Habitat for Humanity of Utah County will hold a volunteer recognition event on February 7th to honor supporters and volunteers from the past two years. They will also hold a Women's Resources and Job Expo on February 5th to help local single mothers and others gain access to employment and resource information. The newsletter provides information on upcoming volunteer opportunities, home maintenance classes, and tips for snow removal and saving energy.

1. News
HABITAT “TO SHOW LOVE” TO ITS COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS & VOLUNTEERS
Habitat for Humanity of Utah County will be holding its seventh annual volunteer and community
recognition event on Thursday, February 7, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. at the White Willow Reception Cen-
Feburary ter in Provo. The Valentine’s themed event, sponsored by Central Bank, will include delicious
sweets and savories. Business partners, supporters, and community volunteers will be honored for
2013 their outstanding service efforts with the local Habitat affiliate the past two years.
HABITAT TO SPONSOR SECOND ANNUAL WOMEN’S RESOURCES AND JOB EXPO
Habitat for Humanity of Utah County is working with various community agencies and Utah Valley
University (UVU) to hold the second Annual Women’s Resources and Job Expo on Tuesday, Feb-
ruary 5, 2013, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the UVU Sorenson Student Center Ballroom. The Expo
was started to help local single mothers and others to gain access to employer and resource infor-
mation. There will be a wide range of local employers and community organizations on hand to pro-
vide information and take applications. There will also be workshops, sponsored by Wells Fargo, on
HABBITAT FOR HUMANITY OF UTAH COUNTY
Money Management, etc. All interested community members are invited to attend. Refreshments
will be served. Further information can be found at http://www.uvu.edu/turningpoint/pdf/jobexpo.pdf.
HABBITAT FOR HUMANITY OF UTAH COUNTY
Hammer Time
What’s Up
• The Habitat ReStore in Orem just recently received a donation of high end office furniture
including lateral filing cabinets, credenzas, metal cabinets with shelves, wire trash cans, small
tables, TV and monitor brackets and more! Check the new items out at 340 South Orem Blvd.,
Orem today from 10-6!
• Love is in the Air! Habitat for Humanity of Utah County will be having a Valentine’s Party on
Monday, February 11, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. at the Provo Seventh Day Adventist Church. Habitat
homeowners and partner families will be decorating cookies and making crafts at the party.
• Pick your Passion! Habitat for Humanity of Utah County is joining forcing with other local
non-profits to promote a one-day giving and awareness campaign called Love Give Utah
(County) in late March. The campaign is part of a statewide initiative sponsored by the Com-
munity Foundation. Watch out for further details and plan to give a couple bucks or more to
Habitat on March 22nd!
• There are many benefits to donating a car: protecting natural resources by recycling end-of-
life cars into new steel, saving gas by getting old gas-guzzlers off the roads and helping build
more homes locally with the funds raised from your vehicle donation! Find out more at
www.habitatuc.org/habitat_car_donations.html.
• Are you having a Big Super Bowl Party? Donate all your aluminum cans to Habitat and help
us “make a first down” for families in need in our community! Details and drop off locations at
www.habitatuc.org/donate/gogreen.html.
• A small way to make a big difference! Join Habitat's FAM Club and help us serve more fami-
lies in our community! Only $5.00 per month. Join today at www.habitatuc.org/FAM_Club.html.
• Check out Habitat’s VP Deals Site! Habitat for Humanity has partnered with VP Deals to get
all the latest bargains on local products/venues. Check out this week’s specials at
www.habitatucdeals.info. A portion of your “deal” purchases will help Habitat further its hous-
ing mission in the community.
• Have you tested your home for radon yet? – Habitat is working with the Utah Cancer Action
Network, Utah County Health Department, and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality
to encourage community members to test their homes for radon. We offer radon test kits at the
ReStore or online for just $6.00! Learn more at www.habitatuc.org/radon_awareness.html.
• Need Tools for all those Winter Projects? Stop by Habitat for Humanity of Utah County’s
tool lending library and “check out” needed tools and lawn care items for free. The lending li-
brary, located inside the Habitat ReStore at 340 South Orem Blvd., Orem, is open Monday
1 through Saturday from 10-6. An application and proof of residency are required. Look online at
www.habitatuc.org for more information.

2. 2 • Save Money for Home Repairs and Maintenance – A new home maintenance fund has been established to
help Habitat homeowners save for future home repairs and maintenance. Homeowners now can pay a little
extra ($10.00 or more) with their monthly mortgage payment. The extra amount will be saved in an escrow like
account and can be accessed for home repairs and maintenance. To sign up or for more information, contact
Kena at (801) 344-8527 or kena@habitatuc.org.
