Archive for the ‘Consumer Skills’ Category:
December Knowledge at Noon on “Selection and Care of Fine Jewelry”
Whether fine jewelry is on your holiday wish list or already under the tree, this program will share tips for every Santa’s helper! Tom Linenberger, award-winning jewelry designer from Goldworks in Garden City, will explain what to look for when buying fine jewelry and even how to redesign new pieces from older jewelry items. He’ll also share recommendations for regular care, maintenance and inspection of fine jewelry to keep your pieces beautiful and protected for years to come.
Knowledge at Noon, sponsored by the Finney County Extension Office, will be Thursday, December 1, from 12:05-12:55 pm at the Finney County Public Library, 605 E. Walnut Street in Garden City, Kansas.
The public is invited to attend this program. Bring a lunch if you wish; coffee and tea will be provided. For more information on the Extension Knowledge at Noon programs, please contact the Finney County Extension Office at 620-272-3670.
“Knowledge for Life” provided by the Finney County Extension Office and K-State Research and Extension.
Subscribe to the comments for this postSave $1,000 – or More – on Groceries
One of Santa’s strategies – making a list and checking it twice – may yield substantial savings on groceries any time of year.
Why a list?
“Impulse purchases drive up food costs,” said Mary Meck Higgins, K-State Research and Extension nutrition specialist.
“On average, about 40 percent of grocery purchases are impulse buys.”
That means that a consumer shopping with a list and sticking to it who spends $50 a week on groceries might save $20 a week, or more than $1,000 a year. If spending $100 a week on groceries, savings could add up to $2,000 year, and if spending $150 a week, savings might reach $3,000.
Grocery Shopping Tips from K-State Research and Extension
- Keep a shopping list in the kitchen, and have family members note needed items throughout the week, since return trips to the grocery store for missed items take time and add cost.
- Organize a shopping list by category and in the same order as the store aisles to minimize shopping time and extra trips down aisles that add temptation.
- Plan ahead, in thinking through meals and menus to make sure the ingredients needed are on hand or on the list.
- Shop the perimeter (outside aisles) of the store where the least-processed foods (fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy and basic bakery items such as whole grain bread) are offered.
- Eat before shopping, and shop early, late or on a weekday, when the store is less crowded. Morning shopping may provide more access to manager mark-downs and clearance items.
- Stick to the list.
“Knowledge for Life” provided by the Finney County Extension Office and K-State Research and Extension.
Stretch Your Fruit & Vegetable Budget
Did you know that September is national Fruits and Vegetables Month? Make half your plate fruits and vegetables each meal. It’s one of the healthiest things that you can do for yourself and your family! Here are the top ten favorite tips from K-State Research and Extension for saving money while getting the maximum benefits from fruits and vegetables.
Get a Food Spending Plan. Find out what is a reasonable amount to spend in order to feed your family healthy meals, using an easy (and free!) calculator online, at www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/fooddollar
Cook enough for several meals and freeze leftovers. Place enough food for one meal in a freezer container. Thaw in the refrigerator for a no-hassle meal in the future, on a day when you don’t have time to cook.
Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season, when they are lower in price and taste better. To know which foods are in season during each month, visit the website, www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/downloads/Get_Smart_Shopping.pdf
Minimize waste, by buying only the amounts your family will eat.
Enjoy the comforts of home more often. Eating at restaurants increases the amount you spend on food, and often includes limited options for fruit and vegetable choices. Include fruits and veggies in quick meals that you prepare and enjoy at home. For delicious low-cost recipes to make in 30 minutes, visit the website, http://recipefinder.nal.usda.gov
Make homemade soup for a healthy and tasty way to use vegetables. Make a big batch and freeze leftovers in lunch-size containers.
Canned fruits and vegetables can be stored for a long time. Choose canned vegetables that have no added salt and fruit that is canned in 100% fruit juice.
To make many fresh fruits and vegetables last longer, store them in the refrigerator soon after getting home from your shopping trip.
Clearly label your foods in the freezer and refrigerator with the contents and date. Use within a safe time frame.
Buy frozen fruits and vegetables in large bags, to stretch your budget. Avoid those with added sugar, salt or sauce.
Source: Erin Henry and Mary Meck Higgins, “Dining on a Dime,” September 2011, K-State Research and Extension
“Knowledge for Life” provided by the Finney County Extension Office and K-State Research and Extension.
Make Cooking Quick and Less Costly with “Money-Saving Mixes”
Cooking at home rather than eating out is a healthier and less-expensive option. Using mixes can make cooking quick and easy, but you’ll save even more money if you make the mixes yourself.
Join Linda Beech for the Extension program “Money-Saving Mixes” on Friday, September 9 at 12:00 noon at the Finney County Extension Office, 501 S. 9th Street on the fairgrounds. There is no cost for this grant-funded program. Bring a lunch if desired, beverages will be provided.
This program will examine the advantages and disadvantages of making your own mixes, considerations for labeling and storing prepared mixes and pointers for maintaining mix freshness and quality. Participants will work together to prepare a money-saving mix and calculate the cost savings over buying a similar commercial product. Everyone will take home mix recipes, instructions and a sample of a homemade mix to try.
A minimum enrollment is required to hold this class, so pre-registration is a must. Call the Extension Office at 620-272-3670 or email lbeech@ksu.edu by September 6 to save your spot.
“Knowledge for Life” provided by the Finney County Extension Office and K-State Research and Extension.
3i Show Consumer Programs give something for everyone!
The 57th annual 3i Show will begin next week in Garden City for a three-day run. Even if irrigation, implements and industry are not your main interests, one segment of the show will provide information of interest to everyone.
The Finney County Extension Service will sponsor the Consumer Programs at the 3i Show again this year. All programs are free and offered on a come-and-go basis for the enjoyment of show-goers.
Presentations are held in the Grandstand Meeting Room on the Finney County Fairgrounds at 10:00a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 on Wednesday and Thursday with programs at 10:00 am, 11:00 am and 1:30 pm on Friday.
Parking is very limited on the fairgrounds during the 3i Show. Instead of driving to the show, catch a 3i shuttle bus at the United Methodist Church, Westlake Ace Hardware or the municipal parking lot at Eighth and Fulton Street. Shuttles run every 15-20 minutes, however, you will want to allow a little extra time to reach the fairgrounds by shuttle bus.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
- 10:00 am- Native American Culture and Customs
- 11:00 am- Container Gardening
- 1:30 pm- Fabric Precuts: What Are They and How Do I Use Them?
- 2:30 pm- Leaving a Legacy
Thursday, May 5, 2011
- 10:00 am- Housing Options for Aging in Place
- 11:00 pm- Driving Safety for Women
- 1:30 pm- Scams: How to Protect Ourselves
- 2:30 pm- Homemade Bread for Busy Cooks
Friday, May 6, 2011
- 10:00 am- The Celiac Attack: Control it with a Gluten-Free Diet
- 11:00 am- Seafood At Its Best
- 1:30 pm- Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attack and Stroke
“Knowledge for Life” provided by the Finney County Extension Office and K-State Research and Extension.