BROOKINGS, S.D. – As we enter the holiday season, SDSU Extension wants to remind South Dakotans of the many resources available to help people in personal finance, health and wellness.
Personal finance
Lorna Saboe-Wounded Head, SDSU Extension Family Resource Management Field Specialist, said this time of year she encourages people to create a budget for holiday spending.
Make a list of all your expenses – gifts, decorations, cards (including postage), cooking and baking ingredients and travel expenses. She recommends reviewing debit and credit card expenditures from the previous year. Determine which expenses can be rolled into regular monthly spending and which are one-time expenses for the holiday. If needed, plan to use savings to cover the costs.
“This will help give an idea of the amount to plan for the budget. Then, review the regular monthly budget. Figure out where the holiday spending will come from,” Saboe-Wounded Head said. “Don’t skip paying essential bills to have money for the holidays.”
If the holiday budget doesn’t fit into your monthly budget, Saboe-Wounded Head recommends reviewing and making adjustments based on your priorities.
“Spend a little less on gifts, buy fewer gifts, or forgo purchases that you usually make. Reflect on what the holiday season means to you, focusing on what is most important,” she said.
Other programs Saboe-Wounded Head facilitates include Financial Fireside Chats; Money Talk for Women; Organize This! Legal and Financial Must-Haves, which helps people organize their most important paperwork; and personalized financial counseling.
Aging
Leacey Brown, SDSU Extension Gerontology Field Specialist, helps individuals understand and prepare for the realities of aging with guidance on home safety, caregiving and end-of-life planning. Brown works to empower families to make informed decisions that reduce long-term costs and promote dignity and independence in later life. Her programs include:
- Aging well
- Family caregiving
Life planning
Planning for safe, accessible housing
Parenting/child care
Audrey Rider, SDSU Extension Early Childhood Field Specialist, offers resources and expertise for parents, guardians, educators and professional child care providers across the state. Her work includes creating resources and leading research on child care needs in South Dakota. Free tools for parents include Growing Active Readers and Reading for Resilience, reading-based activities to help children learn physical activity habits and emotional coping skills.
Community and wellness
Emily Vincelli, SDSU Extension Worksite Program Manager, is part of the Better Choices, Better Health – South Dakota team that provides training and resources to help people manage chronic health conditions like diabetes, chronic pain and heart disease.
Vincelli and others are also spearheading donation efforts in their communities. Vincelli is working with Love That Look in Brandon to collect donations for a local food pantry. She noted that food items are especially needed during the holiday season and recommends people look for ways to contribute to local food pantry efforts in their own communities.
“There is a need,” she said. “People are feeling the crunch.”
For more information on these programs and other SDSU Extension resources, visit the SDSU Extension home page and select your area of interest from the menu.
