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Tag: Resource Management

Are You Throwing Away Food (and Money and Time)?

Posted on by djbechard

Families living in the U.S. throw out about 15% of the food and 10% of the beverages they buy! This means that if your family spends $100/week on groceries you could be throwing away up to $25/week, or $100/month in discarded food! Imagine what you could do with that extra money – and with the extra time needed to shop for the food that gets wasted. Below are ways you can reduce waste in you your home to cash in on saving.

Organize. Save money at the grocery store by what you do before leaving the house. Check our food supplies and plan meals around what you already have. Use the oldest foods in your cupboard and freezer first. Make a grocery list for items you need to buy. Avoid buying perishables that aren’t in your menu plan. Or, adjust your meal plan if you buy perishables that you didn’t originally plan to get.

Buy fewer perishable foods in each shopping trip. Buy only the amount of fresh meats, fruits, vegetables, and other perishables that you can eat in a few days. Stuffing a refrigerator full of food makes it harder to know what is inside. Forgotten food is more likely to spoil. Buy canned, frozen, or dried foods to use until you shop again.

Serve small portions first. Rather than risk wasting part of a large served meal, plan to offer a second portions if you or a family member are still hungry.

Plan for “planned-overs.” You may have more product than a recipe calls for, such as the extra half package of some food. Or you may have more food than your family can eat at one meal. Make a plan to eat these foods later. Could you serve it for lunch tomorrow? Use it in a dinner salad? Freeze extras for later use?

Food patrol. Check in your refrigerator daily for foods that need to be eaten soon. If they are raw, cook seafood, poultry, and meats in the first day or two. Be creative, or find a recipe to use up certain foods. For instance, us a too-ripe banana in a smoothie. Chop rubbery carrots or other vegetables and cook them in a soup or in spaghetti sauce.

By: Jamie Rathbun

Check Your Credit

Posted on by Nora Rhoades

One in five people have an error on at least one of their credit reports according to a study conducted by the Federal Trade Commission. When is the last time you checked your free credit report? Check your credit from once a year to once a week.  You can access your credit report from each credit reporting agency – Equifax, Experian, TransUnion@annualcreditreport.com.  Be sure to check your credit and keep errors off your account.  Especially if you are postponing bills, using more credit than usual, applying for loans.

By: Brenda Langdon

Balancing Income and Expenses

Posted on by Nora Rhoades
Brenda Langdon, Family Resource Management Extension Agent

The 5 C’s are a great starting point to assist people who are struggling to balance income and expenses in economic good times or bad such as trying to reduce debt, ​establish an emergency fund, save for retirement, or reach a personal financial goal.

Control – As much of the situation as you can.  Recognize that it is natural to feel the effects of stress.  Developing and following a plan can reduce stress and help you maintain control of your financial position.

Communicate – Talk with family members about available income and resources.  Decide what the family needs now, soon and in a few months.  Then make a plan together.

Be Prepared to Change – To make it through the hard times, look for ways to reduce expenses, use the things you have longer, swap items with others, trade services.

Claim benefits that are due to you – Apply for unemployment, SNAP, utility assistance, and local resources as soon as possible.

Confer with creditors – Don’t ignore the situation.  If you can’t make credit payments contact creditors and work out realistic payment schedules.

By: Brenda Langdon

Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act

Posted on by Nora Rhoades

There are a lot of acronyms in the news these days, which can add to the confusion and stress.  Let’s talk about the acronym CARES.  CARES stands for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.  The CARES Act is a law meant to address the economic fallout of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic. Its intent is to provide fast and direct economic assistance for American workers, families, and small businesses, and to preserve jobs for American industries.

The CARES Act is funding the stimulus checks that many people currently have received or will be receiving.  Please be aware of scams.  The government will not call and ask for your bank account information, or your social security number, nor will they ask for any payment from you in order to receive your stimulus check.  For additional information on the CARES Act please visit the website https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares.

By: Brenda Langdon

Thriving Across Generations ─ Succession Planning in Rural Kansas

Posted on by Marci Metz

Mark your calendars for the event “Thriving Across Generations ‒ Succession Planning in Rural Kansas”! K-State Research and Extension is teaming up with the Fort Hays State University Small Business Development Center to bring you a night packed full of valuable information in succession planning for your farm, small business or family.

This event will be held on March 11, 2020 from 5:30-8:30pm at the Fort Hays State University Student Union in Hays, KS. View complete details and register online at https://www.northwest.k-state.edu/events/thriving_across_generations/index.html.

 

By: Nora Rhoades

Farm Financial Skills for Kansas Women in Agriculture

Posted on by Marci Metz

We recognize the financial stress that farmers and ranchers are experiencing due to low commodity prices and high input costs. More than ever, financial management of the operation is critical to long-term sustainability.

The Post Rock District, in collaboration with a state-wide team, is bringing a great learning opportunity to the region! “Farm Financial Skills for Kansas Women in Agriculture” is a 4-part workshop series that will teach principles of record keeping to develop a balance sheet, income statement and a cash flow statement. Participants will work with a case farm to do performance analysis and understand how these statements can help with management decisions. The program will be a combination of broadcasted keynote speakers, local speakers, and facilitators to assist in completing the hands-on activities. The goal is for participants to acquire financial management skills they can apply directly to their farming or ranching operations.

Smith Center will be a host location for the program scheduled to take place in the evenings on January 15, January 22, January 29, and February 5. Registration is due by December 31, 2019. To learn more about this exciting learning experience and to register, visit www.postrock.k-state.edu. Contact Sandra Wick, District Crop Production Agent, with questions at 785-282-6823.

By: Nora Rhoades