About Us
County Impact Statements - Searcy County
"Budgeting Is More Than Paying Bills"
Making ends meet with the dollars available to Searcy County families and
individuals is critical. Many individuals manage on less income than the weekly
average earnings of $271.14. Twenty27.4 percent of Searcy Countians function at
or below the poverty level. The Family Nutrition Education Program within the
Searcy County Cooperative Extension Service targets limited resource audiences
with health and nutrition educational program.
The Family Nutrition Education Program is Federal funded with collaborative
contributions from state and county governments, the Arkansas Department of
Human Services and other health related agencies.
Barbara and Donna Sillyman enrolled and graduated from the Searcy County
Family Nutrition Education and Budgeting Program. The Sillyman sisters are two
of the 118 individuals who completed the nutrition and resource management
program. Barbara and Donna also enrolled in the Money 2000 program. Each
established a savings and a debt reduction goal.
Barbara and Donna state that at the beginning of each month they list all of
their bills on the "Budget Cards" they received from class. All fixed expenses
are paid first; if enough money is not available, they pay a portion of that
bill. Donna quotes, "using the budget cards helps me to maintain money and to
balance my bills. I can keep track of my bills and know when they are due."
Donna states that she has learned to reduce her telephone bill, to compare
prices and to buy in quantity. She also keeps a spending chart to track her
expenses.
Barbara and Donna Sillyman using "Budget Cards" to plan monthly
spending.
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Impacts
- 72 % of the one hundred adult enrollees of the Family Nutrition
Education Program report money saved as a result of improved purchasing
skills that were learned in a twelve lesson money management program.
- Four 4-H teen members secured six state scholarships totaling $8,250.00
- Five money 2000 participants report savings of $8,183.00 within an
eighteen month period.
- Paying bills on time by using the "budgeting envelope" method is one of
the adoption skills of nine adults enrolled in the Family Nutrition
Education money management program.
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