by Marjorie Moore | Nov 25, 2016
I don’t know about you but to me it seems we just finished shopping for the holidays and they are here once again. Holiday shopping can be a whirlwind and we forget to take time to stop and think about how much we have spent until the bills arrive. Having a budget for the holidays can be your best defense to not overdoing it this holiday season.
If you plan for the holidays, it can save lots of time, energy, and of course, money. It is important to prepare a budget, make the budget realistic and base it on your cash flow and financial obligations. Once your budget has been created, stick to it!
The next step – make a list of gifts you want to give. When shopping, use cash whenever you can as this helps you watch how much you are spending. When you have reached your budget limit, your shopping should be done! If possible, do not use credit cards to buy gifts. If you use credit cards, keep track of the amounts and stop when you have reached your budget limit.
Gift cards appear to be great but be aware of fees or usage terms that can reduce the value of the gift. Before buying gift cards, ask if the card can be used for online purchases. This may not affect most retailers but some online retailers do not allow using gift cards.
If you want to stretch your budget, you don’t have to purchase all of your gifts. Try making gifts such as food or give a coupon book volunteering your services (i.e. babysitting or yard work). Below is a mix ranch dressing recipe you can give to family and friends this holiday season.
To help with your shopping next year make your list early, then spread your shopping throughout the year.
Use these tips to help you enjoy your holiday.
Spoonful Mix for Ranch Dressing
2 tsp. dried parsley flakes
1 tsp. salt free herb seasoning blend
½ tsp. garlic powder
¼ tsp. dried basil leaves
- Mix all ingredients in small bowl.
- Place mix in to plastic wrap and attach to spoon.
- Decorate spoon with a pretty bow.
Ranch Dressing
Remove decorative wrappings from spoon, leaving the mix inside the plastic wrap and still attached to spoon.
- Empty ½ cup low-fat mayonnaise and ½ cup low-fat buttermilk into a medium bowl.
- Hold spoon over bowl and cut open bag of mix, allowing mix to fall into bowl onto mayo and buttermilk.
- Mix until very well blended (use gift spoon to mix). Refrigerate 30 minutes up to 8 hours to blend flavors.
For more information on holiday shopping, contact your local Extension office.
by Marie Arick | Nov 17, 2016
The holidays are fast approaching! Pause long enough to avoid the pitfalls of overspending. Budgets are always tight during holidays. Gifts are not about the cost, rather they are a display of the true relationship of the people involved.
Gift giving at its finest is a true art form. I have a dear friend who really captures the essence of each person with each gift she gives. Gifting is a statement that demonstrates how important the receiver is and how they are perceived in the giver’s eyes.
Always consider the occasion and the relationship with the receiver. It is also important to know the receiver’s culture as to be certain not to offend. A gift given as an afterthought usually displays just that – it was not originally intended to be given. This is not generally the intention of the giver but can give this impression. Additionally, if you intend to re-gift an item, be certain the item meets the personality of the receiver. Re-gifted items tend to be unusual or offbeat, so think hard before taking this path.
Consider practical, useful gifts that match the person you are shopping for. The idea of gifting a need, a want, a clothing item, and a literature item to a person has been one of the most recent trends. Very few people buy that many gifts for those outside of their immediate family. But, this could be applied to others by just taking one of the options. If they are a reader, consider a gift card to a local bookstore instead of a specific title. This provides the option of an e-book or print version. Or, clothing could come in the form of a nice scarf or other accessory that is a part of their usual style.
A gift is a statement of caring. For each person, this is different. Take the time to consider personality, hobbies, interests, and activities. Choose a gift that matches one or more of these considerations. This lends to the true purpose of gifting – to show the receiver how much they mean to you.
by Angela Hinkle | Sep 28, 2016
I did it! Or should I say, I didn’t do it! Or more realistically, I almost didn’t do it! What? Spend money in the month of September. Some of you may remember my wallet really needed a break, so I set a goal to spend no money in the month of September unless absolutely necessary.
Did this help? Yes, my wallet, checking account, and credit cards seem much more at peace. Was it easy? Except for a few bumps and hiccups, it wasn’t too bad. Like a good financial citizen, I paid all by bills and gave at church, I kept gas in my car, and had plenty of food (in my house).
However…
Snafu #1: The food thing was a little trickier when it came to work. I went to a conference and for five days, we only received one dinner, one lunch, and two breakfasts. The people from Idaho brought and gave out great potato chips (but I could not and should not try to live off of those). I brought lots of nuts, granola bars, and small containers of fruit in my suitcase but still had to fork out money for three dinners and one lunch with a little more substance. My traveling companion knew of the goal I had set and was nice enough to buy me dinner one night. (I think I must have looked really sad and hungry.)
Snafu #2: When did September become the season of giving? A wedding and a baby shower brought out the checkbook. Oh well, there are a new bride and mom-to-be who are happy.
At home, the only food I had to buy was bread (yes, I could have frozen some – yuck, or made some – no time) and milk (yes, I could have used the dry milk – yuck to drink) and since I miscalculated the amount of dog food in the house, I had to buy some of that, too. I will give a big shout out for canned and frozen foods. It was no big deal to not go out to eat nor go to the movies or to other forms of entertainment. (The good stuff doesn’t usually come out until October anyway.)
What about my all-important trips to the nail salon? Ha! I found a gift certificate (I love those things) that took care of both trips to the salon.
Though I didn’t go hard-core all the way, I did really well. I feel so much better and I’ve veered off my path toward debtor’s prison (yes, exaggeration).
