Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

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

Graduations, Money, More Graduations, and More Money

This year, the month of May is filled with several graduations and graduation parties for my family. My son graduates from a 2-year college program as well as from high school. My nephew graduates from a 4-year college, and my niece graduates from high school. With all of these milestones and celebrations comes gifts for […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Joseph Maiorano, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Harrison County, maiorano.2@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/en/money-donation-donate-profit-give-652560/

SOURCES:

  • Harmon, M. (2018). Mindful Parenting: Enjoy Every Moment. Live Smart Ohio. Available at http://livesmartohio.osu.edu/mind-and-body/harmon-416osu-edu/mindful-parenting-enjoy-every-moment/
  • Long, H. (2015). What I wish I knew about money on graduation day. CNN Money. Available at http://money.cnn.com/2015/05/26/investing/graduation-2015-what-i-wish-i-knew/index.html?section=money_latest
  • ProCon.org. (2016). Is College Education Worth It? Available at https://college-education.procon.org/
  • National Endowment for Financial Education. (2018). Avoid Graduation Money Mistakes. Smart About Money. Available at https://www.smartaboutmoney.org/Topics/Education-and-Career/Graduation/Avoid-Graduation-Money-Mistakes
  • HOMEROOM. (2016). 8 Things High School Grads Need to Do Before Leaving for College. The U.S. Department of Education. Available at https://blog.ed.gov/2016/07/8-things-hs-grads-need-to-do-before-college/
  • Harmon, M. (2018). How Are You Spending Your Tax Refund? Live Smart Ohio. Available at http://livesmartohio.osu.edu/money/harmon-416osu-edu/how-are-you-spending-your-tax-refund/

How are you “spending” your tax refund?

I know not everyone is happy about the tax changes for 2018, but most people will benefit, at least a little, from the changes. With the changes to the tax code, some of you may be getting a slightly larger than usual refund for the 2018 year. Whether your refund increases or not, there are […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Joseph Maiorano, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Harrison County, maiorano.2@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/en/laptop-online-digital-taxes-flag-2151350/

SOURCES:

  • https://www.debt.org/blog/spend-tax-refund/
  • https://www.consumerreports.org/taxes/smart-ways-to-spend-your-tax-refund/
  • https://cfaes.osu.edu/sites/cfaes_main/files/site-library/site-documents/News/FF_taxrefund.pdf
  • http://www.getrichslowly.org/2012/02/02/how-to-spend-a-tax-refund/
  • http://livesmartohio.osu.edu/money/maiorano-2osu-edu/whats-out-of-your-wallet/

REFERENCES:

  • Pilnick, Katherine. (February 21, 2013). 10 Smart Ways to Spend Your Refund, debt.org
  • Fried, Carla. (April 24, 2017). Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund, consumereports.org
  • Filipic, Martha. (February 2016). Use your tax refund to pay off debt and save, Family Fundamentals
  • Aberle, Lisa. (February 2, 2012). How to Spend a Tax Refund, getrichslowly.org
  • Maiorano, Joseph. (January 12, 2018). What’s Out of Your Wallet?, livesmartohio.osu.edu

What’s Out of Your Wallet?

In this column, I encourage you to develop a budget. I acknowledge the challenges of doing so, particularly setting aside money for any expense, before you take money out of your “wallet” to pay for that expense. Hopefully, the following information will help nudge you develop a budget. N.B: if you get inspired to start a […]

WRITTEN BY: Joseph Maiorano, PHD, Family and Consumer Sciences, Harrison County Ohio, maiorano.2@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Perry County, harmon.416@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/en/wallet-money-credit-card-online-2125548/

SOURCES:

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Burkett
  • https://personalfinance.duke.edu/topics/budgeting

REFERENCES:

  • Stehulak, N.; Carter, S., Dematteo, B.; and Hill, M. (2015). The home account book. Bulletin 723. Downloaded on January 9, 2018 from, https://fcs.osu.edu/sites/fcs/files/imce/PDFs/Home%20Account_2015.pdf

Got Money?….for College

With one son in college, one in his senior year of high school and a daughter in 8th grade, the topics of college and money come up a lot in my house. From a young age, we have always been very open about finances with the kids. We have discussed various financial issues and concepts […]

WRITTEN BY: Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County

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

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Pixabay. Found at: https://pixabay.com/en/puzzle-money-business-finance-2500328/

SOURCES:

  • Flay, B. (2017). How to Pay for Your Children's Education. Debt.org. Found at: https://www.debt.org/students/parents-pay/
  • Ramsey, Dave. College Funding and Your Retirement. Found at: https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/college-funding-and-your-retirement
  • Federal Student Aid, The U. S. Department of Education. Found at: https://fafsa.ed.gov/
  • Johnson, Mia. 2017, October 2. 12 Myths about the FAFSA Form and Applying for Financial Aid. Home Room, The Official Blog of the U.S. Department of Education. Found at: https://blog.ed.gov/2017/10/12-myths-fafsa-form-applying-financial-aid/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term
  • Press Office. The U.S. Department of Education. 2017, October 3. 2018-19 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Opened Oct. 1st. Found at: https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/2018-19-free-application-federal-student-aid-fafsa%C2%AE-opened-oct-1
  • National Center for Education Statistics. College Navigator. Found at: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
  • Wang, M. 2012, October 4. No Income? No Problem! How the Gov't is Saddling Parents with College Loans They Can't Afford. ProPublica. Found at: https://www.propublica.org/article/how-the-govt-is-saddling-parents-with-college-loans-they-cant-afford
  • Flay, B. (2017). Students and Debt. Debt.org. Found at: https://www.debt.org/students/
  • Open Education Database. Found at: http://oedb.org/advice/hacking-financial-aid-33-ways-to-get-money-for-college/
  • Federal Student Aid, The U. S. Department of Education. Found at: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/prepare-for-college/choosing-schools/consider/costs
  • Next Gen Personal Finance and McKinney. Found at: https://www.timeforpayback.com/
  • Martin, A. & Lehren, A. W. 2012, May 12. Degrees of Debt: A Generation Hobbled by the Soaring Cost of College. The New York Times. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/business/student-loans-weighing-down-a-generation-with-heavy-debt.html?pagewanted=all
  • Edvisors Financial Aid Newsletter. Found at: https://www.edvisors.com/plan-for-college/advice-for-parents/mistakes-that-affect-aid-eligibility/

REFERENCES:

  • Flay, B. (2017). How to Pay for Your Children's Education. Debt.org. Found at: https://www.debt.org/students/parents-pay/
  • Ramsey, Dave. College Funding and Your Retirement. Found at: https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/college-funding-and-your-retirement

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