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Money Matters

How to Save on School Supplies

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To signal the end of the summer, students all over the United States get their list of supplies for the next school year. The list can be quite daunting and it can easily get very expensive. There are many tips and tricks to bring that bill down. Here are a few: Buy a year ahead. If you have any idea what your child will need next year, buy what you can when school supplies … [Read more...] about How to Save on School Supplies

Cool Ways to Keep Cool

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Managing the Cost of Air Conditioning During intense heat waves, and in some parts of the country, air conditioning is a necessity. It can also be expensive!  Know that for lower income households, you may qualify for a free air conditioner. Contact your local department of social services, United Way, or Community Action and ask about available energy assistance … [Read more...] about Cool Ways to Keep Cool

How to Obtain Fuel Assistance Before Hot or Cold Weather

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Staying warm in the winter or cool in the summer is a basic human need. Often, when money gets tight, we tend to focus on shelter and food and forget how important utilities are. Or, we simply don’t know where to turn for help, and many suffer in the cold (or without cooling in extreme heat). However, there is help! The LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) is a … [Read more...] about How to Obtain Fuel Assistance Before Hot or Cold Weather

What to Do in a Power Outage

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One of the biggest annoyances even on a good day is a power outage. When there’s snow and ice outside, it can feel even worse. Here are some ideas to get through a power outage. Stock up in advance. Items to buy include: Flashlights and batteriesNon-perishable food items that do not require cooking, for example: peanut butter, canned meats, and canned fruits.If you have … [Read more...] about What to Do in a Power Outage

Need Help with Phone and Internet Costs?

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Did you know that low-income consumers may be eligible for help with the cost of phone and internet service?  The Lifeline program provides eligible low-income consumers a discount on qualifying monthly telephone service, broadband internet service, or bundled voice-broadband packages. The consumer has to purchase services from participating wireline or wireless … [Read more...] about Need Help with Phone and Internet Costs?

Getting Started with a Hydroponic Garden System

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Concerned about expensive food costs? Or maybe you want to explore a new gardening option for your family to enjoy? If you’re new to indoor gardening, and you’d like a foolproof way to get started, I highly recommend investing in a hydroponic garden system, also known as a water garden. A hydroponic garden system is an indoor gardening machine which allows you to grow plants … [Read more...] about Getting Started with a Hydroponic Garden System

Intro to Aquaponics

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Looking for a way to save money by growing your own healthy food while entertaining your children at the same time? Aquaponics is a fun way to start your sustainable home gardening journey. What is aquaponics? Aquaponics combines aquatic animals (most commonly, fish) with farming. Take a regular aquarium, put a couple of plants on top, and voila! You are an aquaponic … [Read more...] about Intro to Aquaponics

Shop Smart & Save All Year Long!

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In order to save money on everything from clothes, to cars, to furniture, to appliances, to food, it’s important to know when the best sales are. By knowing when and where to get the deals you love, you end up saving tons of money.  Sign up for email alerts from your local grocery store. These alerts will let you know what items will be on sale in the next week or two. When … [Read more...] about Shop Smart & Save All Year Long!

Family Resource Centers on Military Bases

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In a military family, raising children, especially when relocating, can be challenging. It can disrupt the children's academics, social networks, health care, and sports activities. Today's military spouses who tend to be under 35 and largely female are often in an unfamiliar location without a support network. Being informed and utilizing the available resources, whether it … [Read more...] about Family Resource Centers on Military Bases

Learn the Basics of Unemployment Benefits

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Unemployment benefits are for eligible people who are unemployed through no fault of their own. An eligible person receives a cash payment through the unemployment insurance program. Each state administers its own program, but all states must follow federal law guidelines. Who Is Eligible? Generally, you must meet both work and wage requirements. The state agency that … [Read more...] about Learn the Basics of Unemployment Benefits

How to Find Help for Veterans

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We understand that many people need someone to care for them at some point. Perhaps you have a spouse, parent, grandparents, or other relative who is an veteran, and s/he requires some assistance. Or maybe that vet is you.  You want to care for you and yours as best as you can, but perhaps you need some help.  What resources can you rely on if you find yourself … [Read more...] about How to Find Help for Veterans

Practical Tips When Caring for Our Elders

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If you are a caretaker of an elderly person, help is here. Learn where help is available:The Administration on Aging offers many services such as fall prevention, aging and disability programs, brain, oral, and behavioral health programs, elder abuse prevention, legal assistance, and retirement planning, and has chapters in most of the U.S. Find AoA services in your area.The … [Read more...] about Practical Tips When Caring for Our Elders

Find the Best Health Care (When You Can’t Afford It)

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Health insurance is essential — even if you feel healthy, accidents and sudden illnesses can happen. The first step has to be to check through your parents, employer, or school — wherever you can qualify for insurance now. See what they cover and don’t cover. Are your pregnancy costs covered? Which pregnancy costs? Is your child covered? What will insurance cover for your … [Read more...] about Find the Best Health Care (When You Can’t Afford It)

What Does Baby Really Need?

