Author: Linda Combs
Planning Unit: Knott County CES
Major Program: Financial Education - General
Plan of Work: Securing Financial Stability
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
Holidays are often an exciting time of the year. However, the holidays in 2020 came with lots of stress: holiday spending, Covid-19 quarantines, Covid-19 mental, physical and financial stress. With the normal holiday stress, Covid-19 added limited visits or no visits with families and friends. This multiplied family stress to the max. To assist individuals in understanding and responding to stress resulting from holiday expenses and Covid-19 related issues the Quicksand Area Family and Consumer Science agents’ from: Breathitt, Lee, Owsley, Wolfe, Knott, Letcher, Leslie and Perry counties hosted a grab and go “Holiday From Home” program to address Covid-19 related stresses. Emphasis was placed on understanding how implementing holiday budgeting and other cost-saving strategies including preparing gifts, decorations and homemade foods can help individuals to reduce not only financial stress but also mental and physical stress. 249 program booklets were distributed in Knott county. Topics included financial saving and spending tips, recipes and easy crafts to do as a family. Program evaluations showed one hundred eighty crafts were made, 51 recipes were tried. Ninety six percent indicated they had had made at least one positive financial decision, while 91% of participants implemented one money saving strategy. A total of eight hundred 50 dollars was saved. Participants reported: “The annual holiday showcase provides me with new healthy recipes that are tasty and cost efficient”. “Each year I come away with new craft ideas that I can make and sale to supplement my income”. “My kids looked forward to the crafts in the grab and go bags”. “Thank you for providing low cost and fun activities for my family”.
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