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Big Sky Connection Young Montanans who have graduated from high school will now have to learn to manage their own finances. For those who are newly independent, a few tips can help them budget their money smartly. Comments from Ally Haegele (HAG-lee), programs manager, Montana's Credit Unions for Community Development; and Jordyn Rogers, deputy director, Rural Dynamics.
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Apps can help people understand how certain purchases will affect their overall budget. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)
Eric Tegethoff
Many recent Montana high school graduates are setting off on their own, meaning it's likely their first time being financially independent. A few tips could help them better manage their money.
Ally Haegele is the programs manager with Montana's Credit Unions for Community Development. She said first, young adults should understand their long-term financial goals.
Haegele said keeping the big picture in mind is an important way to draft a budget, but she also noted that people should give themselves grace.
"Not structuring a budget that it's so strict trying to achieve those big picture goals that you never go out to eat," said Haegele, "or you never let yourself get a coffee or whatever kind of indulgence you might allow yourself - especially as a young adult. Because then, they're just kind of setting themselves up to fail with the budget or be frustrated."
Haegele said people can download free budgeting apps to help guide them with their finances.
Jordyn Rogers is deputy director of the Great-Falls-based financial nonprofit Rural Dynamics. She said young people going on to higher education might have some additional considerations when it comes to saving money.
For instance, Rogers said, there are ways to save on textbooks.
"Consider renting textbooks for a fraction of the cost," said Haegele, "and you can even do that with e-books over a period of time that you have access to it."
For all young adults, Rogers said it's important to become creditworthy since credit plays such a big role in people's finances later in life.
She said the easiest way to do this is through a credit card - keeping in mind that you have to be responsible and know your own habits.
"Buying a gas card that can report positively to the credit bureaus, because you pay it off every month," said Haegele, "is a great way to build your credit utilization and also pay for a cost that you know is going to be there."
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PNS - Tuesday, July 5, 2022 - A shooting near Chicago leaves six dead and dozens injured, Democratic governors huddle to ensure abortion access, and officials say the "Remain in Mexico" immigration policy will be phased out in the coming weeks.
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July 4, 2022
Photo by Jim Larson
ButteNews.net
The recent Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v Wade rippled through Butte.
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Big Sky Connection On Independence Day, the United States celebrates its freedom and history. But with recent attacks on its institutions, some are taking a hard look at the state of the country's democracy. Comments from Nancy Leifer ("lifer"), president of board of directors, League of Women Voters of Montana.
Click on the image above for the audio. This year, the United States marks 246 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed. (Jeff/Adobe Stock)
Eric Tegethoff
July 4, 2022 - July 4th celebrates the founding of the United States' democracy - and some say it's time to recommit to defending that democracy.
In the wake of the "Big Lie" that the 2020 election was stolen, and the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, folks like Nancy Leifer - president of the League of Women Voters of Montana board of directors - concerned about the state of the country's representative government.
She said in Montana, there's also been talk that elections can't be trusted.
"There's absolutely nothing going on here that warrants that," said Leifer. "It's just this narrative that these folks have come up with who don't want to admit that the views that they have are not well supported by the majority of Americans."
Voter fraud is very rare in the United States. In January, two women who are citizens of the Philippines voted in a Montana election and were subsequently arrested.
Before that, the Heritage Foundation database of election fraud stretching back to 1979 shows just one conviction in Montana for fraudulent use of absentee ballots.
However, Leifer said the Montana Legislature passed a number of laws that restrict access to voting based on the false narrative of widespread election fraud.
That includes getting rid of same-day voter registration, which she said is especially important for Native American voters who may only be able to make one trip to the polls.
"The other I.D. law specifically targeted students," said Leifer, "who are unable to come up with the right I.D. information now because their student I.D. from the institution where they're studying is not sufficient."
Those two cases will head to the state Supreme Court before the November election.
Despite the limitations on voter access, Leifer said she has a deep faith in Montanans. She's convinced Montanans can like each other without having to agree on politics.
"That's been undermined by the extreme partisanship that's gone on lately," said Leifer. "And so, I would invite everyone to step back from their partisanship and to remember that we are here, and we are all friends and neighbors, and we will be moving forward together."
Support for this reporting was provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
