Holiday Shopping During Tough Economic Times

Holiday shopping during tough economic times is a challenge. For most people, this holiday budget is tight thanks to higher gas prices and increased food costs that ate into family finances this past year. Rather than scouring the ads and storefronts looking for that perfect gift, consider showing your love and appreciation by giving gifts that also provide financial relief for the recipient. Doing so means that the person has one less expense to worry about or does not have to decide whether or not to remove that particular expense from their budget. Gift certificates for personal care. During tight economic times, many people forego personal services such as hair styling, manicures, or massages. A little pampering is something that anyone can appreciate, especially when it is free! Gift cards to local restaurants. Dining out as a couple or with friends is something that people often cut back on when trying to stretch their dollars. Payment of a service. Does someone need to have some pictures framed or a room painted? Get a few estimates, and consider offering to pay for the service. If it is a bigger expense, perhaps several family members can all contribute to the cost and give one big gift. A trip or outing. Depending on one’s budget, a trip to see a show may be a luxury that they cannot afford. Additionally, if you do this as a family, you are giving the priceless gift of memories, too. A nice framed picture taken on the trip can serve as a gift to compliment the outing. Membership in a club or organization. A membership to the local “Y”, gym, or outdoor club usually has a cost attached. Especially for older people, it is important for their well-being that they stay connected and socially active. A gift of an annual membership renewal is a gift that will last the whole year through. Lessons or instruction. A registration for a sports clinic or enrollment in a local theater class makes a nice gift especially for a young person whose family might consider these things out of the budget for a while. Subscription to a magazine. Find out the person’s interests and hobbies, and consider a one-year subscription to a magazine. If they like it, you may have next year’s gift already figured out! Whatever you decide to give, it is important to keep in mind that the gift should be self-sustaining. For example, a cell phone may seem like a good idea, however, unless you are also planning to foot the monthly bill, there is a chance that the gift will be returned or never used. Be sure that whatever gift you give does not add more financial burden to the recipient. Gifts that support the usual and ordinary aspects of life are most precious during times when money is tight and the future uncertain.

Shopping Online

Going online can be a convenient and economical way to do your holiday shopping. The stores are open 24/7 every day of the year and you don’t have to fight the crowds and traffic at the malls. It can also be a safe one if you follow a few simple guidelines. · Know who you’re dealing with. Be sure to get the seller’s physical address and phone number in case there are questions or problems with the merchandise. Does the web address of the seller look right or does it contain some extra information that may be an indication of someone spoofing by masquerading as a legitimate seller. DO NOT ORDER from online stores that do not offer secured transactions.

· Know what it is that you are buying. Read the product description closely including all the fine print. Is it a new or a used or refurbished item? Brand names at extraordinary bargain prices may be counterfeit.

· Know what it will cost. Are there shipping and handling charges? What about sales tax? What is the total cost after any additional charges such as these are factored in. Does this still fit into your budget?

· Pay by credit or charge card. If you pay by credit or charge card online, your transaction will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. Under this law, you have the right to dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payment while the creditor is investigating them. In the event of unauthorized use of your credit or charge card, you generally would be held liable only for the first $50 in charges. Some companies offer an online shopping guarantee that ensures you will not be held responsible for any unauthorized charges made online, and some cards may provide additional warranty, return, and/or purchase protection benefits.

· Check out the terms of the deal. What is the delivery date and method? Is there a refund policy if you are not satisfied with the merchandise? Are there restocking fees for returns? A Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule requires sellers to ship items as promised or within 30 days after the order date if no specific date is promised.

· Print and save records of your online transactions. Include the product description and price, the online receipt, and copies of every email you send to or receive from the seller. Review your credit card statements as you receive them for any unauthorized charges. For additional information, check out the following resources: Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office: http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/consumers.aspx?id=1920

Federal Trade Commission: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt082.shtm

OnGuardOnline: http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/online-shopping.aspx

