Unit 1 - Complete unit materials cover: renting versus owning, housing priorities, how to evaluate homes and house plans, how to determine housing price limits, how to choose your home-buying professional team, shopping resources, how to negotiate purchase price of home, your housing rights and what needs inspecting prior to purchasing a home.

Millions of Americans are finding out that the loss of a job can be emotional, stressful, and financially devastating. It does not matter if you are male or female, married or single, young or old - experiencing job loss is very difficult for individuals and families.

View the story of one couple's path to achieving their "American Dream" of owning a home. Graduates of the "Charting Your Course to Homeownership" homebuyer education program relate their successful journey.

View the inspiring story of one family's journey from losing their home in Hurricane Rita to becoming the proud owners of a home of their own after completing the "Charting Your Course to Homeownership" homebuyer education program.

The nation’s financial crisis continues to put constraints on the holiday season. Unemployment rates are high, and budgets are tight. To cope, LSU AgCenter family economist Jeanette Tucker recommends approaching spending this season the way one should every year – with a plan and a budget, even if that budget is shrinking.

Problems occasionally occur with items purchased as holiday gifts, but being prepared to handle those problems can go a long way in making the season more festive for you, says LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

Preparing for retirement and potential long-term care costs takes planning, saving and debt control.

Sixty-six percent of shoppers are planning to purchase a gift card this year, with sales expected to top $55.5 billion. Gift cards are great for holiday giving – recipients love the option to pick out the exact item, color and size that they want, and givers enjoy their one-size-fits-all convenience and easy availability.

Some helpful tips from the experts to help you get through the recession.

Online shopping in the United States rises approximately 30 percent each holiday season because it can save time, money and effort. But sizing up your finds on the Internet is a little different from checking out items at a mall or shop, says LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

Materials covered in the Saving and Investing for Life; Take Control of Your Credit unit include how to obtain, read and analyze your credit report and understanding your credit score. Also includes information regarding the Credit CARD Act of 2009.

Job interviews can be a challenge for most of us, and finding a job during a recession can be even more challenging than usual. Here are some tips on how to dress to make the best possible first impression when you do get a job interview.

These prescription drug plans can change dramatically from year to year, so it is important to comparison shop during the open enrollment period (Nov. 15 to Dec. 31) each year to be sure you get the best prescription drug coverage for the best price.

Over-indebtedness can lead to stress, family problems, repossessed property, garnished wages, and even bankruptcies. However, options exist to help families manage financial challenges when bills pile up and families are unable to manage them.

Almost 70% of Americans live from paycheck to paycheck, courting disaster if their income is suddenly reduced or stopped. This article offers advice on how to increase savings.

Pet care costs: Cost-to-own is a relevant consideration for pet ownership. Even a free and healthy pet can cost more than $1,000 a year to maintain. Be sure you can afford the ownership costs for the projected life time of the animal you are considering for a pet.

Consumers must be cautious of identity thieves when shopping during the holiday season, says LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

The excitement and rush of the holiday season often lead people to overextend themselves financially. That means this is the season to exercise caution so you avoid getting caught in the "credit trap".

As food prices skyrocket, and our bank accounts don't, here are some ideas to save money at the grocery store.

Pet care costs become even more of an issue during a recession. Before adding a new pet to your family, assess what you can afford based on annual cost estimates for various types of pets.

Federal incentive payments for low-income workers explained.

Eligible working families and individuals can claim this important federal incentive payment to help them pay down their bills, increase emergency fund savings, and more.

Federal Reserve rate cuts can be good news/bad news scenarios for consumers. Find out how a rate change will impact you.

Times are tough, and gold prices are high. People are looking for ways to raise extra cash. It is important to comparison shop to avoid gold buying rip-offs.

Louisiana submitted the most stories – 104 – to a national extension Web site called Managing in Tough Times.

There are lots of ways you can stretch your food dollar. You can save by packing your own lunch, eating out less, and by bringing snacks, coffee or soft drinks from home. There are ways to save on groceries too.

According to the FTC, more than 8 million people were identity theft victims in 2006 and 2007. There is a global black market for stolen identities. Your Social Security number is the key to credit and banking accounts and the main target of criminals. How do you protect yourself?

Many people feel fortunate that they managed to hold onto their jobs this year, but few were fortunate enough to see a pay increase. Some who work hourly or on commission are actually seeing a decrease in their pay check, which leaves many families trying to figure out how to live on less.

This four-page publication presents strategies to help individuals and families experiencing low or reduced incomes manage spending to maintain a quality lifestyle.

You may have talked to your soon-to-be college student about drugs, but have you talked about the importance of avoiding debt?

