By Bryn Ramjoue’, Utah my529 Marketing Director

​You’re paying for braces, sports and dance lessons. With as much as it costs to raise a child today, putting money away for college may be the last thing on a parent’s mind. 
my529, Utah’s official 529 educational savings plan, may be able to help. 

Guys, it is WRESTLING SEASON at our house!! Wrestling was always big in my high school and with my family, and now with a son that loves it, the tradition continues. Like many sports or extracurriculars, wrestling has some cost associated with it: Registration / Team Fees, Uniform and Gear Costs, Tournament Registration, Travel, Concessions or food (This one is a HUGE cost!), Team Swag for the participant and the family support, Fundraisers (every parents favorite). These add up fast and so do the collection of team t-shirts too! (TIP: For a cheap and fun way to save your t-shirts here is a step by step guide for a t-shirt quilt.) As a parent, I can see the benefits of any kind of extracurriculars for my kids, physically, socially, and emotionally and make sure to plan for them each month within our budget. Researching how to save on this cost, I have come up with some tips to get you through the season: 

Guest Contributor: Andrea Schmutz, USU Extension Assistant Professor

Amid the current COVID craziness, there are a few things that remain certain: summer is winding down, our kids continue to grow up, and they’re probably going to need some new clothes for school. As the start of school rapidly approaches, are you asking yourself, “Do I really have to spend a lot of money on clothes when they are just going to outgrow them before they wear them out?” Guess what? You don’t! Here are five simple ways to clothe your kids without breaking the budget:

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: ANDREA SCHMUTZ, USU EXTENSION ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

​I recently saw a quote on a sign that said, “Gardening: it’s cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes.” I chuckled to myself and pondered the implied message. With spring in full force, it’s a perfect time to consider growing a garden and reaping the following SIX benefits:

GUEST BLOGGER: CHRISTINA PAY, USU EXTENSION ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

​May is the month for remembering those who nurture, with a day set aside that singles out and honors them. Showing appreciation to your childcare provider is one of those days. And, really, shouldn’t there be a day set aside for the person, who other than your family, may be the most important person in your child’s life?  Much of the time what they do goes unnoticed.  You can change that unnoticed status to noticed and it doesn’t have to break the bank.  Here are five ideas that will get you thinking about the best way you can honor your child’s care provider this month.