Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Getting the right auto loan for you

Whether this is your first vehicle purchase or your 10th, when shopping for an auto loan there are some basics you need to know. Know your budget. Plan for what you can afford, not only in terms of the potential loan payment, but also insurance, vehicle registration, and maintenance. Knowing what you can afford before […]

WRITTEN BY: Dr. Roseanne Scammahorn, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Darke County, Scammahorn.5@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Courtney Woelfl, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Cuyahoga County woelfl.1@osu.edu

SOURCES:

  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2016). What is the difference between dealer-arranged and bank financing? https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-the-difference-between-dealer-arranged-and-bank-financing-en-759/
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2016). How do I compare auto loan offers? What should I look at besides the monthly payment? https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-compare-auto-loan-offers-what-should-i-look-at-besides-the-monthly-payment-en-753/
  • Federal Trade Commission. (2012). Co-signing a Loan. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0215-co-signing-loan

What’s all the talk about deferred payroll taxes?

Not everyone would say this, but I love teaching high school students about money. The OSU Extension program “Real Money. Real World.” is a sneak peek at managing money as an adult. It is eye-opening for these students to see how quickly our expenses add up each month. Another impressionable day is dissecting paycheck withholdings. […]

WRITTEN BY: Emily Marrison, OSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Educator, Coshocton County

REVIEWED BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, OSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Educator, Lucas County and Barry Ward, OSU Income Tax Schools Director and Production Business Management Leader for OSU Extension

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Pixabay.com

SOURCES:

  • Braun, B., Little, L., Russell, M. Helping You Make a “Good Guess” for Out-of-Pocket Health Costs. Fact Sheet – 1020, April 2015. University of Maryland Extension and University of Delaware Cooperative Extension. https://www.udel.edu/content/dam/udelImages/canr/pdfs/extension/nutrition-wellness/smart-choice/7-Helping-you-make-a-good-guess-for-out-of-pocket-expenses.pdf
  • Live Smart Ohio. Occasional Expenses – How do you manage? April 15, 2015. https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/money/stehulak-1osu-edu/occasional-expenses-how-do-you-manage/
  • The White House. Memorandum on Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations in Light of the Ongoing COVID-19 Disaster. August 8, 2020. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/memorandum-deferring-payroll-tax-obligations-light-ongoing-covid-19-disaster/
  • U.S. Department of the Treasury. Treasury and IRS Issue Guidance Deferring Certain Payroll Tax Obligations. August 28, 2020. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1110
  • Ziv, S. These 70 Employers Opted Out Of Trump’s Payroll Tax Deferral, Did Yours? Forbes. September 9, 2020. https://www.forbes.com/sites/shaharziv/2020/09/09/employer-opt-out-trump-payroll-tax-deferral-opt-out-notice-2020-65-start/#7357580366f4

REFERENCES:

  • Occasional Expenses Worksheet from "Manage Your Money" Bulletin 972-1 https://extensionpubs.osu.edu/manage-your-money-pdf/

Stocking Up for When You’re Stuck at Home – Healthy Food for Less than $2/meal

Americans have been asked to stay home from work, school, and other gathering places for an indefinite period during the current pandemic. Many have stocked up on items they want to have on hand. One photographer documented shoppers’ selections over the past weekend, capturing carts full of chips, soda, ramen noodles, frozen entrees, and disinfectant […]

WRITTEN BY: Carol Smathers, MS, MPH, Associate Professor and Extension Field Specialist in Youth Wellness and Nutrition

REVIEWED BY: Dr. Roseanne Ellison Scammahorn, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension, Darke County, and Susan Zies, M. Ed., Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension, Wood County.

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Carol Smathers

SOURCES:

  • https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katebubacz/beer-doritos-coronavirus-essentials-groceries
  • http://cookingmatters.org/tips/10-tips-stock-your-pantry
  • https://celebrateyourplate.org/tips/shopping
  • https://www.choosemyplate.gov/ten-tips-make-better-food-choices
  • https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/nutrition-education/nutrition-education-materials/cooking

REFERENCES:

  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015 – 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8th Edition.

Managing in a Crisis: How to Stretch Your Food Dollar During the Government Shutdown

As the government shutdown continues, many employees are going on several weeks now without a paycheck. With the historic length of this shutdown, another major challenge for many families is that SNAP benefits through February are being released now and must last households through the end of February, with no current assurance on what will […]

WRITTEN BY: Amy Meehan, MPH, Healthy People Program Specialist

REVIEWED BY: Amanda Woods, Healthy Finances Program Specialist

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Pixabay.com

SOURCES:

  • https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/usda-to-fund-snap-for-february-2019-but-millions-face-cuts-if-shutdown
  • https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank
  • https://www.mealtime.org/~/media/files/fact-sheets/Canned_Food_Fills_MyPlate_Fact_Sheet_FINAL_.pdf
  • https://celebrateyourplate.org/recipes/sunny-baked-eggs-and-vegetables
  • https://www.choosemyplate.gov/amount
  • https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/food/bohlen-19osu-edu/overnight-oatmeal-to-the-rescue/
  • https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5341
  • https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-NSWPUhldRS0-Ql5XySPSWAzVGk4ndxg

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 […]

Tired of Being Broke?

Maybe it is time to try what many Americans are trying…an all cash diet. Maybe living with credit cards has created problems that are just as hard as trying to keep a little cash in your wallet. Want to know how to go about it? Begin with an estimation of how much money comes into […]

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