​Needs vs wants.  Who hasn’t fought that budgeting battle?  Tough as the struggle may be, it is a fight that can be won.  The reasoning is pretty simple, right?  A need is something that is essential for you to be able to live and work.  Needs include housing, transportation and food.  Wants, on the other hand, are expenses that help you live life more comfortably. Wants include entertainment, travel, and toys.  It seems straightforward enough, but what about those gray areas where needs and wants overlap?  On occasion, our wants may seem so powerful that we can’t imagine living without them. Consider an item such as housing. Shelter is a need; however, it may become a want if you’re paying more for rent or a mortgage in order to live in a larger home or upscale area.  And clothing? That, too, is a need, but if you buy expensive brands or are buying clothing just because it’s on sale, it can quickly fall into the want category.  There are several strategies to help you win the needs vs wants battle.

Each year millions of Americans participate in National Make a Difference Day, a day set aside for volunteers to participate in big or small acts of community service.  While this day comes every year on the fourth Saturday of October, it doesn’t need to be the only day for volunteering your time.
Volunteering is beneficial for many reasons ranging from increased good health to emotional wellbeing.  Sandra Quadros Bowles, on her Money Wisdom blog, suggests that volunteering can also provide some significant financial benefits.

Guest Blogger: Tasha Killian, USU Extension Assistant Professor

​I love decorating! There is something exciting to me about making your place your own through décor. Buying new pieces, creating different styles, and finding things that fit into what you want in your space is a lot of fun, but can also end up costing a lot. If you are like me and you don’t have a lot of extra cash to purchase some of the items you’d like, it can be a challenge to find things to fit your style and your budget. Luckily, there is a solution, so you do not have to live with bare walls! That solution is doing it yourself. 

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: KRISTILYN WILKINSON, USU ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR

​Happy National Selfie Day! Yes, this is a real thing, and yes, we want to celebrate it!  A quick google search will let you know that on this day you should take a selfie and post it on social media to celebrate you. Doesn’t celebrating you give you the perfect excuse to treat yourself? Yes, yes it does! But treat yourself to what? “Treat yourself” is a common phrase we hear in society today, and it is usually associated with the idea that you spend some time treating yourself to life’s little luxuries. You know the ones I’m talking about, a pedicure, a night out with the girls (before Covid-19), etc. Of course, the next question that naturally follows is where do I get the money to treat myself on these little luxuries?

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: TASHA KILLIAN, USU EXTENSION ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Choosing to pursue higher education can be a tough decision. It can be an even harder decision when you look at all the costs. In light of National Higher Education Day, high school graduations, and college freshmen getting ready for their first semester,  I thought I would share with you a few tips that got me through some of my higher education days, when money gets a little tight. If you, one of your children, a niece, nephew, or someone else you know is going to be starting their higher education experience in the next little bit, be sure to pass these tips on to them.