Family Fundamentals

  1. (Photo: Getty Images)

    Buying milk during the pandemic

    Apr. 29, 2020

    Got milk? Depends on who you ask. At times, some stores seem to have very little milk. Dairy farmers, meanwhile, have plenty. But milk straight from the cow needs to be processed into products consumers want—like butter, cheese, yogurt and milk in one-gallon jugs. Because of the coronavirus and the shutdowns, demand for milk and dairy products for schools and restaurants has dropped off. So, milk processors have been trying to shift gears—from producing small containers of milk for schools and sizeable packages of cheese for restaurants, to packaging and bottling more products an individual shopper would buy. Either way, dairy farmers have to milk their cows every day. Early in April, for the first time, two companies that buy milk told some of Ohio’s dairy farmers to dump the milk...
  2. The livesmartohio.osu.edu blog offers suggestions for ways to improve your finances, stress level, relationships and diet.

    Blog Offers Tips For Better Living

    Sep. 13, 2017

    Wondering how to better manage stress? Want to learn more about how to budget your finances to make sure your money lasts longer? What about gluten free eating? Answers to these questions and more are available through the Live Smart Ohio website which offers a consumer blog written by professionals with Ohio State University Extension’s Family and Consumer Sciences that’s focused on promoting health and wellness statewide. The site, at livesmartohio.osu.edu, offers consumers research-based information on topics including money; food; mind and body; and family and relationships, all focused on helping Ohioans live smarter, said Amanda Woods, Healthy Finances program specialist for OSU Extension. The blog and website are designed to educate consumers on practical, research-based topics...
  3. mother and daughter sitting apart on a bench facing a body of water

    Family Fundamentals: Strain common between parents, adult children

    Jun. 28, 2016

    We are in our 50s and our only child is in her 30s. There’s a lot of tension in our relationship, and recently she seems to be avoiding almost all contact with us. Is there anything we can do to develop a closer relationship with her?  
  4. dollars and coins in jar labeled "Retirement"

    Family Fundamentals: MyRA can help jump start retirement savings

    May. 24, 2016

    I am approaching 30 and don’t have any retirement savings. I work retail and my job doesn’t offer a retirement plan. I don’t have much money to invest month to month, but I know I need to start doing something. Where do I start?  
  5. little girl looking pensive

    Family Fundamentals: No parent is perfect, but guidelines can help

    Apr. 8, 2016

    Now that our daughter is almost 4, she often doesn’t pay attention no matter what my wife and I say. We can’t tell if this is just a phase or if she will soon get completely out of control. What’s the best way to handle things?  
  6. tax return

    Family Fundamentals: Use your tax refund to pay off debt and save

    Feb. 24, 2016

    Normally when we get our tax refund, we end up spending most or all of it on something we’ve wanted for a long time but couldn’t afford. But over the past year, we’ve had some major unanticipated expenses. This year, should we use the refund to pay down our credit cards, or would it be better to build up our emergency fund?  

  7. Stay involved to help children with school

    Jan. 29, 2016

    Our oldest child started middle school last fall. She was struggling early in the year but didn’t want help, and we hoped she would get used to the new schedule and classes. She still seems unorganized and isn’t doing as well as she did in grade school. What can we do to help her over this bump?  
  8. piggy bank wrapped in Christmas lights

    Family Fundamentals: Be smart about holiday spending this season

    Nov. 18, 2015

    Every year, despite our best efforts, we end up spending way too much money during the holidays. Any ideas to rein it in this year?
  9. concerned child being pulled between parents

    Family Fundamentals: Things for divorcing parents to keep in mind

    Oct. 1, 2015

    Several of our children’s friends’ parents are divorced. Some of them seem to work through parenting issues easily, but others seem to have a lot of conflict. What’s the most important thing for parents to focus on as they separate and divorce?
  10. older adult in front of laptop feeling anxious

    Family Fundamentals: Program helps protect older adults from scams

    Sep. 28, 2015

    As my parents get older, I’m beginning to worry that they may be taken advantage of financially. What can we do to help protect them?

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This column was discontinued in July 2016. For similar information and more, please see http://livesmartohio.osu.edu, a blog written by OSU Extension’s Family and Consumer Science professionals.