I am blessed to have a comfortable life so this was not that difficult. One month without extra spending was a free gift I gave myself. See if giving yourself the gift of a no-spend month makes your life better. Then be sure to share your success stories.
by Angela Hinkle | Sep 7, 2016
The month of August has been a financially painful time for me. I blame this on the fact that my only child has just begun her first year at college. Lots (and I mean a whole lot) of spending happened in preparation for this auspicious endeavor.
- Ouch – I began to question if I was spending more than I was making. (This was brought on by reading Building a Spending Plan: All Six Steps, a UF/IFAS EDIS publication.) Actually a very helpful financial read. Check it out: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HE/HE82700.pdf
- Ouch – My credit card bills in the last few months have been quite hefty.
- OUCH – The college bills for housing and tuition came due.
What to do to help alleviate some of the pain caused by this financial stress? I remember reading about “no-spend” months. People often pick February because it has the fewest number of days. But I feel the need for immediate action – and so September it is.
A no-spend month means you don’t spend money on anything except the absolute necessities. I have to pay the mortgage, the car payment, utilities, and I have to get may nails done (yes, that is, in fact, a necessity for me). But no buying clothes or shoes, going out to eat, going to the movies, buying gum or an emergency caffeinated drink. Since there is no child in my house now, I think I may actually be able to do this.
Researchers say if we tell others about our goal, we are more likely to work hard to achieve it. So I told the participants in a health class I was teaching about this goal of mine. One very sweet, gentle, older woman said, “Honey, you know you can’t do that.” My somewhat deflated response was, “Why?” Her kind answer – “You know you’re going to send that child care packages.” Right she was.
However, undeterred, quite determined actually, I have found ways to plan around such obstacles. I sent a care package to the child at the end of August and will send the next one at the beginning of October. I will eat out of the fully stocked freezer and pantry to avoid trips to the store. I will start September with an already full tank of gas. I will watch TV at home. I will do this!
Once October rolls around, check back in and I’ll let you know how I did. Wish me luck!
by Dorothy C. Lee | Jul 30, 2016
Do you consider buying groceries a real grind? A necessary evil? Well, it may never turn into a fun adventure for you, but there are some things you can do to make it easier on you and your budget.
Grocery shopping actually begins at home:
Keep a note pad handy in the kitchen to make a list; when staple items are getting low, add them to your list so you won’t forget to replenish them. Then let your fingers do the walking through the grocery store ads to see which stores have the best buys on what you need.- You may want to plan menus around advertised specials and seasonal foods. It helps to have menus planned for the week so you can be sure to have all the necessary ingredients on hand.
- If you plan to use paper coupons, clip them to the list or use an electronic app. It is helpful to have the list organized according to the layout of the store to avoid backtracking for missed items.
- When shopping, buy non-perishables first and save refrigerated and frozen items for last. Make the grocery store your last stop if you are doing other errands. Once home, frozen and refrigerated items should be brought in and stored first.
- Finding the best buy can sometimes be a little tricky. Doing your homework with grocery ads is a good start for comparison shopping. When you get to the store, a little more detective work may be needed. If the store has it, learn to use unit pricing. This is the label on the shelf which gives not only the total price but also the price per unit (ounces, pounds, sheet, etc.). Buying larger sizes often saves money. However, this is not always the case, so use unit pricing or a calculator to check (divide the price by the number of ounces, pounds, etc.). Even if the larger size is cheaper per unit, be sure you can use all of it; if it spoils or can’t be stored, it is not a bargain. Can you divide foods into smaller portions and freeze some for later, or share with a friend?
- Another way to save is to compare national brands with store brands which are usually cheaper. The quality may or may not be the same, so try it once to see if it is acceptable. The nutritional value is usually the same.
- Buy the quality or form you need for the purpose. For example, don’t buy whole canned mushrooms then chop them into pieces if buying a container of already cut mushroom pieces is cheaper.
- Compare fresh, frozen and canned forms, especially for seasonal produce.
- Shop on a full stomach and alone if possible. Hunger and children often lead to impulse buying.
- Buy only the items on your list; anything else should be avoided unless it is a good buy on something you’re sure you will use.
- A larger portion of our “grocery” bill is actually for non-food items such as household cleaners, paper goods, personal grooming products, etc. Comparison shopping is important here too. Are there other types of stores where these products might be cheaper? Can these be purchased cheaper in bulk?
- Convenience foods are a part of today’s lifestyle. While they may save us time, they are usually more expensive than the homemade version. With some convenience foods you are paying for labor; grated cheese, cut up chicken, etc. With others we are paying for having ingredients packaged together; meat helpers, macaroni and cheese or vegetable sauces, etc. Compare time savings with the added cost. Are you paying for ingredients you may already have on the shelf or are easily purchased separately?
If you have questions about budgeting, shopping, menu planning or nutrition, contact your Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent.
For further information contact:
Dorothy C. Lee, C.F.C.S.
UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County
dclee@ufl.edu
by sbouie | May 30, 2016
Tax season is a very difficult time of year for many people. It is a time when good record keeping is vital. The preparation fee is expensive for many families. Some use computer software to avoid fees. However, in doing so they may overlook some tax deductions.
Free tax preparation has always been offered at the Jefferson County Extension office in Monticello, FL. This year the Tallahassee United Way Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) personnel partnered with the UF/IFAS Jefferson County Extension Office, where they prepared free taxes at the Jefferson County R.J. Bailer Public Library. Appointments were reserved through the library.
A total of 312 Jefferson County residents were helped. The United Way estimated a total of $85,176 were saved in tax preparation fees. Providing these free services to the Jefferson County citizens was a great benefit. For more information, contact UF/IFAS Extension, Jefferson County http://jefferson.ifas.ufl.edu
The UF/IFAS Leon and Madison County Extension Offices also provided VITA for their citizens. They use the traditional Skye Program in collaboration with United Way.
