Category: Money Matters

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

Simple Money Saving New Year’s Resolutions

by Alicia Betancourt
December 22, 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

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

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