by Judy Corbus | Apr 5, 2016
Spring has sprung and this is the perfect time to clean and freshen your house. But you don’t have to spend a lot of money on cleaning products when you can whip up your own with a few simple, inexpensive ingredients.
The basic ingredient list includes:
- White Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Rubbing alcohol
- Ammonia
- Mild dish detergent
- Washing soda (can be found in the laundry products aisle)
- Borax (also in the laundry section)
Use clean jars or bottles for mixing and storage. Do not use food containers – children can think the contents are something to eat. Also, don’t mix your products in empty cleaning product bottles; residue from the original product may interact with your product, causing a dangerous reaction. Label each product and store out of reach of children. NEVER mix chlorine bleach with ammonia or vinegar – it will create dangerous, toxic fumes!
Here are a few recipes to get you started:
ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER
Mix in a 16 oz. or larger spray bottle:
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup water
Use on sinks, countertops, lightly soiled range surfaces, floors, toilets, and showers.
WINDOW CLEANER
- 3 tablespoons ammonia
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
Put in a spray bottle and fill the rest with water.
HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT
- 1 bar Ivory® or 1/3 bar Fels Naptha® soap
- 1/2 cup washing soda
- 1/2 cup borax powder
Grate the bar soap into a cooking pot. Add 6 cups of water and heat until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and borax and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into a clean bucket. Add the soap mixture from the pot and stir. Add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel slightly. Optional: Add 1 ounce essential oil or fragrance oil of your choice.
Use 1/2 cup per load. This is a low-sudsing soap which removes dirt and odor and can be used in high-efficiency machines.
For more product recipes, check out Homemade Household Cleaners and Green Cleaning: Recipes for a Healthy Home.
Sources: Homemade Household Cleaners
Clean It Green!, C. Rogers, UF/IFAS Extension Suwannee County.
by Judy Corbus | Mar 15, 2016
Photo credit: pixabay.com
In spring cleaning mode? If so, now is the perfect time to de-clutter your financial life. Organizing important papers as well as purging unnecessary ones will reduce paper clutter and stress and help you to locate what you need when you need it. Let’s get started!
Store home files as follows:
- Current files – day-to-day records. These include bank account information, bills and receipts, loan agreements, and certain medical information. For a list of suggested categories, check out Financial Recordkeeping: Organizing Your Financial Life.
- Permanent files – on-going records used infrequently, such as employment and education records and health benefit information.
- Dead storage – anything you feel uncomfortable discarding, such as old tax records or real estate you’ve sold. These can be stored in less accessible drawers or boxes.
Discard the following monthly: Credit card, grocery, ATM, and debit card receipts after they appear on the statement unless they are needed for taxes, business, or proof of purchase.
Keep these items for one year:
- Paycheck stubs – save until you compare with your W-2 and Social Security earnings statements then shred.
- Canceled checks and bank statements – shred unless needed for tax purposes or can be retrieved online.
- Quarterly investment statements – double-check with year-end statements then shred.
How Long to Keep Tax Records
The IRS recommends 3-6 years for income tax records, worksheets, and documentation of deductions. Keep records for as long as needed for administration of the IRS code. Tax records often are useful in situations where financial history is relevant.
Do Not Toss:
- Birth and death certificates, adoption decrees
- Marriage licenses and divorce decrees
- Social Security cards
- Military discharge papers, including spouse, even if deceased
- Immigration documents
- Pension plan information from current and former employers
- Estate planning documents
- Life insurance policies
- Titles for property still owned
De-clutter a section at a time – if the task seems overwhelming, work at it 15 minutes a day until you’re finished. Then, enjoy less stress with organized files!
Adapted from De-Clutter Your Financial Life, Julie England, UF/IFAS Extension Lake County, and Lisa Leslie, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County, 02/16.
by Judy Corbus | Feb 10, 2016
As W-2 forms and other receipts start rolling in, we’re reminded that tax season is upon us once again. It’s exciting to get back some of your own hard-earned money in the form of a tax refund! Saving a portion of your tax refund can be a big step toward meeting your savings goals, so it’s no surprise that a 2015 tax season survey found that a majority of those who receive a refund planned to save it.
This tax season, reward yourself for saving some of your refund by entering for a chance to win $25,000 through SaveYourRefund. SaveYourRefund has 101 cash prizes, including 100 weekly prizes of $100 and one grand prize of $25,000. Making smart financial decisions isn’t always easy, but splitting your refund couldn’t be simpler. Follow these quick and easy steps to enter to win in 2016:
- Use Form 8888 to split your refund. Entry to win with SaveYourRefund starts with splitting your refund into savings.
- Save $50 or more of your tax refund. In order to enter, use Form 8888 to save at least $50. There are a number of accounts you can save into including a savings account, a U.S. Treasury Direct account (savings bond), and a myRA retirement account.
- Visit SaveYourRefund.com to enter. You will automatically be eligible to win one of ten $100 prizes that will be given away every week from the start of the contest until the end of tax season.
- Upload a picture here that represents your savings goal or motivation, and you’ll be entered to win the $25,000 grand prize!
