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SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah women worked on becoming financial powerhouses Wednesday, be it with a business, retirement or household budgeting at this year's Smart Women, Smart Money conference presented by Zions Bank.
Women at the conference were able to meet three money makeover recipients. A year ago, Desert Media Company's Imagine a Happier You initiative paired them with mentors - and a lot has changed since then.
12 months ago they faced- like many people- seemingly overwhelming money issues.
"We were living paycheck to paycheck," said participant Melody Hillam
Hillam started the year with no real knowledge of where her money was. Her goal was to have a realistic budget. Today she's sticking to it, with money in a savings account for emergencies like a sick child. She said one of the keys was getting rid of her debit card and keeping a spending journal.
"Use cash. Cash was a big key for me," she said.
Resolving debt was the goal for Sandra Cameron. She and her husband paid off $10,000. Then came a big change: They separated and divorced. Today Sandra is using the skills she's learned to navigate life as a single woman.
"You have to know where your money goes. You don't have that freedom to be without that knowledge," Cameron said.
Stephanie Leavitt focused on saving and investing. She recently purchased her first mutual fund.
"I was able to automate it and I don't have to think about it, and I can check its progress and have that automation take care of it monthly," said Leavitt. Just because the official money makeover is over does not mean these women are done. They are the first to admit this is a lifestyle change, and something they intend to pass along to their kids.
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