Special Edition

Special Edition 2018

University of Florida IFAS Extension Orange County Family & Consumer Sciences Newsletter

Also in This Issue:

We’re On The Web! http://orange.ifas.ufl.edu

6021 S. Conway Road Orlando, FL 32812

407-254-9200

Living Well in Orange County

Florida Saves Week! 2

Help Children Save 2

Florida Saves Week!

Editor : Jenny Rodriguez Prepared by: Jenny Rodriguez

By Jenny Rodriguez

That $100 you tuck away is not much now, but consider this: if you saved $100 each

month for a year, you’d have $1,200 in your bank account. That’s a good financial

cushion that can keep you afloat when the unexpected happens. Another strategy is to

review your budget and cut down on small expenses that you won’t notice individually

but add up significantly. Turn the thermostat down a degree or two, clip some

coupons, and cancel unnecessary services or memberships.

For more Information visit www.FloridaSaves.org

Savers with a plan can be over twice as likely to save successfully for things like retirement. Start your savings habit during

Florida Saves week by creating a simple savings plan when you take the Florida Saves Pledge for a chance to win up to

$750.

Money Management Tips

Florida Saves Week: Build your

savings a little at a time

It’s tax time, and many of us will be seeing

refunds checks soon. Time to celebrate!

It’s also a time to reflect on what you will

do with all that extra cash.

Here are some quick considerations before

you make a decision: Track your expenses; Identify spending leaks Identify needs vs. wants Establish written financial goals Develop a spending-savings plan

One area to consider are any medical bills.

But after that, let’s say you have some

money left over. What then?

Think about putting those extra dollars in a

savings account. Or, if you don’t have a

savings account, open one. Even if it’s just

$100, that first deposit could be the start of

a lifelong savings habit.

Why is it important to save? To answer

this question consider your circumstances

today and right now. Are you a busy par-

ent running from work to multiple after

school activities with your kids? Or are

you a College student navigating your way

through college life, rationalizing whether

or not to purchase that $100 book you

need for your Chemistry class? Or perhaps

your spouse has just been laid off from

work? Do you find yourself without trans-

portation because your car needs some ma-

jor repairs?

These little emergencies come up all the

time. Our attitudes and habits related to

money will provide the key to our finan-

cial and life success.

As part of our Florida Saves Week incentive organizations

have the opportunity to promote good savings behavior and a

chance for individuals to assess their own saving status. If

you’d like to take part of this great Florida Saves mission,

take the America Saves Pledge!

Ten Florida Savers will receive $50! Sign the pledge and take

the Saver Survey to be eligible! For more information CLICK

HERE!

Florida Saves

Every month we offer an

assortment of workshops and learning

opportunities.

Please visit our Eventbrite page to

learn about upcoming events and to

register:

http://oclivingwell.eventbrite.com

or stop in for a visit

Mon-Fri 8am-5pm

UF IFAS Extension Orange County Family & Consumer Sciences Faculty:

An Equal Opportunity Institution. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Nick T. Place,

dean for UF/IFAS Extension. Single copies of UF/IFAS Extension publications (excluding 4-H and youth publications) are available free to Florida residents from county UF/IFAS Extension offices.

By Jenny Rodriguez

Help Children Save

Helping our kids build solid money habits are key to

ensuring a successful financial future. No matter what

age, kids learn from watching their parents and will

often imitate what they see and hear around them.

Your words and actions are opportunities to share

money lessons. Try some of these easy tips to help

your child understand the importance of saving and

establishing healthy money habits.

Make your shopping list together—don’t just list

what you need but try listing out loud each item and

it’s cost. This process allows you to share your

reasoning with them. Each item you put in your cart

is a chance to tell your kids why you’re buying it

instead of a similar item at a different price point.

When your children get an allowance or money for

their birthday, and they save up to buy something

you think they’ll regret later, let them purchase it.

Kids will look back at those moments where they

worked hard to save on a toy they used only a few

times and may make different choices in the future.

It’s a great moment for them to experience now

than when they are older.

Jenny Aviles Rodriguez Stable Housing/Energy Efficiency/

Financial Confidence & Independence jennyarodriguez@ufl.edu