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Tag: Resource Management

Simple Steps to Save Successfully

Posted on by Marci Metz

America Saves Week (February 27 – March 4, 2017) is an annual opportunity for individuals to assess their savings and take financial action. Set a goal, make a plan, and save automatically.

  • Assess Your Savings: Like your health, you should assess your savings annually to make sure your savings priorities are on the right track.
  • Evaluate your Savings Preparedness: Take time to evaluate your savings accomplishments and identify where your savings habits need strengthening for your future goals.
  • Take the America Saves Pledge: Savers with a plan are 2x more likely to save for retirement, have emergency savings, and stick to a budget. When you take the America Saves pledge, you can choose to receive text message tips and reminders to help you save towards your goals.
  • Follow America Saves on Facebook and Twitter to connect with the challenge and identify saving strategies that can work for you. You can also connect with savings resources by following the Post Rock Extension District on Facebook and Twitter.

By:  Nora Rhoades

Her AgriCULTURE Story: Change, Adapt, Grow

Posted on by Marci Metz

Women represent central roles in the agricultural heritage that builds and sustains communities throughout the world. “Her AgriCULTURE Story: Change, Adapt, Grow” is the theme of the 2017 Women Managing the Farm Conference planned for February 9-10 in Manhattan, Kansas. The event will bring together women from many sectors and proficiencies in agriculture and provide them with insights for building their agricultural story and managing their farm investment. Sessions are designed to keep women informed of the latest advancements in the farming community, and networking sessions are tailored to agricultural partners, independent producers, helpers, absentee landowners, industry career women, business managers and women with family in the military. Conference information, registration and scholarship applications are available at womenmanagingthefarm.info or by calling 800-432-8222.

By:  Nora Rhoades

Regional Estate Planning Workshop for Families

Posted on by Marci Metz

Planning for the future is vital and families must take steps to ensure assets for the next generation. K-State Research and Extension is hosting “Preserving the Family with Estate Planning” to aid families in beginning the process of transitioning from one generation to another.  Two workshops will be held in Northwest Kansas: Tuesday February 21, 2017 in Hays at the Ag Research Center and Monday February 27, 2017 at the American Legion Hall in Atwood.

For the workshop schedule and registration details visit http://www.northwest.k-state.edu/events/estate_planning/.

By:  Nora Rhoades

Personal Health & Finance Goal Setting

Posted on by Marci Metz

health-finance-goal-settingDo you want to make positive strides for your health and financial wellness in 2017? To guide goal-setting in the New Year, take the free online self-assessment tool called the Personal Health and Finance Quiz, available at http://njaes.rutgers.edu/money/health-finance-quiz/. The quiz is made available by Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Individual performance of ten daily health behaviors and ten daily financial behaviors is measured by a person’s responses throughout the quiz. Upon completion, participants receive a score for each section of the quiz (i.e., a Health Score and a Finance Score), a Total Score, and links to additional online resources for improved health and financial management.

By:  Nora Rhoades

Navigating a Struggling Farm Economy

Posted on by Marci Metz

A one-day program, Top 10 Considerations to Navigate a Struggling Farm Economy, is planned in eight communities across Kansas. The K-State Research and Extension program will help producers think critically about how their farms might withstand the tough times. Each presentation topic will provide a framework to evaluate options and opportunities. They include: maintaining working capital; restructuring debt; managing machinery expenses; family living expenses; enterprise diversification; safety nets; income tax management and more. Complete program details, host locations, and registration information can be found at http://www.postrock.k-state.edu/events/.

By:  Nora Rhoades

Is Clutter a Problem?

Posted on by Marci Metz

Do you say, “This house is a mess” more than three times a week? Do you… move something every time you want to sit down? have piles of paper all over the house? have closets and drawers that are brimming? spend lots of time looking for things? Do you frequently hear family member say, “I can’t find it”? Do you tire of being the family’s chief picker-upper? Does this sound like you? If so, it is time to take control of the clutter at your house. Checkout the K-State Research and Extension resource to help you Cut the Clutter and Get Organized.

By: Nora Rhoades

Prepare for Health Insurance Decision Making

Posted on by Marci Metz
Nora Rhoades Family and Youth Development Agent
Nora Rhoades
Family and Youth
Development Agent

The fall months are a popular time to make health insurance decisions. Many employers, the Health Insurance Marketplace, and some public programs, such as Medicare, utilize the fall as the one time each year you can change or renew insurance coverage.

Medicare open enrollment is October 15, 2016 through December 7. Medicare Open Enrollment is an annual opportunity for individuals with Medicare eligibility to make changes to Medicare Advantage or Medicare prescription drug coverage for the following year. You can get free, un-biased health insurance counseling from a SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas) Counselor. To identify a SHICK Counselor in your area, contact the Post Rock Extension District or the Kansas Agency on Aging office in your area.

Open enrollment through the Kansas Health Insurance Marketplace for next year’s coverage will begin November 1, 2016. December 15 is the last day to enroll or change an insurance plan through the Marketplace for coverage to start January 1, 2017. January 31 is the last day to enroll in or change a 2017 health plan. After this date, you can enroll or change plans only if you qualify for a special enrollment period. Cover Kansas Navigators are trained, un-biased volunteers who can assist you with making decisions in the Marketplace. To identify a Navigator in your area, call the Marketplace at 1-800-318-2596 or contact the Post Rock Extension District.

Contact your local Post Rock Extension District office or email Nora Rhoades at nrhoades@ksu.edu to access resources that can provide assistance as you work through the health insurance decision-making process.

By:  Nora Rhoades