April 2002 Newsletter

Financial Planning for Women
http://www.usu.edu/fpw/
April 2002 Newsletter
A monthly educational seminar designed to empower women, "Financial Planning for Women" is offered the second Wednesday of each month at 12:30-1:30 p.m. (USU Family Life building Rm 318) and 7-8:30 p.m. at the Family Life Center (493 N 700 E).
Facilitator: Dr. Jean Lown, lown@cc.usu.edu; 797-1569

April 10 Money Market Mutual Funds
What is a mmmf and why should everyone use one? How do you select a fund and open an account? Money funds are NOT the same as money market accounts at your local financial institution. Mmmfs offer consistently higher interest rates. Find out which fund is best for your needs.

Next month: May 8: Last Chance Financial Planning for Baby Boomers. Are you behind in your retirement savings plan? This participatory workshop is for you!

Contents of newsletter:
Bring a friend to FPW
Quote of the Month
Book of the Month
Are you or someone you love a Money Abuser?
Nolo's FAQs: Consumer Law
Sound Money
Take Charge of Your Money workshops

Bring a friend to FPW
Bring a new participant to FPW and she will receive a packet of financial publications and you get a free book. Choose between How to Survive in the Real World: Financial Independence for the recent graduate and Money Mastery in Just Minutes a Day.

Quote of the Month
"There are three ways to get rich: inherit money, marry money or live on less than you earn." Sound Money's Erica Whittlinger followed up her introductory statement during her visit to USU for College of Family Life week in March with 2 hours of sage advice on how to invest prudently and become wealthy slowly. For more of Erica's advice listen to Sound Money and visit their web site. See details below.

Book of the Month
Take Charge! A Woman's Guide to a Secure Retirement by Edie Milligan
"Take Charge! is not just for working women, or divorced women, or recently widowed women---this book reached out to ALL women. It was written from the perspective that women are in control of their own fate when it comes to retirement planning---not their husbands, not their employer, and certainly not their government. It combines information of the benefits and mechanics of retirement planning with inspirational anecdotes from women who have overcome some of the common obstacles that readers will likely face themselves."
Order from:
Genesis Financial Services Press
359 Betty's Creek Drive
Moneta, VA 24121-2460
Phone/fax: 540-721-3396
Phone: 800-264-0721, access 6-0
Email: GenesisPr@aol.com
"www.financialcounseling.net"

Are You (Or Someone You Love) a Money Abuser?
Or do you know a Money Abuser?
If you agree with any of these statements, you could be a money abuser and should review the help we offer below.
Do you have repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop excessive money use?
Do you feel alone or empty inside and uses money to purchase goods or services in an attempt to feel better or improve self-esteem?
Does your mood change just before or after spending money?
Do you spend money as a way of escaping problems or of relieving stress?
Are you preoccupied with buying things in an effort to impress or influence others?
Do you feel a need to spend money on or with others in order to maintain a relationship with those people?
Do you lie, minimize or rationalize to family members or others to conceal spending?
Have you lost out on opportunities such as a significant relationship, job, promotion, or educational or career opportunity because of money consumption?
Do you have excessive debt as the result of the inability to stop spending money?
Check out the MyVesta web site for more information:
http://myvesta.org/home.htm
http://myvesta.org/news/releases/releases/032102PRMoneyBehaviors.htm

Nolo's FAQs: Consumer Law
If you've got legal questions about buying a car, insurance, traveling, identity theft and more, check out our extensive list of Frequently Asked Questions -- the answer may just be right there, waiting for you!
http://referral.nolo.com/nc.cfm?t=NB000300001840

Home Affordability Calculator
How much house can you afford? Plug in a few numbers and click to find out!
http://referral.nolo.com/nc.cfm?t=NB000300001841

Sound Money <http://www.soundmoney.org> is a call-in radio program (Sat. 9-10 am 89.5 or 91.5 FM) hosted by Stephanie Curtis and Chris Farrell and features weekly appearances by Minneapolis money manager Erica Whittlinger, president of Whittlinger Capital Management. Each program contains several interviews with special guests who address a wide variety of topics of interest to individual investors and consumers. Upcoming topics:
Glitch-Free Taxes
April 6, 2002
Last week we had tax questions answered. This week, we'll learn how to file our taxes problem-free with Bob Starkey, former national director of the IRS Collection Division in Washington, D.C. Also on the show, we'll find out whether index funds are a better bet than managed funds. And see if you're normal about money from author Bernice Kanner.
Global Economy
April 13, 2002
On this program, we tentatively have global economist Walter Russell Mead, author of Special Providence, American Foreign Policy and How it Changed the World.
Social Security Specifics
April 20, 2002
This week we'll learn the nitty gritty about social security. What benefits will you receive? We'll answer your questions on social security specifics.
Debt Consolidation
April 27, 2002
On this edition of Sound Money, we'll focus on debt consolidation. Also on the show, what is the job market like for the class of 2002?

Take Charge of Your Money! A Series of Six Workshops on Money Management
Plan now to join us for this popular and informative, six week series of personal and family financial management workshops! Each week there will be a presentation by a guest speaker followed by a question and answer session. Classroom space is limited. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Cost: $25.00 per person for the entire series, including workshop materials, a binder, handouts, and light refreshments. Spouse or partner may attend free but only one set of printed materials will be given.
Schedule of Workshops:
April 10: Getting Organized
April 17: How Does Your Cash Flow? Reducing Expenses at Home
April 24: Banking, Cash, and Credit
May 1: Insurance & Estate Planning
May 8: Investing for Retirement
May 15: Deciding What If . . . Expert Panel
Classes will be held on the dates specified at:
Lifetime Learning Center, 55 North Main, Suite 101 (Downstairs in the Coppermill Building)
Wednesday Evenings, April 10 - May 15 , 2002, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m
For more information, contact Adrie Roberts, USU Extension Agent, (435) 752-6263.

Items of Interest

The U.S.U. Family Life Center, 493 North 700 East in Logan offers free financial and housing counseling. If you want help getting out of debt or simply organizing your finances and developing a realistic budget (or know someone who can use this help), call 797-7224 for an appointment. The FLC offers first-time homebuyer workshops the last Saturday of each month.

Funding for Financial Planning for Women (copying cost, postage, book purchases, etc.) is made possible by a grant from the Foundation for Financial Planning. www.foundation-finplan.org/