An adult-education course familiarized participants with online consumer resources. Beyond teaching the mechanics of Internet use, it showed how to use the Internet as a tool for consumer decision making. (SK)

Volunteers priced grocery items twice per month for three months in eight rural Ohio stores, examined advertising flyers, and surveyed stores weekly for a month to track pricing trends. Advice for consumers on choice of stores and items as well as food budgeting was developed based on the results. (SK)

The Parenting and Consumer Education project identified effective models for training welfare-to-work facilitators. Premises were the importance of process, learner responsibility, and improvement of social networks. Effective training was learner focused, inspiring, and motivating; demonstrated productive behaviors and effective life skills; and…

Of 357 Pennsylvania residents who received booklets on Y2K preparedness, 187 attended workshops. Nearly 50% read all or most of the booklets; over 50% reported preparing for an emergency because of the booklet or workshop. Older and more educated consumers were more likely to take action. Short, visually appealing materials increased likelihood of…

Comparison of 124 participants in MONEY 2000, an extension program of savings education, with 101 who attended other personal finance workshops, revealed differences between the two groups in investing funds wisely, setting financial goals, paying more than the minimum on credit cards, and paying bills on time. (SK)

Extension educators' need for food safety information that is accurate, timely, and accessible is being filled by North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service's Web site. The nationally recognized site features a database and links to over 600 publications and fact sheets. (SK)

Evaluation of MONEY 2000(TM), a savings education program with behavioral monitoring, by 520 participants indicated their motivations were to reduce debt and increase financial knowledge. Most helpful were the newsletter, tips/ideas/information, extension publications, and workshops/classes/conferences. Three of four respondents both increased…

A videotape/bulletin package to promote rational alertness regarding pesticides and food was tested with 146 people. Although 68 percent judged the presentation balanced, developers found that programing about risk/benefit issues requires special attention to the way information is communicated. (SK)

A random survey of Oklahoma Four H Club members was made by Oklahoma State University to better understand the factors influencing adolescent consumer behavior. Based on this study, suggestions for improving extension consumer education through the Four H Clubs are made. (MF)