“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” -Dolly Parton
And what better way, than getting a grip on finances. It isn’t easy, but it’s possible, and if you’re reading this, you are well equipped to make it happen!
“There is sometimes an underlying belief that lower-income Americans don’t know how to manage their money as well as the rich do — when the exact opposite is true. The very nature of poverty means that the poor are often the savviest budgeters of us all. This is born out of necessity. If you have limited income, the daily tradeoffs you face prompt you to watch your finances more closely.” -Matt Darling
Like most things this year, tax day is also a little off-kilter. It is now May 17th. You may be eligible to receive up to $3600 per child!
Need some free help with taxes and getting that credit?
The IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals.
- People who generally make $57,000 or less
- Persons with disabilities; and
- Limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns.
In addition to VITA, the TCE program offers free tax help, for those 60 years and older.
Check it out:
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers
Our partners at USU Extension, offer solid finance resources with experts available to assist you free of charge. They offer online courses, such as this HUD approved online homebuyer education course:
https://extension.usu.edu/finance/housing
And the ever-popular “Money Moms”
https://www.utahmoneymoms.com/
Our personal favorite is the Online PowerPay Money Master Course
This is designed to further your personal financial vision, tracking expenses, budgeting, managing debt, understanding credit, and saving money, with tools to help manage your finances for free; PowerPay is a nationally recognized debt reduction tool:
https://extension.usu.edu/powerpay/
For more tips, tricks, and tools visit this site:
https://extension.usu.edu/finance/
Here are a few apps where you can invest a few dollars here and there, with no costs, and possibly some decent rewards:
https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/investing/investment-apps
-UNPHC