When you do not have enough money to cover your family's basic living expenses, you must make difficult financial decisions. Learn strategies to determine which bills to pay and how to work with creditors.

Learn money-saving tips to help you stretch your dollars. Topics discussed include housing, heating and cooling, electricity, telephone, food, transportation, clothing, medical and recreation.

Marriage is a financial partnership. Divorce means more than separating a family physically. It also means separating a family financially. Suggestions for preparing for financial separation, dividing property, dealing with debt and dividing assets and property are included.

There are lots of ways you can stretch your food dollar and save money on groceries. Here are tips to help you save with planning, shopping and preparation.

It is important to comparative shop for the best deal for your family's education dollar. Here are some considerations to help you reduce the cost of your child's college education.

You can teach your children about money managment. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a good money manager, you can begin to teach your children and learn more yourself in the process. There is no better way to learn something than by having to teach it, especially to your children. You can start small and keep it easy.

Children develop attitudes about money at an early age. As a parent, you can influence what your child learns about how money works. Here are tips to help you teach your preschooler about your family's values.

Some of the practical and performable routine maintenance tasks that vehicle owners can do themselves to save money.

The LSU AgCenter offers a computer debt-reduction analysis called "PowerPay" that will calculate the fastest way to repay your creditors while paying the least amount of interest.

Being frugal is important for managing in tough t.imes, and going "green" with resource conservation can also help the bottom line in your budget.

Money values can cause conflict in relationships. Financial issues are among the leading causes of divorce. Stress and health problems can be cause by worry over money. We learn our money values from many sources. What does money mean to you? Test yourself now.

Spring is full of gift-giving opportunities, but the kinds of gifts have changed for many people.

How much money will you need to retire comfortably? The answer depends on your lifestyle expectations and goals. Other factors to consider include the age at which you plan to retire, your life expectancy, the amount and type of employer benefits (if any) and the amount and growth rate of your savings and investments.

Account verification companies keep track of overdrafts and account closures for banks and credit unions. If you believe there are errors on your record, disputes can be filed with the companies.

Saving money at the gas pump and while driving your car. Some intersting tips for everyone who drives.

A number of tax benefits are available to volunteers. Donors and volunteers can deduct out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the services given to a charitable organization if they itemize deductions on their tax returns.

People are filing their 2008 income tax returns earlier this year, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Early filing statistics also show that the average individual refund is up. Reasons for larger refunds may include benefits from tax breaks such as the first-time homebuyer credit. If you haven’t filed yet, there is still time.

Do you know how much money you need to save for retirement? According to the 2005 Retirement Confidence Survey (RCS), only about four in 10 workers surveyed have tried to determine how much they will need to save for a comfortable retirement.

You’re not alone if you’re experiencing financial pain during these tough times. The number of people claiming unemployment benefits has reached a record number, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Dozens of big businesses have announced massive layoffs. Some workers are keeping their jobs but finding their salaries cut. Retirees watch while their nest eggs dwindle in value.

Many consumers are under the impression that federal legislation allows them to learn their credit scores. This is one of the myths circulating among the public about obtaining credit histories, according to LSU AgCenter family economics professor Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

Recent hurricanes may have obliterated your house, your job and likely even the property values in your area – leaving you with the feeling that the only things still intact are your mortgage and other debts.

If your bills are piling up, you can't make all of your payments on time and you're thinking about paying one credit card balance with a cash advance from another, LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker says it's time to organize your credit payments and develop a plan for reducing your bills.

Independent spending decisions quickly become an everyday routine for college students, but that independence assumes a financial freedom that most young adults are not prepared to handle, according to LSU AgCenter family economics specialist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

According to A.G. Edwards 2006 Nest Egg Index rankings, Louisiana residents do not save well in comparison to the rest of the nation. Louisiana is ranked 49th among the states, ranked higher only than Mississippi.

Credit card use has grown dramatically among college students. This has generated concern that these students are overextended and unaware of the long-term consequences associated with severe indebtedness.

(Distributed 7/11/03) Moving away from home for the first time is a pivotal moment in life. It is one of the rights of passage from youth to adulthood, according to LSU AgCenter family economics specialist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

(Distributed 7/11/03) Financing a college education is often a partnership involving the student, family, school and lending agency. LSU AgCenter family economics professor Dr. Jeanette Tucker encourages college students to find out each partner’s responsibility.

(Distributed 7/11/03) Education is valuable throughout your life, and the achievements you make today can determine the salaries you earn over a lifetime.

Individuals who lost work due to recent hurricanes may qualify for disaster unemployment assistance, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.