Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Money

Spring Is In The Air And On The Car Lot

You may well have gotten through this mild winter without damaging your car by sliding into a guardrail, or cracking your axle in a pothole.  Even so, like many Americans, you may be ready to make a new car purchase. If so, you’d be wise to do your homework before you visit the car dealerships, […]

WRITTEN BY: Kathy Michelich, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Warren County, Ohio

REVIEWED BY: Amanda Woods, Healthy Finances Program Specialist OSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences

SOURCES:

  • “What is the difference between an interest rate and the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) in an auto loan.” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 2017
  • “Can I prepay my loan at any time without penalty?” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 2017
  • “Comparing Auto Loans - CFPB Auto Loan Shopping Sheet,” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 2017

Retail Therapy—Occasional Fun or Addiction?

The first time we heard the term “retail therapy” coined was in 1986; a month later, the topic was expounded in a Chicago Tribune article. From that point on, it became a mainstream expression for using shopping as a tool to achieve short-term happiness or fulfillment. Popular cultural mediums such as television (Sex in the […]

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/

SOURCES:

  • http://www.aafcs.org/res/15_AC/presentations/RetailTherapy_Poster_Gitimu.pdf
  • http://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/compulsive-shopping
  • http://www.psychguides.com/guides/shopping-addiction-symptoms-causes-and-effects/

Your Neighborhood Credit Union

Chances are many of you have heard of credit unions, belong to a credit union, or drive by a credit union. Just what is a credit union and why would someone choose this option for their financial services? Credit unions are a not-for-profit financial cooperatives. This means they are not out to make money. They […]

WRITTEN BY: Candace J. Heer, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Morrow County, heer.7@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Jami Dellifield, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Hardin County, dellifield.2@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/en/road-neighborhood-cars-parking-405856/

SOURCES:

  • https://www.mycreditunion.gov/Pages/default.aspx
  • https://www.consumerfinance.gov/
  • https://co-opcreditunions.org/

The Freedom of Having a Budget

If “budget” is on your short list of words describing a restrictive life style – one that will limit your freedom – you’re misguided.  Many people who struggle with financial freedom simply don’t know where their money goes.  Many also don’t understand that if they planned the where and how their dollars are spent, they would be […]

Flying on the Cheap

By February, many northerners are thinking about a vacation somewhere (anywhere) warm. When traveling, the first (obvious) priority is to select a destination, but the next task is actually harder, which is arranging airfare. I’ve flown to Florida for the last 15 years for my winter vacation, and always booked well ahead of time (usually […]

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

SOURCES:

  • http://thriftynomads.com/booking-cheapest-flight-possible-anywhere/

What Are You Saving For?

We all know that saving is an important part of taking positive steps toward financial health and wellness. By saving, you are setting yourself up to better face financial emergencies, and prepare for a financially stable future. A recent survey released by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) highlights the great steps many Americans are taking, showing that 70% […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Amanda Rysz, Program Specialist, Training and Professional Development, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension

SOURCES:

  • Consumer Federation of America, 2016, http://consumerfed.org/press_release/less-than-half-of-u-s-households-report-good-savings-progress-according-to-annual-america-saves-week-survey/
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2015, http://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201501_cfpb_report_financial-well-being.pdf
  • America Saves, AmericaSaves.org

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