On a cold, stormy day like today, nothing sounds better than going somewhere - anywhere - where there are warm beaches instead of snow banks. Vacations are a time to relax and unwind from day-to-day stress. The last thing you want to do is spend your vacation worrying about how you are going to pay for it when the bills come. The two easiest ways to lessen the financial sting of vacations are to save before you go, and plan how much to spend while you’re away. Maine credit unions have club accounts for you to set aside money for a specific purpose, in this case, a trip.
The easiest way to contribute to a club account is by having money direct deposited into that account weekly. Estimate how much your vacation will cost; don’t forget to factor in airfare, car expenses (gas or car rentals), hotels, meals, entertainment and extra spending money. Once you have figured out how much your vacation will cost, you can decide how much you are willing to charge to a credit card, and how much cash you will need for your trip. Putting this money into a club account eliminates the temptation to make a big purchase as you see your balance creeping up.
Here are some easy tips to help you plan for your next vacation:
• Tape a picture of your dream vacation to your fridge.
• Estimate how much the vacation will cost.
• Subtract how much of the vacation expenses you want to charge on your credit cards.
• The difference is how much cash you'll need for your trip. Divide that amount by the number of paychecks you'll receive before you go on vacation. That is how much you need to save per paycheck.
It's as easy as that. Now…you can relax and go back to dreaming of white, sandy beaches, palm trees, and a stress-free vacation.
-Diana D., Maine Credit Union League
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Maine Credit Unions Share the Love!
While Valentine’s Day may be a few days away, this past week has been filled with many heart-warming moments from Maine credit unions.
On Monday, February 7, Maine's credit unions were joined by NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry to celebrate their efforts towards "thawing" out hunger in Maine at the Thaw to End Hunger Celebration Event. At this annual event, credit unions were recognized for their success in raising the most funds ever for the Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger, and the official, record-breaking total was announced. This year's total funds raised is $402,740.02, an increase of nearly $27,000 over last year's record!
On Tuesday, February 8, five credit unions with branches in the Midcoast region joined Governor LePage and the State Energy Office at the State House in Augusta to announce a new Credit Union program to assist consumers impacted by the recent closure of Thibeault Energy in Brunswick. The new program will offer affected consumers zero interest, no fee loans to purchase fuel.
Finally, while playing golf is currently just a daydream for most Mainers, on Thursday, February 10, credit union representatives throughout Maine came together for PeoplesChoice CU’s 8th annual Polar Bear Scramble, teeing off indoors on the state of the art golf simulators. The funds raised benefit both Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger and Maine Special Olympics.
Maine’s credit unions can even help you warm the heart of your Valentine! Many credit unions are currently selling items to benefit Ending Hunger that make perfect Valentine’s Day gifts! From CDs, to candles to wooden roses, supporting their efforts is a way to give a gift that gives twice – to your loved one, and to help end hunger in Maine!
On Monday, February 7, Maine's credit unions were joined by NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry to celebrate their efforts towards "thawing" out hunger in Maine at the Thaw to End Hunger Celebration Event. At this annual event, credit unions were recognized for their success in raising the most funds ever for the Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger, and the official, record-breaking total was announced. This year's total funds raised is $402,740.02, an increase of nearly $27,000 over last year's record!
On Tuesday, February 8, five credit unions with branches in the Midcoast region joined Governor LePage and the State Energy Office at the State House in Augusta to announce a new Credit Union program to assist consumers impacted by the recent closure of Thibeault Energy in Brunswick. The new program will offer affected consumers zero interest, no fee loans to purchase fuel.
Finally, while playing golf is currently just a daydream for most Mainers, on Thursday, February 10, credit union representatives throughout Maine came together for PeoplesChoice CU’s 8th annual Polar Bear Scramble, teeing off indoors on the state of the art golf simulators. The funds raised benefit both Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger and Maine Special Olympics.
Maine’s credit unions can even help you warm the heart of your Valentine! Many credit unions are currently selling items to benefit Ending Hunger that make perfect Valentine’s Day gifts! From CDs, to candles to wooden roses, supporting their efforts is a way to give a gift that gives twice – to your loved one, and to help end hunger in Maine!
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