Effective Saving - Practices Made Easy

It is easy to postpone start to save for a later day, but a solid plan is key to success.  By following some basic guidelines from Mountain America Credit Union you're more likely to achieve financial security.

1. Make saving a habit.  Use automated transfers to get in the habit of saving. Money can be transferred from your account without you seeing it, which makes you less likely to miss it. 
2. Save 10% of your paycheck. The general rule of thumb is to save about 10% of each paycheck. If that seems too high, try 5% and work your way up to saving 10% of your earnings. Add 1% every year you get a raise until you reach 10%
3. Know yourself. Examine your goals to determine which savings plan will work best for you.  For example, don't invest all your money in an aggressive stock or mutual fund if you're conservative with your money,.
4. See the benefit of compound interest. The simplest way you can invest your money is to leave it alone and let it compound over time. You earn interest not only on what you save, but also on the dividends generated. The earlier and more you save, the more your money will grow.
5. Use dollar-cost average. This is the process of routinely investing a set amount of money over time, rather than all in one lump sum. It's a convenient savings method, particularly for beginning investors. For example, each month transfer $25 to $50 from your share draft account directly into an investment vehicle such as a traditional or Roth IRA. You reduce your overall risk from mark fluctuations because your money buys more share when the price of a share is down and fewer shares when the price is up.

Emergency Backpack for Children

Disaster strikes when we least expect it.  And if you were in need of leaving your home within a matter of minutes would you have everything you need?  How about your children?

BASIC CONTENTS FOR CHILD'S EMERGENCY BACKPACK

• Backpack, tote, duffle bag, or a small suitcase on wheels for easy transportation
• Warm jacket, sweater, gloves and hat
• Two or more pairs of socks
• Change of warm clothes, sweatshirt, sweatpants, etc.
• Change or two of undergarments
• Small blanket or emergency Mylar blanket
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• A blow whistle (can be heard over a yell for help)

ZIP-LOCK BAG ITEMS TO PLACE IN BAG:

• 1 child-size emergency poncho
• 1 or more hand/body warmer packets
• Hand wipes or sanitizer gel
• Pocket-size facial tissues

STRESS RELIEF ITEMS:

• Coloring books and crayons
• Writing pad/paper, pen/pencils
• Reading books, pad games
• Small toys
• Small stuffed animal for security

EXTRA TIPS:

• Place backpack underneath head of bed with handle facing out of quick grab.
• Closet or hanging hooks at doorway or hallway for quick grab and go.
• Children should always keep an extra pair of hard sole shoes next to their bed for quick slip on in case you need to evacuate from home.
• Children's medication, personal hygiene, and other special needs should be under parental care.

Contributed by Utah Division of Emergency Management

National Preparedness Month

Did you know that September is designated National Preparedness Month? The Red Cross has put together a three step plan to help to encourage Utahns to evaluate their levels of emergency preparedness and to take action to become better prepared.

1.  MAKE A KIT:

• Assemble emergency kits for each of your family members.
• Along with food, water and first aid supplies, include items such as vital prescription medications, important papers, pet supplies, contact lists and cash.

2.  MAKE A PLAN:

• Talk with your family about potential disasters and create a plan for staying safe and remaining connected.
• Begin building your plan today at redcross.org/prepare.
• Identify at least two locations family members might meet up after a disaster (one within your neighborhood and one outside it).
• Designate at least two out-of-state contacts.
• Plan to register yourself on the Red Cross Safe and Well website (safeandwell.org) following a disaster to list yourself as "safe and well" or to search about friends and loved ones.

3.  BE INFORMED:

• Be aware of the types of disaster situations that might occur in your area, and make specific plans for dealing with them.
• Make sure at least one person in your family has CPR and first aid training.
• Download the official American Red Cross First Aid app and the American Red Cross Earthquake app (available on iPhone and Android) for alerts, checklists, and other important tools and information.

Information from Teresa Zundel, director of communications for the American Red Cross Utah Region and Christian Gray, disaster services and emergency response manage for Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah.

50 Focus

Join the Sandy Utah East Stake Relief Society for the 50 Focus!  A special evening of events will be held Saturday, September 28th before the General Relief Society Meeting Broadcast.  Service projects will be from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.  A light dinner will be served from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.  The Broadcast begins at 6:00 p.m. and will be viewed in the chapel so Sunday dress is requested.

50 Focus Challenge - Each Ward is challenged to bring seven sisters that wouldn't usually attend this event. What a great opportunity to invite sisters you visit teach, your neighbor or someone who needs a friend or an outing.

