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Category: October 2022

Medicare Open Enrollment

Posted on by djbechard

It’s the time of year to begin thinking about Medicare Open Enrollment.  Open enrollment runs from October 15 – December 7, with coverage beginning January 1. This is the time of year when you should review your Medicare prescription drug coverage and make changes if your current plan no longer meets your needs or if you could lower your out-of-pocket expenses.

During your appointment we will make sure all your prescription medications are on the plan formulary in 2023, and that your pharmacy is still in the plan network. Costs such as deductibles and copays can change from year to year.  Using the plan finder, we can identify whether your current plan will best meet your needs for 2023 and compare it to other options that are available. The goal is to make sure you understand how your plan works and to make an informed decision.

The extension office will be helping beneficiaries with comparison, selection and enrollment in drug plans again this year. Email Brenda at bklangdon@ksu.edu or call 785-346-2521 to schedule an appointment. Brenda will be scheduling appointments in all five counties in the Post Rock District (Osborne, Smith, Jewell, Mitchell and Lincoln).

By: Brenda Langdon

Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs in the Fall

Posted on by djbechard

If you want beautiful, colorful tulips in the spring, now is the time to plant the bulbs! Spring flowering bulbs are often one of the first signs of spring in the landscape and a wonderful addition to any flower bed.

Planting bulbs can occur any time in the fall but should wrap up by mid to late November. Earlier in the fall is best, as it allows more time for root development. Fertilize when planting using a balanced fertilizer such as a 10-10-10.

Plant bulbs where they will receive full sun. Bulbs should be planted about twice as deep as the height of the bulb. 4-6 inches is a good depth for tulips. Make sure that the soil will drain well, as bulbs are prone to rotting.

Put a little extra effort into your flower beds now to have a beautiful show of color in the spring. For more information on spring flowering bulbs check out this K-State Garden Hour: https://mediasite.k-state.edu/mediasite/Play/bb82330923124f468402d0492fd79c7d1d

By: Cassie Thiessen

Check Your Credit

Posted on by djbechard

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission recently found that 1 in 5 Americans have an error on at least one of their credit reports.  Having an error on a credit report is not the problem for most people, but leaving it there can be.

A credit report affects a person’s ability to get a car or home loan, as well as the interest rate on that loan. An error on a report could indicate that someone was trying to steal your identity to apply for credit. People that aren’t currently looking at acquiring a loan think that they don’t need to check their credit, but often they can be some of the bigger victims of identity theft because they are not checking their credit report regularly.

K-State Research and Extension is offering the program, Check Your Credit, to encourage Kansans to take advantage of their access to free credit reports.

The program is email-based and focuses on reminders three times a year – Feb. 2 (2/2), June 6 (6/6) and Oct. 10 (10/10) – to encourage consumers to request a free report from one of the three primary reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. One credit report might reflect positive information and another may reflect negative. What you want to do is find the (entries) that are inaccurate.

The process to request a credit report is made simpler by accessing one website www.AnnualCreditReport.com.

In addition to reminding people to check their credit reports three times a year, the Check Your Credit program includes information on understanding your report, correcting errors, and using your credit report to your advantage. There is no cost to participate in the program.

By: Brenda Langdon

Food Thermometers – A Must Have in the Kitchen

Posted on by djbechard

Where food safety is concerned, a food thermometer is a must-have, multi-use tool in the kitchen.

It is one of the most important tools consumers can use to know when food is cooked properly for safe consumption. It’s useful for meat items, casseroles and even baked goods. Using a subjective method – such as ground meat color – can be misleading and lead to foodborne illness. It can help with assuring the quality of a food item and reduce over-cooking.

For consumers who need to buy a food thermometer, the digital type is recommended. Digital food thermometers read the temperature at the tip of the temperature probe. They also read temperature quickly, and come in a simple handheld design.

Consumers who already own a food thermometer can calibrate them routinely to make sure they are still giving accurate readings. The best method is to calibrate your thermometer using ice water and boiling water to check cold and hot readings. Dial faced thermometers can be adjusted if needed. Digital thermometers should be replaced unless it came with instructions on how to adjust.

Along with food thermometers, place an appliance thermometer inside your refrigerator and freezer to monitor temperatures in those appliances. These can be helpful during a power outage to determine the safety of your food. Another suggestion is an oven thermometer to know if your oven is heating properly.

By: Brenda Langdon

Roasting Pumpkin Seeds

Posted on by djbechard

After you carve those Halloween Jack-O-Lanterns, you may be wondering what to do with all the “guts” and seeds. Consider roasting the seeds for a healthy and tasty snack. Seeds should be washed and dried and the “guts” discarded. Toss the seeds with a little oil before roasting.

​Flavor can be enhanced by adding a sprinkling of salt to the oiled seeds. Seeds can then be spread on a cookie sheet and roasted for about 25 minutes at 325 degrees F. Times may vary depending on the size and moisture content of the seed. Seeds are done when they turn a golden brown. If seeds are not eaten immediately, store in a zip closure bag in the refrigerator.

 

By: Cassie Thiessen

Financial Calendar

Posted on by djbechard

Fall is a good time to look back at the year and evaluate your financial planning and then use that knowledge to plan for next year.  One way to assess your progress since January is to compare how much debt you owed at the beginning of the year to now. Do you owe more or less overall? Another is to compare your net worth (assets minus liabilities).  Are you worth more now than you were at the first of the year?

Set up alerts for your bank and credit card accounts. Many institutions offer free alerts when suspicious spending occurs, but you may still need to opt-in to those services.

Invest some time to learn more about smart money management. Read a book, attend a class, or listen to a podcast.

By: Brenda Langdon