shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com March 8, 2016 • Page 5 Top 5 Things Every Couple Needs to Know about Love and Money (StatePoint) It may not sound romantic, but couples planning a life together should develop an ongoing dialogue about money. However, not every couple takes this step before taking their relationship to the next level. Indeed, only about half of Americans feel it’s important to know their significant other’s credit score before commingling finances, according to a 2015 Wells Fargo study. Yet, financial experts say that discussing how to handle joint finances is one of the best ways lovebirds can set themselves up for happily ever after. The experts at Wells Fargo offer these five important tips to keep in mind when thinking about money and your relationship: 1. Combining Accounts? A simple question requiring a joint decision based on your financial needs. Separate accounts let individuals maintain independence. Joint accounts can help unite goals. In either case, ensure your accounts combine to create an effective investment plan. 2. Realistic Budgeting Some say the key to financial success is spending what you have after saving, rather than saving what’s left after spending. Many couples find themselves in the latter position because they lack a budget to control expenses. Couples should sit down and list combined monthly income and expenses; short and long-term goals, and strategies for sticking with the program. 3. Joint Credit A common misconception about credit is that when you get married, your partner’s credit score may lower yours. While this is not true, it can affect your ability to access credit if you are seeking it jointly. Additionally, good credit is the foundation for a couple’s sound financial future, and can help when you’re applying for a mortgage or car loan, and, in some cases, a job. Maintain an open, ongoing dialogue: your credit score can change rapidly, and even missing a single payment can have an impact. 4. Making Purchases You may always apply for loan as an individual, but couples looking to do so together will find that most lenders look at the credit history of both applicants and consider the average of both credit scores when approving a loan and setting an interest rate. 5. Ground Rules By sharing your individual financial goals with each other, you can get motivated to create a financial plan together, as well as ground rules to help you save and plan for emergencies. More financial tips and resources can be found at www.WellsFargo.com. Love and credit may not sound like a match made in heaven. In fact, talking about money can feel awkward. But when planning for a future together, these conversations lay the groundwork for happily reaching financial goals. Protect and Treat Your Family’s Skin from Bites and Itch this Season (StatePoint) Warm days mean picnics, ballgames and outdoor adventure. Unfortunately, all that sun and fun can introduce a greater risk of skin woes for you and your family. “Whether you’re playing catch in the backyard or pitching a tent in the woods, you can help prevent certain issues from occurring, and if they do, be prepared by having a remedy on hand that can offer your family instant healing and relief from itching, burning and discomfort,” says Dr. Angela Lamb, dermatologist. With that in mind, here are some tips to prevent and treat the itch and irritation of the season: Cover Up More bare skin means more risk for bug bites and stings, and exposure to rash-causing plants such as poison ivy and poison oak. When possible, wear long sleeves and pants. Loosefitting, light colors can keep you cool on warmer days, even when covered up. When you get home, check clothes for ticks before heading inside. Be Aware Be savvy outdoors and teach your family to avoid poison ivy, oak and sumac. If you spend time in areas where these plants grow, cover up and avoid contact. When you get home, be sure to wash skin and clothing (StatePoint) The face of marriage is changing and so are the ways couples are choosing to celebrate the occasion. For example, more couples who already have children are celebrating not just their union to each other, but their official union as a family, and the number of same sex married couples has doubled since 2012, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. “The way people think about weddings has changed dramatically in the last decade, and we have to evolve with those changes,” says Nelson Tejeda, senior vice president and chief merchandising officer of Things Remembered, a leading retailer of personalized gifts. With 50 years of experience providing personalized wedding gifts and accessories, the experts at Things Remembered have witnessed a lot of transformations through the years. They are sharing a few insights into today’s top contemporary wedding trends. rate them throughout their wedding, from their invitations to their websites and place settings. Then, after the wedding, they use them to personalize their home décor,” says Tejeda. “Monogrammed cutting boards, towels and wall art have become increasingly popular in recent years.” Craft Cocktails Beyond the standard bar offerings, signature drinks set a tone for the reception and add a bit of personalized cheer. “Engraved glasses that include the cocktail recipe are becoming a popular wedding keepsake that can be used on anniversaries and future parties, completing the couple’s home bar,” says Tejeda. Similarly, personalized wedding flutes by