Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Home Blog Page 4555

Paying to borrow your own money is a bad deal

By
University of Missouri
-
0

Story source: Brenda Procter, M.S., State Specialist & Instructor, Personal Financial Planning, University of Missouri Extension

The ball at Times Square had barely touched bottom before the ads for tax-refund loans began broadcasting across the country. But getting tax refund money just a few days earlier can cost you.

A refund anticipation loan (RAL) is a short-term consumer loan secured by the borrower’s expected tax refund. Some tax preparers may advertise RALs as “instant refunds.” This is both misleading and illegal, said Brenda Procter, personal financial planning specialist for University of Missouri Extension.

Consumers are not getting their tax refund, she said. They’re taking out a high-interest loan.

While you may be tempted to pay the lending fees to get your refund right away, Procter says a little patience can save you a lot of money.

“A lot of taxpayers don’t realize that if they file their income tax electronically and arrange to have their refund deposited directly into a checking account, they will likely have their refund in a week to 10 days anyway,” she says.

Borrowing your own money comes at a steep price…

To learn more about the interest, fees and other charges from RALs and to find out where you can go for FREE tax preparation services, see the full version of this article (along with the accompanying video) at http://missourifamilies.org/features/financearticles/cfe51.htm

Storing canned foods

By
University of Missouri
-
0
Sharon Drummond

Christeena Haynes, MS, RD, LD, former Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, Dallas County, University of Missouri Extension

Many people have questions about the storage of canned goods and since February is Canned Food Month, now is a good time to address some of the most common questions.

You want to start with a good quality product. If you are purchasing canned goods, choose those that are not rusted, dented, scratched or bulging. Home-canned foods should only be made using research-tested procedures, equipment and recipes from sources such as USDA or University of Missouri Extension.

Store canned goods in a cool, dark, dry area away from furnaces, pipes and other places where temperature changes occur. Store metal cans off of the floor because moisture may lead to rust.

Be sure to label the can with the purchase date or the date it was made. It is recommended that unopened home-canned foods be used within one year. Commercially-canned low-acid foods, like meat and vegetables, should be consumed within 2 to 5 years. High-acid foods, such as tomatoes and fruit, have a shorter shelf life of 12 to 18 months.

Always use the FIFO (first-in, first-out) method when it comes to using foods from storage so that you are sure to use your oldest cans first…

For more information on the nutritional value of canned goods and the best way to select and store them, see the full version of this article at http://missourifamilies.org/features/foodsafetyarticles/fdsfty86.ht

No. 25 Cougars shut down in 89-76 loss at Seward County

By
Editor
-
0
barton cc

The high scoring Barton Community College men’s basketball team were beat at its own game for the second straight game, taking an 89-76 whooping to Seward County Community College Saturday night at the Greenhouse in Liberal.  Averaging a Region VI best 93.4 points per game and second in field goal percentage at over 50%, the No. 25 ranked Cougars went cold shooting a season low 40% from the field while allowing its opponent to shoot over 50% for the second straight game.  The second straight loss and game away from the Barton Gym drops the Cougars into a second place tie in the Jayhawk West standings at 6-3 and 18-5 overall while Seward County improves to 4-5 and 11-11.  Next up for the Cougars will be Dodge City Community College on Wednesday in a 7:30 p.m. tip at the Barton Gym.

Barton scored the first seven points and held a 10-5 lead behind threes from Jalin Barnes and Christian Smith before things started to unravel.  Khalil Gracey‘s three regained a 13-12 lead for Barton but it did little to slow the Saints’ 20-8 run.  Two Kenny Enoch threes and another Barnes’ trey drew the Cougars back to within three but the Saints closed out first half action outscoring Barton by five to lead 40-32.

Seward blew open the game early in the second half turning a seven point lead into a seventeen point edge going on an 18-4 run in a matter of about six minutes.   The lead ballooned out to twenty-four before a charge led by Walker and the inside effort of Enoch grabbing multiple offensive rebounds cut the deficit to seventeen.

Barton would get to with ten with two minutes to play but with the Saints knocking down just enough free throws and the Cougars’ shooting woes, it was not going to be the comeback Cougar fans wished for.

Getting off to his second straight slow start to a game, Walker scored all of his twenty-four points in the second half to lead only three Cougars in double digits.  Adding a game high twelve rebounds, the Jayhawk West’s leading scorer recorded his seventh double-double on the season and led Barton with seven assists and tied three others for the team lead with two steals. Barnes’ 50% shooting including 3-of-5 from behind the arc contributed to his seventeen points while Enoch finished with sixteen.

