Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Money

New Baby, New Plans

As if there isn’t enough to think about when planning for a baby’s arrival (major lifestyle changes, childcare, creating a safe and comforting environment, to name a few), parents-to-be or those planning to start a family should take a good, hard look at their financial circumstances. Since 1960, the USDA has been issuing a report […]

WRITTEN BY: Joanna Fifner, Extension Educator, Ohio State University, fifner.2@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Amanda Woods, M.Ed. Healthy Finances Program Specialist, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension

SOURCES:

  • https://www.cnpp.usda.gov/expenditures-children-families-annual-report
  • https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/money/extensionauthors/rainy-day-savings-how-are-your-skies-looking-today/
  • http://www.insurance.ohio.gov/Newsroom/Tips/Pages/Basics.aspx

REFERENCES:

  • http://www.insurance.ohio.gov/Newsroom/Tips/Pages/Basics.aspx
  • http://www.insurance.ohio.gov/Consumer/pages/LifeToolkit.aspx
  • http://njaes.rutgers.edu/money/ffquiz/

Waste Not, Want Not

In the United States, yearly food waste is estimated to range between 30-40 percent of the food supply. That translates to approximately 133 billion pounds of food per year, at a cost of $161 billion. Unfortunately, that wastefulness has far-reaching impacts on food security, resource conservation and climate change, according to the USDA. But why? […]

WRITTEN BY: Donna Green, M.A., Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Erie County, green.308@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Amanda Woods, M.Ed, Healthy Finances Program Specialist, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • www.creativecommons.com

SOURCES:

  • https://www.usda.gov/oce/foodwaste/faqs.htm
  • https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/sustainability/food-waste/food-waste-home/

REFERENCES:

  • https://www.usda.gov/oce/foodwaste/faqs.htm
  • https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/sustainability/food-waste/food-waste-home/

Are You the Family Bank?

Have you always been seen as the “responsible one” in your family? Did you save and invest responsibility through your 30s, 40s, and 50s, and now your grown children and other relatives are coming to you for money?  A study by Merrill Lynch in partnership with Age Wave reveals that three out of five people […]

SOURCES:

  • https://mlaem.fs.ml.com/content/dam/ML/Articles/pdf/family-and-retirement-elephant-in-the-room.pdf
  • http://crr.bc.edu/special-projects/national-retirement-risk-index/
  • http://crr.bc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IB_17-4.pdf

The $20 Challenge

According to a 2015 report released by the Social Security Administration:   -38 percent of all American workers made less than $20,000 last year. -51 percent of all American workers made less than $30,000 last year. -62 percent of all American workers made less than $40,000 last year. -71 percent of all American workers made less […]

WRITTEN BY: Donna Green, M.A., Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Erie County, green.308@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Amanda Woods, M.Ed. Healthy Finances Program Specialist, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • http://search.creativecommons.org/

SOURCES:

  • https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-4/consumer-expenditures-vary-by-age.htm
  • https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/netcomp.cgi?year=2014

Rainy Days and Emergencies Don’t Have to Get You Down!

Money management experts recommend an emergency account for that unexpected expense or worse, a job loss. How much do you need? Again the experts would say 3-6 months’ worth of expenses to give you a cushion until you find another source of income.  Years ago I established a fund that changed my financial situation and I […]

WRITTEN BY: Terri Worthington, FCS Educator, Geauga County

REVIEWED BY: Melanie Hart, FCS Educator, Greene County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Pixabay

SOURCES:

  • https://americasaves.org/for-savers/set-a-goal-what-to-save-for/save-for-emergencies

REFERENCES:

  • Mary Hunt, Debt-Proof Living: How to Get out of Debt & Stay that Way (2014)

Need Assistance?

If you are having issues logging into the site, need assistance with updates, or need to request an alternate format please send an email to the EHE Service Desk at servicedesk@ehe.osu.edu stating the nature of your issue and we will assist you. Thank you.

Follow us!

Are you a Live Smart Ohio Author? Log in here!