Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

personal finance

Bad Credit, No Credit, What’s the Catch?

There are a couple of area car dealerships that advertise “Guaranteed Financing. Bad Credit! No Credit! No Problem! Guaranteed on the spot financing available.”  As the father of a teenage driver, I became curious to find out if this might be an option. What’s the catch? I also wondered would this option help build credit […]

WRITTEN BY: Ken Stewart, Extension Educator,Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Monroe County

REVIEWED BY: Lisa Barlage, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Ross County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Dan Gold-N7RiDzfF2iw-unsplash

SOURCES:

  • Credit Karma, Buy-here, pay-here financing: What you need to know (2022) Kim Porter
  • Lending Tree.com, Why you should skip the 'Buy Here Pay Here' Car Lots (2022)
  • Bank Rate What You Should Know About 0% APR Car Deals, Michelle Black

REFERENCES:

  • Consumer Financila Protection Bureau, https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/educator-tools/buying-a-car/#anchor_start.

Ditch the Debt in 2020

The holiday decorations have been stowed away, we have sung Auld Lang Syne as we rang in a new year, and now it is time make our 2020 resolution. Rather than picking the same one as in years past, how about trying Debt Dumping? Setting a goal isn’t always easy, it takes commitment and dedication […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Kellie Lemly, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Champaign County, lemly.2@osu.edu

SOURCES:

  • Setting Goals for the New Year (Ohio State University) - https://u.osu.edu/ohwomeninag/tag/smart-goals/
  • Manage You Money (Ohio State University) - https://fcs.osu.edu/programs/major-program-areas/healthy-finances/money-management/manage-your-money
  • Setting Goals for the Agricultural Business (Ohio State University)- https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/u.osu.edu/dist/1/14976/files/2015/11/Goal-Setting-1akh1p7.pdf
  • Healthy, Wealthy, & Wise (Mississippi State University) - http://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/publications/miscellaneous/m1473_0.pdf
  • Budget Apps (Mississippi State University)- https://www.bulldogbudgets.msstate.edu/budget/#budget-app

New Web Resources In The Field of Personal Finance

This blog post provides information about four resources for financial information. Next Gen Personal Finance This website offers a wealth of hands-on ideas for teaching personal finance topics. I use this website by picking a topic on the curriculum site and look over the lesson guides. These guides contain a quick overview of hands-on activities, […]

WRITTEN BY: Caezilia Loibl

REVIEWED BY: Amanda Woods

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

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