The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/226101
B-6 The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, December 11, 2013 Focus on the money: Christmas gifts for those who struggle with money By Adam Kamerer No one likes seeing family or friends struggle under mountains of debt and other financial woes. It's even worse when Christmas rolls around. There's a lot of pressure to give "fun gifts," such as pricey consumer goods like clothing or electronics, but sometimes what our loved ones really need is a gift that will help them make some real positive headway on their finances. Here are gifts you can give your loved ones this Christmas to help them out with their financial struggles. A Financial Education It's awfully hard to get an adequate financial education these days. Personal finance is woefully underrepresented in schools, and fewer people are able to learn solid lessons about managing money from their parents. That lack of understanding is one of the biggest reasons so many people struggle with money. A good person- al finance book or tool can teach your loved ones how to better manage their money and provide them with some valuable insight about the steps they need to take to get out of debt and increase their wealth. Spend a few hours helping your niece fill out scholarship applications. Help your best friend polish his resume and call on some professional contacts to try to find him an interview. Volunteer a Helping Hand What could your friends or family members do with their money if it wasn't getting consumed by monthly bills? Consider giving them a short vacation from one of their regular monthly expenditures. You could offer to kick in the minimum payment for their credit card bill for the next three months, or maybe pay next month's electric bill. In some cases, you may be able to contact the company directly to make a payment on your loved one's account, but if you can't, just coordinate with your gift recipient to handle the transaction privately. Put a twist on it: You could even give this gift as a kind of "get out of jail free" card: instead of paying the bill in December, write the offer on Are there things your loved one needs that you can provide just by kicking in a little of your time? Maybe your brother-in-law runs a lawn-care service on the side and needs a new website to help drum up business. If you have the web design skills, offer to build a website for him as a gift. Is daycare killing your sister's budget? If your schedule allows, offer to watch the kids for free. It's a great way to get some family time in, and it provides your loved one with something they need without forcing them to shell out for it. Help your mother organize a yard sale to de-clutter her house and raise some cash. paying down debt or finally getting the dryer fixed. My parents primarily give me and my siblings cash for Christmas every year. It's hard to beat the effectiveness of an envelope full of money. Cash has a flexibility to it that no other gift can match: your loved one can use your gift to buy anything they might need, whether it be new shoes for the kids or a car repair or to pay down some credit card debt. Not everyone will appreciate a personal finance book or an offer to help with bills. For whatever reason, people can be touchy about letting others help with their financial problems. Let them know you care: If just giving cash feels like too much of a cop-out, write your loved one a heartfelt letter. Tell them you know they've been struggling, so this gift of cash is your way of trying to take the pressure off them, even if just a little bit. Remind them that you care about them and you want to see them reach a safer financial place. A Bill Holiday Personal finance is woefully underrepresented in schools, and fewer people are able to learn solid lessons about managing money from parents. a card and let your loved one hold onto it. The next time they hit a rough patch, tell them they can cash it in and you'll help them out. what they'd like and when to use it. Here's a new twist on the gift card idea—instead of giving a gift card for a store specializing in consumer goods, consider givA Gas Gift Card ing a gift card that tempoGift cards have become rarily removes a basic need. synonymous with Christmas Nearly everyone in Amerin America. We like to give ica needs gasoline for their them, I suppose, because it's vehicle. At current gas prica way of guiding our gift re- es, a $100 gift card will pay cipient to the kind of gift we for about 30 gallons of gas— wanted to give them, while that's $100 your loved ones still letting them choose can shift to other needs, like SiAr 711 E. Main St., PEtERSbuRG 812-354-2006 Randy Harris Shawn McGillem Principal Broker 812-380-1065 Associate Sales 812-354-8322 402 S. Hickory, Petersburg GREAT RECREATIoNAL AREA! LET'S SCHEDuLE A SHoWING! Classy, well built 3 bed, 1 1/2 bath brick ranch family home with finished basement and many updates including new hardwood flooring, newer roof & newer HVAC. House includes over 2200 square feet above ground with screened in back porch and attached two car garage. Located in Eastwood subdivision. MLS# 200137 $199,000 4806 E Dove Ct, Dale This one story ranch has a lot to offer. The exterior is a mix of stone/frame. Inside you will find a large family room with a vaulted ceiling, exposed