Photo Gallery
A "DAY ON" IN THE COLD! Students from Brigham Young
University and Utah Valley University spent their "day off" and
braved very cold temperatures to honor the life and work of
Dr. Martin Luther King on Martin Luther King Day by volun-
teering their time at the South Franklin Community Center in
Provo. The student volunteers worked with Habitat for Hu-
manity of Utah County staff to wrap the exterior of the build-
ing and get it ready for siding.
Out of the Fog and Into the Halls! Utah Valley
University (UVU) teamed up with Habitat for Hu-
manity of Utah County to sponsor the Sixth An-
nual “No Snow” Indoor 5K last Saturday, January
26th. Over 130 community members (adults and
kids alike) ran or walked the 3.1 miles indoors
through UVU’s interconnected hallways. Some
runners even hit the stairs for a great workout.
Following the 5K, participants enjoyed a pancake
and oatmeal breakfast and door prizes. Proceeds
will benefit the UVU/Habitat for Humanity home
currently being built in Provo with the Artanduaga
family.
2

3. 3 3 Feburuary Build Days
Volunteers are currently being sought to help with construction, renovation, revitalization, and landscaping pro-
jects. Build days are held Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Volunteers are needed espe-
cially during weekdays at the South Franklin Community Center and the Artanduaga home in Provo. Sign
up online at www.habitatuc.org/volunteer.
FEBURUARY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
• Work in the ReStore Monday through Man Booths –
Saturday from 10-6
• Women’s Resources and Job Expo February 5th
• Assist with Habitat Recycling efforts.
• Utah Valley Convention Center Home Expo February 8th and
9th
VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT TO SERVE ON
COMMITTEES • Utah Valley Home and Garden Show February 22nd and 23rd
Volunteers are needed to serve on all of
Habitat’s local committees. Monthly meet- CREW LEADERS AND SITE HOSTS NEEDED TO HELP
ings, limited time commitment, no experi- GUIDE CONSTRUCTION
ence necessary, varying interests and skills. Volunteers with construction experience or those wanting to im-
Look online at prove their construction skills are being sought to participate in
www.habitatuc.org/volunteer/committees.ht the affiliate's Crew Leader and Site Host Programs. Orientations
ml for more information and meeting times. are monthly. The next orientation will be on February 9, 2012 at
9:30 a.m. at the Habitat office in Orem. For information, contact
For more information, look online at LeAnn at the number or email below.
www.habitatuc.org or contact LeAnn at
(801) 368-2250 or leann@habitatuc.org. You can also sign up online at www.habitat.org/volunteer.
Home Maintenance Classes
• Check out Habitat & Community Action’s Free Home Maintenance Course. The next class will be Wednes-
day, February 27, 2012. The topic is: Basic Plumbing Repairs. Classes begin at 6:30 p.m. and are held at
the Habitat office at 340 South Orem Blvd., Orem.
• At HOME DEPOT – Registration is necessary. Call store or register online. Look online for the February clinic
schedule at www.homedepot.com.
• At LOWE'S - you must sign up for How-To Clinics by calling 229-1485 or stopping by their store at 140 West
University Parkway in Orem. Look online for February clinic schedule at www.lowes.com.
Home Maintenance Tips (themoneypit.com)
Snow Removal Tips and Tools
Before the next snow hits, it is a good time to get out your snow removal tools to be sure you're set for the next
snow storm. But what kind of tools will you need to dig out? That depends on how prepared for snow removal you
want to be. Here are some snow removal tips to help you remove the snow the easy way.
Shovel Selection: Snow shovels today are light years ahead of the oversized aluminum spatulas we grew up
with. Now you can choose plastic or metal shovels, big or small, and decide if you want the edge of your shovel to
be scalpel sharp or as dull as a butter knife. There are even shovels with a bent handle designed to make it eas-
ier on those of us with bad backs. Since all shovels do the job, let your own judgment guide you.
Shovel Safety: No matter how modern your shovel is, shoveling is hard work! To be safe, keep these snow re-
moval tips in mind:
• Shovel right after the storm. The longer you wait, the heavier snow gets. Wet snow can weigh 20 lbs per
shovel-full, or more, and one wrong turn of the shovel can throw your back out for good.
• Pace yourself. If you haven't been training for the next Ironman competition, take it easy! For most people,
snow shoveling is an exhaustive aerobic activity you're not used to. Work slowly and take plenty of breaks
when snow shoveling to keep your heart rate down.
• When shoveling, keep your knees bent and lift with your legs, not your back.
