Money

Health care expenses can be costly, and it's important to set money aside to manage these costs. One option is to save money in an emergency fund or a savings account that provides tax-saving benefits. The two most common options for saving are Health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Authors: Virginia Brown, Maria Pippidis, Dorothy Nuckols, and Kelly Sipple; Title: Saving for Health & Medical Expenses: Health Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts (FS-1019).

A flexible spending account is a great, tax-advantaged tool that can help you save for health and dependent care expenses. This fact sheet provides a template to estimate the amount of money to set aside when establishing a flexible spending account. Information about establishing and using a flexible spending account is also contained. Authors: Jesse Ketterman and Meghaan Lurtz; Title:Paying for Healthcare or Daycare? Flexible Spending Accounts Can Help! (FS-1083).

This factsheet will help extension educators understand pet insurance and how pet insurance policies can be set up. It also provides suggestions for how extension educators can teach consumers to review and better understand policies before enrolling in a pet insurance plan. Author: Catherine Sorenson; Pet Insurance: The Basics for Extension Educators (FS-2023-0679).

The Growing Healthy Habits Curriculum was developed by the University of Maryland Extension, Food Supplement Nutrition Education Program (FSNE) for integrating nutrition through gardening in Maryland elementary classrooms, grades K-5. This curriculum uses gardening as a tool for encouraging students to consume more fruits and vegetables and whole grains, and increase physically activity. Growing Healthy Habits provides engaging and exciting nutrition and gardening lessons that reinforce the Maryland Common Core, as well as Environmental Literacy Standards and STEM. Authors: Erin Braunscheidel Duru, Stephanie Grutzmacher, Jinhee Kim, Lisa Lachenmayr, Lauren Messina, Carol Miller, Ashley Munger, Meredith Pearson, and Lynn Rubin; Title: Healthy Cents (EC-4)

Pets are an important part of our lives but can also be expensive. Pet insurance is one tool for managing the costs of pet ownership. But, pet insurance can be confusing, and pet insurance policies can differ from company to company. This fact sheet will help you understand important pet insurance concepts like: • The different types of policies • What pet insurance does and does not cover, and • The ways in which specific factors about your pet will affect the cost of insurance The fact sheet also includes a chart that can help you compare insurance policies to find which policies, if any, are a good fit for your needs. The chart includes a variety of key questions you should ask when considering signing up for pet insurance. So, if you are curious about pet insurance and looking for more information, this fact sheet is a great place to start. Author: Catherine Sorenson; Title: Is Pet Insurance Right For Me? (FS-2023-0678).

The federal government offers the option of Public Service Loan Forgiveness to ease the burden of student loan payments. This is a program designed to provide an incentive to attract job seekers to employment in the much needed non-profit and government sectors. Those who qualify for PSLF can have their student debt balance paid in full by the federal government. However, there are many rules to follow. Author: Dorothy Nuckols; Title: Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Know the Qualification Rules (EBR-50)

Budgeting for college students presents unique challenges due to variations of income and expense. Combining a cash flow budget with a yearlong monthly financial plan allows planning for the variations of income and expenses that college students experience. Author: Jesse M. Ketterman, Ph.D.; Title: Budgeting 101 for College Students (FS-1194)