Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Money

Mindful Shopping

It’s a wonderful time of the year. I enjoy the special events that come with the holidays, especially the family time together. One of the tasks that is added to our schedules is shopping for presents. Have you ever considered being mindful with shopping instead of impulsive?  Dr. April Benson suggests that we ask ourselves […]

WRITTEN BY: Melinda Hill, Ohio State University Extension, Wayne County

REVIEWED BY: Shannon Carter, Ohio State Universtiy Extension, Fairfield County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Pixabay

SOURCES:

  • National Endowment for Financial Education
  • Spendster

REFERENCES:

  • Psychology Today, Posted Feburary 2009

The Cost of College and Parental Support: How Much Should You Commit?

According to CollegeData.com, the cost of a “moderate” college budget for an in-state public college for the 2014–2015 academic year averaged $23,410. A moderate budget at a private college averaged $46,272. Those figures included the cost of tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, supplies, and personal needs. Because of the substantial cost of attaining a college […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Melissa Welker, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fulton County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • www.flickr.com

SOURCES:

  • http://www.asanet.org/press/parents_financial_help_linked_to_lower_gpa.cfm
  • http://www.collegedata.com/cs/content/content_payarticle_tmpl.jhtml?articleId=10064

3 Things First-Time Homebuyers Should Know

Buying a home for the first time proves to be a learning experience. Here are three takeaways from my experience: Debt-income ratio plays a big role It may not matter if you’ve got plenty of cash stashed away for a down payment. A lender wants to see that your debt-income ratio is low, since studies […]

WRITTEN BY: Joanna Rini, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, rini.41

REVIEWED BY: Katie LaPlant, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, laplant.8@osu.edu

SOURCES:

  • http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/1791/what-debt-income-ratio-why-43-debt-income-ratio-important.html

REFERENCES:

  • http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/122/what-is-private-mortgage-insurance.html

Zero Waste Movement

One of the side benefits to spending less money is a reduction of waste. Every time you make a decision to reuse or recycle something, you not only save $$, you also keep that “something” from going to the landfill. A national movement promoting waste reduction is called the Zero Waste Movement. The concept of […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Melissa Welker, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fulton County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • http://search.creativecommons.org/

REFERENCES:

  • http://www.ecocycle.org/zerowaste

What if I Don’t Want My House Anymore?

Guilt. Remorse. Sadness….and maybe elation if this payment doesn’t need to be made anymore. The realization that you will no longer be a homeowner has become very clear. As a homeowner, you may have decided that it is time for a dignified end to your role as a homeowner. For others, it is time to […]

WRITTEN BY: Nancy Stehulak, M.Ed, Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension

REVIEWED BY: Carlie Boos, Ohio Housing Finance Agency

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Pixabay.com

SOURCES:

  • The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; www.consumerfinance.gov
  • www.experian.com;

Tis the Season!

Seems early to be making a list and checking it twice but my mailbox is full of catalogs to entice me to buy early and buy often. It is easy to buy online but do take an extra minute or two to be certain your shopping is secure. The Federal Trade Commission offers these tips […]

WRITTEN BY: Nancy Stehulak, M.Ed and Educator, Henry County

REVIEWED BY: Kathy Michelich, Educator

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Pixabay.com

SOURCES:

  • Federal Trade Commission

REFERENCES:

  • Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/complaint
  • Ohio State Attorney General’s office http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/consumercomplaint
  • Better Business Bureau at https://www.bbb.org/consumer-complaints.

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