What work benefits do you have? Are you taking advantage of them? Before the year gets away from you, think about everything from eyeglasses, to 401K contributions. If you do wear glasses, you may get a free pair each year with your benefits. If you don't need new glasses this year, then get sunglasses. Use your benefits you have earned them!

It's that time of year: out with the old and in with the new. You may be thin ki ng about your list of New Year's resolutions for 2011. There are many important things to consider. May we suggest a few? Each of these will take only a matter of minutes.

1. Get an estimate of your future Social Security benefit. In just a few minutes, you can have an instant, personalized estimate of your future Social Security benefit.  Our online Retirement Estimator gives estimates based on your actual Social Security earnings record. This is valuable to know when you're making plans for your future. Check it out at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

2. Read your mail. Be especially careful about looking at mail that arrives from Social Security. About  two to three months before your birthday, you should receive your annual Social Security Statement. Your Statement is a concise, easy-to-read personal record of the earnings on which you have paid Social Security taxes during your working years and a summary of the estimated benefits you and your family may receive in retirement, survivors or disability benefits as a result of those earnings.

3. Visit the ballpark. Not your local baseball field, but the Ballpark Estimator. It will help you do a better job of saving for your future. It's true that times have been tough lately. But no matter how much you earn, it's a good idea to try to save.  Check out the Ballpark Estimator for a projection of how much you should save for a comfortable retirement. Go to the ballpark at www.choosetosave.org/ballpark.

Deciding to diet, exercise, read more books, or watch less television are all good resolutions.  But the ones we suggest don't require nearly as much work and won't nag you all year long. Take a few minutes now, and you could have this list of resolutions knocked out in less time than it takes to put together a list of resolutions.

Happy New Year from Social Security. Feel free to visit us anytime at www.socialsecurity.gov

Develop a Savvy Shopper mindset! This is the most important thing you can do to be a Savvy Shopper! We've all heard of mindfulness "being in the moment". A Savvy Shopper is mindful about shopping.

Savvy Shoppers have a desire to:

1. Save money

2. Stretch their dollars

3. Put the money they saved from shopping into a bank account toward their rainy day fund, retirement fund and other financial goal(s).

• Plan ahead. Make a list of what you need BEFORE you shop. DECIDE at home and PLAN to shop only from your LIST.
• Take a multi-faceted approach to shopping. Think of what you already have, what you NEED and what you WANT. Think immediate needs, short- term needs and long- term needs. NEEDS FIRST.
• NEEDS vs WANTS. Some thoughts:  I have 3 sweaters, do I really need another?I have 2 pairs of black shoes, they go with everything so I don't need the brown ones.  Maybe I'll buy them when they are on sale. I need to buy a coat for winter, not a new ipod.

Here are some ways to save on different types of items we buy:
  Personal items and groceries

    * Use coupons

    * Use store brands and comparison shop prices on store

    brands.

    * When you prefer a Brand name or when there is no store

    brand, comparison shop store to store.   

    * Use lower-end name brands:  Aim is cheaper than Crest &

    Hydrox is cheaper than Oreo.

    * Know the size you are buying for your money:

    ounce/weight/how many paper towels, etc.

    * Join a savings Club like Costco

                                                        Produce

    * Buy what's on sale. Produce in season or frozen produce is

    also cheaper.

    * Check out the "bruised" fruit/veggie rack. You can use the

    bruised fruit in smoothies and baked

    goods. For most vegetables, you can just peel off the bad part

    and cook.

    * Shop at Produce Junction, they sell produce, flowers and

    seasonal decor very inexpensive. The only drawback, is that it's in bulk: 5 lemons $1. Although there may be other locations, I know there is one located on Meetinghouse Road in Chichester, PA (610-497-3075)

Clothes and Shoes

    * Always buy on SALE and shop Clearance and end of season.

    * Resale shops and Goodwill are also great sources to look great and save money.

    * Shop discount stores like Marshall's and TJ Maxx.  As they advertise, name brands for less. 

Other Tips & Tricks:  

• With large ticket items, always do research and comparison shop store to store.
• Go to the Library and research Consumer Reports Magazines and other consumer resources.   Also check online resources.
• Sign-up for Store clubs and promotions.  Rite Aid has a program (Wellness program) and often you can get free merchandise.  Walgreen's has a similar program.  More often, the store is tracking your demographics and buying history for marketing purposes so that they can receive promotional and discounts from distributors and manufacturers.   Ask how your information will be used and read the fine print on the program application if you have concerns or questions.

Continue learning to be a Savvy Shopper......

   1. Attend more Delaware Money School classes.

   2. Support the Delaware Financial Literacy Institute/The Delaware Money School so they can continue bringing you classes.  Any amount of support will help The Money School.  They are a 501(c)3 non-profit and all donations are tax-deductable.

   3. Ask your family and friends how they save money shopping.

   4. Share your ideas with the Delaware Money School.  You can e-mail info@dfli.org  or tami@dfli.org  or even myself sharon.ann.boland@citi.com