This is fourth annual money smart week

The week of Oct. 10-17 is the fourth annual Indiana Money Smart Week. Like other states Indiana has been hit hard by the shaky economy. Some parts of the state are seeing record high unemployment. Foreclosures and even investment fraud have affected many Hoosiers.

Now more than ever people need help with financial literacy, and credible sources of information to help empower them to be smarter savers, responsible consumers and better informed investors.

Regardless of your income, managing money takes skills that are learned. Knowing where your money goes and being able to distinguish between needs and wants as well as developing a spending/savings plan are skills that can help families more confidently meet money management challenges.

Purdue Extension offers a variety of resources that can help citizens stretch their paychecks, make decisions regarding managing debt, and plan for the future. One resource is the Money on Your Mind website--www.extension.purdue.edu/money another is one-on-one counseling with a volunteer, trained in the "Where Does Your Money Go?" curriculum.

Purdue Extension also has many publications and other resources that can be read and studied on your own that can help you learn more about dealing with finances in these turbulent times.

On Tuesday, Oct. 27 Consumer and Family Sciences Educators with a specialty in Family Resource Management will host a meeting for Township Trustees in Southwest Indiana at the Clay County Fairgrounds. The goal of this meeting is to provide the trustees with information they can share with local individuals in need of assistance.

Another resource available to local families is the Family Nutrition Program which provides families and individuals help with stretching their food dollar and budgeting. Anyone who would like to take advantage of any of these services or programs should call the Putnam County office of the Purdue Extension Service at 653-8411.

(People often look for recipes to save money. This recipe for making Laundry Soap is easy and can save a lot of money.)

Money Saving Recipe for Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap

4 cups hot tap water

1 bar Fels-Naptha (or other mild) soap

1 cup washing soda

½ cup Borax

Grate the bar of soap and put in a saucepan with water. Stir it continually over medium low heat until soap dissolves. Fill a gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Pour into a 5 gallon bucket fill to within 4 inches of top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken. Stir and fill used, clean laundry soap bottles or clean milk jugs half full with soap and then fill rest of the way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel) Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil (such as lavender, rosemary, etc.) per 2 gallons

Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons. [You can make ½ recipe at a time, if you prefer.] For top load machines, use 5/8 cup per load. For front load machines use ¼ cup per load.

Check our website www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam to view the most up to date information. You can contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 765-653-8411 for more information regarding column topics or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. All times listed are Eastern Time.

October 22-27 Putnam County Extension Homemakers Week

October 22: Sock Hop/Movie Night, Fairgrounds, 5 PM

October 22: Putnam County Small Farms Workgroup