• Carry the snow to the place where you want to dump it from the shovel. Throwing the snow can twist your
3 back, putting you out of commission for days.

4. Sidewalk Salt: Once the snow is shoveled, you need salt to melt ice that forms on walkways or steps. Choosing
4 the right sidewalk salt is important. Traditional rock salt is extremely corrosive and can seriously harm concrete,
leaving it pitted and worn.
A better choice is to use calcium chloride, a less corrosive product that melts through the ice, but doesn't harm
your sidewalk or your floors when it's dragged into your house. Before winter sets in, pick up a bag of calcium chlo-
ride, mix in some sand, and keep it in an old trash can or bucket near your front door. This way, it's easy to just
reach in and sprinkle sidewalk salt on your steps and walkway whenever you need it.
Snow Blowers: What if you want to be really ready for "the big one"? Snow blowers are a large investment but
there's nothing more beautiful than seeing one of these babies grind through a two foot pile of wet snow and send
it 30 feet south faster than you can say "old man winter."
Snow blowers run from $1,000 on up. With those prices, be sure you know what you're buying. Remember, it's
more about the type of surface you're clearing than the type of snow or even amount of snow. For a step-by-step
buying guide on how to choose the right snow blower for you, visit www.snowblowersdirect.com. Light duty "single
phase" snow blowers should be used only on flat surfaces. You can't use them on a gravel driveway for example,
because the auger comes in direct contact with the ground. For more snow or a bigger area, you'll need to bring in
the heavy artillery. Two phase snow blowers are the most expensive, but two phase snow blowers are strong
enough to cut through frozen snow that's days old.
Remember the Boy Scout motto: always be prepared, at least when it comes to snow removal! Dust off your snow
shovel, be the first on your block to buy sidewalk salt, and then just sit back, relax, and let it snow.
HOUSEHOLD HINT (www.hints-n-tips.com)
Carpet Stains - Use dishwashing liquid and peroxide. The stains actually just disappear. Be careful on
dark carpets because peroxide can have a bleaching effect.
Make Your House a Healthy Home & More Environmentally-Friendly
Too! (EPA)
Reuse items such as old computers, clothing, and appliances by repair-
ing tem, donating tem to charity, or selling them to reduce landfill use.
Save Energy (www.we-energies.com)
Fans
• Use fans with your air conditioner. Fans help reduce energy costs by circulating the cool air from your air
conditioner. This allows you to raise the temperature and still be comfortable. Use oscillating fans for greater
circulation.
• Use ceiling fans for air circulation. In hot weather, set the ceiling fan direction to blow air down. The air mov-
ing across your skin creates a cooling effect, allowing you to raise the temperature on your thermostat and
still feel cool. In cold weather, set the fan to blow toward the ceiling. This pushes warm air away from the
ceiling and evenly distributes heat in the room.
• Use a whole-house fan. These fans are mounted in the attic and ventilate your entire home. Be sure to open
some windows before turning on a whole-house fan. A qualified heating contractor can help you determine if
you need a whole house fan.
• Maintain your fan. Keep your fan in good working order. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations for
care and maintenance. This helps control the operating costs
SAVING TIP (The Simple Dollar)
Plan your meals around your grocery store’s flyer. Instead of just planning your meals based on a
cookbook or whatever you can dream up, plan all your meals around what’s on sale in your grocery
store’s flyer. Look at the biggest sales, then plan meals based on those ingredients and what you
have on hand, and you’ll find yourself with a much smaller food bill than you’re used to.
4

5. 5 SAVE STRATEGIES (www.americasaves.org)
Saving at Tax Time
Tax Time is a great time to kick start or grow your savings for the future! U.S. Savings Bonds are one safe and
easy way to do it.
There are a lot of great reasons to buy U.S. Savings Bonds at tax time.
• You do not need a lot to get started — start with as little as $50. Use just part of your tax refund to start saving.
• It is simple at tax time. Just select the amount you want saved from your income tax refund and you’ll receive
your bond in the mail.
• Earn interest. Your money starts growing immediately.
• Bonds are safe. Bonds will never lose value and they are backed by the U.S. Government.
• No fees. There are no fees to buy or cash in your bond.
• Money for the future. You help your loved ones live their dreams when you buy bonds.
• Gift savings to your loved ones. Bonds can be purchased in someone else’s name – so you can help jumpstart
the savings and dreams of the people you care about.
What are tax time bonds?
Tax Time Savings Bonds are Series I U.S. Savings Bonds. Issued and guaranteed by
the U.S. Treasury Department, Tax Time Savings Bonds can be purchased directly on
your tax form. You can cash in your bond after one year at most banks or credit unions,
but the longer your keep it the more it will grow in value. Your bond will earn interest for
up to 30 years. If you cash your bond within 5 years, you’ll lose the last three months of
interest.
The current interest rate on Series I Savings Bonds is 2.2% through April 30, 2013, and
will adjust for inflation every six months. Bonds offer competitive returns in comparison
with other savings vehicles.*
Growth on your bonds is guaranteed! Bonds make saving safe, simple and secure.
RESOURCES
Have your taxes prepared for free! VITA is United Way of Utah County’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance pro-
gram. Anyone in Utah, Summit or Wasatch Counties with an income of $51,000 or below may be eligible to have
their taxes prepared and filed for free by trained volunteers. Local volunteers are IRS certified and look for specific
tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit. Volunteers help participants receive the best refund possible. United
Way of Utah County’s VITA program is a part of a coalition with other nationwide financial institutions, nonprofit
and government agencies and the “Earn It! Keep It! Save It!” program. Appointments are necessary and fill up
quickly, please schedule as early as possible. Starting January 17 through April 15, dial 2-1-1 to make an appoint-
ment or to find out more information about VITA. Tax preparation sites are throughout Utah County.
Community Action Services offers Home Buyer Education Classes on a monthly basis. Classes in February will
be held February 6 and 7, 2013 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. or February 23, 2013 from 9:00-4:00 p.m. To register, please
call (801) 691-5200 or go online to www.communityactionuc.org.
Are you concerned about your financial future? Do you lack skills to get ahead in the workplace? People Help-
ing People’s Utah County Employment Program can help you reach your full potential at work and in life. And best
of all . . . It’s FREE! Open to all low-income women! Call 1.855.303.5300 (toll free) today for more information.
BENEFITS OF HOMEOWNERSHIP
Affordable Housing can REDUCE OVERCROWDING and other sources of
housing-related stress that lead to poor educational outcomes by allowing
families to afford decent-quality homes of their own.
5

6. 6 BE CAREFUL! (members.houselogic.com)
9 Easy Mistakes Home Owners Make on Their Taxes
Don’t rouse the IRS or pay more taxes than necessary — know the
score on each home tax deduction and credit.
Sin #1: Deducting the wrong year for property taxes The IRS has a tool you can use to help figure out what
you owe.
You take a tax deduction for property taxes in the year
you (or the holder of your escrow account) actually paid Sin #6: Failing to track home-related expenses
them. Some taxing authorities work a year behind —
If the IRS comes a-knockin’, don’t be scrambling to
that is, you’re not billed for 2013 property taxes until
compile your records. Many people forget to track
2014. But that’s irrelevant to the feds.
home office and home maintenance and repair ex-
penses, says Meighan. File away documents as you
Enter on your federal forms whatever amount you actu-
go. For example, save each manufacturer's certification
ally paid in 2013, no matter what the date is on your tax
statement for energy tax credits and lender or govern-
bill. Dave Hampton, CPA, tax manager at the Cincinnati
ment statements to confirm property taxes paid.
accounting firm of Burke & Schindler, has seen home
owners confuse payments for different years and claim Sin #7: Forgetting to keep track of capital gains
the incorrect amount.
If you sold your main home last year, don’t forget to pay
Sin #2: Confusing escrow amount for actual taxes capital gains taxes on any profit. You can exclude
paid $250,000 (or $500,000 if you’re a married couple) of
any profits from taxes. So if you bought a home for
If your lender escrows funds to pay your property taxes,
$100,000 and sold it for $400,000, your capital gains
don’t just deduct the amount escrowed, says Bob
are $300,000. If you’re single, you owe taxes on
Meighan, CPA and vice president at TurboTax in San
$50,000 of gains. However, there are minimum time
Diego. The regular amount you pay into your escrow
limits for holding property to take advantage of the ex-
account each month to cover property taxes is probably
clusions, and other details. Consult IRS Publication
a little more or a little less than your property tax bill.
523.
Your lender will adjust the amount every year or so to
realign the two. Sin #8: Filing incorrectly for energy tax credits
If you made any eligible improvements in 2012 -- or will
For example, your tax bill might be $1,200, but your
in 2013 -- such as installing energy-efficient windows
lender may have collected $1,100 or $1,300 in escrow
and doors, you may be able to take a 10% tax credit
over the year. Deduct only $1,200. Your lender will send
(up to $500). But keep in mind, it's a lifetime credit. If
you an official statement listing the actual taxes paid.
you claimed the credit in any recent years, you're done.
