Source: La Dawn Hale,

Calloway County Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences

Many families are facing economic hardship from being laid off, suffering a job loss, shortened hours per week, and other reductions driven by a weak economy. With a high level of debt and low level of savings, families can find themselves in difficult financial situations.

La Dawn Hale, Calloway County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences, knows how hard it is on families and individuals who have had a traumatic economic change. Reconciling to this new reality isn’t easy, requiring communication, soul searching, and belt-tightening. Her tips, from a publication written by Suzanne Badenhop, retired University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension family resource management specialist, will help you and your family survive a reduced economic situation.

· Communicate with family and loved ones. Sit down with your family to both explain what has happened and to listen to their ideas and points of view. A family council will help everyone understand the gravity of the new situation, and listening to your spouse and children may generate new ideas on how to proceed. They may have ideas you have not yet thought of.

· Apply for unemployment. Collect the necessary information and go to your local unemployment office without delay. Apply immediately so you start receiving benefits as soon as possible.

· Assess your income level and outgoing money flow. Use a two-week chart if you don’t currently track expenses. This exercise helps determine essentials from non-essentials. This is critical since you will have to make adjustments to your standard of living.

· Reduce living expenses and cut unnecessary spending. Eliminate non-essentials, such as eating out, buying new clothes, and even using cable TV from your budget. The two-week tracking exercise will help you determine other unnecessary expenditures.

· Write a plan for how you will pay creditors. Be frank with them about your situation. Creditors may be able to work with you either by reducing monthly payments, allowing you to enter hardship programs, or by reducing interest levels for a period of time.

· Insurance/Cobra. Use this opportunity to examine your current insurance expenditures and make changes to reduce costs while preserving the right level of protection.

· Talk to banks/mortgage companies. Can you reduce your monthly mortgage payment with refinancing? Are you eligible for any bridge loans?

· Find ways to create additional income. Explore part-time jobs, working from home, and other means at your disposal to create income.

· Turn to social agencies. Contact your local office for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which offers programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid to help families in need.

Above all, don’t blame yourself and don’t ignore your bills. By communicating with lenders, banks, and family, you will have a more positive outlook and a more realistic idea of what you need to do each month to survive.

For more information, contact the Clinton County Cooperative Extension Service.

Second Sunday and Health Fair Event:
October 9th 1:00-4:00 p.m. at Mountain View Park

The Clinton County Health Coalition is sponsoring a Free Health Fair and Second Sunday event on Sunday, October 9th from 1:00-4:00 pm at the Mountain View Park in conjunction with the Foothills Festival gospel singing. We will have free health screenings for height and weight, blood pressure, body mass index, and much more. Cholesterol and glucose testing will be available for $20.00. Dyer Drug will have flu shots available for $30 or at no cost to Medicare B participants. The Second Sunday piece of the event encourages participants to walk around the track to promote physical activity. In addition to walking around the track, there will be inflatable bounce houses for kids and sports activities sponsored by our high school athletic teams.

Lots of local health and medical agencies will have displays and free give aways. Also, those who walk at least two laps around the track will receive a free pedometer while those who walk at least four laps around the track will receive a free t-shirt while supplies last.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.