Friday Food Tip

Today's food tip comes from a recent story on KSL.com featuring 10 smart ways to save money.

Get a crock pot and use it!

Crock pots are great because you can pile in the ingredients when you leave for work in the morning and come home to a delicious meal that is ready to go. You save money by not eating out and get the added benefit of food that is better for you. Setting some aside for lunch the next day will only increase your savings. There are dozens of cookbooks and websites about slow-cooking like this one from food.com or this blogger who use a crock pot every day for a year.

The Believe website also has some great resources to help you cut your spending.

Mark Your Calendars!

Here's a look ahead at what's coming up on the Believe calendar next week. Don't miss your chance to sign up for these classes and events!

Thursday, June 2, 2011 - Ogden - Identity Theft Prevention Event, 3:00 - 7:00 PM

Free document shredding and identity theft prevention seminar

Thursday, June 2, 2011 - Sandy - Super Saving Seminar, 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Super Saving is the first class in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course. In this FREE seminar, you'll learn the seven baby steps that will guide you to financial peace.

Saturday, June 4, 2011 - Murray - Junior Achievement 5k Challenge and Fun Run

Go the distance for financial literacy! Prizes will be awarded. $25 per runner. Student and family rates available.

Prepare for a Crisis

From earthquakes to tornados and job loss to falling home values, there's so much crisis in the world right now. The Believe website has an entire section dedicated to your possible life crisis. You can find resources such as

• What to Do When the Paycheck Stops
• Emergency Food and Food Assistance
• Disaster Planning Checklist
• Your Handbook for Earthquakes in Utah
• Credit Counseling: What is it and when you might consider it

These are just a few of the many life crisis resources available on the Believe website. I hope you'll go check them out!

Eat In and Save!

Everyone knows that eating-in instead of dining out saves money. Here's a food and meal-related tip that might help you save money on lunch or snacks. If you like burritos, try this recipe for frozen burritos from Pinching Your Pennies. Instead of buying frozen burritos, try making your own!

1 lrg can refried beans
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 12 oz taco sauce
small can chopped green chilies
grated cheese
flour tortillas

Brown hamburger. Add beans, taco sauce, and chilies. Roll 4-5 TBL in each flour tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese. Wrap up tight. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze. When ready to eat, place in microwave. 

Don't like this recipe? Go ahead and modify it to your liking. Frozen burritos make great after-school snacks for kids or last-minute lunches for parents. Next time you're in need of a snack, or a last-minute sack lunch for work, snag a frozen burrito from your freezer and save money!

Upcoming Classes

The Believe calendar is a great place to find classes or events that can help you improve your personal finances. Check out this list of classes available next week!

Monday, May, 23, 6:30 - 8:30 PM, Ogden - Super Saving Seminar - Monday, May 23, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Super Saving is the first class in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course.

Tuesday, May 24, 12:00 - 1:00 PM, Salt Lake City - Budgeting 101: How to make it work for you
Learn the basics of budgeting, how to track spending, save with coupons, build good credit, pay down debt, and protect yourself against fraud.

Wednesday, May 25, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Ogden - Budget 101

This FREE class that covers the basics of sound money management.

Wednesday, May 25, 5:00 - 9:30 PM, Salt Lake City - Opening the Door to Homeownership

$15 registration fee. Learn to prepare financially, find the right home, access grant programs, shop for a realtor, lender, title company, etc.

Wednesday, May 25, 6:00 - 7:00 PM, Salt Lake City - Exploring Income: Little Ways to Boost your Bottom Line
Stretching your dollar is all the rage these days, but even with a stretch those dollars have their limits. Join us as we look at ways to increase monthly income.

Thursday, May 26, 5:00 - 9:30 PM, Salt Lake City - Opening the Door to Homeownership

$15 registration fee. Learn to prepare financially, find the right home, access grant programs, shop for a realtor, lender, title company, etc.

Saturday, May 28, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM, Salt Lake City - Saving My Home Seminar

Come learn what you can do to save your home from foreclosure.

Keeping your money safe

Here's a silly cartoon with a valuable lesson. How do you keep your money safe? Do you carry it around in your pocket? Stash it under your mattress? Deposit it in a bank account? Banking is the best way to keep your money safe. Learn more about banking on the banking section of the Believe website!

Got a question?

If you’ve got a money question, I can answer it! All you have to go here and enter your question. Here’s a recent question that I thought you all might find interesting.

Question: How many programs for home owners facing foreclosure are there under the Obama Administration that provide a refinance or loan modification?

Answer: My recommendation is that anyone who is late with their mortgage payments should contact a local HUD approved housing counseling agency and speak with a Foreclosure Avoidance Counselor. Foreclosure prevention counseling services are provided free of charge by nonprofit housing counseling agencies working in partnership with the Federal Government. Click here to locate a housing counseling agency in your area.

The Obama Administration is responsible for two programs – all under the same name, Making Home Affordable. The two programs are Home Affordable Refinance Plan (HARP) and Home Affordable Modification Plan (HAMP). Outside of the Obama plan are a myriad of plans and programs to help distressed homeowners stay in their homes and avoid foreclosure. Some are better than others. But they are more accessible/successful than Obama’s plan.

If you need help understanding the Making Home Affordable programs, you can find a counseling agency in your area that will provide you with free foreclosure prevention services. If you are eligible for the loan modification or refinance program, the counselor will work with you to compile an intake package for your servicer.

Also, don’t forget to check out all the great foreclosure related resources on the Believe website!

United Way of Salt Lake

Last (but not least!) to receive special recognition for helping Utahns secure their financial future is United Way of Salt Lake. Are you familiar with United Way of Salt Lake (UWSL)?

United Way of Salt Lake is a local nonprofit agency working toward the development of long-term solutions in the areas of education, income and health as well as supporting safety net services. Through collaborative and innovative efforts, United Way of Salt Lake is finding ways to bring immediate and sustainable improvements to the financial situations for many Utah families. United Way of Salt Lake’s strategic initiatives educate and enable families to become financially stable, prepare for financial emergencies and plan for the future. By assisting those in need, United Way of Salt Lake is creating a better community for everyone.

UWSL is the primary funder of the Believe campaign. Without their support, I wouldn’t be here to cheer you on in your efforts to make wise financial choices. Check out the other generous funders.

Don’t forget to follow UWSL on Facebook and Twitter!