July 2009

National Parents' Day

Sunday, July 26, is National Parents' Day. This commemorative day, similar to Mother's Day and Father's Day, is the result of a Congressional resolution that was signed into law in 1994 by President Bill Clinton. The day was created to recognize, uplift and support the role and importance of parents in the rearing of children.

Teaching the Next Generation to Clean

One aspect of being a good parent is to teach children life skills so they can grow up as adults to lead happy, healthy and productive lives. Such life skills include cooking, cleaning and doing laundry. The following are some tips from Nancy bock of the Soap and Detergent Association on how to effectively introduce children to these tasks.

Make sure the chore is age appropriate. Preschoolers can put away unbreakable dishes and toys. Older children can clear the table, help load the dishwasher ... Read More

July is UV Safety Month

Hats, sunglasses, and protective clothing are all recommended as protection against excessive ultraviolet radiation (UV). While small amounts of UV are needed for the production of Vitamin D, too much UV may result in acute and chronic health effects on the skin, eyes and immune system.

The following steps for reducing your risk of sun-related illnesses are recommended by the U. S. Centers for Disease Control ... Read More

Hurricane Preparation: Evacuating Your Home

1. Know the evacuation route and follow directions.
2. Listen to local authorities as they tell you what to do.
3. Keep your vehicle’s tank filled
4. If it is necessary to evacuate, plan to take one vehicle per household.
5. Do not go near power lines especially if they are down
6. Wear clothing that protect you as much as possible
7. Take you disaster kit with supplies you will need
8. Bring your cellular phone if you have one (Remember to have it well charged before the storm).
9. Prepare your home before leaving – lock all doors and windows, leave natural gas on unless you are advised to turn it off
10. If possible, let non-resident family members know where you are going and put your emergency communication plans into effect
11. If your emergency officials tell you to “shelter in place,” this means you should remain inside your office or home and protect yourself
12. Have a predetermined meeting place for your family in case you get separated
13. If children are in school, plan for who will pick them up and how
14. Plan ahead for animals – where they will stay and who will care for them.
    Source: Dr. Elizabeth Bolton, Professor, Family, Youth & Community Sciences. University of Florida/IFAS Extension  

Hurricanes and Floods: Food and Water Safety

Be Prepared:

• Keep liquid unscented household bleach on hand.
• Store food, water, and medication on shelves that will be safely out of the way if there is flooding.
• Keep on hand 7 day’s worth of ready-to-eat foods that do not need refrigeration or heating.
• Have on hand at least 2 quarts (1/2 gallon) of water for drinking per person per day (about 4 gallons per person for 7 days).
• Know what to do if there is a power outage.

When flooding occurs:

• Use bottled water that was not exposed to flooding, if possible
• If bottled water is not available, boil water for at least one minute, let it cool, and store in clean, covered containers. Read More

New Renters’ Rights in Foreclosure

According to Consumer Action, renters must now be allowed to remain in their homes for the duration of their lease – even if the home is being foreclosed on. President Obama signed the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act 2009 (S.896) into law on May 20.

The new law provides renters with a minimum of 90 days notice before a tenant must vacate a property. If a buyer plans to use the property as his primary home, or the tenant’s lease is month to month, or there is no lease at all, the tenant is entitled to at least 90 days notice.

If there is a lease, tenants will be allowed to stay for the duration of the lease before evictions can proceed. If a state offers greater protections to renters, the law allows the stronger protections to apply. These new renters’ rights also apply to Section 8 tenants.

The new tenant protections are effective immediately and expire December 31, 2012.
For more information please visit the Low Income Housing Coalition at www.nlihc.org

New Credit Rules on the Horizon

Benefits of Regular Physical Activity
Regular physical activity can help:

• Increase your everyday energy
• Monitor your mood
• Help with sound sleep
• Enhance self-esteem
• Improve work performance
  Read More ...
  

How to Keep Those Hands Hygienic?

Preventing foodborne illnesses is important for the health of the entire family. During this busy holiday season, symptoms can often be mistaken for the flu. A major factor in preventing foodborne illnesses is keeping hands clean. Hands should be washed before beginning any food preparation, as well as after handling raw meats, fish and poultry. Here’s how to clean hands properly.

• Wet hands with warm, running water and apply soap.
• Rub hands together well to make a lather, and scrub all surfaces. Pay special attention to between those fingers and under jewelry. Continue for 20 seconds, or while you sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
• Rinse well under warm running water.
• Dry hands thoroughly using paper towels. Use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and to turn the door knob, if necessary.

