by Prudence Caskey | Dec 4, 2015
Save money and make fun memories this year by making your own gifts!
This Christmas, save money and enjoy the season by hand-making gifts for your children’s teachers, friends, and your co-workers. We have all received the “awesome” gift of a plaid tie or vanilla candle which is appreciated, but lacks a personal touch. Why not use this opportunity to make a little mess in the kitchen as well as some holiday memories with your kids? You could even do this as an activity for your 4-H Club’s Holiday Party. In years past, our family has made many gifts for those who we would like to receive a little something. In our family alone, we have six teachers and between my husband and I there are 27 co-workers to purchase for, we can’t afford to go out and buy everyone a $10-$15 gift. Which would mean spending nearly $500 for those small gifts!
The question is, what can you make? Fresh-baked goods are a wonderful option, but can’t be baked too far in advance without freezing. There are many other options, such as candy, jams, and even pickled garlic! Cookies, brownies, or soup in-a-jar gifts are also fun options (especially for single parents or working moms). One year, our family made hot chocolate mix for everyone. Jelly jars filled with powdered milk, cocoa, and marshmallows were a great, well-received gift and only cost $1.75 each! This was much more economical ($58 compared to $495). We decorated our jars with a little bit of material and tied a nice bow. You could even combine your ingredients in a zipper bag and place in a mug for the gift or use a funnel to pour it into a plain glass or plastic tree ornament. Your imagination is the limit, and your relationships with your children will benefit just as much as your pocketbook!
4-H teaches youth to shop responsibly with our Consumer Decision curriculum and Consumer Choices events. Youth can also use 4-H’s My Financial Future Curriculum, youth will learn budgeting, how to balance a bank account, how to deal with emergency expenses and how to make educated shopping choices. If you have a passion or crafting or money management, consider becoming a 4-H volunteer! WE offer a wide range of volunteer opportunities to fit your interests, skills, and schedule. For more information about 4-H, or to sign up for My Financial Future, please contact your local UF IFAS County Extension Office or visit http://florida4h.org.
by Prudence Caskey | Nov 20, 2015
For many people, their holiday shopping begins on Black Friday. Cyber Monday, which falls after the Thanksgiving weekend is a great way to order gifts online- especially if you do not like crowds. Many retailers will lure shoppers in on Cyber Monday with free shipping deals. UF IFAS Extension offers some great tips for keeping your personal information secure when shopping online, as well as advantages and disadvantages of using prepaid cards. Between Brown Thursday (businesses that are open for shopping on Thanksgiving Day), Black Friday and Cyber Monday, here are a few tips to help cope with the phenomenon after-Thanksgiving shopping has become.
- Plan ahead—many retailers will have their ads out for the season well before Thanksgiving to allow for consumers to plan ahead and see who is offering which item at the best price. Planning ahead will help you have a fun experience.
- Set a budget—this is a vital step to any shopping! You have to decide how much total you plan to spend or you will have to eat bread and water all December and January! Seriously, set a budget and stick to it. Make your list and remember, if you said $20 each person, you really mean $20 limit for each person. There is some wiggle room with this if you find a great gift for one person on sale, the extra $5 or $10 could go to someone else’s gift.
- Check the ads—know what retail cost is before you fall into a trap. Retailers may taught a great television at only $150, however, what is the regular retail for that brand? Is it really a $175 television? The internet can be your friend with consumer reviews and the information is already out for the ads. Check out www.blackfriday.com for the deals and do some research ahead of time.
- Form a team—this sounds strange, I know. I have a group of friends that are a Black Friday Team. We get together and look at the ads. If I am interested in bed sheets that are on sale at one retailer and my friends wants some tools at a completely different retailer, we will divide and conquer. I will go to the tool store and she can pick up my sheets. We are able to both get what we want and essentially be in two places at once!
Holiday shopping can be leisurely and enjoyable. That is not shopping that is done on Black Friday. The shopping that is done on Black Friday is more like a sport. It’s fast-paced, very exciting and can also be rewarding. Follow the tips above and have fun shopping, oh yeah, and drink some coffee. It’s hard to get up at 3:00 in the morning and face the crowds without some coffee!
For more information on smart strategies for seasonal savings, read this factsheet. If you have a passion for smart shopping, consider coaching a 4-H Consumer Choices Team. This 4-H event helps prepare youth to make smart and informed shopping decisions. For more information about this and other 4-H money management programs, contact your local UF IFAS County Extension Office or visit http:/florida4h.org.
by Prudence Caskey | Sep 5, 2015
Who doesn’t want a little more time? I am always looking for ways to help me get more done in the time I have. Over the years, I have found some great applications that I would like to share with busy 4-H parents and volunteers:
- ANYLIST—this is a great application allowing you to create lists. I have a list I have named, “My Grocery List.” The neat thing about it is when I say to Suri, “add milk to my grocery list,” she does it! It makes it easy to compile a grocery list and I don’t even have to find a piece of paper.
- MY FITNESSPAL—this application allows you to log everything you eat and helps you stay accountable. It will also talk to your exercise tracker to offset the amount of calories you can eat versus the calories your burn each day. The BODY TRACKER application can keep track of body measurements and how much muscle you gain and how much fat you lose.
- COUNTDOWN—this application allows you to enter upcoming events from your calendar and keep track of how many weeks, days, hours, minutes and even seconds to deadlines! This allows you to prioritize based on what is due next, whether it be birthday shopping, a 4-H club meeting, or homework assignments.