beams, and a beautiful custom front window. You will love the "open concept" kitchen and dining area with a breakfast bar. With a .65 acre lot, there is plenty of room to roam. Call Joe Schitter at 449-6469. $167,900 MLS#200766 0 E State Road 64, Winslow 3745 N. S.R. 57, Petersburg 29 acres in a great location at the corner of State Road 64 and Meridian. A very nice property, mostly scrub and smaller growth with some mature trees. A great recreational property with other potential. There is a gas line easement as well as a power line easement through the property. Includes all mineral rights. We do not $86,900 believe that the property has ever been mined. MLS# 198752 Nice brick ranch, 3 bedroom, 2 bath on about 3 acres. Just outside of town with a large pole barn, relaxing back deck with walk up/walk out partial basement. 103 E North St, Petersburg Solid brick ranch 3/4 bedrooms, three baths with over 2,300 sq. ft. above ground, basement, attached garage and lots of open living space. Very nice home with tiled bathrooms, solid oak floors, a front porch and back porch, above ground pool with deck, yard barn and stainless appliances. The basement includes lot of storage, a family room and more. MLS# 202336 $144,900 NEW LISTING! moTIVATED SELLER! mAKE AN oFFER! 5719 E SR 356, Otwell Brick ranch on almost five acres in Algiers, Jefferson township with out building and large rooms. Well built older home, dated with all kinds of potential. Great area, attached garage in a great neighborhood. $86,500 MLS#202418 210 N 9th St, Petersburg Lots of space with many updates in this traditionally styled house with character in a convenient location. Large rooms and open areas plus a large open upstairs. Updates include newer laminate flooring, newer carpet upstairs, newer roof and some fresh paint. Home includes cellar, off street parking and an out building built as a playhouse, used for storage. MLS# 201946 $84,900 404 SW 2nd St, Washington Very nice three bedroom 1986 stick built home with a two car garage and a fenced in yard. Updates include a newer roof and vinyl. House is well insulated and has a lovely kitchen island with lots of storage space. $74,900 MLS# 195057 $134,900 1412 Akin Dr, Evansville Move right in to this cozy well-maintained home in a quiet neighborhood only a block from Akin Park. The living room / dining room is very spacious, and the eat-in kitchen provides plenty of storage. Large backyard that is private. A nice detached one-car garage with an additional carport cover. Home has updated electrical and plumbing systems, and the water heater is new. MLS#200452 $65,900 305 N 11th St, Petersburg Nicely upgraded two bedroom one bath home with an open walk-out and walk- up basement, laminate floors, screened in porch, good sized living room and a nice neighborhood. Seller is being relocated and is motivated to sell. Let's look and make an offer! $64,900 MLS#201211 mAKE AN oFFER! 1503 E. Walnut St, Petersburg You must see to appreciate! Two level living with more space than it appears! Three bedroom, 1 1/2 bath. Walk out basement and very cozy. Quiet, convenient neighborhood with many updates $49,900 MLS#198560 114 N Nichols Ave, Petersburg Great starter house or a great place to downsize. This two bedroom, one bath house has larger rooms and a great location. There is also a detached one car garage and utility buildings give you plenty of storage. The kitchen is large and has washer/dryer hook-ups for convenience. Located in the city, but feels like country. Call Joe Schitter at 449-6469. $47,900 MLS#200800 1408 E Walnut St, Petersburg Remodeled three bedroom home with many updates. A beautiful kitchen, nice sized rooms, two garages, all for a reasonable price. $29,900 MLS#193826 1403 Cedar St, Evansville Very nice well-maintained 1-bedroom home near Cedar Hall School. Quick access to Diamond Avenue and shopping areas. Very comfortable living at a very affordable price! A must-see property! Call Darron Albin at 483-6708 $32,900 MLS# 195812 205 N Cross St, Francisco Potential investment opportunity at a low price!! This 1969 Mobile home sits on a nice 78' X 123' lot in Francisco. Home is in need of some renovation and is to be sold "AS-IS". This property offers an older mobile home that could be renovated to live in or to rent out. The lot would be great for a potential building site. Call Joe Schitter at 449-6469. $10,900 MLS# 203252 SuCCESS SToRIES SoLD! SALE PENDING! 1213 E Spruce St, Petersburg $74,900 LIST PRICE MLS# 201205 SALE PENDING! SALE PENDING! SoLD! 6684 W SR 65, Petersburg 508 S 10th St, Petersburg 1824 E Main St, Petersburg 521 E Hodges St, Petersburg $89,900 MLS# 201021 LIST PRICE Congrats Joe! $62,900 LIST PRICE MLS# 201739 $72,900 LIST PRICE MLS# 202198 $119,900 LIST PRICE MLS# 196454 HuD SoLD! SoLD! 204 E North St, Petersburg $94,900 LIST PRICE MLS# 203159 SALE PENDING! SoLD! 8601 Seminary Rd., Evansville 796 W CR 125 S, Petersburg 2038 E Main, Petersburg Congrats Darron! $44,900 LIST PRICE $96,900 LIST PRICE MLS# 188345 $30,000 LIST PRICE SoLD! MLS# 203449 704 N Collins St, Winslow $5,600 LIST PRICE MLS# 201036 Are you considering selling your home? downsizing? If you've been thinking about making changes, talk to one of our real estate professionals today. We have the area's most activity in real estate! Call 354-2006 or visit us at 711 E. Main St., Petersburg.