My Wise Steward

February RS Message

2012-01-30T15:16:00.003-07:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As we celebrate Valentine's Day this month may we commit ourselves to increase our love each day of the year. We would like to share with you:

Twenty Ways to Make a Good Marriage Great

By Richard W. Linford, Ensign, Dec 1983, 64

1. Night and Morning Prayer . . . to say thanks, to ask for help in your marriage and family, to worship together.

2. A Weekly Planning Meeting . . . to discuss the calendar, talk over needs and problems, decide priorities and next steps. (Write decisions in a journal, including goals and discussion topics, and reasons for each.)

3. A Daily Phone Call or Personal Conversation . . . to say . . . I love you, . . . to touch base, to discuss the day, to show you care.

4. A Weekly Date . . . to a favorite park, a concert, the library, the gym; or staying home for a candlelight dinner, a game, or a mutual hobby.

5. Patience Regardless . . . of missed meals, tardiness, forgotten favors, a thoughtless remark, impatience.

6. Daily Service . . . helping with house or yard work, mending a piece of clothing, taking a turn with the sick baby, fixing a favorite meal. (Write it down. Do it!)

7. A Budget . . . to tie down income and expenses, help set financial goals, and give you control over your finances.

8. Listening . . . not only to what is said, but also to what is meant.

9. Regular Attendance . . . at church . . . and where possible . . . the temple.

10. Daily Scripture Reading . . . to learn the gospel, to receive inspiration for yourself and your marriage, to become more like Jesus.

11. Working Together . . . caring for a garden, painting a bedroom, washing the car, scrubbing floors, building a piece of furniture, writing a poem together, team teaching a class.

12. Forgiving Each Other . . . always learning from each other, trying a different way, being the first to make peace.

13. Courtesies . . . like saying please and thank you, not interrupting or belittling, not doing all the talking, continuing the niceties of courtship.

14. Soft and Kind Words . . . of tenderness, compassion, empathy.

15. Learning Together by . . . reading to each other, discussing ideas, taking a class.

16. Respecting . . . opinions, ideas, privacy.

17. Supporting Your Spouse’s . . . Church callings and righteous goals.

18. Caring for Your Spouse’s Family by . . . enjoying their company, praying for them, serving them, overlooking differences.

19. Occasional Gifts . . . such as a note, a needed item . . . but mostly gifts of time and self.

20. Loving with All Your Heart. “Thou shalt love thy wife [thy husband] with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her [him] and none else.” (D&C 42:22.)

February Wise Stewards Finance Tip

2012-01-30T15:14:00.001-07:00

February has come and the Christmas decorations are packed away (hopefully). You might still be keeping some of your New Year’s resolutions, and you may already be eyeing a certain box of chocolate for that special someone, but do you have your taxes done? Taxes aren’t due until April 17^th, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get them done early. If you do your taxes yourself there are some great ways to save time and money. Before you go out and buy an at home tax program for your computer, check out the IRS website. Go to www.irs.gov and click on the “Free File” icon. If you made under $57,000 last year you can use software programs by some of the same companies that sell them in the store, for free. E-filing is free for anyone regardless of how much you made, and you can find online tax forms at the IRS website as well.

Now that I’ve put a bug in your ear about taxes, let’s get down to the really important stuff. Have you picked out a Valentine’s present yet? How about a plan to get out of debt?! It may not be easy to gift wrap, but it could have a more positive effect on a relationship than a stuffed toy or some perfume. Whether you’re married or single, having a solid financial plan is beneficial to anyone. Being in good financial standing when you’re single is tough, but doable. Staying in good financial standing after you’re married should be just as important a goal. In Elder Marvin J. Ashton’s Guide to Family Finances, Elder Ashton quotes, “The American Bar Association has indicated that 89 percent of all divorces can be traced to quarrels and accusations over money. Others have estimated that 75 percent of all divorces result from clashes over finances.” Having good communication and positive goals is essential to a good marriage, but this is especially true regarding your family finances. So if you are married and a financial plan isn’t a romantic enough Valentine’s present for you to give, go ahead & wrap it up with some candy hearts. I bet they’ll both be appreciated.

February Newsletter Announcements

2012-01-30T15:04:00.002-07:00

Mark your calendars for Stake Conference, February 4^th & 5^th. Special meeting on Sunday morning for youth at 8am. Make sure to come early Sunday morning for the choir prelude at 9:30am. It will be a spiritual treat!

YW News – New Beginnings will be Wed, February 1st in the Relief Society room. Young Women (and girls who turn 12 this year) and their parents are encouraged to attend. Sunday dress requested.

Valentine Adult Dinner – Saturday, Feb. 18^th at 6:00pm. Nursery will be provided by the youth.

Choir practice will be Sunday mornings, 11am at Sister Beck’s home starting Feb 19^th.

January Relief Society Message

2012-01-14T17:50:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year!

We are excited to spend some time discussing The Relief Society Declaration this year. We will be discussing different aspects of it each month in the first Sunday lessons. Last Sunday Sister Hunsaker started us off by teaching about seeking spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost. In February, the topic will be "Finding nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood". We hope that we will all be strengthened as we learn together.

The Relief Society Declaration

We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction. As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar. We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:

v Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study.

v Seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

v Dedicate ourselves to strengthening marriages, families, and homes.

v Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood.

v Delight in service and good works.

v Love life and learning.

v Stand for truth and righteousness.

v Sustain the priesthood as the authority of God on earth.

v Rejoice in the blessings of the temple, understand our divine destiny, and strive for exaltation.

January Finance Tip

2012-01-14T17:48:00.001-07:00

Wise Stewards Finance Tip

In his April 2004 Conference talk entitled Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin outlines five key steps to financial freedom. This month we’ll look at:

· First, pay your tithing.

· Second, spend less than you earn.

· Third, learn to save.

· Fourth, honor your financial obligations.

· Fifth, teach your children to follow your example.

It’s a new year! What a great time to get a new start! As you work on your resolutions for this year, don’t leave the kids out. Share your goals with the family. You’ll be more likely to achieve them if someone else is watching. Better yet, make family goals this year. Make it a goal to save up for something fun or important and let each family member do their part to help. Little ones can save their pennies too and feel like they’ve done something very important.

Discuss tithing in family home evening and share your progress with each other every week. This is a perfect opportunity to share your testimony of the importance of tithing and the blessings received from Heavenly Father from paying it. Your example is the most important thing you can show your kids to help them develop healthy habits. This can include healthy eating and exercise, scripture reading and prayer, and yes - money habits. Being open and honest about the rewards and consequences of your money habits and developing good habits will bless your children’s lives for years to come. If you don’t have children or they’ve grown and gone, you can share goals with others around you. We can all benefit from a good example and we can all use encouragement from each other.

January Newsletter Announcements

2012-01-14T17:30:00.009-07:00

Relief Society Super Saturday - Jan. 28 from 10am to 1pm. Crafts, quilting, and food. Come and enjoy a good time together!!!

Mark your calendars for Stake Conference, February 4th & 5th. Priesthood Leadership is Saturday, 4pm and the adult session follows at 7pm. Sunday morning’s session is at 10am with a choir prelude at 9:30am. Come early for a great seat and enjoy the spiritual uplift from listening to the choir.

2012 Primary Theme – “Choose the Right”

2012 Mutual Theme - “Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations” (D&C 115:5)

The youth had two combined activities in December. They went to the Salt Lake Temple to see the lights and also helped with the ward’s Sub for Santa. Both activities helped the youth reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.
YM - Basketball season has started and games are Saturday mornings. Practices are following youth night until 9:15. See Bro. Thomas for more info.

Congratulations to the Allreds on the birth of their baby girl last month.

December Newsletter Relief Society Message

2011-12-05T16:45:00.003-07:00

December brings to an end our discussion of:

SMALL & SIMPLE

Simplify
Miracles
Atonement
Laugh
Love

Service
Improve
Meek
Peace
Lift
Endure

It seems appropriate that we should end this study with ENDURE. Pres. Uchtdorf has said that: “Enduring to the end is a process filling every minute of our life, every hour, every day, from sunrise to sunrise.” (Ensign, Nov. 2007 p. 20)

Elder Dale G. Renlund, of the Seventy, stated that “to endure to the end, we need to be eager to please God and worship Him with fervor and passion. This means that we maintain faith in Jesus Christ by praying, studying the scriptures, partaking of the sacrament each week, and having the Holy Ghost as our constant companion. We need to actively help and serve others and share the gospel with them. . . . In our homes we need to talk of, rejoice in, and preach of Christ so that our children - and we ourselves – will desire to apply the Atonement in our lives.” (Ensign, Nov. 2009 p. 99)

Pres. Uchtdorf taught us that “enduring to the end is exalting and glorious, not grim and gloomy. This is a joyful religion, one of hope, strength, and deliverance… By doing our best to endure to the end, a beautiful refinement will come into our lives. The blessings that come to us from enduring to the end in this life are real and very significant, and for the life to come they are beyond our comprehension.” (Ensign, Nov. 2007 pp. 20, 21)

May we remember that our lives are the accumulation of many small and simple things – the choices that we make each day. May we choose wisely and follow the Savior. “And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” (D & C 14:7)

Thank you to all who supported the Relief Society Cantata last month: the food committee, singers, pianists, readers, and especially Sister Savage. It started the holiday season on a spiritual note for all who attended.

December Newsletter Announcements

2011-12-05T16:40:00.002-07:00

Ward Christmas Brunch
Sat, Dec 17^th, 10am - noon
Breakfast and fun activities! Invite your neighbors.

2012 Schedule

Sunday Meetings – 1 – 4 pm
Youth Night – Wednesdays
Relief Society Evenings – 2nd Tuesday
Cub Scout Pack Meeting – 4th Tuesday

Young Men News – In November, the scouts camped out under a full moon in Cedar Fort: the perfect backdrop for Capture the Flag. Saturday they left early to beat the snow storm and had breakfast in the Savage garage. For their combined activity, they gathered food for Christmas. Thanks to the youth for braving the cold and to each of you for donating. They also visited the downtown Family History Center for a scavenger hunt set up by the missionaries where they worked on the Genealogy Merit Badge and learned what resources are available to help find our ancestors.

Young Women News – MaKayla is now part of Color Guard at Kearns High. The YW did an excellent job sharing their spiritual growth at YW in Excellence. They recited The Living Christ, which they worked on memorizing this year. Emily received her Honor Bee award. Sister Bowers received her Young Womanhood medallion.

December Newsletter Finance Tip

2011-12-05T16:38:00.000-07:00

In his April 2004 Conference talk entitled Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin outlines five key steps to financial freedom. This month we’ll look at:

· First, pay your tithing.

· Second, spend less than you earn.

