Alicia Nelson-Bell, Empowering Financial Wellness Program Coordinator

I’m sure that over the course of the last year we have all seen that our grocery money doesn’t buy us as much as it used to. Because of this, it is even more important to be strategic in how we use our funds at the grocery store so we can meet our family’s needs without breaking the budget. Grocery budgets are a variable expense and with prices going up and up on many items at the store, let me share a simple tip that thousands of other people have found successful to save money on the food you buy.   

Alicia Nelson-Bell, Empowering Financial Wellness Program Coordinator

Are rising prices bringing your anxiety and fears up with them? Are you experiencing a sense of scarcity and uncertainty about your finances? These feelings can cause people to panic-buy. Panic buying is essentially buying irrational or excessive amounts of goods. People trying to cope with stress and anxiety want to feel like they are in control of something amidst the many things they can’t control. Making household preparations is totally rational and is highly recommended. Anxiously buying in excess, out of a fear, with no plan can really wreak havoc on your budget. Let’s take a look at what causes panic buying and some solutions to combat it. 

Andrea Schmutz, USU Extension Faculty

Last year, in a post titled “Dr. Seuss and his Delightful Discourses,” I encouraged readers to use Dr. Seuss books as thought provoking motivators or reminders in their efforts to apply financial best practices throughout 2021. To celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday this month, I’ve expounded on a few more of my favorite whimsical, entertaining stories and their relationships to our personal paths to financial wellness.
 
Dr. Seuss had a gift: he reimagined everyday experiences - like reading, going to sleep, and doing chores - to make them extraordinary. In honor of the good doctor’s birthday, let’s use his writings to help reimagine the everyday world of finance and infuse a much avoided topic with fun reminders and clever connections.

Andrea Schmutz, USU Extension Assistant Professor

Has anyone ever told you to “beware of the camel’s nose”? Just the other day, as I was telling my teenage son about a situation and how I was planning to handle it, he looked at me and said very seriously, “Be careful mom, you’re letting the camel’s nose in the tent. Are you sure you want to do that?” His comment caught me off guard but his wisdom caused me to rethink my plan. He was referencing one of my favorite fables with a universal message that can be applied to almost any situation. As I pondered his response, I suddenly realized that the camel provides a great analogy for budgeting and spending habits, especially as we enter the winter holiday season. 
In case you are not familiar with the story about the camel in the tent, or if it’s been a while since you’ve heard it, let me share it with you.  As with any fable, there are many versions, but this one is my favorite:

Jerevie Canlas, Ph.D., CFLE

​Whenever we teach a budgeting class, we always emphasize that there are five pieces to every budget. Every budget should have the following elements: Income, Expenses, Expense Limits, Tracking/Monitoring, and Review and Evaluate. When people budget, the first four elements are relatively straight forward. The last element, however, might be what makes or breaks your budgeting strategy.