Black Friday makes for colorful savings!

So you’ve had your Thanksgiving dinner.  You’re sitting around stuffed either spending quality time with the family, watching television, surfing the internet, etc and suddenly realize you have to get some sleep.  Why’s that?  4am comes early, and early is when stores open the day after Thanksgiving.  We all know this day to be Black Friday; however, those of us who participate in this day of shopping in hopes to fit as much of their discounted holiday shopping in one day as they can have their own opinion on what the “Black” in “Black Friday” stands for, and that’s other shoppers.  To avoid the crowded stores filled with hurried shoppers, many are turning to the internet for a more relaxing means to shop.  The deals start around the same time and are just as money-saving as feeling like you’re running around like a chicken with its head chopped off trying to find the best deals around.  Here are a few sites that I’ve found to be very useful not only on Black Friday, but just in general:

1. www.blackfriday.info
It seems like a no-brainer, but just Googling “Black Friday” will pull up this site, and it will list most major online retailers of electronics and department stores along with their Black Friday ads. This will help you plan out what sites to visit, how much you’ll spend, and create backup plans in case other online shoppers beat you to the punch.

2. www.deals.ebay.com
If you or anybody in your family is like my father, you know what it’s like for someone to sit for hours on eBay veritably drooling over dozens of items that you bid on in hopes of snagging it at a discounted price. Well, this part of eBay kind of takes the fun of bidding away, but it does add some great deals! Black Friday is sure to yield some great ones as well.

3. http://woot.com
Woot! This site rocks! Every day, this site feature great deals ported from different sites in hopes of bringing some great deals on useful items right into your e-mail inbox. I’ve had some great luck finding just what I’ve needed for gifts, my garage, and even my entertainment center on this site.

4. www.passwird.com
Bling! Don’t let the header of this site fool you; it’s a legitimate deal-finding site that uses PriceGrabber.com as a guide when finding lower-than-low prices on mostly electronics, but everything from shoes to restaurant coupons. I personally look at this site at least once a day to try and snag a deal on something I’ve been looking for. You have to be quick on some deals, though. I remember one listing when Dell accidentally was selling an Inspiron laptop for $75.99 instead of $759.99 for a couple of hours before they caught their mistake.

I’m sure you can see just how valuable some under-the-radar shopping and planning can be. Hopefully you find everything you want for a bare minimum price! In the meantime, have a happy Thanksgiving and be safe in your travels over the weekend!

$aving Families tips for families on a budget

Amidst the $aving Families competition (click here to see), our four families are learning just how much they can turn things around with ease. Here are snippets of an e-mail sent to one of the families from their coach that has a couple of great ideas on how to keep your monthly bills down to a minimum. The less you spend on bills, the more you can spend on fun or even save up for those huge expenses.

Utilities:
Make up a game to get everyone to turn lights off and keep showers down to less than 10 minutes. Try keeping all the window blinds and curtains closed during the day when the sun is coming in. I started these three years ago and it made as much as 15% difference in the electric bill. This year I switched to insulated curtains and it has dropped the bill even more. You can also play with the thermostat. How little air-conditioning can you get away with? Dress lighter to stay comfortable and turn it up when you all leave for the day. Do you have a programmable thermostat that can do this for you? Working to get the utilities down can seem minimal and you won’t see the difference until the future bills come in. The day to day spending will need just as much attention but you should be able to see some reward right away.

Lunches
Plan ahead! Take drinks and lunches with you when ever possible. Pack snacks with you. Keep them in the car, your work space or your purse. This will keep you out of the Thornton’s. A 32 pack of water cost $3.88 at Sam’s; they sell for $.99 each at Thornton’s. Why pay $32 for something you can get for $3.88. The same savings apply to chips and candy. When the kids are with you, take snacks for them too. They will have to get used to not “snack shopping” but they will learn valuable lessons and habits from it. Save all of your receipts; they will help you know where the money is going and if you can cut back anywhere else. *

As you can see, simple things like this can make a huge difference in your monthly income and help you avoid pitfalls later on if times ever get rough. If you have any questions about other ways you can save money, feel free to comment on this post! You don’t have to sign up for a WordPress account and you can remain 100% anonymous.

Tiling- Easy as 1,2,3….4,5…6,7,8….

Ahhh, the beauty of gorgeous tile floors.  There’s something about them that just seems a bit more snazzy than vinyl or other lower grade materials that van be used for a bathroom or kitchen.  But that beauty, like most beauty, comes at a price.  You’ll either pay a pretty penny hiring a professional, or you’ll pay with your own blood, sweat, and tears.  Yes, I said tears.

When choosing to do the work yourself, the first thing you’ll want to do is choose your tile.  This, my fellow handymen (and handywomen) is the easiest part.  You’ll want to choose the right tile for the room you’re remodeling as well as your skill level.  My husband and I chose glazed porcelain tile for our 5×5 bathroom.  We initially considered travertine (must be sealed before installation and periodically in the future), slate (not ideal for moisture-prone areas due to breakage), and ceramic.  We settled for porcelain over ceramic only because we found a design in porcelain we preferred.  Both would have been suitable for use in a bathroom.

After removal of the old flooring, you’ll want to install backer-board.  It’s a sturdy cement-infused flooring that will support the tile. Special screws are used to secure it in place.

Next, you mortar the backer-board in preparation to lay the tile.  The hardest part here is getting comfortable using the trowel to spread the mortar. Using tile spacers, lay the tile and gently press into the mortar.  Once you finish, you’ll want to wait 24 hours before you move on to the next step.

Grouting the tile is next. Mix the grout and spread into the spaces between the tiles with a grout float. Follow the directions closely regarding the grout you use. There are different instructions for curing colored grout (curing: allowing it to dry). Allow the grout to cure according to the directions specific for that grout, usually 2-3 days.

Finally, you’ll want to seal the grout.  This is a step many people will skip to save time or money.  That is a mistake!  Sealing the grout prevents penetration of liquids, dirt, etc. which will stain the grout permanently.  This will ruin all the hard work you’ve done!  If you fail to seal the grout and it gets stained, the only way to fix it will be to remove the grout with something like a Dremel tool and then regrout.

So, it’s not quite as easy as 1-2-3.  Doing tiling yourself is hard work but it can save you a bundle on labor expenses.  Making sure you have the right materials and are adequately prepared to spend the required amount of time are essential to a successful tile project.  A lot of patience helps, too.

Happy Tiling!

Wisely choosing a daycare for your baby

You look at your baby for the first time, and feel as though your heart has literally melted. Your world becomes complete in that very instant. You bring the little pumpkin home to cuddle, kiss, and love. You find you are so in love that you can’t keep your eyes off of them, amazed at how perfect they are. Yep, you’re hooked.

Then, after about six weeks, reality sets in and you realize that soon, someone else will be spending the majority of the day with your baby, when you want nothing more than to never leave their side. Ugh, work!! You dread the day you have to return…

Like most mothers nowadays, I have to work full time in order to tackle those little pieces of paper with due dates staring you down, which seem to pile up on the kitchen counter. The result: daycare. My overall experience in the dreaded search was tolerable, with an excellent outcome. After surveying about 10 potential candidates, I made my final decision on who would get the privilege of caring for my little angel while I worked.

For me, the most important thing was how comfortable I felt with the caretakers and their interaction with the babies. Also, cleanliness! An extra bonus, my baby’s teacher is an R.N! Yep, I was hooked. No doubt about it, these people were worthy of caring for my baby. My first day back to work, I drove him to his first day of daycare, and avoided the fact that I could have a panic attack at any moment. The hardest part was knowing how much time I would be away from him and what I could possibly miss out on. Would I miss his first smile, first word, first steps??? I had to trust that someone I didn’t even really know would take as good of care of him as I would. The drop off wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I thought I’d be a complete wreck and everyone would have to be throwing tissues my way. But, when I got there, everyone remembered my name as well as my baby’s. They were all so excited to get their hands on him, and also wanted to make sure I was doing okay. They made me feel at ease, and I knew he would be in good hands. So far, he has been!

Lucky for me, my mom worked in a daycare for over twenty years. She was by my side during the search, asking questions that needed to be asked, examining the classrooms and teachers, yada yada yada. These are some of the questions we felt were important to ask while performing the search:

Some of this information should be posted at each classroom, but it’s good to ask the questions as well….

1. What is the child to teacher ratio in all the classrooms?
2. What is the schedule for activities in each classroom?
3. What is the typical lunch/snack menu?
4. Do you offer staff any kind of benefits?
5. Are you accredited or just licensed by the state?
6. What deficiencies did you receive from your last state visit?
7. Is there an outside play area? If so, how often do the children go outdoors?

Now, the list of warning signs (in other words, proceed with caution):
1. Unhappy children
2. Un-cleanliness of children or classrooms
3. Smells (especially in younger classrooms)
4. Unhappy/agitated staff
5. Children seeming bored

There’s just one more thing I feel compelled to add. Remember, daycare really is good for your child. As hard as it is to be away from them, it gives them great social skills. They learn to not only depend on their parents and also how to interact with other children. You’re a mom now. You have that maternal instinct. Use it!

Time for a Cardigan

Fall is in the air, and the morning temperatures say it’s time for a cardigan. As you bring your fall clothes down from the attic or up from the basement, take a look at your spring/summer wardrobe. Are there things that you didn’t wear? Instead of just packing them up, set the clothes you didn’t wear to the side. When spring comes around, have a yard sale to earn some extra cash.

Then, as you pull out the fall/winter clothes, do the same thing. Do you have enough to have a fall yardsale? If so, bust out the clothes racks, poster boards, markers, and pricetags. With the money you earn, head to the mall. Now is the time to stock up on spring/summer items for next year. Most stores are trying to make room for the latest trends, so you’ll benefit from major price reductions.

Windows 7, We’ll Be Ready for You!

In light of the upcoming Windows 7 release (October 22), I’ve talked with some members of our IT department about the possible issues that it will bring to our members’ online banking.  I was assured that preparations are underway for licensing and any potential problems that could arise. 

Incidentally, I’ve done some research on the Windows 7 release.  Reviewers and beta testers are reporting that Windows 7 behaves similarly to Windows Vista in the sense that there are expected compatibility issues.  The up-side is that Microsoft has changed the taskbar entirely to compliment the drag-and-drop interface of Windows Explorer.  You can read more about this as well as other features at laptoplogic.com. 

As far as whether you should upgrade, I’ve read mixed reviews.  Some say that if you are comfortable with Vista, that it may not be worth your time to go through the hassle of upgrading until the bugs are worked out.  Others say that the upgraded features make Windows 7 more efficient of an operating system.  With the compatibility issues that have arised in beta testing, my personal opinion would be to research your computer’s (as well as your software’s and accessory components’) compatibility before considering an upgrade.  As always, letting those who upgrade early deal with the bugs that come with any most new operating system’s release may be the best course of action.  For more about whether you should upgrade as well as a more positive outlook for Windows 7, read PC World’s review of Windows 7.

As always, Park Community strives to keep our site and our service up-to-date so you can better live your life your way!

Where’s the Party At?

We at Park Community Federal Credit Union try to put emphasis on the community. That being the case, we’re often found at different places in our servicing areas for festivals, shows, events, etc. Sometimes we even host our own events for the community! That being the case, if you ever want to see your community credit union having fun and spreading the word about the credit union difference, you can join us at these events!

September

25 & 26 – Bluegrass Balloon Festival

28, 29, 30 – Eastern KY University

October

1-4 – St. James Festival

5, 6, 7 – Eastern KY University

8 – Discover Dixie

10 – Hillview Safety Day & Southwest Festival

22 – Fern Creek Festival

31 – Zoneton Festival

We hope to see you sometime in the near future!  Also, be on the lookout for our Free Pictures with Santa event coming in December!

What the Credit CARD Act means for you

I know we’ve already posted about this, but since it’s kind of a big deal, I’d like to touch over it again.  The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure act goes into effect in Februrary of 2010, and there’s a great many changes that come with it.

Interest Rates
The one thing that we associate with credit cards is high interest rates.  Auto loans, mortgages, and even unsecured loans do not even compare to most credit card interest rates.  What’s worse is that rates for younger people without established credit is so high that they could potentially be paying off a balance for years to come.  The Credit CARD act doesn’t force issuers to reduce these interest rates; however, if interest rates go up, your new interest rate will only apply to new purchases rather than to existing balances.  However, keep in mind that card issuers can still raise rates on existing balances until the act goes into effect in February.

How Payments are Structured
In the past, if you had different rates for different card services (purchases, cash advances, fees, etc), and each service had a different interest rate, your payment would go toward the balance that carried the lowest interest rate.  This means that your full balance on the highest interest rate was left alone so that the credit card issuer would acquire more profit.  With the reform act, any payment you make will be applied to the balance with the highest interest rate first.  Remember, another way to avoid being charged extra fees and penalties is to make your payment on time, even if it’s just the minimum payment.

Giving You Ample Notice
Did you know that card issuers can make changes to interest rates at any time they want with no notice?  They can even retroactively change rates and policies on your purchases that are 2 months old.  With the reform act, any change what-so-ever to policies, terms of service, interest rates, etc will require the issuer to notify cardholders with at least 45 days’ notice.

