Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Beware of the Skimmer!

Do you know what a skimmer is? It is a small electronic device that can be used to steal credit or debit card information from you. Getting skimmed is most likely going to happen at bars and restaurants (where a server takes your card and walks away with it for a short period of time), […]

WRITTEN BY: Donna Green, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Erie County

REVIEWED BY: Candace J. Heer, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Morrow County

SOURCES:

  • https://krebsonsecurity.com/all-about-skimmers/
  • https://www.thebalance.com/how-credit-card-skimming-works-960773
  • https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/how-to-protect-yourself-against-credit-card-skimmers-at-gas-stations/

Made You Look!

When we were kids, one of the first practical jokes we learned to play on each other was to tell someone their zipper was down (or something was spilled on their shirt). When they would look down in alarm, you would say “made you look.” The person being pranked usually acknowledged the joke with a […]

WRITTEN BY: Donna Green, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Erie County

REVIEWED BY: Candace J. Heer, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Morrow County

SOURCES:

  • https://www.simplypsychology.org/defense-mechanisms.html
  • http://www.apsa.org/content/psychoanalytic-terms-concepts-defined
  • https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201610/your-9-top-defense-mechanisms-revisited

Ethical Consumption

Have you ever thought about your spending purchases from an ethical standpoint? Not too many people give daily consideration to where and how the products they buy are made. With us being a cog in what is essentially a global economy, it makes sense to know where your hard earned dollars are going. When you […]

WRITTEN BY: Donna Green, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Erie County

REVIEWED BY: Candace J. Heer, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Morrow County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://search.creativecommons.org/

SOURCES:

  • https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/
  • https://www.theguardian.com/money/2001/feb/22/ethicalmoney1
  • https://hbr.org/2015/01/ethical-consumerism-isnt-dead-it-just-needs-better-marketing
  • https://www.ft.com/content/8b08bf4c-e5a0-11e7-8b99-0191e45377ec

“I’ll Second That!”

Normally none of us likes to be second. We’ve all been conditioned to strive for perfection—in essence, to be number one. But when it comes to saving money, second is first, if you get my drift. You can save a lot of money by not requiring perfection in your purchases.   Food Most grocery stores […]

WRITTEN BY: Donna Green, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Erie County

REVIEWED BY: Candace J. Heer, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Morrow County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://search.creativecommons.org/

SOURCES:

  • https://chhs.source.colostate.edu/reducing-food-waste-one-ugly-piece-time/
  • https://www.moneytalksnews.com/23-tips-for-saving-money-clothing/
  • https://www.takechargeamerica.org/how-to-save-when-buying-appliances/

Ooh La La: Putting in a “Potager”

I have a 12 x 12 plot of ground close to my patio that serves as a kitchen garden, or as the French call it a “potager” (sounds classier, doesn’t it?). We could learn a lot from the French, as roughly one-fourth of the fruits and vegetables they consume are home-grown. A kitchen garden/potager consists […]

WRITTEN BY: Donna Green, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Erie County

REVIEWED BY: Candace J. Heer, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Morrow County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://www.google.com/search?site=imghp&tbm=isch&q=potager&tbs=sur:fc#imgrc=1jMlWVsTBlivIM:&spf=1550672940350

SOURCES:

  • https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/newsletters/hortupdate/2010/may/potager.html
  • https://www.bbg.org/gardening/article/potager
  • http://www.womenwhofarm.com/potager-gardens-have-been-around-for-centuries-and-continue-the-old-traditions-of-growing/

Top 10 Tax Changes for Your 2018 Return

1–Standard deductions go UP Married filing jointly–standard deduction increase to $24,000, up from the $13,000 it would have been under previous law. Single taxpayers or married, filing separately—standard deduction increase to $12,000, up from the $6,500 it would have been for this year prior to the reform. For heads of households, the standard deduction will […]

WRITTEN BY: Donna Green, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Erie County

REVIEWED BY: Candace J. Heer, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Morrow County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://search.creativecommons.org/

SOURCES:

  • https://www.kiplinger.com/article/retirement/T032-C000-S003-traditional-ira-contribution-limits-for-2018.html
  • https://www.fool.com/taxes/2017/12/29/your-complete-guide-to-the-2018-tax-changes.aspx

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