So, my fellow single ladies, the goal of this blog post and my future blog posts, will be to share some skills you can apply to help you build financial security now, without waiting for a partner. 

​My hat is off to all the money making mamas out there finishing one adventure as a student and transitioning to a new adventure as a young professional. Here are five personal finance tips to keep you at the top of your game, financially. 

Like physical fitness, financial fitness is a lifestyle choice. Consistent actions that build positive money management habits lead to financial wellness. Below are eight financial management categories. Listed in each category are action items to increase and improve financial fitness in that area. Choose at least one of the suggestions below to take a step toward improving your personal financial fitness.
Example: If I want to improve my credit score, I may choose to work on one of the credit tasks like accessing my free credit report.
CALL TO ACTION: Write down your choice and set a deadline to complete your task within two-weeks. Share your success with someone close to you, work as a team with your spouse if applicable. 

GUEST BLOGGER: ELIZABETH  DAVIS

Money is a necessary part of each of our lives. A great deal of time and energy goes to earning it, budgeting it, stressing over it, spending it, and hopefully some time managing it.  One day last fall I attended a conference about relationships and during the course of the conference met a lovely woman, Syble Solomon, who was promoting a Money Habitudes card game. This intrigued me so I asked to learn more.
We had an enjoyable conversation and I learned that each of us have our own money habits and attitudes that determine our money decisions.  The Money Habitudes card game is a simple activity that helps individuals determine what money means to them. Does it represent security, status, selflessness, spontaneity, planning, etc.? It was an enlightening activity that I enjoyed so much, I purchased several decks of her cards and took them to a family reunion for my siblings and their spouses to play.
It was interesting to observe the light bulbs that went on...

​At a visit to a doctor for an annual physical checkup, you may be examined for things like blood pressure, heart rate, weight, etc. (Web MD). When “examining” our own financial health, things we may evaluate our savings rate, budget method, or current debt burden.