If you were looking for another nudge to pull your credit report and help protect yourself against fraud and identity theft, we’ve got just the thing. There’s been LOTS of talk in recent news about data breaches, cyber security, social security numbers stolen, identity theft, fraud, scams, credit monitoring services, credit reports, credit scores, etc. Here’s a Readers Digest version: 

Hey, hey Utah Money Moms! Liz here! I wanted to tell you about one of the books listed on the Utah Money Moms Resource Page, The Automatic Millionaire. I first read this book as a freshman at Utah State and was surprised at how much I liked it! I recently reread the book and wanted to share with you 3 reasons why it’s a good option for anyone looking for a financial boost.

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. 

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. 

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: