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Upcoming Events
Upcoming Classes
Click on name of class for more information
Northern Utah:
For more upcoming classes
Click Here
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Don't know where to begin?
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Send In Your Saving's Tip
America Saves is looking for your frugal tips and are willing to pay for them! Send in your savings tip to:
America Saver, c/o Consumer Federation of America
1620 Eye St., NW, Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20006
If America Saves selects your tip for publication, they will send you a check for $25 (the initial purchase price of a $50 EE Savings Bond) and an application for the $50 EE Savings Bond. America Saves recommend purchasing a savings bond at a local bank or credit union. Please include your name, address, and phone number so they can contact you.
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Questions or Comments?
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| New Features for the New Year
There will be two new features in the Utah Saver this year. The first will be a monthly message from our office to help you stay on track with your financial goals. The next will be an addition to the Frugal Tip of the Month. A general item list of sales expected for the month will be listed so you can plan appropriately for your spending patterns.
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Setting Financial Goals
By Ann House, Utah Saves Coordinator
Take the time as a new year begins to set your financial goals. Many New Year resolutions and many goals are never achieved. Use Utah Saves for tips, strategies, inspiration, encouragement, motivation and information to help you reach these goals this coming year.
Some goals you may want to strive for this year are:
- Spend Less Than You Earn: keep a budget and track your spending
- Have a Plan: get organized
- Prepare for Expected Events: i.e. retirement, vacations, holidays, anniversaries
- Prepare for the Unexpected Events: i.e. emergencies, job loss, illness and accidents
- Always Know Your Interest Rates: avoid exceeding 13% interest on loans
- Keep A Healthy Credit Report: receive free annual credit report
- Avoid Waste: i.e. eat in often, clip coupons, buy on sale
- Take Advantage of Tax Breaks: request your tax credits, utilize VITA, and invest in tax-deferred accounts
- Fill in the Financial Gaps: garage sales, consignment sales, recycle, use it up, learn repairs
- Give Back To Your Community
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Place Your Thermostat on a Timer
Install a programmable thermostat and set it to lower the temperature at night and whenever the house is unoccupied. Lowering your thermostat by 10 degrees at night can reduce your heating bill by 10 to 20 percent.
Whats on sale this month?
This month look for specials on bedding, CD's and DVD's, cookware, houses and condos, linens, swimwear, toys, treadmills, TV's, and winter clothing.
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Scam Alert!
Watch for Fraudulent Claims on H1N1
Consumers need to be aware of those who wish to profit off of the threat of H1N1. From false email claims to products not authorized by the FDA, consumers need to be aware of what and where their money is being spent when it comes to health.
One fake alert floating about the web tricks end users by offering information on the virus. The link sends users to a false Center for Disease Control website where they are prompted to create a user profile. Malware software is then downloaded onto the computer. This software collects information to use for identity theft. Click here to learn more about this scam.
Also, look out for web sites that are or were illegally marketing unapproved, uncleared, or unauthorized products in relation to the 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus. Click here to view the list.
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 Top 8 Mistakes Found on
Tax Returns
www.irs.gov
Tax season is here! Be sure to take advantage of the new tax credits available through the Obama tax plan. By electronically filling your tax return most of the below errors would be caught and a quicker return would be given.
- Incorrect or missing social security numbers
- Incorrect or misspelling of dependent's last name
- Filing status errors
- Math errors
- Computation errors
- Incorrect bank account numbers for Direct Deposit
- Forgetting to sign and date the return
- Incorrect Adjusted Gross Income information
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This months coach is Jean C. Setzfand, the Director of Financial Security at AARP. She leads AARP's educational and outreach efforts aimed at helping Americans have financial 'peace of mind' in retirement. Her work focuses on providing consumer-friendly information on money matters, protecting consumers from investment fraud and influencing needed changes to employer-based retirement benefits (such as automating 401Ks).
To read the full article click here.
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Finance in the Classroom
Parents now have help from their children's educators when teaching about finances. In 2004 the Utah State Board of Education approved the General Financial Literacy core course. This course is to be taught to all high school students before graduation. The four standards to be covered are decision making and goals, income and careers, principles of money management, and savings, investing, and retirement planning.
Finance in the Classroom felt it was important to start teaching financial education at a younger age. From K-12 grade teachers will be given ideas to help students learn and understand basic financial concepts. Learn more about Finance in the Classroom by visiting the website!
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| Utah Saves is
*Utah State University Extension is an
affirmative action/equal opportunity institution.
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