Managing Your Money in Good and Times and Bad

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation released a publication featuring suggestions for spending less, saving more, protecting against fraud, and borrowing wisely.  Access the information at: http://fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnwin0809/

This consists of a wide variety of resources about the basics of financial management, including: budgeting, saving, paying for college, buying a car, getting a first job, protecting identity and critically evaluating different loans. There are also comprehensive materials available to assist college professors and administrators in teaching students about these vital financial life skills. http://whatsmyscore.org/

Economic Survival Tips
Need help with money issues?  Turn to the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE);s Economic Survival Tips, a web-based resources filled with action-oriented information on how to remain financially afloat, not only during this difficult economy, but beyond.  Go to: http://www.smartaboutmoney.org/

Social Security Administration Retirement
The Social Security Administration recently updated their webpage to allow an on-line retirement application.  More details and the link are available at www.socialsecurity.gov

Looking for more ideas to stretch your dollar?
Check out this fact sheet, How to Reduce Living Expenses:  http://ohioline.osu.edu/ss-fact/pdf/0205.pdf  It includes tips for saving money on electricity and gas, telephone, water, car insurance, food, clothing, transportation, household supplies, health, entertainment, gifts, home furnishings, and pets.

Tips to Save By! - this document is in Publisher

Looking for information about coping with job loss and ways to stretch the budget?  Check out the OSU Extension site developed by Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Educators in five Southwest Ohio counties:  www.5countysolutions.osu.edu

Master Money Mentor Training
A national award winning training for social workers, Human Resource managers, nonprofit organizations, faith based volunteers or staff and others working with individuals and families needing financial education. OSU Extension has long been a source of money management information.  One way OSU Extension has reached more people is by training agency / organization / business staff and volunteers as Master Money Mentors who use this information to reach their audiences.

Training is conducted one day per year from 9:00am-3:00pm. Training provides participants with tools to assist and support clients/customers/employees and improve personal skills in the area of money management.  5.5 CEUs have been approved from the State of Ohio Counselor and Social Work Board.
 
The fee for the training is $65. Training will be held in the OSU Extension office on the Montgomery County fairgrounds and will be conducted by Chris Olinsky, Family & Consumer Sciences Educator in Montgomery County. The fee includes the training notebook and resource materials, light a.m. refreshments, and a box lunch. 
 
The next training date has not yet been determined. If you would like to be notified of the date or have additional questions, contact Chris Olinsky at 224-9654 (olinsky.1@osu.edu).

New Start for Financial Success
A U.S. Department of Justice approved program for bankruptcy filers; fulfills filers requirements for pre-discharge financial education; http://newstart.osu.edu/   

For locations offering the required pre-discharge financial management education, go to:
www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/de_approved.htm  

When Your Income Drops 
Losing a job or otherwise experiencing a loss of income is a challenge in the best of times. In the current economy, it is essential to map out a plan to get back on your feet again.  The University of Georgia recently updated a series of fact sheets (and developed a companion PowerPoint presentation) called When Your Income Drops to help with this process. The PowerPoint presentation, fact sheets, and activities are designed to help you develop a plan to move you forward.  The information is for people who have recently lost their jobs or otherwise experienced a reduction in income but will be helpful to others as well.  Check out the site at:   http://fcs.uga.edu/ext/econ/wyid.php  

Managing Your Money in Good and Times and Bad
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation released a publication featuring suggestions for spending less, saving more, protecting against fraud, and borrowing wisely.  Access the information at:
http://fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnwin0809/

1 (800) FED-INFO: FAST ANSWERS TO YOUR IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

So you've got a problem: You need housing assistance. Or a small business loan. Or a copy of your birth certificate. You know you need to call someone �in the government,� but who? Which government office or website is the right one to help you with your problem?

Cut out the guesswork by calling 1 (800) FED-INFO, the U.S. government�s free, official hotline for information on government benefits and services. Give 1 (800) FED-INFO a call if you need help:
             Applying for Social Security or Medicare / Medicaid benefits 
              Learning how to purchase surplus government property 
             Obtaining or renewing a passport 
             Getting assistance with utility bills 
              Filing your income taxes, or for almost anything else.

The information specialists at 1 (800) FED-INFO are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time to answer questions in English and Spanish. You can also find the same helpful information online�visit http://answers.usa.gov to get answers to more than 2,000 of the most popular questions the government receives. Or you can chat with a specialist online and get your English-language questions answered live�click on the �Live Help � Web Chat� tab anytime between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time.   So when you need something from the government but you�re not sure where to get it, get your information fast and right the first time by calling 1 (800) FED-INFO.


Family Caregiving
For information about family caregiving, including long term care issues, visit http://www.extension.org/family+caregiving