2015 January Dollars & Sense

January 2015—Volume 4, Issue 1 Cooperative Extension Service

Nelson County 317 S. 3rd Street Bardstown, KY. 40004 Phone: (502) 348-9204 Fax: (502) 348-9270 http://nelson.ca.uky.edu

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Healthy Living Nutritious Foods

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Embracing Age Healthy Homes Financial Stability Nurturing Families

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Empowering Leaders

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Neat Ideas

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Upcoming Events

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January 8: Leadership Lunch and Learn Bloomfield Library 12:30 p.m.

More info on page 4 January 8: Extension Today radio show WBRT 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

January 16: All Pro Dads at New Haven School 7:00 a.m.

New Haven School Library January 22: Extension Today radio show WBRT 11:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

CALL TO RSVP! 502-348-9204

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something.

-Neil Gaiman Happy 2015 Y’all!

I can’t believe this is the start of the 4th year of Dollars and Sense. It’s insane! I feel like just yesterday I was sending out my very first “preview” issue, terrified that people wouldn’t respond to it. Afraid that people would hate it. I definitely didn’t expect so many to sign up for it. But here we are, 4 years later, and I still love putting together this issue as much as I did the first one. And I still get compliments on it. Had I not just gone for it, I would’ve never seen how far it could’ve come.

Sometimes, it’s easy to get down on yourself and just assume that things won’t succeed. And when we feel that way, it’s easiest to just not do it instead.

That’s my challenge for you this year. Don’t make resolutions– sadly, a lot of people don’t keep up with them and end up feeling worse about themselves. That’s not what we want. Instead, think about something you’ve wanted to do, but have been afraid of trying. Now go do it. Whether it’s skydiving or taking a painting class or enrolling in college or embarking on a new career. Doesn’t have to be big or bold or world changing.

But I can almost assure you it might just change your life if you let it.

County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences 2

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If Nelson County Schools are cancelled, Extension programs scheduled on that day are also cancelled unless you are otherwise notified. When RSVP-ing for classes, please leave a phone number at which we can reach you. Also please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all cancellation information.

Because of the unknown weather conditions, fewer programs are typically scheduled in January. However, that doesn't mean we aren’t hard at work!

This month, Nelson County FCS is welcoming a new nutrition assistant for our low income families, we are taping TV cooking shows, speaking on the local radio (January 8 and January 22 at 11:00 a.m. on WBRT!), attending board meetings, anti-drug coalition meetings and more! We will also be at the local schools teaching the kids how to wash their hands so that hopefully we can avoid some children getting sick this flu season!

If there is anything you’d like us to do for you, your business, or your classroom, please don’t hesitate to call us! - 502-348-9204 - We are a free service to the community and that’s why we are here!

Dayna Parrett, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Abby Van Meter, SNAP-Ed Nutrition Assistant In addition, our office will be closed on January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 3

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Energy costs are monthly expenses that fluctuate throughout the year, since much of our heating and cooling usage depends on Mother Nature.

However, you can make your home more energy efficient and reduce some of your energy expenses by locating and switching off sources of phantom energy in your home.

Phantom energy usage occurs when a device is not performing its primary task but is still using electricity. Phantom energy users include many products that have a standby mode, such as microwaves, coffee makers and similar products that constantly display the time. Devices with remote controls, external power supplies and battery chargers are other examples of phantom energy culprits. These include televisions, cell phone chargers and cordless phones. These devices use electricity 24 hours a day when plugged into an outlet.

The easiest way to reduce phantom energy usage is to unplug these products when they are not in use. Sometimes this is easier said than done, especially if you regularly use the product. If you find yourself in that situation, you may want to consider purchasing a smart power strip to manage a group of electronics or a conserve power switch for small appliances.

Smart power strips are equipped with control outlets, switched outlets and constant outlets. The control outlets manage much of the power coming into the strip. When you plug a device into a control outlet and it goes into sleep mode, the strip will cut off the power to it and other devices placed on the switched outlets. The constant, or hot, outlet continuously provides power only to the product plugged into it. This is beneficial if you have devices like a fax machine or digital video recorder (DVR) that need to stay on regardless. Smart power strips are available at office supply stores and supercenters.

