Category: Work & Life

Prepare NOW, get a digital hurricane kit!

by Alicia Betancourt
June 2, 2026

While living in Florida has its perks, the one thing that can ruin it (and rather quickly) is hurricane season. By now we should have all our hurricane preparation plan ready. But Wait! There is one more thing you need to do to prepare. In ... READ MORE

Category: , Disaster Preparation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: American Red Cross, Crowdsource Rescue, Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Recovery, Document Storage, Dropbox, Emergency Alerts, Emergency Communication, Emergency Kit, Emergency Preparedness, Emergency Resources, Evacuation Planning, Facebook Safety Check, Family Emergency Plan, FEMA App, Florida Hurricanes, Florida Living, Gas Availability, GasBuddy, Google Drive, Hurricane Apps, Hurricane Preparedness, Hurricane Safety Tips, Hurricane Season, Hurricane Tracker, ICE Medical Standard, Natural Disasters, Nextdoor, Pet First Aid, Pet Safety, Safety Apps, Smartphone Apps, Storm Tracking, Teladoc, Waze, Weather Preparedness, Weather Underground, WhatsApp, Xfinity WiFi, Zello

What the New 2026 Tax Brackets Mean — and What You Should Do Now

by Alicia Betancourt
April 20, 2026

As we head into the 2026 tax year, the IRS has rolled out updated tax brackets, deductions, and limits. While these changes may look minor on the surface, they can directly impact how much you keep in your paycheck—and how much you owe when ... READ MORE

Category: , Home Management, Money Matters, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Budgeting, Financial Literacy, Income Tax, IRS Changes 2026, Monroe County, Standard Deduction, Tax Brackets 2026, Tax Planning, Tax Tips, UF IFAS Extension

Digital Preparedness: Protect Your Information Before, During, and After a Disaster

by Alicia Betancourt
April 7, 2026

Website tracking collects your online behavior using cookies, pixels, and device fingerprinting. After disasters, scammers can use this data to send targeted phishing messages, fake FEMA alerts, and fraudulent contractor offers. Protecting your ... READ MORE

Category: , Disaster Preparation, Money Matters, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Consumer Protection, Digital Privacy, Disaster Preparedness, Financial Resilience, Florida Keys, Fraud Prevention, Hurricane Safety, Identity Theft, Monroe County Florida, Online Safety, UF IFAS Extension

Budgeting Made Simple: Free Tools to Help You Manage Your Money

by Alicia Betancourt
March 11, 2026

Managing money can feel overwhelming, especially when bills, groceries, and unexpected expenses compete for attention. A budget is one of the most practical tools available to help individuals and families plan ahead, reduce financial stress, ... READ MORE

Category: , Money Matters, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Budgeting, Financial Literacy, Financial Planning, Household Budgeting, Money Management, Personal Finance

IRS Scams and Fake Tax Filing: What Florida Residents Need to Know

by Alicia Betancourt
February 6, 2026

Tax season is a busy time for families and small businesses—but it’s also peak season for scammers. Each year, the IRS reports billions of dollars lost to tax-related fraud, and Florida consistently ranks among the states most affected. ... READ MORE

Category: , Home Management, Money Matters, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: CommunityEducation, ConsumerProtection, ExtensionEducation, FakeFiling, FinancialSafety, FloridaConsumers, FloridaExtension, Here Are **comma-separated Social Media Tags** You Can Copy And Paste: TaxScams, IdentityTheft, IRSScams, ScamAlert, StayInformed, TaxFraud, TaxSeason, UFIFASExtension

Beginning Grant Writing Workshop

by Alicia Betancourt
January 28, 2026

Beginner Grant Writing: Learning the Basics to Fund Your Mission 2-Part Series, Tuesdays: March 10 and March 24, 2026, from 9:00am - 4:00pm Whether you’re new to grants or preparing your first application, this beginner-friendly, hands-on ... READ MORE

Category: Events, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: #MonroeCounty, Budget, Community Development, Community Program, Environmental Protection, Extension, Financial Goals, Hot Topic

Simple Money Saving New Year’s Resolutions

by Alicia Betancourt
December 15, 2025

A new year is the perfect moment to reset your financial habits. You don’t need extreme budgets or complicated spreadsheets to make real progress—small, consistent changes can add up to meaningful savings over time. Below are practical, ... READ MORE

Category: , Home Management, Money Matters, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Automate Savings, Beginner Budgeting, Budgeting Basics, Debt Reduction, Emergency Fund, Financial Goals, Financial Literacy, Financial Wellness, Household Budgeting, Money Saving Tips, New Year’s Resolutions, No-spend Challenge, Personal Finance, Saving Money, Smart Spending

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

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