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Personal and Family Money Management
The finance resources you will find here are unbiased, researched, and reliable. Experts are available in your county, as well as expert advice which is published at our "UtahMoney Moms" website and social media. We offer online courses, such as the online home buyer education course, which serves people throughout the United States, Guam and the Virgin Islands, and is approved by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the PowerPay MoneyMaster Course, which is designed to teach real-life money smarts regarding your personal financial vision, money personality, tracking expenses, budgeting, managing debt, understanding credit, and saving money. We also provide the tools to help manage your finances for free; PowerPay is a nationally recognized debt reduction tool.
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Best of State 2022: USU Extension Personal Finance Education Program
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Our answers to your #1 money questions
Do I Need an Estate Plan?
The reality of estate planning is that when you own anything of value, you have an estate and it’s important to have a plan in place for it after you pass on.
How can I Adjust my Spending Plan for Rising Prices?
Did you know that the average American family spends $460 more per month to maintain the same standard of living as they did before high inflation? This increase may be even higher in Utah, where inflation is well above the national average.
Anxiety Rising as Quick as Inflation? Here are 5 Tips and Resources to Combat Inflation
With inflation at an all-time high, we are all feeling the effects of rising prices all around us. Our extension finance experts have come together and compiled our top 5 tips and resources to help you combat the rising prices.
Stop Impulse Buying Dead in its Tracks
According to a survey by slickdeals.net the average U.S. consumer spends about $5,400 a year ($450/month) on unplanned purchases! Think about ways even a portion of that money can help you reach your financial goals.
Financing Your Child's Education
Some households feel they don’t have the financial capability to pay for college expenses for their children. This may be especially true if there are multiple children in your family or if you live on a limited income.
How to Budget the Right Amount for Expenses
If you are wondering how to determine appropriate amounts to budget for food, gas, bills, and savings, use these steps to guide you.
What You Need to Know about Life Insurance
There are so many questions about life insurance. When do you need it? How much do you need? Where should you purchase it? Read here for answers.
How to Save for Short Term Goals
There are several options to consider for short-term investing, but be sure to weigh the pros and cons for each option.
Tips for Sticking to Your Financial Goals and Budget
It takes time and effort to stick to financial goals, but the key is not to give up. Read our tips for staying motivated and on track with your financial goals and budget.
Discussing Finances as Newlyweds
A strong foundation of communication can prevent the negative consequences of financial disagreements. How can newlyweds establish this strong foundation from the beginning?
Budgeting Tips for any Holiday
Many people feel pressured to overspend during the holidays. Here are some key questions to ask yourself and some expert tips to implement.
Is it a Good Idea to use Credit Card Rewards?
When used responsibly, these rewards can be a great tool to reduce costs on some of your big-ticket items. For example, if you like to travel, using a credit card for your regular every day purchases can save you money on an airplane ticket later on.
Navigating Various Types of Retirement Accounts
Saving for retirement can feel a little less intimidating when you are informed and have clear savings goals. Understanding different types of retirement plans and how they best align best with your savings and retirement goals will set you up for having
Money Tips for the Holiday Season
It’s easy to justify holiday spending as being generous, but without planning a realistic budget, holiday spending can quickly make ringing in the New Year financially stressful. The key to reducing stress is planning ahead
Family Budgeting with an Irregular Income
Budgeting with a varying income is possible! Continue reading for some basics that can help make it a little more manageable.
Programs & Courses
Finance Research Articles
Expert Tips to Avoid Charity Fraud and Give Wisely
While plenty of people already have a preferred charity they donate to, sometimes a special cause, natural disaster, widespread disease, social movement, or timely situation creates an additional desire to donate. Unfortunately, scam artists are always at
Four Key Considerations When Choosing a Financial Professional
If you’re considering working with a financial professional who can help you evaluate your personal finances and recommend strategies to set and achieve long-term financial goals, there are some things to understand first. This fact sheet covers four impo
Preparing for Homeownership: Four Steps to Get You Started
Buying a home is a financial transaction which has pretty big personal implications. Most home buyers find the process overwhelming, though it doesn’t need to be.
The Anatomy of a Credit Report
A credit report is similar to a report card--it shows your past credit performance so that lenders/companies can predict how well your behavior will be in the future. It is not the same as a credit score, which is comparable to a grade point average (GPA)
Understanding and Sharing your Emotional History with Money
Individuals go into marriage with values, attitudes, and behaviors that are unique to them based upon their life experiences. These life experiences can come from differing ethnic cultures, religious cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, and choices that h
What Is Financial Health?
How do you find that feeling of financial control that leads to financial freedom? Working on your financial health.
Your Financial Wellness Wheel
How do we measure financial health? Completing a Financial Wellness Wheel can give you a baseline for your current financial health and give you steps to take to improve or maintain. This fact sheet will explain each category on the Financial Wellness Whe
Emergency Cash Stash
Having a stash of emergency cash in your home is an important part of emergency preparedness. Scenarios such as a natural disaster, a national catastrophe, or a real-life family emergency will make you appreciate those dollars you have safely tucked away.