Utah Saves

Utah Saves is a public awareness initiative that brings the community together to help all Utahns build wealth, reduce debt, and create long-term financial security. Modeled after the nationwide campaign, America Saves, Utah Saves arose out of the need to mobilize the community to develop proactive, systemic changes in how we deal with social and economic issues.

Financial insecurity is at the core of many of our society's social ills. Financial insecurity not only results in poverty and homelessness, but poor financial habits can also lead to poor health, domestic violence, troubled youth, and the breakdown of families and neighborhoods. With Utah sitting at the top of the nation's personal bankruptcy and mortgage foreclosure rates, there's no time to lose. We can either watch as families fall through the cracks, or we can act now to get to the root of the problem. Utah Saves attacks this growing epidemic by giving people the tools to achieve personal savings goals and eventually become financially independent. These tools include:

• Creating and sticking to a budget
• Paying for a college education
• Becoming debt-free
• Saving for retirement
• Building an emergency fund
• Starting a small business
• Buying a home

Utah Saves is directed and supported by a broad-based coalition of community partners bringing their talent, energy, influence, and resources to empower all Utahns to build lifelong financial security. Everyone is invited to take part: nonprofits, financial institutions, employers, government agencies, faith-based groups, and so on. Founding partners include AAA Fair Credit Foundation, United Way of Salt Lake, and Utah Issues.

How will Utah Saves do its work?

Public Awareness: Through mass media and grassroots efforts, Utah Saves will create widespread public awareness that saving money and planning for your financial security is a must. It will motivate the public to begin saving toward a personal goal and enroll as a Utah Saver.

Coordination: Utah Saves will integrate and centralize the many great financial education and wealth-building programs already available locally. It will provide a safe gateway for all Utahns at any income level to find the specific tools they need, and help existing programs have greater reach and impact.

Programs & Services: Utah Saves will offer specific tools that complement existing financial education programs. It will make these tools available where people work, worship, and gather. These include:

• Access to great programs that match savings, assist with taxes, etc.
• Free how-to seminars on specific financial planning topics
• A range of low-cost financial products: savings accounts, mutual funds, IRAs, etc.
• Wealth-building workshops that motivate people to save and plan
• Savers Clubs to give ongoing encouragement and ideas to Utah Savers
• One-on-one mentoring, coaching, and ongoing support through volunteer wealth coaches
• Toll Free Moneyline. Savers can call the Moneyline at 1-800-350-9899 for free information, referrals and finanical counseling. Wealth Coaching services are provided by AAA Fair Credit Foundation.

Click Here for more information about Utah Saves or call 1-800-350-9899 if you're interested in enrolling or volunteering.