Tag: saving

Managing Holiday Materialism: Protecting Your Marriage During the Season of Spending

by Trisha Aldridge
December 5, 2025

Managing Holiday Materialism The holiday season often amplifies financial tensions in marriages, as the pressure to create perfect celebrations through expensive gifts and elaborate decorations can strain both budgets and relationships. While ... READ MORE

Category: Money Matters, Relationships & Family,
Tags: Budget, Finance, Holiday Budget, Holiday Spending, Marriage, Money Management, Relationship, Saving, Spending

As days grow shorter, your landscape naturally needs less water

by Brad Buck
November 17, 2025

Even though daily deluges of Florida’s summer rains are in the rearview mirror, your lawn still can look lush, even with less water. Irrigation accounts for more than half the average U.S. water bill, but you can preserve this precious ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: 'Skip A Week', Calibration, Deep Roots, Don Rainey, Drainage, Drought, Fall, Irrigation, Jackie Lebouitz, Julie McConnell, Laura Vásquez, Lawns, Residential, Saving, Soil, Southwest Florida Water Management Districtement District, Turfgrass, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, Water Restrictions, Winter

Savings or Paying Off Debt?

by Shari Bresin
March 19, 2025

One common financial question I hear is, “should I pay off my debt first, or start my emergency fund?” An emergency fund should have between three to six months’ worth of expenses. So if it costs you $3000 a month to run your household, ... READ MORE

Category: Money Matters, Work & Life
Tags: Debt, Emergency Fund, Money, Saving, Tax Refund

UF/IFAS Extension helps Southwest Florida by reducing water use on farm by 40%

by Brad Buck
January 15, 2025

Sakata Seed America Inc. shares the same water as urban residents in Southwest Florida. So, farm manager Cory Dombrowski wanted to see if he could irrigate more efficiently at the research farm east of Fort Myers. He did. With the help of ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation
Tags: App, Cory Dombrowski, Cost-share Program, Craig Frey, Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services, Fort Myers, Nutrient Savings, Research Farm, Sakata Seed Inc., Saving, Soil Moisture Sensor, Southwest Florida, Sowing Sustainability, Vegetable Extension Agent, Water, Water Savings

Water Footprint in the Home

by Valeria Yon
January 13, 2025

Water is essential to our daily lives. Yet, we often overlook just how much of it is used, not only in direct consumption like drinking and bathing but also in the production of the goods we use and the energy we consume. Whether it's the water ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Water
Tags: Conservation, Pgm_Water, Saving, Water, Water Footprint

No Spend January

by Shari Bresin
December 18, 2023

Have you heard of “No Spend January”? Or any kind of “No Spend” month? It’s simply a challenge where you only spend money on essentials, such as housing, groceries, car payment, and so on. The nonessentials, such as getting your ... READ MORE

Category: Money Matters, Work & Life
Tags: Essentials, No Spend Month, Saving

Energy Upgrade Installations: Helping Diamond Oaks to shine

by Devin Beede
June 20, 2023

As the summer heat returns, residents of another Sarasota Housing Authority property will receive some relief from high utility bills, thanks to a team of dedicated specialists and volunteers. Sarasota County Sustainability staff and a team ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Money Matters
Tags: Conservation, Energy, Energy Efficiency, Energy Upgrade, Pgm_Sustain, Saving, Sustain, Sustainability, Utility, Water, WaysToSave

IFAS Supporting Florida Food Waste Prevention Week

by Randy Penn
April 7, 2023

Food waste is a huge issue, here and around the globe. As a country, we throw away 40 percent of all the food produced, or up to 160 billion pounds each year. The price tag for that waste approaches $218 billion. And, with production losses ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation
Tags: Composting, Food, Food Waste, Food Waste Prevention Week, Pgm_Waste, Recycle, Recycling, Reduce, Reuse, Save, Saving, Shop, Shopping, Waste, Ways To Save

Ways to Save: Grow Seasonal ‘Smarts’ For Your Vegetable Garden

by Mindy Hanak
March 31, 2023

Do you have a spring planting habit? If you are interested in growing food crops in your Florida garden it is very important to keep your seasons in mind when selecting what you will plant. I may break your heart when I tell you that now is ... READ MORE

Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Work & Life
Tags: EdibleGardeningSeries, Food, Garden, Pgm_Gardens, Pollinator, Pollinators, Save, Saving, Shop, Shopping, Vegetable Gardening, WaysToSave

Green Living Toolkit: An Essential Guide to Sustainable Living on Florida’s Suncoast

by Alia Garrett
March 23, 2023

The Green Living Toolkit show the most effective solutions, curated especially for Sarasota and Manatee County residents. The toolkit connects you with local events and experts on energy, food, waste, water, and nature. It is also designed ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation
Tags: Activities, Classes, Events, Green Living, Pgm_Sustain, Save, Saving, Sustainability, Sustainable

Subscribe For More Great Content