Lennox, Wedgwood and Waterford are lending toasts extra meaning while helping couples build their drinkware collection. For more inspiration on ways to personalize your wedding, visit ThingsRemembered. com/Weddings. Whether you’re engaged and planning your big day, or you have some weddings on your calendar this year and want to know what to expect, being familiar with contemporary trends can be helpful on everything from picking a gift to choosing décor. Rethinking Setting For instant and permanent relief from itching and pain associated with hives, rashes and redness, insect bites, minor scrapes, and allergic reactions from poison ivy, oak and sumac, Dr. Lamb recommends a new steroidfree anti-itch product for the whole family called The Itch Eraser. It is offered in a maximum strength gel and spray with antihistamine as the active ingredient, or a sensitive cream formula with baking soda for those who have sensitive skin. All three contain Vitamin E and Tea Tree Oil to heal and moisturize the skin while reducing redness and inflammation. So, get the bikes dusted off, the baseball mitts oiled and the camping gear out of the garage -- family fun this season is all about taking advantage of the outdoors. But don’t let skin irritations get in way of your good time! Take precautions and arm yourself with treatments for all your skin problems. that may have been exposed to the sap of these plants. Ensure your yard drains properly during and after rain and empty kiddie pools and other standing water. Proactive steps such as these will prevent mosquitoes from making your yard a breeding ground. 3 Ways Couples Today are Personalizing their Weddings Many brides are thinking outside the box when it comes to wedding décor. While formal venues with regal place settings once ruled the day; a great portion of weddings now have a chic rustic feel. Receptions are taking place in barns with exposed rafters, on ranches and in lodges. Elements like placards on simple beige cardstock, burlap table runners and place mats, and rustic drinkware like personalized craft beer glasses and mason jars give receptions a warm, cozy feel. Additionally, many couples are choosing to celebrate with a tighter knit group of friends and family in far-flung locations. “Destination weddings give couples an opportunity to spend more on each guest,” says Tejeda. “Rather than a typical wedding favor, guests may expect to receive hotel care packages with high-end toiletries and personalized gifts, like waffle weave robes or monogrammed cosmetic cases.” If you read this you know... advertising pays! Call the Missouri Valley Shopper at 665-5884 or stop by to place your ad today! 319 Walnut St. • Yankton Building Your Home With so many people living together before marriage, most couples already have the basics they need when it comes to entertaining and keeping the house in order. Registries today are an opportunity to upgrade your current assortment of household goods. “Couples are crafting their own monograms. They incorpoMOTOR MV Shopper MOODY Shopper MV M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y NIOBRARA, NE Patrick Hawk Sell us your stuff! 251 Spruce Ave • Box 260 Niobrara, NE 68760 We buy nearly anything of value. Treat Ailments Even with preventive measures in place, bites, stings, scrapes and allergic reactions do happen. Make sure you’re prepared to treat discomfort. For bites and stings, Dr. Lamb recommends a counterirritant such as After Bite, which stops itch and offers a skin protectant for temporary relief and faster healing. The kids’ formula is a gentle alternative for young ones or anyone with sensitive skin. Both contain soothing baking soda and offer an easy-to-apply, portable remedy for bites from a wide variety of insects. - Tools, Furniture, Electronics, Household Items, Lawn & Garden Equipment, etc. www.moodymotor.com pjhawk@hotmail.com (402) 857-3711 (800) 745-5650 Fax (402) 857-3713 Entire estates give us a call. Open 7 days a week! RIVERCITY MV Shopper MV Shopper M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y Treasures & Pawn 301 E. 3rd Street, Yankton, SD 665-3588 Book 61 Intermediate Sud Fill the puzzle so that every row, every column, and every section contain the numbers 1-9 without Rrepeating a number. Sudoku #2 Sudoku #1 M I S S O U I VA L L E Y 7 1 1 8 5 9 3 8 2 6 2 3 4 7 4 2 Save up to 9 3 2600 $ HURRY! Great saving Rebates ends soon! Call Larry or Jamie for complete details with utility & manufacturing rebates Financing Available HEATING & COOLING 920 Broadway, Yankton • 605-665-9461 • 1-800-491-9461 • www.larrysheatingandcooling.com 8 6 7 1 8 1 2 9 6 Sudoku 1 4 3 8 7 #3 9 6 5 3 4 7 8 3 2 9 1 4 6 5 8 5 2 1 4 7 6 7 9 1 2 3 9 7 6 5 2 5 4 8 3 6 4 5 2 6 9 3 4 8 6 2 Sudoku #3 5 7 2 7 5 7 1 © 2008 KrazyDad.com Easy Sudoku Puzzles by KrazyDad 5 3 4 6 2 9 7 8 1 1 4 5 2 7 3 8 9 6 3 5 8 4 1 2 9 6 7 9 3 1 9 INT BOOK 61 #1 Sudoku Solution #1 7 5 8 6 8 5 9 9 2 INTERMEDIATE on a qualifying Book 61: Answers Last Tuesday’s Home Comfort System 5 7 “Full Service Farm Equipment” East Hwy. 50, Yankton, SD 1-800-827-9700 • 605-665-3872 sales@koletzkyimplement.com • www.koletzkyimplement.com 8 2 8 su do ku Sudoku #2 7 6 2 9 5 4 3 8 9 6 2 1 5 1 4 8 7 3 © 2008 8 4 7 5 3 2 KrazyDad.com 1 3 5 4 9 6 9 2 6 1 8 7 4 7 8 2 1 9 6 5 3 7 4 8 2 BOOK 61 #19 1 3 6 5 8 4 1 8 3 7 5 4Sudoku 6 9 2 9 6 1 8 2 7 3 4 5 #4 4 5 8 Check next Tuesday’s paper for 5 the solution to today’s puzzle. 2 9 9 6 1 2 8 EA 9 8 7 9 Sudoku #4 8 9 2 5 4 1 5 3 1 6 1 4 7 6 7 3 5