· Third, learn to save.

· Fourth, honor your financial obligations.

· Fifth, teach your children to follow your example.

Are you honest in your dealings with your fellow men? You probably recognize this as one of the questions from your temple recommend interview. As a child it’s an easy question to answer. As we get older and are influenced by the ways of the world it becomes a matter of integrity. It’s no longer just a lack of deceit, but turns into a matter of doing what’s right even though no one is watching.

From an economical standpoint we understand that failing to honor one’s financial obligations has a ripple effect that spreads across the board to many people. Many companies expect and write off losses, or translate them into higher fees for others. Its common sense to think that paying back your obligations helps to keep commerce running efficiently. It also goes without saying that defaulting on an obligation spreads the consequences of one person’s poor choices or mistakes onto others. With so many companies claiming to have the “easy way out” of debt, we may forget that consequences are still there, not the least of which can be a loss of integrity. Paying back a debt can be a difficult ordeal, but even a child learns quickly not to make the same mistake when the consequences are unpleasant.

If we remain stalwart as Job (Job 27:5 till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.) we will have peace of mind and be able to answer the question of honesty without question.

November Newsletter Relief Society Message

2011-11-12T17:27:00.005-07:00

Relief Society Message

SMALL & SIMPLE

Simplify
Miracles
Atonement
Laugh
Love

Service
Improve
Meek
Peace
Lift

The new word for the month of November is LIFT. The word “lift” has 29 definitions. There are 5,892 results on lds.org. Happy learning!

“Lift up your heart! Lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!” (“Rejoice, the Lord Is King!” Hymns, no. 66).

Please never forget that the “why” of the gospel of Jesus Christ will inspire and uplift you. [Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Oct. 2011 General Relief Society Talk]

“My Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross . . . , that I might draw all men unto me.” [3 Nephi 27:14]

As was stated in the Sep. 2011 General Relief Society Meeting by Pres. Julie Beck, "One of the Lord’s purposes in organizing the sisters into a discipleship was to provide relief that would lift them above “all that hinders the joy and progress of woman.” May we "lift" one another each day and find the joy that is promised to us.”

November Newsletter Announcements

2011-11-12T17:23:00.004-07:00

Relief Society Dinner and Program –
Thur Nov 17^th, 6:30pm - “Jesus Once of Humble Birth”

Men are also invited. Please wear Sunday dress as part of the evening will take place in the chapel. The young single adult ward is providing babysitting in the nursery.

Ward Additions - Congratulations to the Rowes for the addition of their baby girl and Sister Gasu for the birth of her baby boy. And a big welcome to the Dejolie siblings who were recently baptized.

Young Men News - Last month Sis. Vivar taught the Communications Merit Badge and Bro. Matthews taught the Truck Transportation MB. Thank you to them both for sharing their time and expertise. The Scout troop had a camp out at the Lee Kay Shooting range for the district Jamboree on the Air where they talked to people in NV, Provo, NY and TX. The scouts worked on the Radio MB and learned the importance of radio communication in case of an emergency or disaster. The youth finished off the month by carving pumpkins!

Young Women News – Young Women in Excellence will be at 7pm on Nov 29^th. All YW and parents are especially invited to attend, but anyone is welcome to come learn what our YW have accomplished this year. Sunday dress, please. By mid-Nov we'll have three new Laurels and two new Beehives.

Building Scheduling – Contact Sister Benedict to avoid double booking the building.

Food Drive – The youth will be picking up non-perishable food items on Nov 15^th for Sub for Santa. Please leave donated items on your doorstep that evening.

Contact Bro. Christensen if you would like to feed the missionaries during the last week of November.

November Newsletter Finance Tip

2011-11-12T17:22:00.001-07:00

In his April 2004 Conference talk entitled Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin outlines five key steps to financial freedom. This month we’ll look at:

· First, pay your tithing.

· Second, spend less than you earn.

· Third, learn to save.

· Fourth, honor your financial obligations.

· Fifth, teach your children to follow your example.

Last month we set the goal to spend less than we earn. Here is where we prove ourselves. Not only will we reign in our desire to overspend this holiday season, were going to “learn” to save. Anyone can and should learn to save. Whether you are collecting loose change for your rainy day fund, or maximizing company fund matching for future retirement, saving is a learned behavior. One tip to help you succeed with saving is to have an emergency safety net. This should be kept full at all times. You decide on the amount, but $1000 is a good goal. After that, start saving for specific things. If you know your water heater is on its last leg, start saving for that. The safety net comes in handy when little Billy falls through the picture window in the living room and breaks his arm. You’ll be grateful for the safety net you had in place when the water heater does goes out a week later. This example also shows how saving can help you stay true to step #2, spending less than you earn. Make it a goal this holiday season to spend a little less and save a little more. After all, a Christ centered holiday season doesn’t have to cost a dime.

November Newsletter Thought

2011-11-12T17:21:00.000-07:00

If you can't think of anything else you can say, "I know that God lives." That's the greatest testimony in the world. And you don't need to have a thousand reasons for doing it.

—Spencer W. Kimball

October Newsletter Updates

2011-10-04T18:46:00.012-06:00

Relief Society Message –

The new word for the month of October is PEACE. President Uchtdorf said in the General Relief Society Meeting, Sep. 24^th, "My dear sisters, the gospel of Jesus Christ is not an obligation; it is a pathway, marked by our loving Father in Heaven, leading to happiness and peace in this life and glory and inexpressible fulfillment in the life to come. The gospel is a light that penetrates mortality and illuminates the way before us." Sis. Barbara Thompson's talk was titled: "Keeping Covenants Brings Joy and Peace". May you do those things that will bring peace to you in this life.

SMALL & SIMPLE

Simplify
Miracles
Atonement
Laugh
Love

Service
Improve
Meek
Peace

Put on your calendars Thursday, Nov. 17th - Special Ward Relief Society Meeting. Dinner at 6 pm and "Jesus Once of Humble Birth" cantata to follow. (Let us know if you want to participate in it... we need all voices.)

We want all the sisters to keep track of each temple ordinance completed for a display at the RS Birthday Party in March. It would also be nice to have pictures of the sisters outside the temple, so start taking them!

For the RS Christmas brunch, we'd like to have a slideshow of family activities as well as ward activities. Please email pictures to: funeralpotatoes@comcast.net or burn them to a disc and give to Pres. Hunsaker.

Young Women News – We were sad to lose Sister Bowers but are excited to get to know our new president, Pres. LaReaux.  Halye and MaKayla both turned 16 recently.  We're excited to have a bigger Laurel class.Primary News – The Primary Sacrament Program is October 16th! Please help your kids practice their songs and parts so they will be ready. Ward Changes and Additions Congratulations to the Gladdens (baby boy) and the Clarks (baby girl)  Pres. Bowers was released and Pres. LaReaux is now YW President.  Pres. Clark was released and Pres. Terry is now Primary President.

October Newsletter Finance Tip

2011-10-04T18:45:00.001-06:00

In his April 2004 Conference talk entitled Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin outlines five key steps to financial freedom. This month we’ll look at:

· First, pay your tithing.

· Second, spend less than you earn.

· Third, learn to save.

· Fourth, honor your financial obligations.

· Fifth, teach your children to follow your example.

Spending less than you earn may sound like a no brainer, but in order to do that you have to have a budget. Knowing what comes in and goes out is crucial. Throw in the fact that almost anything can be bought on credit and things get a little tricky. When you buy anything on credit, you are spending money that is not there. Some people think they can keep spending as long as they can make the payments. This is disaster in the making. Taking advantage of “introductory offers” or “no interest until 20xx” may sound like good deals at the time, but you never know what the future holds. Church leaders have pleaded with us to stay out of debt for good reason. Many honest people have found themselves in financial trouble because of unforeseen shortfalls, medical emergencies, and a myriad of other variables. Debt puts us into bondage and can be an unforgiving taskmaster. Whenever possible the wisest move is this: if the money isn’t there, don’t spend it!

October Newsletter Scripture

2011-10-04T18:43:00.000-06:00

Conference

What a blessing to have both General Conference and Regional Conference this month. We have a wonderful opportunity to hear what the Lord wants us to learn, directly from his chosen servants. Let’s make it a month of spiritual feasting as we prayerfully prepare for and listen to the Lord’s council.

“What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken . . . whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” -- D&C 1:38

September Newsletter Updates

2011-10-04T16:26:00.001-06:00

Relief Society Message –

The new word for the month of September is “MEEK” to go along with our S.M.A.L.L. & S.I.M.P.L.E theme. Meek= “humbly patient”. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

Pres. Uchtdorf said in April 2010 Conference, “When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched, reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love. And He always talked with, never down to, people. He loved the humble and the meek and walked among them, ministering to them and offering hope and salvation. That is what He did during His mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living among us today; and it is what we should be doing as His disciples and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” May we be humble and meek followers of Jesus Christ.

--“Share the Harvest”—please bring to church any vegetables or fruit that you would like to share with others. Put it in a basket in the Relief Society room. We will share starts and seeds in the Fall.

--We had a grand time at Sis. Gartin’s backyard for our annual potluck dinner. Thank you to all who helped with it. It was fun to get to know each other better. Find out who has had five different hair colors and has never dyed her hair!

--We are looking forward to more babies being born! Our ward has been growing with new ones lately--what a blessing!

Primary News – The Primary Sacrament Program is next month! Please help your kids practice their songs & parts so they’ll be ready!

Young Women News – Leanna is volunteering at an animal shelter to complete her Knowledge project. The YW had fun visiting Wheeler Farm, eating cow pies, and learning about "Don't be a Stupid Cow." (See Mervyn Arnold's talk from Oct 2010 Conference) Good luck to all of our YW starting a new school year!

Young Men News - It has been an eventful month in the Young Mens organization. On August 10th-13^th, The 14-15 year old Varsity Scouts attended the Varsity Big Event at East Fork of the Bear, near the Wyoming Border. There the Young Men experienced an array of events. Each night at our campsite, we had our own little campfire program where we issued each young man their own journal notebook and gave them the challenge to write something in it daily that would promote faith and good works to those who read. We also had each present read or tell a story of one of their ancestors that was a faith promoting experience and to remind us all that we are creating our own scriptures for others to learn by.

September Newsletter Finance Tip

2011-10-04T16:24:00.001-06:00

In his April 2004 Conference talk entitled Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin outlines five key steps to financial freedom. This month we’ll look at:

· First, pay your tithing.

· Second, spend less than you earn.

· Third, learn to save.

· Fourth, honor your financial obligations.

· Fifth, teach your children to follow your example.

Tithing can be one of the hardest commandments to obey, but has so many rewards. Besides the skills of organization and self control, the Lord has promised blessings to those who pay their tithing. Most of us know we should pay our tithing, but don’t always stop to think why. In Earl C. Tingey’s April 2002 Conf. talk “The Law of Tithing” he states: In this dispensation, the Lord has established the law of tithing as the law of revenue of His Church. Without it, we could not carry out the eternal purposes of the Lord. It is also a law by which we show our loyalty to the Lord and prove ourselves worthy for privileges, ordinances, and blessings. In D&C 104:14-15 we are reminded that all we have has been given to us from God. When we pay an honest tithe we are giving back a tenth of what we have already been blessed with. When we pay an accurate tithe we are aware of our assets and can plan our finances accordingly. This is undoubtedly an important first step toward financial freedom!

August Newsletter Scripture

2011-08-08T16:20:00.001-06:00

"Consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual."

—Mosiah 2:41

August Newsletter Updates

2011-08-08T16:12:00.003-06:00

Relief Society Message –

The new word for the month is "IMPROVE" to go along with our Small and Simple Things theme (Alma 37:6).

Simplify, Miracles, Atonement, Laugh, Love & Service, Improve

There are many areas to improve in: communication, relationships, teaching, marriage, finances, health, self-image, etc. Pick an area that you would like to improve and take the steps to do so.

"If we remember the Savior and all he has done and will do for us, we will improve our actions and thus come closer to him, which keeps us on the road to eternal life." Elder John H. Groberg

"Having high expectations for yourself can be good. They can lead you to improve. But they are not good if they lead you to get down on yourself. While you should do your very best to live gospel standards and repent when you fall short, you shouldn’t feel guilty about making mistakes that aren’t sins. Mistakes are just a part of growth and learning.

Improving is different from feeling like you have to be perfect all the time. No one will achieve perfection in this life. Even the Savior, who was the only sinless person, had to learn and grow during His mortal childhood. Pray for help as you strive to keep the commandments." Sep. 2007 New Era

Congratulations to the Lampers! Baby boy born July 25th, 7 lb. 6 oz, 19" long. And a big thank you to those who helped with our service project in July. We appreciate all of your services to each other!

Primary News – Exciting Birthdays - Andi turns 12. And Leila turns 8 this month! Leila will be baptized on Sep 3rd.

Young Women News – Congratulations to Jennie and Kylee who will be doing color guard this year. Brianna received her ribbon for completing the Divine Nature value. Andi will be joining YW!

Dates

August 17 (Wed) RS Potluck Dinner – 6:30pm at Sis Gartin’s home. Food and activity "Daughters of God". All sisters invited to come and get to know each other better. Nursery will be provided.

August 20 (Sat) Stake 30 Year Reunion – Meet at the new stake pavilion at 8am for the 5K Run or at 8:30am for breakfast. Look forward to a delicious breakfast, bounce house and booths with ward & stake histories. Please invite former stake members to join us.

August 26, 27 (Fri-Sat) Ward Campout – Jordan Pines in Big Cottonwood Canyon - Come for whatever amount of time you can. Potluck dinner will be at 6:30pm and breakfast the next morning at 8am. Call the Sanders for more info.

August Newsletter Finance Tip

2011-08-08T16:09:00.001-06:00

In his April 2004 Conference talk entitled Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin outlines five key steps to financial freedom. Over the next several months we’ll be taking a look at each of these steps in turn and exploring some helpful information to help us conquer our earthly debts. The five steps are these:

· First, pay your tithing.

· Second, spend less than you earn.

· Third, learn to save.

· Fourth, honor your financial obligations.

· Fifth, teach your children to follow your example.

Each of these steps offers great counsel, but I also love that Elder Wirthlin remembered heavenly debts in his talk because our heavenly debts cannot be forgotten. In his closing remarks he stated,

“We have earthly debts and heavenly debts. Let us be wise in dealing with each of them and ever keep in mind the words of the Savior. The scriptures tell us, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” The riches of this world are as dust compared to the riches that await the faithful in the mansions of our Heavenly Father. How foolish is he who spends his days in the pursuit of things that rust and fade away. How wise is he who spends his days in the pursuit of eternal life.”

Upcoming Activities

2011-07-22T17:35:00.006-06:00

Next Saturday, July 30th is a Christmas in July event at the District. Many stores will be giving away 'free' stuff if you bring in a can of food. I'm excited about Chick-Fil-A, Marble Slab, and Red Robin! Check out the website with the above link to see all participating merchants.

Also, August brings the Two Buck Tuesdays at Thanksgiving Point. Farm Country, Museum of Ancient Life and Thanksgiving Point gardens - all $2/person. Now, which one do we choose this year???

Chalk Art Festival

2011-06-17T15:02:00.002-06:00

Sorry I'm so slow about posting this. Chalk Art Festival at the Gateway.

It starts today, but it's best to go on Saturday - more artwork to see and more free stuff!

Children's Book Review

2011-05-16T18:57:00.003-06:00

I just came across a book at the local library titled "Cash, Credit Cards or Checks: A Book About Payment Methods" by Nancy Loewen. The ideal age for this book is probably 8 or older. It's a story of two kids and their dad on a shopping trip to prepare for school. It very clearly explains about the many different ways you can use to purchase items and how they work. It also has a few tips about saving and making wise purchases.

There are other books in the same series that I will be checking out in the future.

Free April Fun

2011-04-18T18:41:00.003-06:00

Utah Fit Family program - free activities on Saturdays - check out the website. Last week was golf lessons at Junior Golf Academy in Draper. Next week is making a planter at Whole Foods in Cottonwood Heights and the end of the month is Reach for Fitness at the Momentum Indoor Climbing Gym.

Baskin Robbins 31cent scoop night - April 27th from 5-10pm

Learn and Earn from Scholastic Books - earn five free books (per household) for having your children fill out activity sheets.

Sunday School and Priesthood/ Relief Society Lesson Schedules

2011-02-10T14:59:00.005-07:00

For your convenience, the Sunday School and Priesthood/ Relief Society lesson schedules are posted on a page that you can link to found above (at the top of the blog page). Now, we have no excuse for not reading our lessons!

Be Diligent, That thou Mayest be a Wise Steward

2011-02-10T14:37:00.005-07:00

Be diligent . . . that thou mayest be a wise steward
D&C 136:27

The beginning of a new year is a time to start over, a time to set new goals and re-evaluate some old ones. Most of us still have some resolutions on our minds. Maybe you’ve even stuck to a few of them so far. If so, great!

As I was thinking about what I needed to rededicate myself to this year, scripture study was on the top of my list. While serving in the primary the past couple of years I’ve found that I have become less and less diligent in reading the lesson materials for Sunday school. I eventually found myself wondering, “What are we even studying this year, anyway?” That was my wakeup call.

I decided that even though I don’t attend the adult classes on Sunday, I was missing out if I didn’t follow along with the lesson material. I didn’t realize how much I needed that extra nourishment from the Spirit! It has helped me add structure to my personal scripture study, and been a stimulating addition to my usual primary material.

If you haven’t done so already, it’s not too late to make it a goal to keep up with the Sunday school & Priesthood/RS lesson materials. If you are able to attend class, read the lesson ahead of time so you can participate in the discussions. Be diligent in learning the doctrines of the church. Re-dedicate yourself to home and visiting teaching. Now is a great time to start if you’ve never done it. The monthly messages in the Ensign contain still more modern day revelation for us to feast upon.

The Sunday School and Priesthood/RS classes are there to help us all learn, line upon line, and precept upon precept. As we dedicate a portion of our time to studying the teachings of the Lord, he will bless us with the knowledge that we need to be wise stewards in our lives and homes.

Additional Reading from the Ensign

2011-02-10T14:32:00.002-07:00

Looking for inspiration and additional encouragement?

Check out the finance related articles in the February 2011 issue of The Ensign. There are real life experiences from members of the church that are dealing with the same challenges that you might be experiencing.

Learning to Be Content, pg. 62
How We Broke the Chains of Debt, pg. 63
My Tithing Couldn’t Wait, pg. 69
Growing Testimonies – and Mission Funds, pg. 73

'Quotable' from the Quorum of the Twelve . . .

2011-02-10T14:23:00.004-07:00

“We control the disposition of our means and resources, but we account to God for this stewardship over earthly things. It is gratifying to witness your generosity as you contribute to fast offerings and humanitarian projects. Over the years, the suffering of millions has been alleviated, and countless others have been enabled to help themselves through the generosity of the Saints. Nevertheless, as we pursue the cause of Zion, each of us should prayerfully consider whether we are doing what we should and all that we should in the Lord’s eyes with respect to the poor and the needy.”

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Care for the Poor, Ensign, Feb 2011, 71.

You Have the Choice: Your Path to Financial Freedom

2011-02-08T15:33:00.007-07:00

In General Conference of October 2010, President Monson spoke to the brethren about The Three R’s of Choice. Wise council from a prophet can be applied to all areas of our lives and to all who are willing to listen. President Monson referred to Alice in Wonderland where Alice asks the Cheshire cat, “Which path shall I follow?” The cat answers, “That depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn’t matter which path you take.” President Monson comments, “Unlike Alice, we all know where we want to go, and it does matter which way we go, for by choosing our path, we choose our destination. Decisions are constantly before us. To make them wisely, courage is needed – the courage to say no, the courage to say yes.”

We all want to reach a destination of financial freedom where we no longer have to worry about money and where money, or the lack of, is not the dominating force in all of our decisions. In order to do that we have to set realistic goals and have the courage to say no, or yes, to those important decisions in how we manage our resources. President Monson reminds us that “Each of us has come to this earth with all the tools necessary to make correct choices. The prophet Mormon tells us, ‘The Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil.’ ” We have all the resources we need to be able to make correct choices. We have access to the Spirit. As we are righteous, obedient and prayerful,the Lord will guide us in the paths that we should take – and that includes the path to financial freedom.

With that in mind, and the beginning of the New Year, it’s a good time to assess your financial health and set or re-evaluate your financial goals. Remember how important it is to make specific and realistic goals, both short term and long term. One of your goals may be to have the funds for a family vacation, but if you don’t have an emergency fund or are struggling to pay the monthly bills, a more realistic goal may be to build up your $1000 emergency fund. So, here’s a brief summary of some steps that you can take on your path to financial freedom.

• Pay Your Tithing
• Create a Budget: Stick to it and Review it
• $1000 Emergency Fund
• Get out of Debt!
• Expand Your Emergency Fund (3-6 months living expenses)
• Fund Your Retirement
• Prepare for Upcoming Events (car, mission, college)
• Save for Your Dreams

Also keep in mind that financial goals should be set as couples and as a family. Everyone that contributes to the decision making can also contribute to the decision keeping, so involve all members of the family that are mature enough to contribute. Having the support of our families and the Lord by involving them in our decisions will help us on our path to financial freedom.

Supplemental Income

2010-10-25T19:58:00.005-06:00

In these tough economic times, we might just need a little extra income to pay the bills and to get or stay out of debt. Or you might need extra income to build up your emergency fund or pay for upcoming Christmas expenditures. No matter your reason, a small supplemental income can really make a difference.

Every family and individual is different; everyone has different needs, talents and abilities. The key to finding a supplemental income that works for you is to start by listing your needs and your strengths. What amount of income do you need? What kind of time commitment and hours can you allocate? Do you have to work out of your home or do you have flexibility to work at a business?

In listing your strengths and talents, consider what interests you. What are your hobbies? Do you have any unique skills that you can market? You will be more successful in earning a supplemental income if it is something you enjoy as well as something that you are good at. Get creative and involve the whole family!

Be cautious in considering work from home jobs. Do your research to make sure that what you decide on is legitimate and will work for the needs of your family. The Better Business Bureau and online forums can be of assistance. Any job that requires you to pay money to start is most likely not legitimate (with the exception of some home sales businesses that require you to purchase product or demonstration supplies).

Some ideas include:
• Sales – home shows, [Tupperware, Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, etc]
• Seasonal jobs – many retail stores and restaurants are hiring for the Christmas season and sometimes seasonal jobs can become more permanent
• Deliver newspapers or phonebooks
• Write freelance articles for local papers or online forums
• Keep a blog or website (earn income from advertising on the website)
• Create unique items to sell at farmers markets, craft fairs or online stores like ebay or etsy (Use those awesome crafting skills!)
• Sell your skills - music lessons, tutor, photography, handyman, electrician, face painting, balloon tying, catering, sewing/alterations, etc
• Sell plasma
• Substitute teach
• Clean homes or small businesses
• Be a companion for the elderly – cook, clean, etc
• Sell your stuff – your junk is someone else’s treasure
• Start a childcare or preschool from your home

Gratitude for What We Have

2010-10-25T19:28:00.003-06:00

In speaking of the miracle of the loaves and fishes, President Thomas S. Monson said in October’s General Conference: “Notice that the Savior gave thanks for what they had—and a miracle followed: ‘And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.’ (Matthew 15:32-38) We have all experienced times when our focus is on what we lack rather than on our blessings. Said the Greek philosopher Epictetus, ‘He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.’”
(The Divine Gift of Gratitude, October 2010 General Conference)

Let us be grateful for what we have been blessed with, instead of focusing on what we lack. We will be blessed as we acknowledge and express that gratitude to our Heavenly Father.

72-hour Kit Reminder

2010-10-25T19:23:00.004-06:00

REMINDER:
Don’t forget to check your 72-hour kits and rotate out the perishable supplies. Update any clothing items as your family grows and make sure that all important medications are included and haven’t expired. Also, verify that all important information is current (insurance, credit card, etc).

October is also a great month to check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and change batteries.

Let’s be prepared!

’Tis Almost the Season!

2010-10-25T18:53:00.009-06:00

The holidays are now upon us. What a fun and exciting time of year. Above all, there is the lingering question: How do we keep the true spirit of Christmas front and center in our families amidst all the hustle and bustle? For many, the pressure of finances can get in the way of feeling the spirit of Christmas. Here are a few tips that might help in your efforts to be a wise steward during the holidays:

#1 Agree on a budget. If you haven’t already, decide now how much you are going to spend on gifts, decorations, food, etc. Now for the hard part: STICK TO IT! If it’s not in the budget, do without. If you feel like it’s important, write it down so you can budget for it next year.

#2 Don’t go into debt. We’ve been counseled again and again not to go into debt for things we don’t need. A wise steward plans ahead. Saving money beforehand gives you freedom and peace of mind. If you didn’t save up this year, make it a priority for next year.

#3 Get the family involved. Especially in lean years it’s important to keep the whole family appropriately involved. Young members of the family can learn valuable lessons about service and frugality. They also might surprise you with innovative ideas to save money. Above all, it’s a great way to bring a family closer together when you are all working toward a common goal.

#4 Start Now! Now is the time to put plans into action. If cutting back on what you spend on gifts is in your plan, start now to prepare for creative ways to get into the spirit of giving. Homemade gifts, gifts of service, even letters of kind thoughts, these can be more memorable and meaningful than a toy or a sweater.

The following is a quote by Pres. Thomas S. Monson from his Christmas devotional message from December 2003: “There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus the Christ. It is the time to love the Lord our God with all our heart and our neighbors as ourselves. It is well to remember that he who gives money gives much, he who gives time gives more, but he who gives of himself gives all.”

If you have money to give, Great! If you have time to give, Even Better! To give of ourselves is our goal and the surest way to keep the principles Christ taught in our homes during this wonderful time of year.

Free Theatre and Museum Tickets

2010-09-22T15:01:00.006-06:00

This Saturday, September 25, you can print a ticket to get two people into select museums for free. Check out this link to print the ticket and see which museums are participating. [Our family LOVES the America West Heritage Museum in Wellsville/Logan. It is like Deseret Village at This Is the Place State Park and in my opinion, is worth the drive. But if that's too far to drive, there are a few museums in SLC, including the Utah Museum of Natural History.]

Check out this link to get two free tickets to a theater performance on Thursday, Oct 14th. There are a number of different shows available and tickets can be reserved starting September 28 at 11am. Enjoy!

A BIG thanks to Cherish for sharing this info!

$2 Tuesdays - Thanksgiving Point

2010-07-30T16:15:00.003-06:00

Thanksgiving Point is having their $2 Tuesday promotion in August. You can get into Farm Country, Thanksgiving Point Gardens or the Museum of Ancient Life for $2/person (ages 2 and under are free). Check out their website! Also, the website says you can get a half pound of fudge for $2 too! Cheap fun and chocolate - don't miss it!

Saving For College

2010-07-26T15:15:00.001-06:00

With ‘back-to-school’ quickly approaching, the cost of schooling is more on our minds and it all quickly adds up: school clothes, school supplies, fees, school lunch, etc. Have you considered how quickly the costs of college add up? Tuition, books, fees, room and board. They can be even more costly and the cost of tuition is quickly rising. How do you plan for sending your children to college?

The first step would be to decide what, if anything, your family can save towards future college expenses. Saving for college should not detract from saving for more immediate family needs. For example, you should have a fully funded 3-6 months emergency savings before saving for college. Also, don’t neglect saving for your retirement. You can always hope your child gets great scholarships, but there are no scholarships for retirement.

After deciding how much you can contribute, decide what option works best for you. The Utah Educational Savings Plan (UESP) is ranked by Morningstar in the Top 5 of college savings plans (529). It is a very flexible plan that boasts low fees and expenses, no minimum amounts to open an account and no minimum monthly contributions. There are also many options for allocating your contributions. You can choose how aggressively you want your money to grow (keep in mind aggressive growth means increased risk). There are also options for age-based investments. You can specify the age of the child you are saving for and the account automatically adjusts to more conservative funds as your child grows. The money is accessed tax free as long as it is used for qualified expenses and you can get a tax credit of 5% on your state taxes.

The funds can only be used for qualified higher education expenses (tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board). If your child decides not to attend college, the account can be transferred to another family member or the money can be withdrawn for other uses (earnings subject to federal and state taxes with an additional 10% federal penalty tax).

Another option for savings is a Uniform Transfer to Minors custodial account (UTMA). There are fewer restrictions on what this money can be used for in regards to your child. It can be used at any time to benefit your child as long as it isn’t considered regular ‘parental obligations’ (feeding, clothing, housing, etc). However, the earnings from this account must be reported on the child’s tax return. Depending on how much you are saving, the earnings usually aren’t enough to require filing a tax return. Another thing to consider is the parent is only a custodian of this account and the minor child can take control of the funds at age 18-21. Hopefully your child is responsible enough to manage this resource appropriately. Also, because the money belongs to your child, it may impact their ability to receive financial aid. Depending on where you choose to establish the UTMA, there may be minimum amounts required to open and contribute to the account.

If you want to option of funding a mission as well as college, you might want to consider saving in a UTMA account. Every family and situation is different, so discuss your goals and research your options to find the best savings plan for your individual circumstances.

http://www.uesp.org/index.html [Utah Education Savings Plan]
http://www.statefarm.com/mutual/acct_types/custodial.asp [info about custodial accounts]

With All Your Getting, GIVE

2010-07-26T15:03:00.009-06:00

“I plead with you that with all your getting, you should also give to make the world a little better.” (Pres. Hinckley, quoted by Jon Huntsman, Sr at a BYU Commencement, Aug. 1999)

We have such abundance and can easily share our bounties with others. We certainly don’t want to go into debt to help others, but if we have the means, then we should give. With back-to-school sales starting, an affordable and fun way to involve the family in giving is to assemble school kits for the Humanitarian Center.

Here is a list of what should be included (see the website for instructions on how to make the cloth bag).

Humanitarian School Kits
· 4 unsharpened pencils
· 1 pencil sharpener
· 1 box assorted colored pencils (approximately 7" long, about 12 pencils to a box)
· 1 pair blunt-nosed scissors with metal blades
· 1 rubber pencil eraser (approximately 1" by 2")
· 1 straight edge ruler—not to exceed 12", with metric measurements
· 450 pages of lined paper in glued or spiral-bound notebooks (no more than 6 notebooks or pads per kit).
· 1 durable cloth bag made of heavy fabric

Another affordable way to give is to assemble hygiene kits. Our ward has been asked to gather the supplies for hygiene kits prior to the General Relief Society Broadcast in September. If you can assist with this in anyway, please donate the supplies to Sister A. Beck or someone in the RS Presidency.

Humanitarian Hygiene Kits
· 2 unbreakable combs (no sharp handles)
· 4 toothbrushes (packaged)
· 1 tube of toothpaste (6-8 oz., no pumps)
· 2 bars of soap (approximately 4 to 5 oz.)
· 2 hand towels (new towels, approximately 15" by 25". Please do not use dish towels or washcloths)

“It was always a privilege to assist those less fortunate than we, even when we had virtually nothing ourselves.”
--Jon Huntsman, Sr (BYU Commencement, Aug. 12, 1999)

Humanitarian Kit Lists and instructions

www.providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,4598-1-3263-1,00.html

Book Recommendations

2010-07-26T14:54:00.005-06:00

Check out your local library for great, FREE resources to enhance your financial knowledge . . .

Children’s Picture Book Recommendations:

Rock, Brock and the Savings Shock by Sheila Bair: teaches children about saving money

Jenny Found a Penny by Trudy Harris: teaches children about saving for a goal

Adult Recommendations:

Live Your Life for Half the Price by Lyle and Tracy Shamo: great tips and suggestions for cutting your budget, living on less and surviving tough economic times.

If you have additional suggestions for book recommendations, leave a comment on the blog.

Free Activities

2010-07-15T16:00:00.005-06:00

Here are a few upcoming FREE activities that you might want to consider . . .

Kennecott Copper Bingham Canyon Mine Visitors Center is free July 16 - July 25. It is normally $5 per passenger vehicle. If you've never been, it's quite interesting. They show a short video, have displays in their visitors center and huge tires you can stand next to. It is mind-boggling how large their equipment is.

There are also some fun activities surrounding the Days of 47 events.

July 17th Youth Parade and Festival - [some of our cub scouts will be marching in this parade]
The parade is at 10 and the festival follows it until 2:00 at Washington Square City/County building downtown.

Days of 47 Float Preview at South Towne Expo Center - July 19, 20 from 11am-9pm
Great opportunity to see and vote for the floats that will be in the July 24th parade (and it's air conditioned!) Our stake even has a float this year, so go and vote for ours!

July 24th Days of 47 Parade

Cheap Ice Cream and Free Fun

2010-04-23T14:32:00.001-06:00

Baskin Robbins is having their 31 cent scoop night on Wednesday, April 28 from 5-10pm.

Red Butte Garden has free admission on Arbor Day and will give out free trees too! Mark your calendars for Friday, April 30 from 9am - 3pm.

Upcoming Ward / Stake Dates

2010-04-23T14:26:00.003-06:00

Mark your calendars:

Emergency Preparedness Fair - for the whole community
(please invite your neighbors, family and friends)
May 22nd, Saturday, 9-12 @ South building

Stake Clothing Swap
July 17th, Saturday, 9-2 @ South building

Emergency Bag Lists

2010-04-23T14:15:00.007-06:00

Here is a listing of the kit supplies for your Emergency Bag that have been distributed in Sunday School each week.

These lists were compiled this list from several others. There are many other things that could and even should be included. This is not comprehensive. If you have any ideas to add, please leave comments on the blog so that others can benefit from your expertise and knowledge.

Kit #1: Helping Out
Latex gloves
Work gloves
Filter masks
Glow sticks
Safety vest
Emergency Bag

Kit #2: Makeshift Toilet
Moist towelettes
Hand sanitizer
Bar soap
Toilet paper or napkins
Plastic bags w/twist ties
Privacy covering
Disinfectant: bleach or spray
Optional: bucket with improvised seat

Kit #3: Meal Prep
Moist towelettes
Napkins
Tablecloth
Paper plates
Paper cups
Utensils
Salt and Pepper
Hand washing supplies
Can opener

Kit #4: Spiritual/Paper Prep
Scriptures
Living Will
Books/Photos
Cash
Copies of fronts/backs of credit/debit cards
Consecrated Oil
Patriarchal blessing

Kit #5: Comfort Items
Medicine/Diabetic Supplies
Candy
Children's activities (may serve others' children)
Flashlight/Glow Sticks
Pen/pencil and notepad
Solar blanket/Poncho
Sewing Kit
ETC (Personalize it!)

Kit #6: First Aid
First Aid Manual
Asprin or Pain Relievers
Laxatives
Rubbing Alcohol
Diarrhea medication
Petroleum Jelly
Soap
Baking Soda and Salt (to replace body fluids in cases of shock, vomiting, diarrhea)
Gauze
Triangular Bandage (36 in x36 in x52 in)
Elastic Bandage

April Q & A Winner

2010-04-23T13:40:00.008-06:00

A big thank you to Diane for submitting our featured question!

Question: What resources are available to find good deals on things we need?

Answer: The best way to find good deals is to be an informed consumer! Do your research and shop around. If you are purchasing services (for example home or car repairs), call a few companies and get quotes to compare. Ask if they will match prices or accept competitor’s coupons. If you are purchasing something retail, check out a couple of stores before making your decision. It’s more work, but on expensive items, it could save you hundreds of dollars. Also, be aware of what something costs new versus used. You can sometimes find great deals on secondhand items, but sometimes you can find new items for even cheaper if you watch for sales and clearance items. Also, word of mouth is great too. Let others know what you are in need of; they may have great recommendations.

Online resources for secondhand items:
Ksl.com
Craigslist.com
Freecycle.org (must be a member)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UTBulletinBoard/ (must be a member)

Retail resources for secondhand items:
Deseret Industries
Savers (99¢ Mon, ½ price ticket items)
Thrift Town (½ price ticket items)
Kid to Kid (children & maternity clothing and items)
Plato’s Closet (teen clothing)

For tips on shopping at thrift stores from Angela Hunsaker, check out How to ENJOY Shopping at a Thrift Store on a previous post of this blog. If you have any tips or sites to add, please leave a comment.

Creating a Will

2010-04-23T13:00:00.009-06:00

None of us like to think about morbid things like needing a will, but it is a necessity to be prepared. Wills can speed up the process of distributing your assets and will make sure that they are given to whom you want them to be given to. Also, a will is even more important if you have children under the age of 18 who will need a guardian to care for them. Wouldn’t you rather be the one to choose who will raise your children if it can’t be you?

Creating a will involves choosing who will receive your assets – your beneficiaries, who will allocate your assets and follow through with your wishes – the executor, and who will be the guardians of your children in the event of your death. You will also need to have two witnesses (not beneficiaries of your will) available as you sign your will and it is highly recommended to have your will notarized. Each spouse will need to create their own will. Make sure that when you have completed your will, you let your family and your executor know about your will. Put it in a safe, accessible place and have a couple of copies available. We have a copy filed at home, one with our executor and one with my parents in another state.

Wills don’t have to be complicated or expensive. There are many options available to you. However, most of these options are for the most common situations. If you have a complicated estate or very specific requests or needs, consulting a lawyer may be your only option. As far as getting your will notarized, contact your bank or credit union. Sometimes the use of a notary is free of charge to members. There are many online sites available where you can enter your information and they will either mail or email it to you (some require a fee). Be sure to verify the site before giving out your personal information online. There are also sites that have forms that you can copy, paste and print your own. The free forms are very basic in nature, but are better than nothing. Or there are downloadable computer programs that you can purchase and use to create your will. The library also has computer programs that you can check out and create your will for free at home. The computer programs are most likely to give you more options than simple forms or free online sites.

Many of these programs also help you create a living will or advance health care directive. Living wills and advance health care directives allow you to specify what medical care and life saving or prolonging measures you want to have in the case that your condition makes it unable for you to make those decisions yourself. You can also assign a health care proxy to allow someone you trust to make those decisions for you. In any instance, it is wise to create some type of living will to spare your family and loved ones from making those decisions and dealing with the legal issues related to those decisions.

Disclaimer: We are not endorsing any of the following listed programs or sites; they are just a sample of what is available both online and at the county library.

Information about wills and living wills:
Steven J. Dixon, “Planning Ahead: The Importance of Wills and Trusts,” Ensign, Jun 1983, 28
http://www.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/2007/11/12/how-to-write-a-will-online.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_health_care_directive

Free legal forms: http://www.free-legal-document.com/
Free online sites: http://www.doyourownwill.com/ & http://www.rocketlawyer.com/
Free computer programs from the library: Family Lawyer and Quicken WillMaker

Utah Museum of Fine Arts Free Days

2010-01-25T13:50:00.005-07:00

The third Saturday of every month is free at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts 11am-5pm. They also have family activities planned each month from 2-4 on the free Saturdays.

On February 20 from 1-4pm at the UMFA you can celebrate Chinese New Year (starts Feb 14) by decorating paper lanterns and creating animal hats.

other upcoming activities:
March 20 - Oil Pastel Drawings
April 17 - Painted Canvases
May 15 - Decorate T-shirts
June 19 - Yarn Painting
July 17 - Family Festival (Las Artes De Mexico)

This would be a great, free opportunity to help cub scouts and activity day girls to pass off requirements for their Faith in God and scouting activities. [Faith in God: Developing Talents #5 - Visit an art museum or attend a concert, play, or other cultural event. Share your experience with your family or activity day group.]

How to ENJOY Shopping at a Thrift Store

2010-01-20T13:04:00.003-07:00

A big thank you to Angela H. for sharing these tips to help us save money by shopping at thrift stores!

1. BE CREATIVE…REPURPOSE! Look at the parts that make up a thing. Can it be taken apart, cut up, or customized to suit your needs? When buying clothing, can it be tailored to fit, so you can shop in many size ranges?

2. KNOW WHAT A BARGAIN IS. What is the price when buying it new? What condition is it in? What will be the added cost of fixing an item in need of repair?

3. WHERE WILL I STORE THE ITEM? If you don’t have room to store an item, it should stay at the store, even if it is a great deal. If you must have it, then you must be willing to make the sacrifice to let go of items currently in your space.

4. HOW WILL I GET THE ITEM HOME? If you are shopping for large furniture, you may need to plan ahead to bring a vehicle that can accommodate your purchase. You may also need to plan not to have children and/or carseats with you for such a purchase.

5. CAN THE ITEM BE CLEANED? Is it still a bargain when including the cost of having an item cleaned? (i.e. dry cleaning)

6. BE PATIENT. If you don’t find a specific item this trip, keep trying! You can’t usually thrift shop with a list. Also, don’t give up if you don’t enjoy thrift shopping the first time you try it. Go more than once before giving up on it.

7. TAKE A FRIEND All shopping is more enjoyable with a friend!

8. BRING HANDWASH OR WIPES for when you leave the store. Sometimes you have to touch and move things just to see what treasures may be hidden on the shelves. This is a good habit to have for after shopping in ANY public shopping area.

January Q & A Winner

2010-01-18T15:23:00.005-07:00

A big thank you to Becky for submitting our featured question!

Question: How can I save on groceries?

Answer: First of all, create and use a shopping list. Plan what your meals will be for the week, create a list of what you need to purchase to make those meals and only buy what you need – no impulse shopping! After you have made your list, study your weekly ads for the best deals. Some stores will price-match other store’s ads for the same item (quantity, size, etc) so you don’t have to drive around to all the stores. Use your weekly newspaper coupons or go online to find coupons for items that you need (it doesn’t save money to buy something just because you have a coupon for it). Another tip – if you have the funds, stock up when case-lot sales occur or when you find a really good price for something you use a lot of. If there is a great deal on something in bulk, split the item and cost with neighbors, family, or friends. Case-lot sales are happening now at many of the local grocery stores! Back-to-school sales in July and August also generally have good deals on snack items, cereals and items for school lunches, so stock up on food items as well as your school supplies!

Great Coupons Sites:
Pinchingyourpennies.com
Coupons.com
Smartsource.com
Redplum.com
Gurusdeals.com

If you have additional suggestions or great coupon sites, please share by posting a comment.

This Question and Answer Section addresses the topics that most concern you. The next newsletter will be coming out in April, so start thinking and submitting your questions, ideas and suggestions. If your question is selected, you can earn a small prize (small print disclaimer: reserved for members of the ward). But anyone is welcome to ask questions.

Preparing Your Taxes

2010-01-18T15:19:00.004-07:00

Are you doing your own taxes this year? With the many computer tax software programs available, many people do. But before you go out and buy that computer software, try visiting the IRS website first. Many companies offer free programs for individuals with a household income below 57,000 for 2009. Just go to http://www.irs.gov/ and look for the “free-file” link on the right side of the page. You can then access a list of companies that offer free federal tax preparation or fill out a quick Q & A that will help find a program that you qualify for. It may take a few more minutes, but will save you quite a few dollars if you were planning on buying the program anyway. Just make sure, as always, to use common sense when putting your personal information on the web. Go with a reputable company that you recognize and use only secure sites. Submitting your federal tax return online is simple and you may get your refund back faster, but you can also print out your completed federal tax return and mail it in if you prefer.

Be aware that many sites offer state tax return services, but they are not free. Also be careful to access your return through the IRS website. Some companies only allow you to access their free-file option if you link from the IRS website, which means if you go to the company’s homepage you won’t be able to access their free-file option.

Scripture and Quotes from January 2010 Newsletter

2010-01-18T15:14:00.005-07:00

“Thou shalt be diligent in preserving what thou hast, that thou mayest be a wise steward; for it is the free gift of the Lord thy God, and thou art his steward.”
- Doctrine and Covenants 136:27

Sacrificing and saving for something ensures that it is worth having and caring for. Buying impulsively, however, clutters your life with things that don’t mean anything after a short time—things you end up giving away or selling at a garage sale. Children benefit from saving for what they want. It is easier for them to resist fads and fashions if they have to sacrifice.
- Kay Przybille, “Stretching Your Dollars,” Ensign, Jun 2009, 36–37

Teaching Your Children How to Save - part 1

2010-01-18T14:42:00.012-07:00

Saving money is a hard concept to learn, especially for a young child. I remember hearing often as a child the phrase ‘that money is burning a hole in your pocket’. Thankfully, my parents were able to teach me to save my money and I don’t hear that phrase anymore. As parents, we have a very important responsibility to teach our children to save and prepare them for a stable financial future. With examples to follow and the knowledge we give them, hopefully our children will be prepared to be financially responsible by the time they are young adults.

Teaching our children to save their money is one of the best things (besides the gospel) that we can pass on to our children to prepare them for the future. But how do we do it? Here are a few tips that may assist you in teaching your children to save:

First of all, Start Young. Any child who can hold money can spend it (or save it). The earlier you start, the easier it is to make it a habit and life-long practice. But it is never too late to teach your children, even your grown children, about saving.

Second, Make it FUN. If it’s fun, your child will do it, do it without you telling them to and probably remind you to do it too. Find some fun money banks that interest your child and will make saving fun. Be excited when your child earns money and can put it in their own money bank. My 2 year old loves to find money to drop into his bank. And along with that, find a fun way for them to save and pay their tithing. My kids have a separate jar for tithing and love filling out and turning in their own tithing slips.

Along with making it fun, your child is also never too young to have a savings account. Many banks and credit unions have special savings accounts, CDs, etc available to young savers. Sometimes the interest rates are better, they have lower minimum amounts and also offer incentives to young children or youth for saving. Let the bank or credit union help you make it fun to save. Take a ‘field trip’ to the bank to deposit their money. The more fun it is, the more they will want to do it.

Third, Set Goals. If your child is saving just because you tell them they need to, it’s not very fun or exciting for them. Discuss with your child what they are saving for. Elder Marvin J. Ashton wrote in the One for the Money pamphlet, “‘Save your money’ is a hollow pronouncement from a parent to a child. ‘Save your money for a mission, bicycle, doll house, trousseau, or car’ makes understandable sense.” If they have a reachable goal, then they are more likely to understand the benefits of saving and begin the habit of saving for their wants.

Your child may need to be reminded of those goals on a regular basis. How often have your children, or even you, been tempted to purchase something small like a candy bar while waiting in the check-out line? If your children know that those impulse buys have to be bought themselves and that it will take that much longer to save for their goal, then they (and you) are more likely to save for what really matters.

Related Ensign Articles for more reference and tips:
Margo Johnson, “Lessons of an Allowance,” Ensign, Sept. 1996, 71

Marvin K. Gardner, “Staying Prepared,” Ensign, Feb 1979, 24

Jenniev J. Poulson and John R. Christiansen, “Can Children Learn to Manage Money?,” Ensign, Jan 1971, 57

Kay Przybille, “Stretching Your Dollars,” Ensign, Jun 2009, 36–37

Snowbird Customer Appreciation Days

2009-10-05T17:35:00.003-06:00

If you bring in a can of food (one per person) you can ride the Snowbird Tram for free on Saturday, October 31 and Saturday, November 7 from 11am - 5pm (weather permitting). We have gone in years past and there is a wait in line to ride the tram (probably at least 20-45 minutes). They are packed pretty full, but you get a great view from the top. I took 6 boys last year and they all thought it was worth it.

Question and Answer Competition!

2009-10-05T12:13:00.001-06:00

We are going to feature a Question and Answer section in future newsletters that addresses the topics that most concern you. Therefore, we need you all to submit your financial questions to us by comment, email, phone or even a note. If your question is chosen to be featured in an upcoming newsletter, you will receive a small prize. Start thinking and submitting – the next newsletter will be coming out in January 2010!

Teaching Children – The Value of Money

2009-10-05T12:05:00.004-06:00

Teaching children about money should be high on our list of priorities. The One for the Money pamphlet produced by the church has 12 points to guide us in properly managing family finances. Three of those points address the need to involve and teach the family members about finances. Family Home Evening is a great place to teach and discuss these important topics, but even more influential is your example and day to day discussions with your children.

Your interactions about finances with your children will depend on their age, abilities and comprehension. For example, with a two year old, the ‘discussion’ might include “Money goes in the piggy bank, not your mouth.” They can really enjoy the fun of putting coins in a money bank and it is teaching them to save from a very young age. A discussion with a teenager would be drastically different. For example, talk with them about whether they paid their tithing and ask what it is they are saving their money for, both short-term and long-term goals – clothing, a date, a car, college, mission, etc.

Kids also love spending money. Allow them the opportunity to give money to the cashier when purchasing something small, particularly when it will be something for them. Older children can count out the money and be responsible for that. Not only is it fun for them, they are learning that we don’t get something for nothing.

It is important that children learn the value of money. It will give them a foundation for making wise decisions on how to spend (or save) their money. Young children often don’t understand what items are worth, so telling them that a dollar will buy a candy bar, or rent a movie will help them put it into perspective. Another way to teach the value of money is to explain how long a parent needs to work to earn the money to buy a certain item. Encourage play around money – for example, set up a play store or a pretend garage sale.

Involve your children in your grocery shopping, gift shopping, etc. They will learn very quickly about the value of money. When a child asks for something, it could be the perfect opportunity to talk about how much things cost. Don’t hesitate to let them know if it costs too much, or it isn’t worth the price. Also, encourage them to save for something they really want. Children will learn more from being told no and waiting for their wants than being indulged at the moment.

Christmas Already?

2009-10-05T11:53:00.004-06:00

It may only be September, but December comes quickly, and so does Christmas! It seems crazy, but it is never too early to start planning and saving for Christmas. Now is a good time to start discussing your Christmas budget. Decide now, before the Christmas wish list starts, what you will spend per person for Christmas. And stick to it! Don’t get tricked into increasing your budget because a certain person wants something that exceeds your budget. They can keep dreaming . . . or better, yet . . . teach them to start saving for their dream.

In your Christmas budget planning, decide whether you can afford your Christmas budget. If the money isn’t there and won’t be by Christmas time, get a little more creative with your gifts and spend less. It doesn’t benefit anyone by going into debt for Christmas.

Just to look at some numbers . . .

If you were to spend $500 for Christmas and put it all on your credit card at 13% interest, it would take you 42 months to pay it off with a minimum payment of $15 a month! Or, say you wanted to pay it off in just one year, your monthly payment would be $44.18. You don’t want to be paying for last year’s Christmas when it is time to start thinking about this year’s Christmas. Wouldn’t you be better off to have a light Christmas this year and start saving that $45 a month for next year?

A few other helpful Christmas tips:

Keep your eyes open for sales, clearance items and great deals all throughout the year. If you know the people you are buying for, you can sometimes get great deals long before you think about Christmas. Be cautious though, no matter how good a deal it is, if they aren’t going to like it [or it is a fad that will go out of style], it isn’t worth it. Always keep your receipts and don’t forget what you bought and where you hid it.

Get creative in your giving. Homemade gifts are generally cheaper to give and have a lot more meaning. Gifts of service are sometimes the most valued gifts. It truly is the thought (and time) that counts, not the money.

Make a list of who you really want to give to. It may be nice to give gifts to all your family, friends and neighbors but, is it necessary and can you afford it? Maybe a simple handmade note or card would be enough to tell them that you are thinking of them and care about them. If you were to ask them, they would probably say they would rather you be in a healthier financial situation than to receive a gift from you.

Emergency Fund

2009-10-05T11:50:00.002-06:00

Experts recommend having three to sixth months of expenses saved in an accessible account for those inevitable emergencies that arise in life. Those ‘rainy days’ come in the form of unemployment, medical emergencies, car accidents and loss of vehicles, the demise of an appliance, etc. Sometimes it doesn’t just rain, it pours! How is your ‘rainy day’ fund doing? If saving three to sixth months of expenses seems beyond your current abilities – start somewhere. Make it your goal to have $1000 put away for an emergency – and remember it is only for true emergencies – not Christmas, birthdays, clothes, or whatever your current need or want is.

When that emergency happens, and you do have to use some of your ‘rainy day’ fund, it will be a blessing. You won’t have to use credit to fund your emergency and you will have more peace in your lives knowing that you can weather the storm. Think of it as your financial food storage and don’t forget to replenish it after use. Come up with a plan of how to save and build your fund (budgets are great tools for this) and DO IT.

A family in the ward recently experienced the blessings of having an emergency fund and being prepared for the future:

Several years ago we started a dedicated savings (emergency fund) by adding some tax money here, a bonus there, and $10/ month. When we paid off a bill, we increased the amount we saved each month.

Our family van died on a Friday. We had no money for payments on a used one. Since we had our emergency fund and had saved a little of our tax return for a shed, we knew we had a certain amount of money we could spend for a used van. It wasn’t much, so we took it to the Lord. We told the Lord we needed a safe vehicle and didn’t want to go into debt. We told the Lord the amount of money we had and asked him to guide us to find something reliable. We fasted on Sunday and by Monday we had a van. Between the van, inspection and licensing, it was the amount we told the Lord we had available. Because of our emergency fund, prayers and miracles, we were back on the road in 5 days.

Free at Tracy Aviary

2009-10-02T16:23:00.001-06:00

Tracy Aviary is free this UEA weekend. I know it's kind of late notice, but there is still tomorrow (between Conference sessions of course).

Free Days at the Zoo

2009-09-14T14:16:00.003-06:00

The Hogle Zoo is once again hosting free days through the winter. They are the last Wednesdays of Nov, Dec, Jan and Feb. So mark your calendar. In the past, if the weather is decent, it can get pretty busy, but for the most part, it's worth it!

November 25
December 30
January 27
February 24

Great Lesson on Provident Living

2009-09-07T17:22:00.003-06:00

Sunday, August 30th, Bishop and our RS President gave a great 5th Sunday lesson on Provident Living, Self-Reliance and Welfare. It was to help inspire us all to do better as we prepare for the future and to make changes in our lives that will help us be more self-reliant.

The RS President shared a story about Gullible Gulls related by Pres. Marion G. Romney. The article, "The Celestial Nature of Self-Reliance" has been re-printed in the March 2009 Ensign and can also be found online. She also encouraged everyone to think of what they can change or do better at and to write it down and do it.

Bishop relayed a lesson his brother learned from a church training meeting that no matter how well you treat your wife, you can always do better. He applied that to welfare and service: No matter how much you give or serve, you can always do better.

These are a few brief recollections I have from this great lesson, but it was tape recorded. If you missed attending this meeting and are interested in listening to the recording, leave a comment and I will get back to you or you can contact the RS President to get the recording.

Thanksgiving Point in August

2009-07-29T21:57:00.002-06:00

Thanksgiving Point's August $2 Tuesdays Thanksgiving Point is cheaper in August! You can get into the Thanksgiving Point Gardens, Farm Country OR the Museum of Ancient Life (dinosaur museum) for $2 any Tuesday in August!

July Ensign Resources

2009-07-18T15:04:00.001-06:00

Check out the great tips in July’s Ensign. There is an article titled “Way Beyond the Help-Wanted Ads” with information about LDS Employment Resource Services and also informational inserts about improving employment and surviving unemployment.

Life Insurance

2009-07-18T14:43:00.008-06:00

One for the Money, a guide to family finance by Elder Marvin J. Ashton, recommends appropriately involving yourself in an insurance program. “It is most important to have sufficient medical, automobile, and homeowner’s insurance and an adequate life insurance program. Costs associated with illness, accident, and death may be so large that uninsured families can be financially burdened for many years.”

Since most of us are required by stipulations on loans and current laws to have homeowners and automobile insurance, we will focus on life insurance in this issue.

Why do I need life insurance?
Life insurance will not benefit you, but is a protection for your family and those that depend on your income or skills. Death is enough of a stress itself, you don’t want to leave your family and dependants wondering how they are going to survive. Don’t forget to insure those that may not be bringing home a paycheck but if something were to happen to them expenses would go up. For example, if the stay-at-home parent were to pass away, your expenses would increase to pay for child-care, cleaning, etc.

How much life insurance do I need?
All this depends on how much money you are currently making and spending and what you would want to use the life insurance for. To make an informed decision, discuss the future needs of your dependents and what your goals for the life insurance money would be. For example: consider funeral expenses, child care costs, whether you would want to pay off your house and other debts and a college education or mission for your children and how much it would cost to provide comfortably for those left behind. It might be helpful to talk to a financial advisor that can help you determine the right amount for your family. Some very general recommendations are 6-20 times your annual spending or about 10 times your income.

You may have access to life insurance through your employment, bank, credit union, etc. Sometimes this is a very affordable way to get life insurance, but be informed about all the conditions with this policy. Many policies through work are only available as long as you are working for that company, so you don’t want that to be your sole source of life insurance.

What type of life insurance should I get?
This is an ongoing debate: term or permanent life insurance. There are many different philosophies on this. What it boils down to is what your goals are, what you can afford and what works best for the needs of your family.

Term insurance is the most affordable insurance available. However, unlike permanent life insurance, it does not build any cash value. It will only benefit you if you pass away during the term of the insurance (anywhere from 5-30 years). It is truly just a protection plan for your dependents. When purchasing term, decide how long you anticipate needing it for, because the older you get, the more you will be paying for insurance.

Permanent insurance or cash value insurance is essentially term insurance combined with a forced savings plan. It is significantly more expensive than term insurance (5-10 times more) and takes a few years for the cash value to build (the first few years premiums are paying for the insurance portion). You can access the cash in your policies, if needed, for retirement and other financial needs but that will take away from the ‘death benefit’ available for your survivors. There are many varieties of permanent insurance available, so if this is of interest to you, talk to a professional or spend some quality time researching your options.

Many financial experts recommend ‘buying term and investing the difference’. You have more flexibility and control over your money and may get a better return by investing and saving elsewhere than you do by saving through a life insurance policy.

Things to keep in mind when buying life insurance:
· Make a Plan – Decide what you use the life insurance money for and how much you need
· Do Your Research – Decide what type of insurance you want and research the company you are considering (you can find ratings for companies online)
· Find Someone You Trust – If you are going through an agent, ask for recommendations from friends and family. Find someone who has been in the business for a while, knows what they are doing and you can trust.
· Just Do It – Don’t put it off. Life insurance is planning for the unexpected and you never know when you will need it.

Additional resources:
Smart Couples Finish Rich. Bach, David (pgs.162-170).

MSN Money
The Raging Debate Over Term vs. Whole Life
5 Life Insurance Blunders to Avoid
Your 5-minute Guide to Life Insurance
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourLife/InsureYourLife.aspx

Check Life Insurance Company’s Ratings http://www.insure.com/articles/interactivetools/ratingslookuptool/sandp/newtool1.jsp

Free Fun Ideas

2009-07-01T17:01:00.004-06:00

Here are some ideas for fun activities in the area. This is certainly not a complete list, just a compilation of our favorites. If you have any to add, please leave a comment.

FREE Fun Available in:

Salt Lake City:
· Sweet’s Candy Factory – free tours, http://www.sweetcandy.com/
· Downtown Historic Tours – Temple Square, Cathedral of the Madeleine, Governor’s Mansion, State Capitol, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum, Church History Museum - http://www.utah.com/cities/slc_walking.htm
· Clark Planetarium – the displays are all free but there is a charge for the shows, http://www.clarkplanetarium.org/
· Gateway – kids love to play in the water fountain
· Utah Museum of Natural History – free on the first Monday of every month, http://www.umnh.utah.edu/
· Red Butte Gardens – free days http://www.redbuttegarden.org/plan-your-visit/FreeGardenGiftDays
· Concerts in the Park - Brigham Young Historic Park - http://www.lds.org/placestovisit/location/0,10634,1893-1-1-1,00.html
· Salt Lake City movies in the parkhttp://www.slcityevents.com/friday_night_flicks.htm
· West Jordan movies in the park and events - http://www.wjordan.com/Visitor.aspx?pgID=6.1
· West Jordan Historical Museum - http://www.wjhistory.org/
· Salt Lake City Library – Exploration Passes – admittance for 4 to a number of local parks or museums for a month’s time period http://www.slcpl.lib.ut.us/details.jsp?parent_id=10&page_id=250
· Hiking in the canyons
· Jordan River Parkway – parks, paths, playgrounds - http://www.parks.slco.org/html/jordan.html
· Lowes Build and Grow Clinics - https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/
· Barnes and Nobles storytimes and events - http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2137

Provo:
· BYU Museum of Art - http://cfac.byu.edu/index.php?id=194
· Monte L. Bean Museum (at BYU) – http://mlbean.byu.edu/home/

Park City:
· Utah Olympic Park - http://www.olyparks.com/uop/tours.asp
· Rail Trail – great biking trail http://www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/trailNRT/unionpacific-ut.html

Quotes from "Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually"

2009-07-01T16:53:00.004-06:00

Elder Robert D. Hales, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke during the Saturday morning session of General Conference. His talk, titled “Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually” was definitely for our time and day and has many suggestions and counsel for us all. It can be found in the May 2009 Ensign or online. It is well worth the time to read and re-read it and to study it with our families for Family Home Evening.

Some quotes from his talk:

All of us are responsible to provide for ourselves and our families in both temporal and spiritual ways. To provide providently, we must practice the principles of provident living: joyfully living within our means, being content with what we have, avoiding excessive debt, and diligently saving and preparing for rainy-day emergencies. When we live providently, we can provide for ourselves and our families and also follow the Savior’s example to serve and bless others.

When faced with the choice to buy, consume, or engage in worldly things and activities, we all need to learn to say to one another, “We can’t afford it, even though we want it!” or “We can afford it, but we don’t need it—and we really don’t even want it!”

Vacation Cheaply

2009-07-01T16:38:00.007-06:00

The end of the school year and summer is fast approaching us. Have you planned a family vacation this year? Even if the budget for vacationing is small, you can still plan a fun family outing that will create lasting memories. The most important thing about your vacation is not where or for how long you go or how much money you spend, it is about the time you spend with your family and the memories that you create together.

Utah is abound with wonderful places to visit and things to see. Pick a city, a national park or landmark that you haven’t visited recently, or ever, and plan an overnighter or a few days around that location. If you do your research, you can have a well-planned and cheap vacation. Make sure that you budget for your trip and all expenditures (including small souvenirs) and stick to your budget.

The internet is an incredible resource for planning vacations (and is available free at the library). Many online visitors bureaus and city tourist websites will mail you information, brochures and coupons to help you plan your vacation. Ask other people about where they have vacationed and what they like to do in certain cities. Sometimes the most enjoyable and free outings are not always listed in the brochures.

Also, the Salt Lake County Libraries have state park passes available for check-out. They are available for one week, (check-out on Wed and due back the following Tues). The passes allow free day use at almost all state parks and a discount on camping fees. Each library location has only one pass available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tips for Vacationing Cheaply:

Travel close, save on gas
Pack your lunch
Stay somewhere that includes a continental breakfast
Stock the hotel fridges with breakfast and lunch supplies
Use coupons
Plan in advance what your activities will be and budget for them
Contact the city, county or state you will be vacationing for travel info
Look into passes for zoos, museums, etc – sometimes local ones are reciprocal in other states
Search around for great deals – sometimes you can get package deals (airfare, rental car, etc)
Don’t forget the library – travel books, atlases, state park passes, local exploration passes, etc

Just a few Utah Travel Websites:
http://www.visitsaltlake.com/visit/
http://www.2chambers.com/tourist40.htm - Lists major cities in Utah and websites for their visitors bureaus
http://www.utah.com/
http://travel.utah.gov/

Spring Cleaning

2009-07-01T16:26:00.004-06:00

It’s that time of year again – spring cleaning! As you are cleaning your baseboards and blinds, don’t forget your files. What do you really need to keep and for how long should you keep it???

