Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

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/

Ohio Sales Tax Holiday 2016

Planning to buy clothes, school supplies, or school instructional materials? If so, mark your calendar for August 5-7, 2016. These dates have been designated as Ohio Sales Tax Holiday dates for 2016. Senate bill 264 enacted a sales tax holiday to occur in 2016. It starts at midnight on August 5 and ends at midnight […]

WRITTEN BY: Tammy Jones, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension - Pike County, jones.5640@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Jenny Lobb, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension - Franklin County, lobb.3@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • www.pixabay.com

SOURCES:

  • Ohio Department of Taxation. Sales Tax Holiday. http://www.tax.ohio.gov/sales_and_use/SalesTaxHoliday.aspx

Mindful Shopping

It’s a wonderful time of the year. I enjoy the special events that come with the holidays, especially the family time together. One of the tasks that is added to our schedules is shopping for presents. Have you ever considered being mindful with shopping instead of impulsive?  Dr. April Benson suggests that we ask ourselves […]

WRITTEN BY: Melinda Hill, Ohio State University Extension, Wayne County

REVIEWED BY: Shannon Carter, Ohio State Universtiy Extension, Fairfield County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Pixabay

SOURCES:

  • National Endowment for Financial Education
  • Spendster

REFERENCES:

  • Psychology Today, Posted Feburary 2009

Tis the Season!

Seems early to be making a list and checking it twice but my mailbox is full of catalogs to entice me to buy early and buy often. It is easy to buy online but do take an extra minute or two to be certain your shopping is secure. The Federal Trade Commission offers these tips […]

WRITTEN BY: Nancy Stehulak, M.Ed and Educator, Henry County

REVIEWED BY: Kathy Michelich, Educator

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Pixabay.com

SOURCES:

  • Federal Trade Commission

REFERENCES:

  • Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/complaint
  • Ohio State Attorney General’s office http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/consumercomplaint
  • Better Business Bureau at https://www.bbb.org/consumer-complaints.

Getting better buys at the Supermarket

Do you cringe when checking out at the supermarket? Do you get good deals? What really helps you save at the supermarket? Consumer Reports recently researched shoppers to find out how to get the best deals. • Check Unit Prices – Shelf tags on items in the store give the unit price. This is the […]

WRITTEN BY: Pat Brinkman, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension Fayette County, Miami Valley EERA

REVIEWED BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Lucas County, Maumee Valley EERA and Melinda Hill, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Wayne County, Crossroads EERA

REFERENCES:

  • Consumer Reports, [2014}. Getting More From Your Store Ratings of 55 Supermarket, Plus How to Shop Cheaper, Smarter, Faster, Consumer Reports, 79(5), 16-21

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