50 Focus Donation Project - Each Ward is challenged to bring 50 donation items for the Nepali Inner City Mission. Sister Rose from the 8th Ward who is serving in this mission says, "Diapers and Kotex pads are the most needed. Most of these women had never heard of Kotex before they came. During their periods some would basically sit in a river for 3-4 days. It is a strong Nepali culture that during their periods many of the women are 'unclean'. They would sleep in a shed, not their house. They could not cook or get water. As they come to the United States, we are trying to teach them that this is perfectly normal, they are not 'unclean'.  When a woman is pregnant she doesn't come to church at all.  Many of their 'customs' might seem silly to us, but this is their reality. Many of them hold on to the traditions and ideas they have grown up with. We are having more success teaching younger girls. Thanks for your willingness. I know they would appreciate any help that the Sandy East Stake would be able to provide. Probably the greatest needs are the following:
* Diapers
* Kotex
Dish soap (not dishwasher soap, they don't have those)
Laundry detergent
Hand soap
Shampoo
Basic cleaning supplies: Ajax, window cleaner, cleaning spray, paper towels, toilet paper"

50 Books of Mormon - 50 Books of Mormon will be available for sisters to write their testimonies in.  These will be given to the full-time missionaries assigned to our Stake.

50 Purple Caps - 50 kits will be available to knit or crochet caps to increase awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome. All babies go through a normal period of increased crying in the first few months of life. The color purple is an acronym for the steps to handle and understand this period of an infants life. The caps are given to babies as they leave the hospital to remind their parents how to deal with this phase.  There will be educational materials and information available for everyone as well as the kits for those who would like to knit or crochet a cap.

50 plus Candy Rolls - Sisters will cover empty toilet paper rolls with decorative paper. After Halloween they will be filled with candy donations, wrapped in cellophane and donated to Festival of Trees, a fundraiser, which benefits Primary Children's Hospital.  Bring any empty TP rolls with you.

Look who is on Facebook!

The Church has created social media pages for members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve on Facebook and Google+. These pages will be maintained on their behalf by the Church and act as an official social media presence for each of them.

To learn more: Social Media Pages Created for Church Leaders

What is in your handcart?

From a talk by Linda K. Burton, General Relief Society President
"A few years ago, Elder Jeffery R. Holland shared his feeling about the deep rooted faith of pioneers who pushed toward the Salt Lake Valley even after the deaths of the children.  He said, 'They didn't do that for a program, they didn't do it for a social activity, they did because the faith of the gospel of Jesus Christ was in their soul, it was in the marrow of their bones.'  He concluded with these thought provoking words: 'If we can keep that in our families and in the Church, maybe a lot of other things start to take care of themselves.  Maybe a lot of other less-needed things sort of fall out of the wagon.  I'm told those handcarts could only hold so much.  Just as our ancestors had to choose what they took, maybe the 21st century will drive us to decide, what can we put in our handcart?"

In modern times, this era of materialism, what is in our handcart? If we put everything in we perceive as meaningful, could we pull the cart or would we be like some pioneers who had to leave their cherished possessions on the trail because they had too much "stuff"?

One of the most essential items in our handcart should be our 72-hour kit. We don't need everything in the cupboard to survive for a few days in the event of an emergency. Our 72-hour kits should be up to date, accessible and ready to go.  We can temporarily meet our physical needs with a little preparation.

Our handcart must also include some spiritual preparation.  Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, "A 72-hour kit of temporal supplies may prove valuable for earthly challenges but a 24-hour kit of spiritual preparation is of greater and more enduring value."

Your 24-hour kit includes the gospel essentials and should be used and renewed every 24 hours:

• Daily prayer and study
• Stand in holy places
• Invite the spirit into your home and daily activities
• Partake of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and invite others to partake of His gift

We need to choose the things we add to our handcart wisely.  Make sure both your 72-hour kit and your 24-hour kit are up to date, accessible and ready to go!

Be water wise in every way!

The heat is on!  It’s the dog days of summer!  (Dog days generally refer to July and August when it’s too hot to do much but take a nap in the shade.) When it’s hot, it’s important to be conscious of water usage and hydration for both your landscaping and your body.
Slow the Flow, Save H2O is a great website for water tips.  You can learn how to be water wise including the best plants to use for our high desert climate, how to measure your water usage, and great water saving ideas for inside your home.
Hydration for the body is important because the body is mostly comprised of water.  Drinking enough water is important at all times but especially during warm weather to keep your body from overheating.  Signs of dehydration include:
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Flushed skin
• Heat intolerance
• Light headedness
• Dark colored urine
• Dry cough
The best way to beat dehydration is to drink before you get thirsty.  If you wait until after you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated!  There are many websites that give detailed information on how to beat the heat for both adults and children including www.webmd.com and www.familydoctor.org.
Now that your yard and garden are watered properly and you are well hydrated to tend to them, don’t forget to water your spiritual thirst.  As water is essential to sustain physical life, the Savior and His teachings are essential for eternal life.  “Whosoever shall drink of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst.” John 4:6-15  Living water heals, sustains us and brings us peace and joy.
Be water wise in every way!