Continue reading »]]> To register for exams visit www.myflorida.com/childcare/training or call 1-888-375-3926. This website and number can answer many questions child care providers may have.

 **Please note Dates are ONLY for the Gadsden County Extension Service Site. Visit the website or call the number above for other exam sites.

 **If you are taking an exam; you must be on site 15 minutes prior to exam time. All exams start promptly at the scheduled time (8:00am) and you will NOT be allowed into the exam room after starting time.

Continue reading »]]> SPRING CLEAN YOUR FINANCES:

As you are clearing out clutter and sprucing up and getting ready for summer, you should also start your financial spring cleaning. This is the best time to do it because you still have all your paperwork from filing taxes. Here are some few tips to help you get started:

1.        Get organised:

Build a personal financial filing system; get all your financial paperwork out and file it in order of importance.Separate bills; that way you can track them as they come in therefore reducing the incidences of missing or late payments.Use a plastic tote for a filing cabinet, these are easy to carry from one room to the next should you need to.

 2.     Create a budget:

How much money do you have (Income)? How much do you owe (debt)? Are you spending more than you earn? The first two questions may not take too long to answer but the third question could take longer, especially if you’re someone who doesn’t keep an accurate record of your spending. If you don’t have a spending record right now, don’t worry. You can still get cracking on your financial spring cleaning today. Just make a big effort to start now. Try to note all your spending for the next month, right down to snacks and candy bars. Then in a month’s time, you’ll be able to see where your money is going and hopefully you’ll be able to see some areas where you could cut back.

3.     Debt

Now let’s discuss what most people agonise over, but a very important subject, debt. If you have any debt beyond a mortgage, you should try to focus on paying off this debt as quickly as possible. It’s also important that you try to convert high-interest debts into low-interest debts if you can. Negotiate your interest rates with your credit card companies. Sadly this option may not be available to everyone especially if your credit rating is not good. All the same it’s worth trying. If you are not successful; below are six steps to systematically reduce debt:

1. Stop using Credit; charging new items increases what you already owe, also, do not open new lines of credit.
2. Assess the problem; understanding your situation helps when trying to resolve the issue, did you lose a job, are you living beyond your means? Stop denying that you have a debt problem and work on it.
3. Break your debt load into manageable chunks; define your goal and focus on manageable amounts.
4. Track Spending; there are several ways to keep track of spending. From the envelope method to the calendar method; choose one which works best for you.
5. Find the money; reduce withholding, get a part time job or simply break costly habits.
6. Fix debt problems; get a copy of your credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com; and visit www.powerpay.org a free online service that helps you visualise your debt and gives you options on paying it off.

For more information contact the extension office on 850 875 7261 or the FCS agent in your county.

Continue reading »]]> First Time Homebuyers Education Program

2013 Workshop Schedule

To register for the class please call the UF/IFAS Gadsden County Extension Service at (850) 875-7255 or the Gadsden County SHIP Program office at (850) 875-8659.

*Dates are tentative and are subject to change.