Use that. Don’t just add up 12 months of escrow prop-
Fill out Form 5695.
erty tax payments.
Part II of the form, which covers systems eligible for a
Sin #3: Deducting points paid to refinance
larger tax credit through 2016, such as geothermal heat
Deduct points you paid your lender to secure your mort- pumps, can be incredibly complex and involves cross-
gage in full for the year you bought your home. How- checking with half a dozen other IRS forms. Read the
ever, when you refinance, says Meighan, you must de- instructions carefully.
duct points over the life of your new loan. If you paid
Sin #9: Claiming too much for the mortgage inter-
$2,000 in points to refinance into a 15-year mortgage,
your tax deduction is $133 per year. est tax deduction
You can deduct mortgage interest only up to $1 million
Sin #4: Misjudging the home office tax deduction
of mortgage debt, says Meighan. If you have $1.2 mil-
This deduction may not be as good as it seems. It's lion in mortgage debt, for example, deduct only the
complicated, often doesn’t amount to much of a deduc- mortgage interest attributable to the first $1 million.
tion, has to be recaptured if you turn a profit when you
sell your home, and can pique the IRS’s interest in your
return. Hampton’s advice: Claim it only if it’s worth those
drawbacks. If so, here's what to know about what you
can write off.
“You've gotta dance like there's
Sin #5: Failing to repay the first-time home buyer tax
credit nobody watching,
If you used the original home buyer tax credit in 2008, Love like you'll never be hurt,
you must repay 1/15th of the credit over 15 years. If you
used the tax credit in 2009, 2010, or 2011 and then sold
Sing like there's nobody listening,
your house or stopped using it as your primary resi- And live like it's heaven on earth.”
6
dence, within 36 months of the purchase date, you also ― William W. Purkey
have to pay back the credit.

7. BE GOOD TO YOUR HEALTH (Intermountain Health Care/Select Health)
7
Choosing foods wisely: the 6 nutritional building blocks
Change your eating habits – block by block, day by day. Small gradual changes in your life have a much bitter
impact then a short term diet.
• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
• Eat more whole grains.
• Choose unsaturated fats and oils.
• Choose heart-healthy proteins (fish, beans, soy, and nuts)
• Select low-fat dairy products.
Limit sodium (salt), sugar, and alcohol.
Alexis Palmer and Staff Johnny McCoy
Andrea Jensen Jordan Jensen
Brandon Jeppson Karin Jessen
BYU Habitat Chapter Mark Hillam
BYU Volunteer and Service Learning Center Oak Hills 4th Ward
Christine Keyser Randy Christiansen
Utah Valley Circles Initiative Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity
Cory Jensen Utah Cancer Action Network
CRSA Utah County Health Department
Dan Gonzalez Utah County Sheriff’s Office Work Diversion
David Harlow Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Discovery Academy Utah Heritage Foundation
Dr. Kevin Smith Utah Valley University
East Bay 2nd Ward UVU Accounting 2020
Elizabeth Bradley-Wilson UVU Construction Management
Freedom 1st Ward UVU Service Council
Gary Jensen UVU Volunteer and Service Learning Center
IM Flash Technologies YSA 63rd Ward
Jamba Juice
THANK YOU
Utah Valley University, UVU Volunteer and
Service Learning Center, Utah Cancer Action Network
7

8. 8 8 Habitat
for Humanity
Of Utah County
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2
3 4 5— 6 7— Site 8 9—Site
Development Selection Host/Crew
Service Leader Train-
Volunteer and
Community Rec- ing
ognition Night
10 11—NRI 12— 13 14 15— 16
Committee Building Com- Executive
mittee Committee
Family Valen-
tine’s Party
17 18— 19 20—Board 21— 22 23
President’s Meeting Finance Com-
Day mittee
24 25— 26 27—Home 28
ReStore Com- Maintenance
mittee
NRI Committee Board Meeting
Development Service February 11
February 5 February 20
3:00 p.m., Office 7:00 a.m., Office
Noon, Office
Family Valentine’s Party Finance Committee
Site Selection February 11 February 21
February 7 7:00 p.m., Provo SDA 8:00 a.m., Office
Noon, Office
Building Committee ReStore Committee
Volunteer and Community February 12 February 25
Recognition Night 2:00 p.m., Central Bank Noon, Office
February 7
6:30 p.m. at White Willow
Executive Committee Home Maintenance
February 15 February 27
Site Host/Crew Leader
7:30 a.m., Office 6:30 p.m., Office
Training
February 9
9:30 a.m., Office President’s Day
8 February 18
Office and ReStore Closed