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October: A Season of Giving
As cooler fall weather arrives, October naturally ushers in a sense of generosity and gratitude. It’s a time when many feel inspired to support their communities, and State of Missouri employees have a remarkable legacy of doing just that. Since 1985, the Missouri State Employees Charitable Campaign (MSECC) has raised over $36 million for Missouri charities, proof of the incredible impact we can make together.
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Donating
Donating is simple, most employees choose payroll deduction through the Employees Self-Service (ESS) portal, but single donations using a credit card or debit card are also options. You can find the pledge card in ESS, from your agency's MSECC coordinator, or by completing the fillable pledge card.
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To learn more about the impact your donation can have, select the image above. Thank you for your continued commitment to uplifting our communities!
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Select the image above to learn more and register for the October Lunch & Learn! |
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As Halloween approaches, excitement fills the air with costumes, candy, and colorful decorations. It’s a night full of fun and imagination, but all the activity can also make things feel a bit chaotic. |
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To help ensure everyone enjoys a safe and memorable evening, here are a few simple tips:
• Take a quick photo before heading out so you have a recent picture if you get separated.
• Use glow or light‑up accessories to make kids easy to spot in the dark.
• Wear something bright or easily recognizable so children can find you.
• Make sure kids carry identification; for nonverbal children, include a note with your name and phone number.
• Check all candy before it’s eaten, and for those handing out treats, avoid anything unwrapped or homemade.
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Building a Budget that Works
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Start to build a budget by gathering your bills and pay stubs, you can use this budget worksheet to help you. Once you have that information collected:
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Step 1: Make a list of your bills and monthly expenses and the amount for each. Bills include things such as rent, electricity, or phone services. Expenses are things you spend money on, such as food, gas, and clothes.
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Step 2: Use your pay stubs to write down how much money you make each month (income). Include any additional income, such as child support. If you don’t get paid every month, use your income from last year to estimate your monthly income. Add all your income from last year, then divide that number by 12 to find an estimate of your monthly income.
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Step 3: Subtract your monthly bills and expenses from your monthly income. This number should be above zero. If the number is less than zero, you’re spending more money than you make.
It is important for everyone to understand how much money they have after bills and necessary expenses. To use your budget each month:
- Plan how much you'll spend at the beginning of the month. Create buckets for different expenses, such as entertainment, food, charity, or transportation.
- Each day, track how much you spent.
- At the end of the month, review how well your spending aligned with your plan.
- Use the information to help you plan next month's budget and see if there are areas where you can spend less money.
You can put leftover money into savings each month, such as a separate account at a bank or credit union. Saving money can help you during an emergency, or if you need to pay for something bigger, such as a vehicle or trip. You can even make savings one of the buckets you include in your monthly budget.
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