Taxes – 7 years, just to be safe.
IRA contributions – don’t toss! Keep permanently.
Retirement/ savings plan statements – Keep the quarterly statements until you receive the annual statement, but keep the annual statements until you close the account.
Bank records/utilities – Keep for a year and then you only need to keep those related to taxes, business expenses, home improvements and mortgage payments after that.
Brokerage statements – Keep until you sell the securities.
Credit card receipts and statements – Keep seven years if it documents tax related things, otherwise you can shred after you receive your statement.
Paycheck stubs – Keep until you receive your W2. If they match, you can shred.
House records – Keep all records regarding permanent improvements until you sell, expenses incurred in buying and selling keep for six years.
Receipts – It’s a good idea to have a filing system for all those receipts that accumulate. I like to file them by date after they are recorded in my finance software. I just staple them all together. That way, if I need to return something, I can find the receipt. Periodically clean them out (monthly – quarterly) and keep only those related to business expenses, taxes and large purchases.

Resources:
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/mtg/20000518h.asp
http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/ask/archive/2002/q0325.htm
http://www.bluesuitmom.com/career/getorganized/receipts.html

Employment Quotes and Tips

2009-07-01T16:10:00.006-06:00

These quotes and tips were found in the March issue of the Wise Stewards Newsletter:

The Church’s website: http://www.providentliving.org/ is a wonderful resource for employment help. There is even a new section with job search tips (for ex: Networking, Interview Techniques, Resume Writing and much more). It also has links to many other resources that can assist you in a job search. If you don’t need it, tell someone else about it!

Four steps which are important in obtaining the right employment. They are: first, to invite the Lord’s help in this important search; second, to plan ahead carefully; third, to gather all possible necessary information; and fourth, proper vocation or education preparation.
Howard W. Hunter, “Prepare for Honorable Employment,” Ensign, Nov 1975, 122

In these days of worldwide heavy unemployment, we should not allow ourselves, when we are out of work, to sit back and wait for “our type of job” if other honorable interim employment becomes available.
Marvin J. Ashton, “One for the Money,” Ensign, Sep 2007, 36–39

Tax Time

2009-07-01T16:07:00.005-06:00

Either you have already done them or you will soon. April 15th . . . and filing your taxes is coming quickly. You won’t be getting a rebate check like last year, but you still might be getting a refund. So, what are you going to do with your refund? Here are some ideas, BUT keep in mind your financial goals and be sure that you and your spouse agree on how to SAVE or spend your refund.

Pay off your debt – especially credit card or consumer debt
Build your emergency fund – a great goal is to have 3-6 months living expenses saved in an emergency fund (for example a money market account)
Open a money market account or CD– start earning interest, instead of just paying it
Build up your food storage
Add to your retirement savings
Fix that home improvement problem that has been waiting for the funds
Save for your children’s missions or colleges
Start or add to your car savings account so that you can pay cash for your next car
Go on a small family vacation and make some memories

Surviving Unemployment - Tips from the Survivors

2009-07-01T15:53:00.006-06:00

Hopefully this isn’t a trial that you are dealing with right now, but many in our ward and circle of acquaintances are. And even if you aren’t, you can never be too prepared for the future. Thanks to Becky J.and Cynthia A.for sharing advice gained from their own survival of unemployment.

Financially

Get rid of all unnecessary spending. For example: internet, cell phones, cable, music lessons, sports, eating out, gym memberships, new clothes, etc.
Avoid spending temptations – don’t go to stores or look at ads.
Be willing to work anywhere while you look for the right job. Temporary jobs help pay the bills.
Consider pulling money out of your 401k or retirement accounts.
Have a garage sale or sell any big money items you own. For example: pianos, antiques, boats, RVs
Use your food storage.
Be creative in your entertainment. “We found joy in creativity. We explored new ways of using our food storage, disguised ourselves in costumes to teach our kids, learned new ways to make our resumes more exciting, and thought up creative free dates.”

Emotionally

Be as self sufficient as possible, it will give you confidence in yourself.
Take walks or other enjoyable and free stress relievers.
Be honest when people ask how you are and know the friends that you can talk to for support.
Remember your blessings and think positively.
Don’t give up your dates and time together as a couple. Just get creative in how you accomplish them. The temple is always free.

Spiritually

Keep up your spiritual routines—reading scriptures, prayer, Family Home Evening and attending church.
Pay an honest tithing. The Lord will keep His promises.
Pray often and honestly. Share your frustrations and specific needs with the Lord and let Him lighten your load.
Go to the temple often and put your name on the prayer roll. “In the temple, we found great peace and realized that there is so much more to life than earning money. Sometimes when it was too hard to pray at home, I escaped to the temple, where it was much easier.”
Serve in your calling faithfully.
Trust in the Lord. He will abide by His promises, but on His time table.
Meet with the bishop often and be honest about where you are at.

Tips on Finding a Job

Maintain a daily routine. Get up early and work a full day, just like you have a job. It gives you a sense of normalcy and helps fight discouragement.
Dress for the day and your job search, even if you are only at home on the internet or phone.
Let people know you are looking for work. You're more likely to find a job when many people are helping you look for one. It’s not only what you know, but who you know that can help you find employment.
Take advantage of all the resources available to you: the Ward Employment Specialist, LDS Employment Resource Service Centers (career classes and counseling), http://www.providentliving.org/, Department of Workforce Services and the library (free internet, books to help with resumes, job hunting, etc). These are just a few.
Be flexible . . . about your job title, how much you want for wages or salary, benefits, and where you'll find work. You may end up finding work that is quite different from your previous job.
Be organized. Use a 3-ring binder to keep track of jobs you have applied for and places you have left resumes. Refer to and follow up often.
Be a supportive spouse by continuing to show love and confidence. Be careful at how involved you get: “I had to learn not to ask too many questions about the job hunt so I wouldn't come across as critical.”

If you want more information and tips, read these articles in past issues of the Ensign.

Joy K. Young, “Surviving Unemployment,” Ensign, Feb 1991, 42
Faye B. Woolley, “Our Unemployment Survival Kit,” Ensign, Jun 1985, 47
“Helping Marriage Survive Unemployment: Seven Principles,” Ensign, Apr 2004, 62

Online Course - Peace in Your Hearts

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Have you checked out http://www.providentliving.org/ lately? There is a new online course available to help manage your household finances wisely entitled “Peace in Your Hearts”. It has audio clips of prophetic counsel, specific tips and examples on budgeting and saving, additional articles to read, and great resources to calculate where you are financially and where you need to be. Take a few minutes or spend a Family Home Evening watching and listening to this course.

How Do We Weather This Turbulent Economy?

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The news stations seem to be bombarding us with the bad news of our current economic situation. It inspires fear, dread and uncertainty in our lives. How concerned should we be? Is this a disaster waiting to happen? I am no expert, but I do know that if we are prepared, we shall not fear (D&C 38:30).

The experts from Investing In An Uncertain Economy for Dummies say: “Uncertain economic times come and go. These times can be especially challenging if you aren’t prepared for them. No one knows exactly when a major economic event will occur or what it’ll look like, but if you’re prepared, you stand a good chance of weathering it.”

How can we prepare for what is to come? Follow the counsel given from the First Presidency found in the All Is Safely Gathered In pamphlet. If you don’t have a copy, look online at http://www.providentliving.org/ or ask a member of the bishopric, Relief Society or Elder’s Quorum presidencies. Another great resource from the church is the One for the Money (pamphlet by Marvin J. Ashton) that can also be found online.

If you have the basics under control and are still concerned about how to invest in this economy, here are a few tips from Investing In An Uncertain Economy for Dummies:

· Make sure you have a cash reserve (emergency fund) in a safe, secure, accessible place such as a savings account or money market account.
· Stay out of debt. Pay off your mortgage as soon as possible.
· Keep your job skills current and broad.
· Diversify your investments. Mutual funds are an easy way to diversify.
· Avoid the next hot investment. Follow the church’s advice to “Avoid all proposals for high-risk investments and get-rich-quick schemes.” (One For The Money)
· Keep investing on a regular basis. Automate your savings - if you are investing regularly regardless of the economy, you are taking advantage of the lower prices. “A decline in prices means investments are on sale.” (Investing in an Uncertain Economy for Dummies)
· Don’t panic. If you sell now, you will eventually be buying again (buying high, selling low). “Don’t watch, listen to, or read too much commentary. During a downturn, the news media has plenty of disheartening stories. The talking heads and bloggers are there for infotainment, not to make you money.” (Investing in an Uncertain Economy for Dummies)

New Year's Resolutions

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It’s the start of a new year and with that comes the tradition of making New Year’s Resolutions. When you are making your resolutions and setting your goals, don’t forget your finances. Financial goals are just as important! Maybe you have already made your financial goals and instituted a plan for achieving them. If that’s the case – congratulations! Now would be a good time to review your goals and check your progress. If you feel at a complete loss – here are some ideas for financial goals:

Build your emergency fund: a good target is 3-6 months of living expenses, but start with just a month if that is too overwhelming.

Dump your debt: start paying as much as you can afford on your lowest debt amount. When that is paid off, use that amount to pay off the next largest debt.

Save for that future expense: don’t forget your car, washing machine, etc (you name it) doesn’t last forever. If you know that yours is getting close to the end, save for the next one so you can pay cash!

Plan for retirement, college, vacations: Determine what is important to your family and make a plan to pay for it!

Create and live by your budget: if you don’t have one, make a goal to create your budget and then use it.

The key is to prioritize your goals, make a plan, stick to it and review your plan periodically. Just as with any goal, it won’t get accomplished if you don’t set the goal, write it down and review your progress. Good Luck!

Welcome

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This blog is a resource of financial information and tips that we have gathered and ways that you can be financially prepared for the challenges of life. Please feel free to browse the posts, links, etc. If you have any suggestions or know of any great deals, websites, advice, please feel free to leave a comment. However, any comments will have to be approved by the moderators before being posted.

Most of the posts will be from the Wise Stewards Newsletters published every quarter. So, if you have lost your newsletters (or thrown them away already) but want to refer to the information, it will be available here. We will also attempt to post great deals, upcoming free events and in general, ways to save money. Enjoy!