Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Savor the Season with Simple Summer Savings

The wonderfully warmer weather we’ve been enjoying lately (despite the recent damper of rain) may have made you start to daydream of the summer fun that is awaiting you – either through a well-earned vacation, or sending your children to the summer camp of their dreams. While these are certainly worth-while splurges, they can also mean significant damage to your budget. To ensure that you can have your strawberry shortcake and eat it too, here are some simple ways to save for whatever fun awaits you this summer!

• Eat out less – the season screams “picnic time”

• Hit up farmers markets for ingredients for your picnics! Local food is often cheaper – and taster

• Before splurging on a new summer wardrobe, take a look at last year’s clothes to see if you have any forgotten favorites

• Skip the dryer, and cut down your electricity bill by drying clothes outside

• Replace air conditioner filters. Dirty filters restrict airflow and can cause the system to run longer, increasing energy use

• Before heading to a theater to see one of the latest blockbusters, ask yourself – do I really want to be inside on a sunny summer day?

• If faced with a rainy day, pull out the board games before ducking into that tempting movie theater

Wherever your plans take you, SURF and Shared Branching are always great time and money savers when traveling, or check out online or mobile account access – all great ways to stay in touch with your credit union!

Best wishes for summer fun (and savings)!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

There’s more to do in Maine this weekend

Memorial Day weekend is coming up and the weather looks to be in our favor; so if you are looking for a way to spend the weekend with friends and family, look no further than your own backyard. There are plenty of activities for the whole family to participate in… all while staying in Maine.


1. Host a BBQ. This can easily be done on a budget. Offer to supply the location, grill and main dish, and have everyone bring a side dish or dessert. Not only will you get to hang out with friends and family, you never know when someone will bring a new recipe that you will love.

2. Go to the Beach… and bring your own snacks. Maine has one of the largest coastlines, and going to the beach is a free or low cost activity and can be an enormous amount of fun for friends, family and colleagues. Also, during the summer months the beach will be full of people of every age, creating an environment and atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. Just make sure to pack your own lunches and snacks in a cooler. Being prepared with drinks, sandwiches and other items will save you money on concession stands and restaurants that are near the beach.

3. Visit a state park. Did you know that Maine has over 30 state parks? With that many places to choose from you are bound to find something for everyone. If you pack a picnic lunch this will only cost you the park admission fee with plenty of activities for the family.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

A Busy Year of Financial Fitness Fairs Ends on a High Note!

Credit unions in eastern Maine presented their eighth annual Financial Fitness Money Management Experience on Tuesday, May 15, at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor. One hundred students from Bangor-area high schools participated in this year’s event. Participating schools included: Bangor High School, Bangor Christian Academy, Brewer High School, Hermon High School, and Orono High School. The day, which can be compared to an interactive ‘game of life,’ builds awareness for youth education and for credit unions’ dedication to financial literacy in their communities.

The Financial Fitness Money Management Experience is a half-day event during which students check in and receive a scenario packet of their life at age 22, which includes their occupations, income and credit history. From there, students will have to map out their financial future from financing their housing to purchasing food and clothing.

This fair, as well as a smaller fair on May 18 in Dixfield, wraps up a busy year of Financial Fitness Fairs! During the 2011/12 school year, Maine credit unions are planning a record number of Financial Fitness - A Money Management Experience fairs across Maine, reaching 9,000 students!

Click here to see the fair in action!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Maine Credit Unions Share Words of Financial Wisdom

Credit unions are known for a lot of great things – from great rates on auto loans, to their willingness to go above and beyond to help a member. Something else credit unions are great at? Giving advice! Credit unions are often sought out to share their knowledge through the media on everything from fighting fraud to buying a home.

Maine’s Credit Unions were recently featured in the Graduation Edition of the publication, Navigating the Real World – a resource that goes out to all Maine High School students! In one article, Jon Paradise, Government & Public Affairs Manager for the Maine Credit Union League, advises teens to ask for help if they get into financial trouble. “People do get into financial challenges and a lot of times it’s a learning experience. What you need to keep in mind is that you don’t have to be afraid to ask for help,” he says.

Seth Poplaski, Maine’s Young & Free Spokester, is also featured in the publication. As the voice of Maine’s 25 and under crowd, he cautions students about taking out too many college loans. “One of the best choices I ever made was to work through college so I could keep my college loans down,” he says.

You can read the articles, as well as see the interviews live at http://www.ntrw.org/.