Fresh Start: NBC Washington consumer report

Fresh Start: NBC Washington

Ericka Gonzalez, Consumer reporter and anchor for NBC Washington

 

Have you been following the NBC Washington segment, "Fresh Start" with Ericka Gonzalez? She has been doing daily news reports on getting your finances fit for 2015.

Here are featured tips on getting out of debt:

• Contact creditors for a payment plan
• Ask about loan forgiveness
• Pay debts with the highest interest rate first
• Borrow money from a family member or credit union, not credit card

Moving past debt, Gonzalez says to:

• Use cash for purchases (people who use credit spend more)
• Start saving a small amount each pay. The goal is 3-6 months of living expenses. (Encourages $20/pay starting now will give you a little over $1,000 this time next year).

You can learn more by viewing videos on www.nbcwashington.com and searching "fresh start." You can also look for tips from viewers on twitter using #freshstart.

Share your tip for a financial fresh start!

One in Three U.S. Youths Report Being Victims of Dating Violence

About one in three American youths age 14-20 say they’ve been of victims of dating violence (physical, sexual or psychological/emotional) and almost one in three acknowledge they’ve committed violence toward a date, according to new research presented at the American Psychological Association’s 121st Annual Convention. Adolescent dating violence is common among young people. It also overlaps between victimization and perpetration and appears across different forms of dating abuse,” according to Michele Ybarra, MPH, PhD. She is with the Center for Innovative Public Health Research, based in San Clemente, Calif.

Girls were almost equally likely to be a perpetrator as a victim of violence: 41 percent reported victimization and 35 percent reported perpetration at some point in their lives. Among boys, 37 percent said they had been on the receiving end, while 29 percent reported being the perpetrator, Ybarra said. Twenty-nine percent of the girls and 24 percent of the boys reported being both a victim and perpetrator in either the same or in different relationships.

Girls were significantly more likely than boys to say they had been victims of sexual dating violence and that they had committed physical dating violence. Boys were much more likely than girls to report that they had been sexually violent toward a date. Experiencing psychological dating violence was about equal for boys and girls. Rates generally increased with age but were similar across race, ethnicity and income levels, according to Ybarra.

Here are some (and many) great resources to use:

Tips for talking to teens: Healthy Relationships

Love doesn't have to hurt: teens

What to do/where to turn for help

Be sure to come and join the conversation in a safe-sharing environment at the Women's Well~Being Circle February Event, "Love Doesn't Hurt: Domestic Violence Awareness."  Check the "Upcoming Events" page for more information and to RSVP.

Skin and Hair Health

How our skin and hair look is important to many of us. At the same time, your skin and hair are organs that do special jobs that support life. Skin protects your inside organs from injury, bacteria, and viruses. Your skin, hair, and sweat glans help control body temperature. Body hair also alerts you to heat and touch. You can take steps to keep your skin and hair health. You can also look to your skin and hair for clues to your overall health. And, as a bonus, good skin and hair care will help you to feel your best, too. Click here to read more on your "Skin and Hair Health."

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This article is shared from Office of Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For more resources and information on women's health, visit them online at  http://www.womenshealth.gov/.

'Tis the season to teach your kids about credit cards!

"I can't wait to get a credit card. It will be cool to buy whatever I want, whenever I want." Look out - that kind of thinking will get you into trouble! A lot of people think that credit cards are "magic money." But a credit card is just a financial tool that lets you borrow money, which you have to pay back.

 

The Women's Well~Being Circle "Resource Page" has great information and links to help you educate your kids, teens, and young adults on the issue of credit cards. Use these resources to help teach financial literacy. Here's a great preview:

 

Good Reasons to Have a Credit Card

• They are a convenient way to pay.

• They're safer than carrying a lot of cash. If a credit card is stolen or lost, your maximum loss is only $50 if you report the loss to your credit card company.

• You can buy things online or over the phone, and make reservations with hotels or rental car companies.

• You can get instant cash in an emergency, like if your car broke down.

• They offer some protection against unsatisfactory purchases. For example, if you ordered a tv and paid with a credit card, and the store went out of business before you got your tv, you may be able get a refund from your credit card company.

• Using a credit card responsibly builds good credit.