Check If You're Being Over-Serviced

    It's easy to "set it and forget it," paying the same bills every month.  This week, take a look at your regular services - are you using all of your cell phone minutes? Do you have more coverage than you need on your car insurance? Are you utilizing any extra cable channels you pay for?  If your answer is no to any of these, call your provider, and change your plan.

Build Your Savings!

America Saves Week (February 25 - March 2) is a chance for you to assess your savings and take financial action.

Learn how to build your savings and join others in taking the America Saves Pledge

Track Your Spending, and Make a Budget

Understanding where your money is going is the best way to start saving, which is why your first step is to make a budget.  It might be that, once you make your budget and realize how much you're spending in certain categories, you can immediately save $100 by making little trims here and there.

America Saves Challenge

Setting a goal is the first step in taking charge of your finances. However, staying on track to meet that goal can be hard! The America Saves Challenge will help you meet your goals by providing daily encouragement and challenge!
The 2013 America Saves Challenge is part of America Saves Week (February 25-March 2, 2013), a time set aside annually to promote good savings behavior. The “2013 America Saves Challenge” is a free five-week program, held from Sunday, February 24, through Saturday, March 30, 2013. There will be weekly prizes and final challenge awards at the end of program.
You must enroll online at http://rutgers.ancc.net/ (Rutgers Cooperative Extension Small Steps to Health and Wealth™ Challenge Web site)

• Set up a user name and password and
• Download a one-page user’s guide with instructions about how to proceed.
• Enroll in the Challenge titled “2013 America Saves Challenge.” This challenge will be among a list of names of online challenges that are currently available.

When people track their behavior and measure how they are doing, they are often inspired to do better and achieve positive results. Participants in the America Saves Challenge are “on their honor” to report their activities accurately. If they “cheat” on reporting their points, they are only cheating themselves by not following the recommended financial practices.
The America Saves Challenge is based on the performance of ten recommended financial practices. Ten points are given for performing each one. (Maximum of 700 points per week) “The Challenge is a great way to convert personal financial goals, like saving money and learning about investing, into daily action steps,” notes Dr. Barbara O’Neill, Extension Specialist in Financial Resource Management for Rutgers.
Participants will receive daily motivational messages. Paper tracking forms are available to keep track of daily activities.
Doing even one of the ten recommended daily financial practices is a great way to get started on your financial goals. The more America Saves Challenge activities you do, the better your financial progress.
To participate in the America Saves Challenge, visit http://rutgers.ancc.net/, register an account, and enroll in the “2013 America Saves Challenge.”

Heart Health Month

Eat Better - Cooking Healthy for Your Heart

Cooking at home can be an effective way to avoid extra calories, fat, and sodium from fast food dinners. Here are some tips to remember that will help your home-cooked dinner be even better for you:

• Preserve the nutrients and colors in veggies. Cook them quickly by steaming or stir-frying.
• Prepared seasonings can have high sodium content and increase your risk for high blood pressure. Replace salt with herbs and spices or some of the salt-free seasoning mixes. Use lemon juice, citrus zest or hot chilies to add flavor.
• Canned, processed and preserved vegetables often have very high sodium content. Look for "low-sodium" veggies or try the frozen varieties. 
• Choose whole grain for part of your ingredients instead of highly refined products. Use whole-wheat flour, oatmeal and whole cornmeal.
• Switch to fat-free milk or 1% milk instead of whole or reduced-fat (2%) milk.

Visit the American Heart Association for more heart healthy cooking tips

Take Action on Saving $

Take Action
Since many Americans do not have the required discipline to amass significant savings, this year’s America Saves Week encourages individuals to take action. According to Ken McDonnell, director of the American Savings Education Council (ASEC), “The theme of America Saves Week 2013 (set a goal, develop a plan, save automatically) is simple yet highly effective. Consider, according to the 2012 Retirement Confidence Survey, [that] workers who had done a retirement savings need calculation were more likely to be very confident they will achieve their goal (26 percent) as compared with those workers who did not (11 percent). ASEC encourages all Americans to take advantage of this opportunity to set a goal, develop a plan and save automatically.”
Setting an achievable goal is the first step in developing financial discipline. The next step is to create a plan that includes tactics for achieving those preset savings goals. As part of the plan, it is crucial that you find easy ways to save in order to increase the chance of success.

Home Heating resources

DIY Tips and Assistance Programs to Help You Save on Home Heating

As the cold weather firmly takes hold in most parts of the country, you might notice a steep spike in your utility bills as your heating system works to keep your house warm.
If you’re trying to keep your heating bill in check, there are some assistance programs and DIY-tips that might help.
See if you qualify for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Families who meet the qualification standards are eligible for assistance with their heating bills. You must apply for LIHEAP benefits through your state. Some states also offer assistance to help you weatherize your home. If you need additional help applying for LIHEAP benefits you can call 1-866-674-6327.
If your heating system is in need of improvements, you might qualify for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). This program helps low-income families lower their utility bills by making their homes more energy efficient. The weatherization program also provides a safety check to major energy systems to ensure everyone who lives in the home stays safe. Each state has different eligibility requirements. Find out if you qualify, what forms and documentation you need and how to apply for assistance.
If you don’t qualify for LIHEAP or WAP, there are plenty of steps you can take on your own to weatherize your home and help keep your energy bills lower this winter.

• Air leaks in your house let warm air escape. A quick and easy way to save money is to seal all cracks and openings. Learn how you can caulk and weatherstrip areas of your home to prevent air leaks.
• Let natural light from the sun into your house during the day by opening your curtains. Sunlight will naturally help heat your home.
• Install a programmable thermostat or set your current thermostat about 10 to 15 degrees lower than normal for the hours when you won’t be in your home.
• Turn down the temperature on your water heater. Heating your water can make up 14 to 25 percent of your energy bill. By dropping the temperature you’ll save money.

America Saves Week is Coming!

Setting a goal is the first step in taking charge of your finances. However, staying on track to meet that goal can be hard! The America Saves Challenge will help you meet your goals by providing daily encouragement and challenge!
The 2013 America Saves Challenge is part of America Saves Week (February 25-March 2, 2013), a time set aside annually to promote good savings behavior. The “2013 America Saves Challenge” is a free five-week program, held from Sunday, February 24, through Saturday, March 30, 2013. There will be weekly prizes and final challenge awards at the end of program.
You must enroll online at http://rutgers.ancc.net/ (Rutgers Cooperative Extension Small Steps to Health and Wealth™ Challenge Web site)

• Set up a user name and password and
• Download a one-page user’s guide with instructions about how to proceed.
• Enroll in the Challenge titled “2013 America Saves Challenge.” This challenge will be among a list of names of online challenges that are currently available.

When people track their behavior and measure how they are doing, they are often inspired to do better and achieve positive results. Participants in the America Saves Challenge are “on their honor” to report their activities accurately. If they “cheat” on reporting their points, they are only cheating themselves by not following the recommended financial practices.
Read more: The America Saves Challenge is coming!