Need tax assistance? Take advantage of a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. VITA programs offer free tax help to those who generally make $53,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and limited English speakers.
Get ahead of your financial goals by splitting your tax refund into savings, and reward yourself with SaveYourRefund!
Source: Tammy Greynolds, AmericaSaves.org.
by Judy Corbus | Nov 27, 2015
Have questions about safely preparing your holiday meal? Refer to this quick reference for answers to common questions this time of year:
Q. Approximately how long should you allow for thawing a frozen turkey in the refrigerator?
A. 24 hours per each 4 – 5 pounds of turkey. In it’s original wrapper, place the frozen bird in the refrigerator (40˚F or below). To prevent cross contamination, be sure to place the turkey in a container. A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 – 2 days.
Q. How long should I cook the turkey?
A.
COOKING TIME – UNSTUFFED
Size of Turkey Estimated Time to Reach 165˚F
8 – 12 pounds 2 ¾ – 3 hours
12 – 14 pounds 3 – 3¾ hours
14 – 18 pounds 3 ¾ – 4 ¼ hours
18 – 20 pounds 4 ¼ – 4 ½ hours
20 – 24 pounds 4 ½ – 5 hours
COOKING TIME – STUFFED
Size of Turkey Estimated Time to Reach 165˚F
8 – 12 pounds 3 – 3 ½ hours
12 – 14 pounds 3 ½ – 4 hours
14 – 18 pounds 4 – 4 ¼ hours
18 – 20 pounds 4¼ – 4 ¾ hours
20 – 24 pounds 4 ¾ – 5 ¼ hours
Q. What is a safe internal temperature for cooking a whole turkey?
A. 165˚F. Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of the turkey. Insert the thermometer in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast, making sure not to touch the bone. All turkey meat, including any that remains pink, is safe to eat as soon as all parts reach at least 165˚F. Let the turkey stand 20 minutes after removing from the oven. Remove any stuffing and carve the turkey.
Q. What is the recommended temperature for stuffing?
A. 165˚F. The stuffing should reach 165˚F whether cooked inside the bird or in a separate dish.
Q. I want to stuff the turkey. How do I do this safely?
A.
1. Cook any raw meat, poultry, or shellfish you plan to use before stuffing the turkey. Do not mix wet and dry ingredients until just before stuffing the turkey cavity; wet ingredients can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated.
2. Spoon stuffing directly into the cavity right after preparation. Stuff loosely – plan for ¾ cup of stuffing per pound. The stuffing should be moist, not dry – bacteria is destroyed more quickly by heat in a moist environment. Do NOT stuff turkeys to be grilled, smoked, fried, or microwaved.
3. Cook the turkey immediately in an oven no lower than 325˚F.
4. Use a food thermometer to make sure the temperature of the turkey AND the center of the stuffing have reached a safe minimum internal temperature of 165˚F.
5. Let the cooked turkey rest for 20 minutes before removing the stuffing and carving.
Q. How long can I keep leftovers?
A. Refrigerate all leftovers within two hours after cooking. Divide cooked foods into shallow containers; this allows the center of the food to cool more quickly and evenly. Use within 3-4 days or freeze for longer storage. Be sure to reheat hot foods to at least 165˚F; sauces, soups, and gravies should be heated to a rolling boil.
For more information about holiday foods and food safety (in English and Spanish), call: USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline, 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) www.fsis.usda.gov
Source: Avoid Guessing About Holiday Food Safety, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension.
by Judy Corbus | Jun 26, 2015
Photo Credit: Chris Luczkow, www.flickr.com
The bright, beautiful colors of a fireworks displays are a sight to behold and the highlight of July 4 celebrations across the country. But, it’s important to be careful when selecting and using fireworks for your family’s celebration. The National Council on Fireworks Safety offers these consumer safety tips:
- Check and obey local laws regarding what types of fireworks are legal in your area. Laws vary by state and municipality.
- Only buy consumer fireworks from a licensed store, tent, or stand. Never buy fireworks from an individual’s house or from someone on the street. Such devices are likely illegal explosives or professional 1.3G fireworks that can seriously injure you. Illegal explosives are often unpackaged and wrapped in brown paper. They are unlikely to have any safety warnings or the place of manufacture.
- Know your fireworks; read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting.
- A responsible adult should ALWAYS supervise fireworks activities. Never give fireworks to children.
- Do not consume alcohol while using fireworks.
- Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.
- Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby.
- Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.
- Use fireworks OUTDOORS in a clear area, away from buildings and vehicles.
- Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
- Never carry fireworks in your pocket or shoot them into metal or glass containers.
- Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.
- Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and placing in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.
- FAA regulations PROHIBIT the possession and transportation of fireworks in your checked baggage or carry-on luggage.
- Report illegal explosives, like M-80s, Quarter Sticks, and Cherry Bombs, to your local fire or police department.
Use your fireworks according to instructions and safety warnings and enjoy a safe, happy Fourth of July!
Source: National Council on Fireworks Safety, http://www.fireworksafety.com/