Conserve power switches are handy if you find it cumbersome to unplug all your small appliances or electronics after each use. These have an on/off switch that you can flip to control the power to a device, so you’re not constantly plugging and unplugging your appliances or electronics. These switches are available online.

Source: Beverly Miller, senior extension associate for Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering

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To keep brownies from going stale quickly, you can keep the heel of the loaf of bread in the same container.

When shoveling snow this winter, if you spray your shovel with non-stick cooking spray, the snow will slide right off!

Putting your sponge in the microwave for 15 seconds after you’ve finished washing dishes will help kill germs and bacteria.

Throw wrinkled clothes in the dryer with a damp hand towel for 5 minutes if you don’t have time to iron.

Trouble swallowing pills?

Keep your chin up when swallowing a tablet, they sink. But put your chin down when swallowing a capsule, they float. **As always, please make sure you are only taking medicines prescribed by your doctor or over the counter medicines as needed!

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As we scrape uneaten food into the trash can after dinner every night or throw away moldy bread that we just didn’t get around to eating, many of us don’t see that wasted food as wasted money. But in fact, that’s just what it is.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently reported that the amount of uneaten food in American homes and restaurants in 2008 was about $390 in wasted food per each U.S. consumer. This is more than the average American spends on food each month.

Not only is wasted food hard on our wallets, but it’s hard on the environment. Each type of food or food ingredient requires soil, nutrients, water and/or energy to grow, process and/or transport. It’s also filling up our landfills. In 2010, about 33 million tons of food waste was sent to landfills. Food waste is the largest type of municipal solid waste put into landfills, outpacing paper, plastic, aluminum cans and glass.

Fortunately, you can reduce food waste by reducing, reusing and recycling.

Here are some tips: *Plan your meals for the week. Shop your pantry for the ingredients you need before going to the grocery store. *Buy only what you need. Purchasing items in bulk can reduce packaging, but make sure you can store and use the items before they expire. *Think portion size. Consider sharing an entrée at a restaurant or ordering off the kids menu to get a smaller portion size. *If you have food that you know is going to expire before you can eat it, consider asking your local food pantry if the item is something they can use. *Eat leftovers at least one night a week. *Compost food scraps. Many foods can be safely composted, including fruits, vegetables, nut shells, eggshells, tea bags and coffee grounds.

But some foods including dairy products, fats, oils, grease, meats and fish bones should not be placed in your bin as they can attract rodents and produce odors as they decompose.

For more information on money saving tips, contact the Nelson County office of the UK Cooperative Extension Service. The USDA and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently launched the U.S. Food Waste Challenge in an effort to reduce food waste and help families in need. For more information about the challenge and ways to reduce food waste, view their website, http:// www.usda.gov/oce/foodwaste/.

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Count the number of each shape.

Color the shapes according to the key.

Number of:

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Color the: Circles: Gray Stars: Yellow Squares: Red

Now decorate your snowman however you want! He might want arms or a decoration on his hat!

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We are so pleased to welcome Abby Van Meter to our office!

Abby began work on January 7th as the SNAP-Ed Nutrition Assistant. Abby is from Elizabethtown and has a degree from the University of Kentucky in Human Nutrition. She previously worked at a pharmacy and is excited to get started in the nutrition field! We have no doubts that Abby’s knowledge and skill and her great personality will fit right in here in Nelson County.

Abby will go through a series of trainings so that she is well equipped to serve Nelson County! She will work mainly with low income populations, but all are welcome to her programs. She will be working to improve our county’s health and she will be assisting individuals with food budgeting! Abby will be traveling around the county offering programs, and she will host some here at our office. Be on the lookout for a new page in Dollars and Sense that’s all from Abby! She is so excited to get started and we are thrilled to have her on board. If you or someone you know might be in need of Abby’s free services, please don’t hesitate to call our office at 502-348-9204.

If you see Abby out and about, please welcome her! Also feel free to stop by the office any time to introduce yourself!

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502-348-9204

Bardstown, KY 40004

317 S Third Street

PERMIT #028

BARDSTOWN KY

US POSTAGE PAID

University of Kentucky

Nelson County

NONPROFIT ORG

Cooperative Extension Service