Age Requirement
If you’re fresh out of high school and looking to get started, a credit card may be a very tempting means by which to do so.  With the reform act in place, anybody under the age of 21 will have to have a co-signer to receive a card.  The exception is if the person can prove that they have a job that allows them the means to repay the charges made.  This might be considered a burden; however, there aren’t many people I know who didn’t get into some sort of trouble with credit cards just after graduating high school.

More Time to Pay
Starting in February, issuers will be required to give you at least 3 weeks (21 days) to pay your bill.  I’ve personally noticed that the time between getting some of my bills and the amount of time to pay them on time has been narrowing recently.  I’m not saying that companies are trying to trap people into having late fees and subsequent credit problems, but it kind of makes you wonder.

 

This act will help protect consumers from getting in over their heads with credit cards.  It’s not a miracle law, though.  Responsible financial behavior is still the best policy to avoid the risk of paying high interest fees, late fees, or penalties that come with credit cards.  If you are a Park Community member and need help setting a budget or managing debt, you can call our financial counseling partners at Accel at 877/33ACCEL.  For a list of operation hours, visit parkcommunity.com.

Sources:
TrueCredit.com
PersonalDividends.com

Check Cashing Can Cost You

Did you know that Americans spend over 8 billion dollars a year just in fees incurred when cashing checks?  That’s $8,000,000,000!  It would be over $25 annually each and every American would have to pay from using check cashing service centers.

These service centers can be convenient.  They usually don’t require a credit score.  They are also expensive.  The national average rate in 2006 for a check cashing service center to cash a payroll check was 4.11% of the check’s value.  That means that it costs over 20 bucks to cash a $500 check!  That’s $20 you could use for lunch, gas, a date, you get the idea. 

We at Park Community would love to be able to save you money by not having to be hit with these kinds of fees.  If you have a credit score of at least 475 and meet our other membership criteria, you can be eligible for a Park Community savings account which would allow you to cash a check for free.  We also offer checking accounts that have low requirements (such as our Fresh Start account) that will allow you not only the ability to cash checks for free, but to write them for free as well!

Statistics were gathered from the REAL Solutions blog.

The Three Rules of Smart Money Management

There’s been a lot of information going around about how to be smart with money, how to invest wisely, where to save and things like that. It’s all good information, and maybe you want to get into that eventually; but the foundation of having no money problems is really very simple. There are just three laws you need to keep. Follow them and you’ll find yourself with extra cash on your hands within just a few short months.

Ready?  Here they are!

1. The Law of Ten Cents.

When you keep this law, you take ten cents of every dollar you earn or receive and HIDE IT. You can hide it in your credit union savings or share certificate account, in your mattress, or in a hole in your backyard. It doesn’t matter. Get used to living on 90% of your income while ten cents of every dollar gets put away. Some people call this “paying yourself first”. Whatever you call it, follow this rule and you will soon be on your way to building a very comfortable nest egg.

You might think that 10 cents on the dollar is not going to get you very far. But consider this: you can get used to living on 90 cents for every dollar you earn, and after ten months, you will have a full month’s salary put away. Not bad, huh? In ten years time, you can technically take a year off. What to do with that nest egg? We can talk about that another time. Meanwhile, the important starting point is to get used to keeping the Law of Ten Cents.

2. The Law of Organization.

Quick – how much money is in your share draft account right now? How about your savings account? How much do you owe on your credit card? If you don’t know, and if it would take you more than three minutes to find out, you’re not keeping a law that’s easily kept. According to the Law of Organization, you should develop a clear picture of what is where at all times and update it frequently.

Set up a system for tracking all your accounts. Microsoft Money is a good one, but there are others too. It’ll take a few hours time to set it up, but once you’ve done it, regular maintenance shouldn’t be more than twenty minutes a week.
Think also of how much you can buy with the money saved on late fees, insufficient funds fees, and all the other expenses of not having your finances in order. The Law of Organization will help you avoid all that and more.

3. The Law of Enjoying the Wait.

It’s widely accepted that good things come to those who wait. If you MUST have things before you have the money for them earmarked, you’ve fallen prey to the great American debt machine. The Law of Waiting states that you PAY, and pay well, for having things NOW. If you can wait until later, and put money away specifically for the purchases you have in mind, you will have outsmarted the debt monster. No debt.

How much do you pay to get things sooner? Look at your interest rate and figure it out. Debt isn’t cheap. Think of how many things you could have bought with that wasted money! When you realize how much smarter is it to buy things when you have the money on hand, you’ll actually begin to enjoy the wait.
If you’re serious about getting your finances under control, you’ll follow the three laws of smart money management.

Article source: CUContent.com