Saving and Investing Go Hand-in-Hand

Photo by Simon Stratford

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Every family has its own unique financial goals. Those goals could be saving for retirement, putting money aside for a college education or buying a house. Whatever your goals, you should seriously consider investing, says a University of Missouri associate professor of personal financial planning.

Three things can help you become a successful investor: discipline, diversification and time, says Robert Weagley, chair of the Department of Personal Financial Planning at MU.

Feb. 20-26 is Missouri Saves Week - Events will encourage saving and asset-building for all Missourians

Photo by Sufi Zawaz

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Saving is a great tool that can help you control your money, rather than letting money control you.

With the U.S. savings rate at half what it was in the late 1950s, University of Missouri Extension is joining forces with America Saves to encourage Missourians to set aside funds for the future.

Money: It's a family affair - Making money talk safe

Photo by David Siqueira

MARSHALL, Mo. – If money makes the world go around, then not having enough of it can bring your smoothly spinning world to a screeching halt.

Money is the No. 1 issue that families fight over, notes Cynthia Crawford, a University of Missouri Extension professional and family financial education specialist. Living hand-to-mouth is stressful, and money problems can embroil your family in continual arguments and disagreements.

Healthy After School Snacks

Learning is hungry work.  Most children have lunch around 11:30, and then classes all afternoon.  Add an after school activity or two and by the time they get home they’re running on empty.  It’s small wonder that they head straight to the kitchen to devour whatever they can get their hands on.  So, how can you make sure that they’re choosing snacks that are good for them?  It’s easy, just think “inside” the box.

Missouri Drought More Than Skin Deep

Photo by Jessica Salmond

COLUMBIA, Mo. – It may not look it, but many Missouri fields are hiding a deep, dry secret.

University of Missouri soil scientist Randy Miles said dried-out subsoil at depths of 3 feet or more could trouble next year’s crops in Missouri even if there is plenty of moisture in the topsoil.

“For crops like corn it’s not uncommon for roots to extend down 5-6 feet, and it’s the soil moisture there that sustains the crop in the latter part of the growing season,” Miles said. “When we have this deficit of moisture at that depth, we may not get grain fill to the extent of the plant’s potential to perform.”

This moisture shortfall isn’t likely to change soon.

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Up and Down Ladder Safety

Photo by Antonio Jiménez Alonso

MARSHFIELD, Mo. – Holiday decorating season is here, and that means hauling out ladders to place holiday cheer throughout the home and yard.

A ladder seems like such a simple tool, but ladder accidents are far too common and can happen in the blink of an eye.

“Most people’s reaction time is somewhere between a half and three-quarters of a second, so by the time they can react to something, they’re already well into a problem,” said Bob Schultheis, University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineering specialist.

Avoiding Holiday Meltdown

Columbia, Mo. – We expect the winter holidays to be full of happiness and good will. Just like Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, we want a fairytale ending where troubles disappear and everyone basks in the glow of holiday spirit. But, A Tale of Two Cities might better represent typical holiday madness for many.

“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. It was the season of light; it was the season of darkness … It was the spring of hope; it was the winter of despair … ”