Kevin Sims’ career high twenty-six points including a 13-of-17 effort from the charity stripe paced four Saints in double figures.  Nick Singleton scored sixteen with a team high seven boards while Tyreke Sharp and Secean Johnson scored twelve and ten points respectively.  Just missing double-digits was Evan Allen finishing with nine points leading the Saints in assists with eight.

A Cowboy’s Faith: Caution Can Prevent Disaster

By
Frank Buchman
-
0
Frank J Buchman
Frank Buchman

By Frank J. Buchman

 

“Don’t wreck it the first day.”

 

That was advice given josh, but ten minutes down the highway, we were taking it seriously.

 

Again our main transportation gave out last week. We had it shy of two years, but there were more than a quarter-million miles on the odometer, so it wasn’t that unexpected when the transmission went caput.

 

Yet, it wasn’t completely incapacitated, so we could limp the remaining roaring jaunt home. Diagnosis at the repair shop was that the second nicest car we’ve ever owned, despite its maturity, could be fixed, but the bill would be high.

 

Long deliberation and calculating determined the car had served us well, especially considering the predicament we were in upon acquisition, and seniority when we wrote the first check, which has added significance.

 

Repairs really hadn’t been extravagant, all things considered. But, in the past few weeks, there’d been more fixing required than total of all previous work. So, now Tannie II, namesake of Tannie I, a younger version dying more prematurely with less use, was graveyard, too, at least without parts and wrenches.

 

With all that, the “96” might give out again first time driven. We’d be ground zero, deeper in debt, without efficient wheels. The red pickup gets us where we’re going, like a lumber wagon, tiring, and twice as costly.

 

So, replacement vehicle was in order. Now, we don’t mind shopping for horses, wheeling and dealing for what we decide we want, whether we need it or not.

 

Quite the opposite with a car. It’s hard and dreaded downright work for us. Without logical alternative, we began pursuit. Requirements: cheap, no clunker, starts and gets there and back, no white or silver, cruise control to prevent County Mountie conversation, and cheap.

 

First and last prerequisites were always the eliminating factor. But, after a couple handfuls calls, looking and driving, we signed the lines. Calling her Champagne for  all-around appeal, as we headed south, she hit a slick spot in the snow, and our heart skipped a beat.

 

Going slow with tight steering wheel clutch, twice more there was a sashay for our “new” car, now carefully parked in the garage until winter snow clears.

 

Reminds us of First Samuel 3:11: “Listen carefully.” Then, Genesis 31:24: “Be careful what you do to prevent a wreck.”

 

+++ALLELUIA+++

 

Answers To Farm Questions Available At St. Marys Conference

By
Frank Buchman
-
0

By Frank J. Buchman

“What are the markets really going to do this year, which farm program is best, what are interest rates going to do?”

Seemingly run-on questions, all three are weighing  heavy on farmers’ minds.

Answers are to be offered during the Farm Profit Conference Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Citizen Pottawatomie Community Center, 806 Nishnabe Trail, Rossville.

“The evening will kick off when doors open at 5:30, for attendees to visit and view displays of sponsors, before the 6 o’clock supper, to be hosted by 580 WIBW, as the first of four annual spring farm informational programs,” announced Kelly Lenz, longtime 580 WIBW farm director and coordinator of the educational sessions.

This kickoff program is being presented in cooperation with the Shawnee County Extension Service.

Featured speaker is Tom Leffler of Leffler Commodities at Augusta, who will present his perspective of “The Markets: Which Way Will They Go?”

A number of meetings have been conducted over the past couple of months to help farmers determine how to participate in the new Farm Bill programs. “It’s a Tough Choice,” insisted Lance Thompson of the Shawnee County Farm Service Agency office, who has titled his discussion exactly that way.

“Financing in Changing Times” will be reviewed by Jim Aylward from the Frontier Farm Credit office.

“The 580 WIBW Farm Profit Conference meal and program are free, but we must  have reservations so nobody misses out on their supper,” Lenz emphasized.

These can be made by calling the Shawnee County Extension office at 785-232-0062, or e-mail [email protected], no later than noon, February 9.

Additional 580 WIBW Farm Profit Conferences are scheduled at Council Grove, February 19; Ottawa, March 4, and Westmoreland, March 18.

1...4,5544,5554,556...4,785Page 4,555 of 4,785

Kansas News, Auctions & Classifieds

Trending

Categories

© Rural Messenger