Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Money

“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/

Healthy Eating for $4.50 a day??? No Fooling!

The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion issues monthly USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food Reports that estimate the current weekly/monthly costs of a nutritious diet at four different levels (thrifty, low-cost, moderate-cost, and liberal). The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are the nutritional bases of the Food Plans. Here are some examples from the […]

REVIEWED BY: Dan Remley, PhD, OSU Extension Field Specialist

SOURCES:

  • https://www.cnpp.usda.gov/dietary-guidelines
  • https://www.cnpp.usda.gov/sites/default/files/CostofFoodFeb2019.pdf https://www.choosemyplate.gov/dietary-guidelines
  • https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/fruit-and-vegetable-prices/interactive-chart-costs-per-edible-cup-equivalent/
  • https://celebrateyourplate.org/
  • https://www.choosemyplate.gov/budget

REFERENCES:

  • The Thrifty Food Plan 2006 Report, which details the development and methodology of the TFP (in 64 pages) is available online in PDF format at: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/FoodPlans/MiscPubs/TFP2006Report.pdf

Believing You Can Improve Your Financial Life.

When we find ourselves in times of financial hardship, it can overwhelm so many aspects of our life. Maybe you have debt that you’re trying to pay off, or your income has changed and you’re trying to make ends meet. There is no question that these financial situations can cause us stress if we’re unsure […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Amy Meehan, MPH. Healthy People Program Specialist, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Pixabay.com

SOURCES:

  • https://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.pn.2018.6a36
  • https://consumerfed.org/press_release/survey-shows-an-increasing-number-of-consumers-have-obtained-their-credit-scores-and-know-much-more-about-credit-scores/
  • https://americasaves.org/blog/532-9-tips-to-help-you-pay-off-high-interest-debt
  • https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2015/02/money-stress
  • https://americasaves.org/for-savers/save-automatically
  • https://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.pn.2018.6a36

Ohio Saves Week & You!

Ohio Saves Week has rolled back around once again, and with it, the reminder to make your financial security a priority by pursuing savings-focused behaviors! Whether your focus is on saving to buy your first home or building an emergency fund, Ohio Saves Week puts the focus on how to help you reach your goals. […]

WRITTEN BY: Amanda Woods, Healthy Finances Program Specialist & America Saves

REVIEWED BY: Amanda Rysz, Program Specialist, Training and Professional Development

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • America Saves

SOURCES:

  • AmericaSaves.org
  • https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/money-as-you-grow/
  • FINRA.org

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/

How to “buy” happiness and better health

My husband and I took my 15 year old daughter to see Hamilton a couple nights ago. Her birthday was January 29th, the same day that Hamilton opened in Columbus. She told me last summer that she would like to go to the show for her birthday. I informed her that I would try to […]

WRITTEN BY: Misty Harmon, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.417@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Shannon Carter, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/en/african-african-american-american-3741972/
  • https://pixabay.com/en/couple-happy-old-grandfather-858694/

SOURCES:

  • Consumer Federation of America, (2018). 54 Ways to Save Money, America Saves. Retrieved from: https://americasaves.org/for-savers/make-a-plan-how-to-save-money/54-ways-to-save-money
  • Newman, K. (2016). Six Ways to Get More Happiness for Your Money. Greater Good Magazine. Found here: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_ways_to_get_more_happiness_for_your_money
  • Santi, J. (2015). Nine Tips to Make Your Giving Feel Good. Greater Good Magazine. Retrieved from: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/nine_tips_to_make_your_giving_feel_good
  • Wilblin, R. (2016). Everything you need to know about whether money makes you happy. 80,000 hours. Retrieved from: https://80000hours.org/articles/money-and-happiness/
  • University of Minnesota, (2016). How Can You Improve Your Relationship with Money? Taking Charge of Your Health and Wellbeing. Found here: https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-can-you-improve-your-relationship-money

REFERENCES:

  • Bea, S. (2016). Wanna Give? This Is Your Brain on a ‘Helper’s High’. Cleveland Clinic. Found here: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-giving-is-good-for-your-health/

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