Category: Work & Life

Saving Money on Groceries by Understanding Food Product Packaging Dates

by Alicia Betancourt
September 15, 2025

When shopping for groceries, it’s easy to get confused by the different food product dates stamped on packaging. “Sell by,” “Best if used by,” “Use by,” and “Expiration” dates don’t all mean the same thing, and misunderstanding ... READ MORE

Category: , Health & Nutrition, Home Management, Money Matters, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Food Product Packaging Dates, Grocery Shopping Tips, Reduce Food Waste, Saving Money On Groceries, Shelf Life Of Food

Buyer Beware

by Alicia Betancourt
September 2, 2025

The internet has made shopping more convenient than ever—but it has also opened the door for scams. Fake websites that claim to sell cheap products are increasingly common, targeting people looking for good deals. While these sites may look ... READ MORE

Category: , Money Matters, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Consumer Protection, Counterfeit Products, Fake Websites, Fraudulent E-commerce, Identity Theft Prevention, Internet Fraud, Online Security, Online Shopping Scams, Safe Online Shopping, Scam Awareness

Smart Travel: How to Keep Your Devices Safe on the Go

by Alicia Betancourt
July 15, 2025

When you’re packing for a trip, your phone, tablet, or laptop are probably right next to your toothbrush. But while you’re thinking about sunscreen and snacks, hackers are thinking about the wide-open digital doors that come with travelers ... READ MORE

Category: , Home Management, Money Matters, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Bluetooth Security, Data Protection, Device Safety, Juice Jacking, Mobile Travel Tips, Offloading Apps, Public Wi-Fi, Tech Safety On Vacation, Travel Cybersecurity

Doomscrolling and Brain Rot: Why it’s time to log off and get outside.

by Alicia Betancourt
July 7, 2025

Let’s be honest — we’ve all been there. You open your phone just to check one thing, and suddenly it's 45 minutes later, and you’ve been scrolling through a stream of disasters, drama, and depressing headlines. Sound familiar? That’s ... READ MORE

Category: , Health & Nutrition, Recreation, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Anxiety Relief, Beat Brain Fog, Brain Rot, Burnout Recovery, Daily Routine, Digital Detox, Digital Wellness, Doomscrolling, Emotional Wellbeing, Focus Tips, Get Outdoors, Get Outside, Healthy Habits, Intentional Living, Life Offline, Mental Clarity, Mental Health, Mindful Living, Mindfulness Matters, Nature Heals, Nature Therapy, Productivity Hacks, Screen Time, Self Care, Sunshine And Fresh Air, Tech Boundaries, Walk It Out

Grill, Chill, and Stay Safe: Your Guide to Food Safety at Summer Cookouts

by Alicia Betancourt
May 20, 2025

Summer is here, and that means it's time for sunny days, backyard BBQs, and good times with friends and family. Whether you're flipping burgers on the grill, dishing out potato salad, or serving up a slice of juicy watermelon, there’s one ... READ MORE

Category: , Food Safety, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Backyard BBQ, BBQ Safety, Clean Cooking, Cookout Hygiene, Cooler Safety, Cross-contamination, Food Safety, Foodborne Illness Prevention, Grilling Tips, Hot And Cold Food Storage, Leftover Storage, Meat Thermometer, Outdoor Cooking, Picnic Food Safety, Raw Meat Handling, Safe Food Temperatures, Safe Grilling Practices, Separate Coolers, Summer Cookouts, Summer Food Tips

Is Your Wallet Ready for the Next Disaster? Here’s Why It Should Be

by Alicia Betancourt
April 29, 2025

When disaster strikes, how quickly you recover often depends on one key factor: your financial preparedness. Natural disasters — like hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and heatwaves — are becoming more common and more destructive, especially ... READ MORE

Category: , Disaster Preparation, Home Management, Money Matters, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Budgeting For Emergencies, Climate Preparedness, Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Recovery, Emergency Cash, Emergency Fund, Emergency Planning, Emergency Savings, Financial Planning, Financial Resilience, Financial Security, Flood Insurance, Home Insurance, Home Safety, Hurricane Readiness, Insurance Tips, Natural Disasters, Personal Finance, Renter’s Insurance, Storm Recovery