It can be daunting for parents to keep track of work, family, church, sports, and school calendars. Sharing calendars can help see where everyone is at a glance. There are many applications that are free to help you get organized and save time- these are just a few great examples. Remember, not every application is for everyone. If I find that an application just doesn’t work for me, then I erase it. We all have different opinions on which applications will work best. For instance, my husband likes Weather Channel but I prefer AccuWeather. We both get the weather, just through different applications. Check out some of these applications to save time and stay organized this 4-H year!
by Prudence Caskey | Aug 7, 2015
Back to school shopping can be a teachable moment for your kids about money management
In many parts of Florida, school starts in less than a week! Depending on where you live, what school your children attend, and what grade they are in, back to school supplies can cost the average family anywhere from $100 to $500! Keeping this in mind, it is time to start thinking about a strategy for your back to school shopping. The good news is, the back-to-school tax holiday has been extended from three days to ten days this year!
The tax holiday will begin August 7 and run through August 16. Tax-free items include; clothing, footwear, wallets, bags that cost $100 or less, school supplies that cost $15 or less, and the first $750 of the cost of personal computers and related accessories. Now that you know when and what to shop for, here are some tips on how to shop to make the most of every dollar:
Have a plan
- Get the supply list for your child’s school and make notes.
- If you have more than one child, compile a combined list. If your son needs 6 folders and your daughter needs 6 folders, on your list, simply write “12 folders”. This will cut down on the time spent on shopping.
Have a budget
- Make a list of what your children will need and get an idea of how much it will cost.
- Use back to school shopping as an opportunity to help your child learn about prioritizing and budgeting. Tell your child how much they have to spend for specific items. For example, they can spend $20 for a backpack, $50 for shoes and $200 for new clothes. If they want the $90 pair of shoes, they will need to get a less expensive backpack or spend less on clothes. This will help you stay within your budget and aid in teaching your children some financial skills. It is a win-win!
Shop around
- Many stores are having sales right now. If you approach back-to-school shopping like you might do “Black Friday” shopping, you can have a lot of fun with it!
- Check ads in the Sunday paper for sales on items on your list. Many papers will also have coupons for wipes, paper towels, and other items often found on preschool or elementary school lists. You can also use online coupons, e-coupons, and store loyalty cards for even more savings.
- Check out stores you may not have considered in the past such as office supply stores, dollar stores, and even thrift stores.
Plan for next semester
- Now is the time to get all of the supplies you need at a great price. If you find a good deal on some basics, stock up for next semester on items like glue sticks, pens, folders, and notebook paper.
Going back to school can be an expensive time of year; however, it doesn’t have to be with a little planning and budgeting. Put the same energy into back to school shopping that you might do with Christmas shopping. Make it a sport! Remember for next year, at the end of the summer, school is approaching and you can plan for it. If you are interested in financial management, budgeting, or shopping, consider becoming a 4-H volunteer! We need volunteers to share their knowledge and skills with youth to teach youth about financial literacy and consumer choices (smart shopping). If you are interested, contact your local UF IFAS Extension Office, or visit http://florida4h.org./volunteers.
by Prudence Caskey | Jan 23, 2015
How Will You Make a Difference in 2015?
Let’s all take a big, deep breath…2014 is now a thing of the past! At this moment, we all have to decide what we are going to do in 2015. What will you resolve to do in the New Year? Will you finally use your elliptical for more than just a towel rack? Will you finally finish the book you were reading or that scrapbooking project? There are no limits to what you can accomplish in 2015 and in years to come.
I work with volunteers as the Santa Rosa County 4-H Agent. I know how much time it takes to volunteer and I understand the importance of my volunteers. As a very busy wife, mother, professional, graduate student, Children’s Church director and volunteer, I am often asked how I do it all. The easy answer is prioritize. The long answer is: I make lists, lots of lists! I have shopping lists, to do lists, countdown lists and lists of when my bills are due. Lists for birthdays and anniversaries. My most important list is my goal list. I write down my daily, weekly, monthly and annual goals. I break down my larger goals into smaller goals. I am a firm believer that if we can see it, we can do it!
Whatever you decide to set as a goal for 2015, I encourage you to make a difference. We all have something to offer. At the Extension Office, I meet people every day with something to offer the youth of our county. From those who have a passion for rabbits to those who love to cook and sew. On occasion, men will not offer their expertise, because they think they may not have much to offer. Believe me, showing the young people of our community how to check the oil in their cars, rotate their tires or even build a bookcase, are great life skills to pass on to our youth.
4-H volunteers are essential to help youth make the most of a wide variety of learning experiences. As a volunteer, you can share your personal interests and expertise in a variety of subjects including gardening, shooting sports, robotics, animal science, sewing/crafting, public speaking, foods and nutrition, and much more. In 4-H, you can leverage your experience and skills to help a young person find their own passions and interests.
You decide your level of involvement to fit your schedule:
- Lead youth in a community or project club, afterschool program, camp, or school group
- Serve as a chaperone, board member, judge, or camp counselor
- Develop and support service opportunities for youth to learn caring and compassion in your community
- Work with other volunteers to create fun and exciting programs to help youth in your community reach their full potential
4-H is an opportunity we wish every young person could have because research shows it is a step forward. More than 60 million of our nation’s most successful statesmen, business leaders, and scientists credit 4-H with setting them on a positive, productive path. When you share your experiences with 4-Hers, you make a difference by helping youth become caring and competent citizens. As you make goals for 2015, consider becoming a 4-H volunteer and inspire the next generation.