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Shopping for a new baby can often feel overwhelming and confusing, especially when there is so much to consider. However, babies don’t need the fanciest or newest products to thrive. Below are a few things you should expect to use in caring for a baby: Diapers: You might choose to use disposable or cloth diapers, and neither option is better or worse. Brand does not matter. … [Read more...] about What Does Baby Really Need?

10 Ways to Save Money on Gifts

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We are in the midst of what can be the most expensive time of the year. If you don’t want to, or frankly can’t, be paying off Christmas, Hanukkah, or other celebration into next year, here are some tips to make the holidays affordable and memorable. Agree on not exchanging presents. This can be a very difficult discussion to start. Everyone is embarrassed to admit any kind … [Read more...] about 10 Ways to Save Money on Gifts

Q&A: Making Ends Meet with a Teenager

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In response to a recent inquiry from a financially insecure mother about how to get by, we asked poverty expert Joyce McCauley-Benner to weigh in. Here is their exchange:Q. Hello! My beautiful daughter is now 13 years old and is a joy, but our life has been full of transitions and financial struggle due to young single parenthood and lack of a deeper support systems and help … [Read more...] about Q&A: Making Ends Meet with a Teenager

10 Things to Know About Homeschooling

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There are many choices available when you are considering how to educate your children. No choice is ever perfect (easy, cheap, quick results, and not time-consuming!). But homeschooling is an option worth considering if you want to feed a child’s love of learning in a flexible atmosphere tailored to his or her needs. Home educators Shannon Federoff (22 years experience with 11 … [Read more...] about 10 Things to Know About Homeschooling

Making Your Clever Checkbook Calendar

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Everyone keeps some kind of calendar for medical appointments, for social engagements, for reminders of birthdays and anniversaries. What about your calendar for meeting your financial obligations and anticipating expenses? Whether you use the old-fashioned wall calendar or your phone, it’s just as important to keep track of “financial appointments” as it is social … [Read more...] about Making Your Clever Checkbook Calendar

Money Management 101

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Handling finances doesn’t require an MBA. There are basic skills that make you a savvy financial manager. This section contains a group of articles that cover money management topics everyone should know. Topic #1: Cash Flow – otherwise known as your BUDGET = Income vs. Expenses What is your income? Start with your take-home pay. If you get the same paycheck each period, … [Read more...] about Money Management 101

8 Tricks to Handling Debt

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Using credit is a normal part of life. Financing a car or large household items, using student loans for your education, or taking out a mortgage to purchase a home are things people do every day. Good money management requires that you know when and how to use credit wisely. The article on “Your Credit Rating”  can help you make the right decisions. But if you find yourself … [Read more...] about 8 Tricks to Handling Debt

Where to Find Help Paying for Housing

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Learning to navigate confusing systems while also trying to cope with change can be hard, but asking for help is not only OK—it is a sign of strength. Our society often doesn’t make it easy and is quick to judge, but a lot of people need help and a lot of people want to help. You are not alone. Each new challenge you conquer will make you stronger and, in the long run, will … [Read more...] about Where to Find Help Paying for Housing

An Insider’s Guide to Your Credit Rating

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Your credit rating comes from many sources—for example, from companies that have rented or leased goods or services, your bank, your landlord, and most often from a credit report. The most important elements of your credit rating are your Credit Report and your Credit Score. We will briefly explain both of these to you and point you to sources where you can learn more. The most … [Read more...] about An Insider’s Guide to Your Credit Rating

What to Consider When Choosing Cable, Internet, and Phone

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Living in the 21st century, instant communication is easier than ever before. Yet with increased availability comes increased anxieties, especially with the cost of communication being so high. When weighing your cable, internet, and television options, the following tips may be useful. Cable The price of cable has been rising at four times the inflation rate, putting the … [Read more...] about What to Consider When Choosing Cable, Internet, and Phone

Where to Find Help with Student Loans

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What do you do when the time comes to start repaying your student loans? What do you do when you are having difficulty paying student loans? Are there any programs to help you pay your loans, defer your payments, or get forgiveness from these payments? These are big questions, and as you know, there are many students and former students struggling to pay student loans. There … [Read more...] about Where to Find Help with Student Loans

10 Ways to Save on Monthly Expenses

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While rent or a mortgage payment is often the biggest expense a household may have, utilities can be a significant expense as well. These can include gas, electric, water, and trash removal. Some of these costs may be included in rent, so check with your landlord. While trash removal is usually a set monthly cost, other utilities are based on your usage. Utility companies … [Read more...] about 10 Ways to Save on Monthly Expenses