Could you “buy nothing” for a year?

by Alicia Betancourt
January 23, 2025

It is a new year, and I want to work on what I can do to make it more planet-friendly. To live more climate-aware and reduce my environmental impact, I plan to start by being more mindful of what I consume. Moreover, I have been looking into ... READ MORE

Category: Money Matters, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Advertising, Borrow, Buy Nothing For A Year, Carbon Footprint, Climate-aware, Consumer Awareness, Consumer Culture, Declutter, DIY, Environmental Impact, Essential Purchases Only, Financial Benefits, Food Waste, Gift-giving, Leftover Repurposing, Locally Grown, Meal Planning, Mental Clarity, Mindful Consumption, Minimalist, Non-essential Purchases, Planet-friendly, Plant-based Meals, Recycling, Reducing Waste, Refurbished Items, Repair, Reusable Options, Reuse, Seasonal Produce, Second-hand, Share, Social Situations, Sustainability-driven, Sustainable Brands, Swap

New Florida laws to take affect January 1st 2025.

by Alicia Betancourt
December 9, 2024

Starting January 1, 2025, nine new laws will go into effect in Florida, addressing topics such as social media restrictions for minors, building regulations, and protections for vulnerable adults. For full details, you can visit the Florida ... READ MORE

Category: , Home Management, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Addictive Features, Bond Allocations, Building Permits, Building Regulations, Claim Denials, Dental Insurance, Dental Insurance Claims, DHSMV, Estate Planning, Expert Witness Fees, Fiduciary Law, Financial Exploitation, Financial Exploitation Safeguards, First Responder Protections, First Responders, Harassment, HB 1093, HB 135, HB 267, HB 3, Interference, Medical Reimbursements, Minors, New Florida Laws 2025, Parental Consent, Party Affiliation, Payment Restrictions, Private Activity Bonds, Public Projects, Residential Inspectors, SB 184, SB 362, SB 556, SB 7054, SB 892, Sealed Drawings, Social Media, Social Media Restrictions, Threats, Time Limits, Transaction Delays, Trusts, Unitrusts, Voter Registration, Vulnerable Adults, Workers’ Compensation, Written Consent

Helpful information for holiday travel.

by Alicia Betancourt
November 15, 2024

Holiday travel can be both exciting and stressful. Whether you plan to fly or drive, there are some excellent tips to make it less stressful. Firstly, plan for something to go wrong. Make sure you have the money and time available in case ... READ MORE

Category: , SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Adaptable, Airline Apps, Airport, Arrive Early, Book In Advance, Books, Budget, Carry-on Luggage, Chargers, Crowds, Download, Drive, Enjoyable Journey, Essentials, Family, Flexibility, Fly, Friends, Holiday Travel, Itinerary, Jumper Cables, Last Minute, Laundry Bag, Leave Early, Long Lines, Medications, Money, Movies, Non-peak Hours, Off-peak Days, Pack Light, Podcasts, Positive Mindset, Potential Delays, Power Bank, Preparation, Prices, Raincoat, Reimbursement, Safe Travels, Safety Kit, Save Money, Security Checks, Sense Of Humor, Snacks, Spare Tire, Time, Tips, Travel Apps, Travel Documents, Travel Insurance, Unexpected Challenges, Water Bottles, Waze, Weather Delay, Weather Delays

Is it news, opinion or fake news?

by Alicia Betancourt
October 1, 2024

Most of us get our news through the TV and social media, and it can be hard to determine what is credible news. Unverified news poses several significant problems, impacting us as individuals but also society as a whole. It often spreads misinformation, ... READ MORE

Category: , SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Defamation, Discrimination, Economic Consequences, Ethical Journalism, Health Misinformation, Incitement Of Violence, Manipulation Of Public Opinion, Market Disruption, Media Credibility, Misinformation, Polarization, Political Manipulation, Public Panic, Public Safety, Public Trust, Reputation Damage, Societal Impact, Trust In Institutions, Unverified News

Subscribe For More Great Content