A Brigham Young University Student Journal
Anaphylaxis, a life-threatening symptom of severe allergic reactions, can cause shock, difficult breathing, or a sudden drop in blood pressure. Anaphylactic reactions are most common in people with severe food allergies or allergies to bee stings, and in most people it is obvious that anaphylaxis …
Once the flutters in your tummy have calmed down a little since he proposed (which, let’s face it, they never really do!), you may start worrying about the daunting task ahead of you and how much money it’s going to involve. Don’t be …
Financial worries are one of the biggest causes of stress and difficulty for families today. One researcher in 2013 found that the top indicator of future divorce for a couple was if they argued about money, especially early in their relationship.
Even more recently, an interview with a homeless man in San Francisco was posted online. The man has “an MBA in finance from Stanford” but has been homeless for ten months. How did this happen to him? In his words, “We’re just one paycheck away.” 2
This concept is part of the reason that finances are such a worry for those trying to support a family. When we’re living from paycheck to paycheck, missing just one of them could definitely have difficult or even disastrous consequences.
The good thing is, it doesn’t have to be this way.
What’s the solution? It sounds pretty intuitive: as soon as you get paid, save some money from your paycheck, preferably a set percentage. And when you start to earn more money, start to save more money.
Saving a percent of your income instead of an amount means that every raise or bonus you get will help you in the future, and your spending habits will not increase as much right now. It’s the principle of ‘waste not, want not’—an investment for the future of a family.
Although this is simple, it’s not an easy habit to start if we’re like most Americans. Financial advisors have noted that an increase in salary or income typically means that a family will also increase their spending to match it. If we don’t save our money right when it comes, we’ll probably end up finding another use for it, and at the end of the month, we won’t have anything to put away into savings. This behavior comes from the same part of human nature that a credit card company takes advantage of when they raise a credit limit to entice people further into debt: With more money available, why not relax a little and get the things you couldn’t pay for earlier?
It’s an attractive idea to be free financially, but that freedom doesn’t come when we’re able to spend as much as we want. Financial freedom comes when we don’t have to worry about missing that next paycheck. By learning to live with what we have now, we’re preparing our families and ourselves for the future.
—Sam Watson, Editor, Stance
My husband and I made the big decision to take on a new and major responsibility–taking care of a new life. We are starting our family and expecting a little boy in February. This new chapter in our lives has been a constant thrill of …
What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Oktoberfest? If you thought of a man sporting lederhosen while drinking a mug of beer, I’m right there with you. However, Oktoberfest is more than that and can be celebrated in a …
One of the best-kept secrets of Provo is the beautiful canyon trail that runs all the way down the canyon. In any one of the given parks off of University Avenue (which leads into the canyon), there is access to this trail, which extends all the way through the canyon down to Utah Lake.
This trail is a dream for any marathon trainers, and it’s a beautiful ride for any bikers as well. One of the perks of this trail is that it is entirely paved all the way down. There are signs that divide the trail between pedestrians and bikers to keep people safe, and on a Saturday morning, there are plenty of runners to keep each other company (and make female runners feel more safe).
I tested this trail out just last Saturday and was amazed at this hidden treasure. The trail is set directly in the middle of the canyon, and running through it is like running through an autumn wonderland. It’s right in the middle of all the trees and the sights are just stunning.
Towards the opening of the canyon into Provo, there is a beautiful cliff pass that I ran by as well as a waterfall. If the scenery wasn’t stunning enough, I was very impressed by the accessibility of the trail.
When the canyon opened up, the trail had a very easy left turn allowing runners or bikers to continue into Provo, or to go straight and run down to Utah Lake. If you’re looking for a place to jog, bike, or even just take a nice Sunday walk, this is the place for you!
—Jessica Romrell, Editor in Chief, Stance