Turkey Tactics for the Holidays

Each year the holiday season seems to arrives sooner than in the past. It seems like it was only yesterday that we were celebrating The 4th of July, and now holiday decorations are going up in malls and shopping plazas. With Thanksgiving less than a week away, now is the time to put plans into action for roasting the perfect turkey for your family feast. There are many things to consider when it comes to selecting, thawing, roasting and saving leftover holiday turkey. The majority of grocery stores in our region offer either fresh or frozen turkeys. Frozen turkeys can be selected months in advance. They can be kept frozen indefinitely. But it is recommended that you cook it within one year for best quality. There are three ways to thaw your turkey safely. You can thaw it in the refrigerator, in cold running water, or in the microwave oven. Thawing the turkey in the refrigerator is probably the most efficient way for most home cooks. This thawing method does take some planning. The average time for thawing a whole turkey is 3 to 5 days, depending on the size of the bird. Follow these two simple steps for thawing a turkey in the refrigerator. First, keep the turkey in the original wrapper. Next, place it on a tray or in a pan to catch any juices that may leak. Once thawed, a turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. A fresh turkey works well when you don’t have several days to thaw a whole turkey in the refrigerator. Purchase it 1 to 2 days before you plan to cook it. Store your fresh turkey in the refrigerator in a pan to catch any juices that may leak from the packaging. Fresh or frozen, always allow 1 pound of turkey per person. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not recommend buying fresh pre-stuffed turkeys. If not handled properly, harmful bacteria can grow in the stuffing. Frozen pre-stuffed turkeys, on the other hand, can be safe if the turkey has a USDA or State mark of inspection on the packaging. Frozen, pre-stuffed turkeys should not be thawed before cooking. These turkeys have to be cooked from the frozen state. You should closely follow the package directions for handling and cooking. To roast your holiday bird, you need a few basic pieces of equipment, some simple ingredients and an oven set at 325°F. A shallow roasting pan with a rack works well for turkeys. Don’t be tempted to stuff the turkey. Cook the stuffing outside of the turkey in a casserole dish. This works better because it allows the turkey to cook evenly and it is safer. Remember to remove the giblets from the turkey cavities before you roast the turkey. There are several ways to season the turkey. Most seasonings will have little effect on the safety of the turkey. Generally, simply rubbing the skin with olive or vegetable oil and sprinkling the turkey with salt and pepper works well. Tuck the wing tips under the shoulders of the bird for more even cooking. Add ½ cup of water to the bottom of the roasting pan. Cover the turkey during the first 1 to 1 ½ hours. You can cover with the lid of the roaster or place a heavy-duty aluminum foil tent over the turkey. This allows for even cooking and browning. Checking the temperature of the turkey is a key step to making sure it is safe to serve. The USDA recommends roasting the turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F. Even if your turkey has a “pop-up” temperature indicator, it is still recommended that you check the temperature in the innermost thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast with a food thermometer. You can also use an oven-proof food thermometer. Place the oven-proof thermometer in the turkey at the start of the cooking cycle. For a whole turkey, place the thermometer in the thickest part of the inner thigh. Once the thigh has reached 165°F, check the wing and the thickest part of the breast to ensure the entire turkey has reached the 165°F mark. For best quality, let the turkey stand for 20 minutes before carving to allow the juices to set. The turkey will carve more easily. Once the meal is over, do not allow the turkey to remain at room temperature for longer than two hours. Divide leftovers into smaller portions and refrigerate. It is better to refrigerate leftover turkey in shallow containers because they allow the meat to cool down to a safe temperature faster. Leftover turkey must be used within 3 to 4 days. Plan to use or freeze leftover gravy within 1 to 2 days.

Financial Planning for Young Couples

At this time of year, many young couples are busy planning for spring weddings. Their thoughts are focused on menus, dresses, honeymoons and all of the many things that go along with a wedding. Unfortunately, conversations between couples rarely hit on one of the most important issues they will encounter in their new life together – money management. Many marital conflicts revolve around spending, saving and making money.

Decisions such as opening credit card accounts, having joint or individual banking accounts, deciding on large purchases, purchasing insurance and who will manage the money are among the many things that need to be discussed. Because of the potential conflict involved with money management, it is important that couples communicate openly on the subject. We usually come to a relationship with our expectations based on past experiences and what we observed in our own family situations. Obviously our vision and our partner’s vision of money management can differ greatly. Through open, honest communication, couples can share their feelings and talk about what is important to them - whether that is a house, exotic vacations, additional education, etc. Couples also need to determine who will pay the bills and whether accounts will be shared. If you resent having to ask your partner for money, this feeling needs to be shared during this discussion.

One good starting point is to identify financial goals and how the couple might reach those aspirations. This discussion will lead to the development of a spending plan. The first step in making a spending plan is to write down how much income you have and what expenditures you expect. Both partners need to be involved in planning how income will be spent. Talk about ways to spend and stretch the budget. If there is not enough money for everything, then it will be necessary to generate more income or reduce some expenses to make the budget work. Many couple get themselves into financial “hot water” by filling the gaps in their spending plans by using credit cards.

Finally, couples need to take time to regularly evaluate their spending plan. Determine what is working and what is not. Try not to criticize or blame your partner, but instead focus on alternatives and how to make the spending plan work.

So as you finish your wedding plans, please take time to talk about the resources that will be used to support you after the big event. Be prepared to find differences in what each of you feels is important in financial management and continue to keep those lines of communication open.

Healthy Birthday Celebrations

Birthday parties are a great way for children to celebrate life with family, friends and school classmates. When most of us think of birthday party foods, cake, ice cream, and punch come to mind. How can parents and teachers help plan and host parties that celebrate healthy living? Teachers and parents should remember to keep the celebration focused on the child or children celebrating the special day. Birthday parties offer an opportunity for parents and teachers to make nutrition fun and exciting. Parents and teachers should use parties as a chance to serve foods that are nutritious and tasty and that are also colorful and eye appealing. Try these suggestions for healthy birthday parties · Host a make your own fruit and yogurt parfait bar. Offer fresh fruit, granola and yogurt. Students can build their own yogurt parfait creations. · Focus the food selections on a specific culture. Find and prepare healthy recipes from different cultures. · Ask the children to help plan parties and to suggest healthy snack ideas. You may be surprised at the good healthy choices they offer. · Make sure that the refreshments are not the major feature of the party. The refreshments should only complement the other party activities. · Host a birthday dance party. Bowling, bouncing, and skating parties are also fun and will give kids a chance to burn off extra calories if you serve cake and ice cream. · Use a fresh vegetable platter or fruit salad as a colorful, appetizing, and tasty centerpiece. · Have the children help make kabobs by placing bite-sized pieces of fruits or vegetables onto skewers. · Use salsa or hummus (a bean spread) as dips for cut vegetables and whole-grain crackers. Birthday and classroom parties are special for children. When planning parties for children remember to focus on a variety of activities, games and crafts that children enjoy. Make sure to include lots of healthy choices when making food selections. Even though there is nothing wrong with an occasional cake and ice cream treat, unhealthy food choices should not be the norm at these events. Remember, parties that feature healthy foods provide children opportunities to practice making wise food choices. Share your ideas for healthy birthday parties. I would love to share your comments. What do you do to make family and/or school birthday celebrations fun, healthy and exciting?