Making this summer matter

Kari Lewis

Do you want to make this summer matter for your family? One simple routine that can have profound effects on kids’ academic success and health is eating together as a family. In reading an article from the American College of Pediatricians, teens who have dinner with their families seven times a week are almost 40% likelier to say they receive mostly A’s and B’s in school compared to teens who have dinner with their families just two or less times/week. Children ages 9 to 14 who have more regular dinners with their families are 35% less likely to engage in disordered eating and 24% more likely to eat healthier foods.

The article also shared that teens who have less than 3 family dinners per week are 2.5x more likely to use marijuana, twice as likely to use alcohol, and four times more likely to use tobacco. In addition, they are more likely to experience depression and more likely to engage in dangerous activities.

So, knowing the importance of family meals, how do families make it possible when family members are heading in multiple directions? Here’s a few tips:

· Eating together as a family is the main thing. Family meals can mean family breakfasts or a simple

Family meals don't have to be a five course meal, they can be breakfasts or even
sandwiches on the back of a pickup too!  Photo by Kari Lewis.

dinner of sandwiches or grilled hot dogs, it doesn’t have to mean a five-course meal.

· At the beginning of the week, spend a few minutes to jot on a calendar everyone’s activities and plan a few nights when there can be a dinner as a family. Ask your kids if there is anything they would like to try for dinner and involve them in the meal planning. Meal planning will also help with grocery shopping as well!

· Allow kids to pick out fruits and vegetables in the grocery store. To help make the right choice the easy choice, give them two equally good options. For example, instead of asking what they want for a snack, ask if you should get apples or bananas, both good options. They are still involved in the decision making and picking out healthy items.

· Involve the kids in the process of family mealtimes. Kids can help set the table, prepare a salad, shuck corn on the cob, mix ingredients, and clean up afterwards. In fact, you may even pick one night a week when it’s the kids’ responsibility to choose the menu and cook. This is great training and helps the entire family take ownership of the family meal.

Summer is a great time to work on making a dinnertime routine to carry over into the school year. Teens with frequent family dinners are one and half times more likely to have an excellent relationship with their mother and twice as likely to have an excellent relationship with their family and siblings, so if you desire peace and harmony in the family, eating together is a great place to start!

Are Non-monthly Expenses Ruining your Budget Plan?

by Wendy Wedum, MSU Extension Pondera County

I must admit I had a small moment of panic this today! I’ve been preoccupied with some family happenings and I realized the registration for my car is due…luckily it’s not expired and better yet, I have the money set aside for the bill!

If you have a system for tracking your family living expenses, you probably have a pretty good idea where your money goes. But, have you ever found that you spent more money at the end of some months or at end of the year than you thought you did?

One reason for overspending could be related to non-monthly bills like car licensing, insurance, holiday and birthday gifts, taxes or unexpected expenses like medical bills or repairs to your home or car.  If non-monthly expenses are burning up your budget, here is a potential solution. 

MSU Extension has a financial planning tool to help plan for non-monthly living expenses. The MontGuide is called Schedule of Non-Monthly Family Living Expenses and it helps you figure out how much money needs to be set aside each month to avoid the stressful feeling that can happen when several major bills are due at the same time and there is no money set aside to pay for them.

The Schedule of Non-Monthly Family Living Expenses MontGuide has a worksheet to identify and list non-monthly expenses that happen during the year.  The steps are very simple and help identify and save money for expenses before the money is needed.

You start by listing your non-monthly expenses. This might include things for school such as pictures, sports, supplies, and events or for the car such as licensing, insurance, servicing, or tires or personal expenses such as birthday and holiday gifts, household repairs, memberships, personal care or vacations.

Then you make an estimate of the cost for all your items in the month or months when that non-monthly expense happens.  After all the expenses are listed, add them up to see what your grand total is.  Divide the grand total by 12 to figure out how much money needs to be set aside each month.  Then remember to add this amount to your monthly budget and put it into your savings.  That way you will have the money you need and it will help to avoid the feeling of financial stress when the non-monthly bills are due.

For more information, there are several options.  
1. Connect with your local Extension Agent, 
2. Click on this link to download a free PDF ofthe Schedule of Non-Monthly Family Living Expenses MontGuide             https://www.msuextension.org/publications/FamilyFinancialManagement/MT198910HR.pdf
 or 
3. Call Wendy Wedum at 271-4054.  

Last minute Christmas gift ideas

Last minute Christmas gift ideas

Kari Lewis

With just five days left before Christmas, crunch time is on for you last minute shoppers!  If you still have a few folks on your Christmas list, I have a couple great ideas for you!

We still have Greytak calendars available in our office for just $10.  These calendars feature unique pencil drawings of Montana agriculture scenes and are done specifically for Montana 4-H each year.  The proceeds from the calendar benefit the Glacier County 4-H Council and the Montana 4-H Foundation, which provide support for training and materials to members and leaders.  Both the Glacier County 4-H Council and Montana 4-H Foundation are great organizations to support if you’re looking to make a year-end contribution as well.

 My next Christmas gift suggestion is a registration to Montana’s Next Generation

conference, which is January 26 and 27, 2018, in Shelby.  This is a great gift for your spouse, parents, in-laws, or adult children, and could just be the gift the gift that keeps on giving as you gain tips from Elaine Froese to improve communication and working relationships within your family on your farm or ranch operation.  “Like many producers, I have multiple roles in my southwestern Manitoba seed farm,” Elaine said. “I am a farm family coach, owner of a farm business, spouse to the farm manager, mother to the successor and a mother-in-law, and I need to maintain harmony and a connection to my team in all those roles.”  Elaine will share valuable insight on how harmony within the family operation is possible, which could even make those holiday dinners more enjoyable!

The Friday, January 26 session will also feature Amanda Radke, BEEF magazine contributor, blogger, and rancher from South Dakota who will share what has been done in her family’s operation to allow her and her husband to return as the 5^th generation. 

The Saturday, January 27 session features 6 sessions of workshops, with you having the opportunity to pick from 6 different options each hour.  There will be several new speakers this year, including Scott Shearer, an international trade expert; Breeann Johnson, water rights, Indian law and agriculture attorney; Rachel Endecott, MSU Extension beef cattle specialist; Gary Sides, beef and feedlot nutritionist with Zoetis; and Dr. Jeanne Rankin, MSU Extension associate specialist.

The speakers will offer information on multiple topics, including soil amendments and micronutrients, dealing with drought, planning for profit, artificial insemination protocols, tightening the calving window and expected progeny differences, hay production, technology in farming, and more.

Registration for Montana’s Next Generation conference is available at an ‘Early Bird’ rate until January 12, and information is available on mariasriverlivestock.com.  Please contact our office if you’d like us to put together a gift certificate for you to share this gift with a friend or family member.  Not only will the education be great, but the food will be top notch and the fellowship with friends and neighbors is always a welcome mid-winter break as well.

Don’t forget to stop by our office for a Greytak calendar and to sign up for Montana’s Next Generation conference.  From our office to your family, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and holiday season!