So many news stories these days are centered on the difficulty families across the country are having making ends meet. From home foreclosures to longer than usual lines waiting for public assistance, it is easy to see that the effects of economic problems are everywhere you turn. The good news is K-State Research and Extension has many great program materials and publications that can guide people through some hard times.
Much of our money management practice has a lot to do with the attitudes we grew up with. Midwesterners are known for their conservative nature but not everyone has that same attitude about spending or saving a hard earned pay check. If you would like to learn more about “Money Habitudes” mark your calendar for some upcoming dates. I will present “Money Habitudes” at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, at the Great Bend Senior Center. The same information will be presented at noon Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the Great Bend Activity Center, 2715 18th Street.    Feel free to call me for more information about budgeting and money management styles. Some of the budgeting materials are available in Spanish as well. Other publications which are also helpful in the area of money management include a series titled, “Making Ends Meet” and a fact sheet titled, “Does Your Money Have Wings?” If you have children ages 3 – 14 the publication “Helping Children Learn to Manage Money” is well done. All of the publications I have listed are available free of charge. Get your year off to a great start by getting your spending under control.
Donna Krug is the Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Barton County. Contact her at (620)793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu