​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. 

AMANDA CHRISTENSEN

On Friday's during the month of April we're posting all about financial fitness. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), combined with a review of research and consultation with leading experts, found that financial well-being includes the following four elements:

1. Having control over day-to-day, month-to-month finances.
2. Having the capacity to absorb a financial shock.
3. Being on track to meet your financial goals.
4. Having the financial freedom to make the choices that allow you to enjoy life.

Another way to think about it: Financial well-being is the feeling of having financial security and financial freedom of choice, in the present and when considering the future.
So what does financial health look like at each age?

​Here are some suggested financial milestones for each decade: