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. 

GUEST BLOGGER: LIZ VANCE

Budgeting is one of the first things we talk about in the world of finance. But for most people it is not a pleasant or easy task. Luckily, we live in the day and age of technology! Technology is a great way to make budgeting easier and more enjoyable (or for some people maybe just more bearable). I have definitely heard a lot about the budgeting website, Mint, but I’d never tried it. So for today’s post I am going to let you know my first impressions after using Mint for the first time.

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.