America Saves Week! Get Saving!!

Hi, kids!

Sorry I was gone for a few days. I'm working like a madwoman trying to save up money for my wisdom teeth surgery. Speaking of saving, did you know it's America Saves week??

Here's a description from their helpful and quite comprehensive media kit:

"America Saves Week February 25 – March 2, 2013 is chance for individuals to assess their own saving status and take financial action. Studies reveal that having a savings plan with specific goals can have beneficial financial effects, even for lower-income families."

Being that I'm quite the bumbler with money, and I needed to take a class to understand even the basics of personal finance (there's no shame in it!), I'm very keen on everyone being educated about managing their own money. It took until I was in my mid thirties (and drowning in debt) to realize that I could take control of the situation simply with a little planning and sacrifice. And while I honestly have a lot more work to do, I'd like to encourage you to use the resources available to you to find your own way when it comes to money and savings.

America Saves gives some pointers and tools. Click HERE to jump over to the America Saves Week website.

1. Use your library! Your library is full of books on persona finance of all levels and interests. I've found books by Dave Ramsey helpful. Also a classic called Your Money or Your Life. You'll find that with most financial books that the content is largely common sense. But don't let that stop you from engaging with the book and doing some of what it recommends. As with most common sense things, we need reminders again and again. And that's ok. Whatever it takes to make the habits and info stick.

2. Use your local university extension. I believe that university extension services are some of the best, least utilized resources local communities have. Cool thing about the internet, though, is that you can use the resources from extensions all around the country. University extension bureaus teach things like home agriculture, financial literacy, home economics, community health and other useful things.

Here are just a few examples of extension websites with home economics/financial literacy resources:

University of Illinois Extension, Home & Family

Purdue University, Strong Families links 

University of Tennessee, Family & Consumer Sciences links 

I encourage you to do a search and see what resources your local university extension has to offer.

Get saving!!