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.

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.

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.

We have lots of choices to make about how to spend our money. These choices determine if we have the money to get the things we really need and want. Follow these tips to make the best spending choices for you and your family.

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.

Financial Survival Tips for the Recession

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

According to the FTC, there were more than 8 million 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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

We hear and read about Federal Reserve rate changes, but we don't always understand how they affect us as consumers. The Fed's rate changes take time to filter down through the economy to consumers. Rate changes can be good news / bad news scenarios. What's the bottom line for you as a consumer?

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

The nation’s financial crisis is casting a shadow on Christmas. Unemployment rates are high, and budgets are tight. The financial uncertainty has many people cutting back this holiday season. 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 smaller this year.

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.

(Distributed 01/15/08) The church and reception hall are reserved, the dress is selected, the invitations are addressed, the photographer and caterer are ready. You might even have your new residence “ready-to-go.”

(Distributed 01/15/08) You’ve taken good care all your adult life to pay bills on time and maintain a high credit score. You expect your high rating to continue after marriage, but it could drop if your new spouse has a low credit score.

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.

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.