Monday, April 27, 2009

Summer Camps for the Kids

· 0 comments


If you haven’t already enrolled your child (ren) in a summer camp program, it’s not too late. Here are three options to help you with your search:

TAMPA BAY EXPO
Pack up the kids and head out this weekend to the largest summer camp expo in the Tampa Bay area.

The Parent Guide (http://www.parentguide.com/) and the Tampa Yankees Club (http://www.steinbrennerfield.com/) is sponsoring the 12th Annual Summer Camp Expo Saturday, May 2nd at the George M. Steinbrenner Field, located at 1 Steinbrenner Drive, Tampa, FL 33614.The Girl Scouts, KinderCare, Busch Gardens, and Eckerd College are just a few of the organizations that will be there to answer your specific questions.

This event promises a day of family fun. Not only will you have the opportunity to find the summer camp that will meet your family’s needs, the Tampa Yankees will be there to meet and greet, prizes will be given away, and there will be activities for whole family!

CAMP GUIDE
If you can’t make it “out to the ball game” take a look at the Tampa Bay Parenting Spring and Summer Camp Guide ( http://www.tbparenting.com/SpringSummerCamps/tabid/160/Default.aspx)
This guide is filled with camp opportunities ranging from sports to performing arts.

CAMP DATABASE
Use the Camp resources for families (http://find.acacamps.org/finding_a_camp.phpdatabase)
This tool allows you to search for a camp by attributes such as cost, cultural focus, and/or activity

With so many options to choose from, you will certainly find the camp that will fit your budget without sacrificing a quality experience for your child.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Are You Leaking Money?

· 0 comments

By James Stevenson, Extension Specialist, Pinellas County Extension

According to University of Florida Extension, one of the first steps you need to take when dealing with money issues is to establish a spending plan. This tool will help you live within your means, and identify any “leaks” in spending.

It sounds easy enough, but a surprising number of folks have yet to put pen to paper and figure out where the money goes. To start, make a list of your fixed expenses. These include rent, mortgage, car payment, insurance, etc. Then list variable expenses—the ones that are flexible and often change from month to month; power and water bills, cell phone charges. Take a look at the previous three months’ statements for an average of these expenses and add them to your worksheet. Then have a look at your discretionary expense. Here is where the fun begins. Discretionary expenses are the ones you have total control over, and include expenses like eating out (a biggie,) food, clothing, dry cleaning etc. This is where you will detect leaks.

It is not to say that you will need to live a deprived life, and no one would suggest you eliminate food expenses, but with discretionary spending you will need to give yourself an allowance. See the link at the end of this post for some excellent tips on saving on these expenses.

To adjust fixed expenses, consider working with your providers for the best rate. Can you afford a higher deductible on your insurance? Does your energy provider have a flat-rate program for billing through the year? Can you negotiate with your credit card company for a better interest rate?

When it comes to credit, remember that is money you DO NOT have; it might be tempting, but use credit only for emergencies and only if you can pay the money back quickly. If you have credit debt, get that paid-down as quickly as possible—there is no sense in having a savings account earning 3% interest if you have credit debt racking up 15-20% interest. Use any windfalls to pay down credit cards. It is tax time, so any refund should to straight to the creditors, not to purchase that flat-screen TV!

It will take a few months to get used to your spending plan, but simply starting should give you the feeling of being more in control of your expenses.

See: Cutting Costs to Live Within Your Income from the University of Florida experts.

Email Subscription

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Followers

Disclaimer

Company and product listings do not represent endorsement by either: Pinellas County Extension, Pinellas County or the University of Florida / Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.