Deadline for Tax Payment Approaching

January 7 is the LAST day to pay before interest is added to your unpaid tax bill.

Beware - New Scam in Town

The Social Security Administration does not go door to door. The Office of the Attorney General reports that there is a new scam and everyone, especially the elderly should beware.

Hib Vaccine Recall

The Federal Drug Administration and Merck are recalling 1 million doses of its PedvaxHib and COMVAX vaccines, distributed since April 2007.

Dealing with Those Holiday Temper Tantrums

Need help dealing with your children's temper tantrums? Here are some tips to follow.

Healthy Tip - Travel Well

Whether it’s over the river and through the woods, across town, or across an ocean, ‘tis the season to visit Grandma.

Let it Live! Your Live Christmas Tree, That Is...

Did you purchase a live Christmas tree to plant in your landscape after the holidays?

Spotlight: Deciduous Hollies

Hollies are probably among the most popular and common landscape plants. While the many evergreen varieties are familiar to most gardeners, the deciduous hollies go largely unnoticed and under used.

Pets as Presents

A spur of the moment decision to buy a pet for your child for Christmas will affect you for many years to come.

Pet Picture of the Week - Please Give Me a Home!

This week we are featuring some Asheville Humane Society animals that need a loving home.

Recipe of the Week - Candy Cane Fudge

Congratulations to Tanya Banks of Asheville for her Candy Cane Fudge recipe!

If you want to reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive, add your home or mobile phone number to the Do Not Call Registry at no cost. 

Call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you wish to register. For more information, to register by the Internet, or to file a complaint with Attorney General Roy Cooper, go to http://www.nocallsnc.com/ or call 1-877-5-NOSCAM (1-877-566-7226).

Buncombe County Government Offices will be closed on December 24, 25, 26 and January 1. 

The Landfill and Transfer Station will close on Christmas Eve, December 24 at 1 p.m. and reopen on December 26 at 7 a.m. Household Hazardous Waste Day and electronics recycling at the Buncombe County Landfill will be closed Friday, December 28, 2007.

The Landfill and Transfer Station will also be closed on New Year's Day and will reopen on January 2 at 7 a.m.

Remember... You can recycle your cut Christmas tree at the Landfill (please remove all decorations, lights and tinsel).

If your 2006 holiday spending was still a burden well into 2008 then the following credit tips may be helpful.

1. Destroy credit card convenience checks. Lenders frequently send out holiday letters with pre-printed checks that are connected to your credit card account. When you write one of these checks the purchase is added to your credit card balance and reduces the amount of credit you have available. It is important to note that the lenders usually charge a transaction fee equal to a percentage of the purchase made with the check. These transaction fees can add up if you use several of these convenience checks.
2. Say “No Thank-you” to instant credit. Protect your credit score by not opening new and unnecessary accounts. Many stores will offer a discount on your total purchase if you apply for a store account, whether or not you are approved for a new account. There are two reasons to say “No Thank-you.” First, the interest rate on retail credit accounts is frequently higher than what you can obtain through a credit union or other financial institution. Second, the retailer will check your credit to determine whether you meet its lending criteria. When the retailer looks at your credit report it is recorded as an “inquiry.” Too many inquiries lowers your credit score since it suggests to lenders you are applying for too much credit.
3. Keep track of the debt. Use a new check register for each credit card and record all of your credit purchases. This way you can keep tabs on the total amount of credit you have used and can avoid overspending your budget.

Dr. Carolyn Bird
Assistant Professor, Family Resource Management
North Carolina State University