Keeping Your Food Dollar $ in Check
As everything from utilities and gas to household staples increase in price, many people want to know how they can make their dollar go further.  One of the things we can do to alleviate the strain of rising food costs is to shop smart.  Here are some simple tips that can help you save money and make your food dollar go further.

• Make a grocery list.
One of the most important things you can do as a smart consumer is to keep a list of items you need to buy at the store.  Make sure to keep this in an accessible location such as on your refrigerator.  This will help you avoid impulse buys like unnecessary and expensive snacks.  This will also allow you to save on gas by going to the grocery store less often, preferably once per week.  Make sure to take the list with you to the store, stick to it, but remain flexible as you might find a great sale.   To help you remain on track regarding your grocery list, avoid shopping when tired or hungry because this may cause unnecessary, unhealthy choices.
Read more

Keeping A Check On Your Household Spending

Nearly 32 cents of every dollar spent by American families is for groceries and household items. Individuals make an average of three trips a week to the grocery store, and one or more stops at a drug or discount store. In many instances, people are spending money they could otherwise be saving for the future because they fail to compare, and get the most for their money.  Stores cleverly display merchandize in locations that do not escape the eyes – all designed to get the shoppers to spend.
Read More ...

Fair Debt Collection: Dealing with Creditors

More consumers are finding themselves hounded by aggressive debt collectors who don’t always play it by the rules. According to the Better Business Bureau, preliminary figures show that complaints against debt collectors increased by 20% in 2006 and 26% in 2007. If you use credit cards, have a personal loan, or are paying on a home mortgage, you are a debtor. If you fall behind on any of these payments, or an error is made on your accounts, you may be contacted by a debt collector. As a consumer, here are some things you need to know.
Read More ...

Start At The Store: Prevent Foodborne Illness

Safeguarding your home against foodborne illness does not begin at home, but at the supermarket, grocery store, or any place where you buy food that will be stored and served. According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year, foodborne illnesses cause about 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,200 deaths nationwide. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends seven steps consumers can do while they shop for food in order to prevent these illnesses.
Read More...

Foreclosure Rescue Scams

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has issued an advisory that provides advice to help borrowers from becoming victims of foreclosure rescue scams. Most foreclosure rescue scams fall within three categories. In lease-back or repurchase scams, the con artist convinces a borrower to sign over his deed in return for a promise to lease back or eventually repurchase the property. Refinance fraud involves a situation where the borrower believes the transaction is a refinance, but in fact, the fraud involves transfer of property ownership to the con artist. Bankruptcy schemes involve repeat bankruptcy filings to get a temporary stay order to delay foreclosure, but can result in damaging the consumers’ credit without saving their homes.
Read More ...

Reverse Mortgages: What You Should Know

Reverse mortgages can be helpful to homeowners who want to stay in their homes but are having trouble keeping up with their mortgage payments, or who have no other source of funds to pay bills or meet unexpected expenses. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is urging homeowners who are thinking about reverse mortgages to make informed decisions and carefully weigh all their options before proceeding. If you decide a reverse mortgage is right for you, be sure to make the wisest use of your loan.
Read more...

The Palm Beach County Extension Service has been approved by the 15 th Judicial Circuit to teach the Premarital Preparation class, Before You Tie the Knot. Couples who take this 6-hour class receive a discount on their marriage license and a waiver of the 3-day waiting period to get married.

The next premarital class will be held on July 14 & 15, 2009 from 6pm to 9pm. The couple must attend both classes. The cost is $20.00 per couple. For more information and to register call the Extension Service at (561) 233-1742.

• PBC Cooperative Extension Service
• National Health Observances
• Palm Beach County-2-1-1-Get Answers
• Food and Health Calendar Months

ServSafe Food Manager Certification

If your church, synagogue, community group or other volunteer organization provides, serves or stores food for those in need, this program is for you! Learn the basics of preventing food borne illnesses, avoiding cross contamination, understanding time and temperature relationships and storing and serving food safely.

Sun Safety

Sun safety is never out of season. Summer is the time for picnics, trips to the pool and beach, and an increase in sunburns. Studies over the past 20 years have shown that excessive exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer. Harmful rays from the sun, as well as those from sunlamps and tanning beds, may also cause eye problems, weaken the immune system, and produce unsightly spots and wrinkles later.

Read More ...

Danger Of Couples Credit Only In One Name

Many couples, especially that are well established, may have followed the traditional route of having all credit accounts in one person's name. In most situations, both would have been able to use the credit. The account-holder would have established his or her spouse as an authorized User, thus giving permission to use the card. Historically, account information such as payment history would influence the credit report and score of both the accountholder and authorized user.

This could both help and hurt an authorized user. If the accountholder managed the account well, this could benefit the authorized user. However, if the accountholder mismanaged the account, this negative information could hurt an authorized user of the account.

Read more

Beware of Suspicious E-Mails

Thinking About Borrowing From Your 401(k)?

As times get more difficult financially, there might be the temptation to borrow from one’s 401(k). Before taking out a loan, here are some pros and cons to consider.

On the positive side:

• You usually do not have to give an explanation of why you need the money or how you will spend it. READ MORE

Savings Strategies

• Pay off high-cost debt.  The best investment most borrowers can make is to pay off consumer debt with double digit interest rates. For example, if you have a $3,000 credit card balance at 19.8% interest, and you pay the minimum amount each month, it will cost more than $10,000 in interest charges. Read more

Simply Florida – A new innovative cookbook

Known as the Sunshine State, Florida offers unique flavors from the seashore to the panhandle.

Simply Florida a new cookbook offered by the Florida Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and the University of Florida/IFAS, celebrates all that is Florida food – sun-ripened fruit, fabulous beef, the freshest seafood, and farm fresh vegetables. It is filled with wonderful recipes suitable for vegetarians and meat eaters alike and information that represents the unique flavors of the Sunshine State. In addition to delicious recipes, users will find safe food preparation tips; nutritional analysis of recipes; information on agriculture and food production in Florida; and the history of Family and Consumer Sciences and the Cooperative Extension in Florida.

Availability and cost:

Order through website; http://www.simplyflorida.org

$30.00, price includes shipping and handling.

Books are available for $25.00 at the Extension office; 559 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, Florida, (561) 233-1742.

Lead Alert

Childhood lead poisoning is completely preventable. It can affect nearly every system in the body. Because lead poisoning often occurs with no obvious symptoms, it frequently goes unrecognized. Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and at very high levels, seizures, coma, and even death. A blood test is the only way to know if a child has been exposed to lead.

Besides consumer products which are currently in the news, here are other potential sources of lead for children.

• Lead-based paint
• Lead contaminated household dust
• Lead contaminated soil
• Lead dust carried home from hobbies or occupations that involve lead - “Take Home Lead”
• Imported consumer products such as pottery, mini-blinds or costume jewelry
• Non-western home remedies or folk remedies

 Source:  Lead Alert Network, Florida Department of Health

Federal Reserve Links for Consumers Facing Foreclosure

The Federal Reserve has pulled together a number of links for consumers facing foreclosure. A lengthy list of federal and organizational resources may be found at:
http://www.federalreserveeducation.org/pdf/foreclosure

A short list of federal-agency-only resources may be found at:
http://www.federalreserve.gov

Source: Jeanne M. Hogarth. Consumer Education & Research, Federal Reserve Board.

Don't Be A Drip: Save Every Drop

Here are a few facts about water usage.

• Each minute of showering uses 3 to 7 gallons of water.
• Taking a bath? Filling the tub 1/3 uses 15 gallons and 2/3 uses 28 gallons.
• Turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth saves 3 gallons each time.
• 30 drops per minute = 54 gallons per month.
• 120 drops per minute = 237 gallons per month.

The following are some tips to help you conserve water.

• Never pour water down the drain when it can be used for some other purpose. Use it to water plants.
• Take shorter showers
• Don’t let water run while brushing your teeth, washing your face, or shaving
• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily and don’t use it as a trash bin
• Don’t use running water to thaw meat or frozen foods. Use a microwave instead or defrost overnight in the refrigerator
• Scrape, don’t rinse dishes, before putting them in the dishwasher
• Wash full loads of dishes and clothes or adjust the water level accordingly
• Cover pots while cooking and use the smallest amount of water necessary
• Check for plumbing leaks

For answers to your questions on the current water restrictions, please contact the South Florida Water Management District HOTLINE at 1-800-662-8876.

Fiber In Your Diet

There are many names for fiber – dietary fiber, total fiber, or just fiber. Eating foods that contain fiber is good for your health. Two main types of fiber are dietary fiber which is parts of plants that we cannot digest (sources include fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grain foods); and “functional” fiber which is added to some foods. Examples include oat bran, pectin, and psyllium. Functional fibers have different effects on the body such as decreasing blood cholesterol or increasing stool bulk. Three facts about fiber are:

Read More

Get Coupons to Convert your TV from Analog to Digital

On February 17, 2009 , television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. At that time, you can watch TV using one of the following options: Read More ...