Pay It Forward Story - 1st Place

The theme for the 2009 Member Appreciation Day was “Pay It Forward”. The first 50 people who came in the credit union and wanted to participate in the event were given $10. The rules were simple: take the money, do something nice for someone, then tell us your story.

We received over 30 stories from members who made a difference in someone else’s life with just $10. The winner of the event was Tracy Cothran. She received a $100 Visa gift card for herself along with another $100 to be donated to the charity of her choice.

Here’s Tracy’s Pay It Forward story:

You probably think that ten dollars will not purchase anything of any real value in today’s market, right? Well that’s what I thought, too, until I started going to The Mat with Janell Fadler. There we have the opportunity to demonstrate God’s love in a practical way by offering people quarters to start the machines or helping them with their laundry. The quarters will not only start the machines, but they will also open the door allowing God to do his thing. It’s not always a lost soul that God sends our way. Sometimes it’s a student from one of the nearby colleges, an abused wife, struggling family, Laundromat employee, or even the owner. It’s always cool to see God in action and how He can take ten dollars to further His kingdom.

If you pick my Pay It Forward experience, I would like to give the $100 donation to The Mission Fund here at LifeWay. I would also use the $100 Visa card to purchase ten rolls of quarters. Can you imagine what God can do with ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS?

Thanks,
Tracy Cothran

Save Money by 'Stepping Down'

If you're singing the budget blues, maybe it's time to change your tune.

Instead of eliminating spending altogether to save money, follow what's called the "step-down principle," which offers several options to make a purchase.

Here's how it works. First, imagine a staircase with five or six steps, with the top rung representing the most expensive way to make a purchase, and the bottom rung the least expensive. For clothing, the top rung may be a high-end department store, followed by a discount store, a factory outlet, a consignment store, and finally a garage sale. If you typically purchase children's clothing at high-end department stores, move down a few steps and purchase gently used children's clothing at a consignment store.

Identified by Dr. Alena Johnson, Utah State University, the step-down principle also works with frequency. For example, you may decide to eat out five times a month instead of 10. Or, use the step-down principle to reduce caloric intake. Rather than drink whole milk, step down to 2% or skim.

Find ways to stick to your budget without cutting out the things you enjoy. The step-down principle is a simple strategy that works. For more ideas to save money, visit the professionals at LifeWay Credit Union or call today at 615-251-2089.

Copyright 2009 Credit Union National Association Inc. Information subject to change without notice. For use with members of a single credit union. All other rights reserved.

Fees Add Up for Cell Phone Users

Looking for extra cash? Adjusting your cell phone habits may be your best bet.

While $50 is the average monthly bill for the more than 255 million cell phone users, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (reuters.com Oct. 12) many pay more than they bargained for. How you use your cell phone may affect the total cost each month.

Depending on a user's service contract, accessing the Internet from a Web-enabled phone, using text messages, and even calling directory assistance can mean additional costs beyond the agreed-upon monthly service fee (cbsnews.com Oct. 8).

Here are three ways to save on your monthly cell phone bill:

• Call online.Limit cell phone use by making calls through a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service. You must have access to the Web through a digital subscriber line (DSL) or a cable modem, but the costs per call are typically much less expensive. Some providers even offer free service. Costs, call quality, and technical requirements vary depending on the provider.
• Shop around.Looking for a cell phone plan? Go online to compare devices, contracts and services. Be sure to understand how making changes to your service will affect the contract. Visit with sales personnel for the carriers you've identified to ask specific questions and test phones to narrow your choices. This will help you find the best service and cell phone for your needs.
• Track usage.Check your cell phone provider online and review your account often. Typically you can view minutes used during the current billing cycle and plan accordingly to avoid additional fees. Many cell phones also have settings that allow users to see how many minutes they have used, and even alert users when they reach a certain amount.

Secondary Savings Accounts

Switching from Aetna to Blue Cross in 2010? Set up a secondary savings account with us to set aside money for your deductibles. Stop by the office today and we'll take care of it for you.

Switch Your Cards to Us

Consumers with credit cards might want to think about doing a balance transfer to a credit union, personal finance expert Suze Orman said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program last Friday.

"Credit unions are being more responsible to their [members] than banks," Orman said.

During the show, Orman discussed the limited availability of credit plaguing consumers and said many large banks are raising their interest rates on customers who have consistently have paid their bills.

Check out our credit cards. You may be very surprised at what we have to offer!

Member Appreciation Day

Need to feel a little appreciation in your life? Stop by our office today for Member Appreciation Day! We'll have cookies in the morning, fresh popcorn in the afternoon, and we'll draw for door prizes at the end of the day. Plus, be one of the first 50 members in the door and you can participate in our Pay It Forward Event.

Benefits Fair

Be sure to drop by our booth at today's LifeWay Benefits Fair! 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM in CL42.

We'll see you there!

Change Money Habits

Member Appreciation Day

Need to feel a little appreciation in your life? We've got just the remedy! Mark your calendar to drop by our office on Wednesday, October 14 for our annual Member Appreciation Day. There will be plenty of snacks and refreshments along with some great door prized which will be awarded that afternoon.

We've even added a new twist to this year's event - so be sure to come early for more information. We're looking forward to a great day of celebration together!

Quicken for Virtual Branch

Are you a Quicken user who uses Virtual Branch? We hope to have the interface in place to allow you to download your transactions from Virtual Branch to Quicken within the next few weeks. Questions? Call us today!