Save Gas, Cut Carbon Emissions, Burn Calories

Here's a way you can do all three - it's simple too. This tip is from The Daily Green. Check it out.

"When you are picking up food, doing your banking or even filling a prescription,
park your vehicle and walk inside instead of using the drive-through. It will
cut down on unnecessary fuel use as well as carbon emissions.

Every time you use a drive-through, you burn about 18 cents worth of gas idling your car. According to Quick Service Restaurant Magazine, the average drive-through wait time once the order is taken is three minutes. Add the minute or two that it takes to place the order, and that means one billion car-minutes spent idling
each year in front of Burger King restaurants alone! Estimates for total fuel
costs for idling in front of every drive-through in America are in the hundreds
of millions of dollars.

Parking your car and getting out also allows an opportunity to stretch your legs. Given the obesity epidemic in this country, any chance to get your body moving is also nothing to scoff at. Getting out also gives you the chance to throw away garbage, so you will be less tempted to toss litter out your window later on."

The best little deal in banking

Credit unions offer sweet deals on credit cards and auto loans, the best CD rates in the business and heaps of personalized services. And yes, you too can join one.

By Carolyn Bigda, Money Magazine writer-reporter

(Money Magazine) -- If you belonged to a credit union in the past, it was probably because a volunteer at work or church approached you to let you know about the good deal you could get on a car loan.

Credit unions still offer car loans, they're still tied to affiliation groups, and they still have friendly members looking to let you know about a good deal. But today these not-for-profits are in a pitched battle with big retail banks for all your banking business.

That's good news for you. You'll find credit unions with networks of free ATMs and terrific credit-card deals as well as rates on loans and savings products that the megabanks can't match. A recent study by Informa Research Services found that a higher percentage of credit union members liked their institutions than did bank customers.

And you don't need to belong to a church or work for a company that has a credit union to find one you can join. Not convinced? See if these five reasons change your mind:

Savings: How to earn real money

While large national banks were reluctant to pass on Federal Reserve rate hikes of previous years, credit unions tracked the Fed to offer higher-than-average yields, says Kyle Selberg, CEO of BankingMyWay.com, which follows bank and credit yields.

And when rates dropped in September, credit unions gave up little ground. These days you can still find phenomenal deals on CDs. For example, the Space Age Federal Credit Union in Denver offers a 16-month CD that pays 7 percent through the end of the year (on Jan. 1 the rate converts to 5 percent for the remainder of your CD's term).

And savings-account rates at some credit unions are competitive with those of major online banks. Recently, traditional savings accounts at the American Airlines Federal Credit Union, based in Texas, yielded 4.59 percent, slightly higher than rates at HSBC Direct.

Best deal on a six-month CD: Sabine Federal Credit Union (Orange County, Texas): 5.43 percent

National bank average: 3.45 percent

Credit cards: low rates, low fees, low penalties

Today the average bank credit card charges 13.69 percent, according to Bankrate.com. At credit unions it's 12.16 percent, reports the National Association of Federal Credit Unions.

A 2005 report from the Woodstock Institute, a nonprofit economic development group, found no credit unions practicing "universal default," a much criticized policy in which your lender raises your interest rate if you default on another lender's loan.

Some credit unions won't penalize you with higher rates even when you're late on their own card's bill. If they do, you'll rarely pay more than 18 percent, compared with upwards of 30 percent at major banks.

Auto loans: They're the best-known credit union deals for a reason

You're also more likely to qualify for those low rates, even if your credit history isn't polished or you're a recent graduate just building a credit profile. "We understand that real life happens, so we'll take a look at the whole picture," says Nancy Sieller, loan manager at Torrington Municipal and Teachers Federal Credit Union in Torrington, Conn. "We want to work with you."

Home loans: Financing you aren't likely to get from a bank

Maybe you or your kid wants to buy a home with little or no money down. Well, good luck getting that kind of loan from a bank in the wake of the subprime mortgage collapse.

Some of the largest credit unions, though, now offer what's called the Home Loan Payment Relief (HLPR) mortgage. It finances 97 percent or more of the cost of a home and is available to home buyers with limited income and, increasingly, to those looking to refinance out of an adjustable-rate mortgage.

If you're putting the standard 20 percent down, you'll get an interest rate that's as good as you'd find at a bank, and borrowers may also save on extraneous fees.

Perks: Take a class, get a deal on kids' savings

Many credit unions extend their services far beyond basic banking. You might find free personal-finance classes for your teen or complimentary retirement and credit counseling programs.

The McGraw-Hill Employees Federal Credit Union in New York City and New Jersey, for example, provides furlough loans to members who lose jobs and lets them defer payments for up to three months.

Some credit unions, including Achieve Financial Credit Union in Connecticut, will comb through a credit report with you and suggest how to improve your score.

And many offer kids' financial literacy tools and special savings rates: Youth CDs, for instance, often carry the same yields as their adult version but require lower minimum balances and give kids the opportunity to make additional deposits during the CD's term.


Your big questions answered

Question: Can I really join a credit union?
Answer: Thanks to 1998 legislation loosening membership restrictions, chances are better than ever that you can. Now you just have to figure out where you're eligible.

Step 1 Ask your mom and dad (and your grandparents...). If someone in your family is a member, you often qualify to join as well.

Step 2 Find out if your employer, trade group, alma mater or church is affiliated with a credit union. If you're a pharmacist in Pennsylvania, for example, you can join the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union.

Step 3 Still nothing? Time to check out the online databases: Go to the credit union locators at ncua.gov and creditunion.coop. Based on information such as your location, religion and ethnic background, you'll get a list of credit unions you might be able to join. Click on each credit union's Web site to learn the specifics.

Question: Should I ditch my bank?
Answer: It's worth considering if the credit union is a member of a large, free, nationwide ATM network such as the Co-op Network, which includes 25,000 ATMs (vs. 17,000 for Bank of America), and it has online banking too.

But many credit unions still can't match the big banks when it comes to the breadth of financial products or their services (like late branch hours). Combining your credit union membership with a checking account at a regular bank will probably offer you the best of both worlds.

Holiday Online Shopping Safety Tips

Holiday Online Shopping Safety Tips

Online holiday shopping offers numerous conveniences over driving in heavy traffic, tromping though snow, lack of parking, and last-minute crowds. You can do all of your holiday shopping sitting in the comfort of your own home but, you need to be on your guard. Online shopping can have a few extra pitfalls, and there are always a few con artists out there waiting to separate you from your Christmas gift money.

Tis the season to shop online... and by following the tips below, your holiday will be a happy one.

• Evaluate the Seller - Purchase gifts through well-known online retailers that disclose full contact information. Just because an online store has a nifty website doesn't mean it has good business practices.
  
• Always ensure that online financial transactions are secure by checking the bottom right corner of the browser window. A little yellow lock will appear on secure sites.
  
• Check your bank statements regularly and investigate suspicious charges.
  
• Do not give out personal or financial information in response to unsolicited email. Do not click links in any email when conducting financial transactions.
  
• If you think you’ve been phished, immediately visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
  
• Record the Transaction - you have submitted your credit card and shipping information, you will likely land on a "Thank You" page. This page usually contains a transaction receipt and transaction number. Print this page for your records.In some cases, you will also receive a receipt by email. Again, printing the email and saving it is wise in case you have computer problems in the future.
  
• Always donate to charities directly, even after receiving emails requesting donations.
  
• When participating in online auctions such as ebay, check the seller’s references and feedback ratings. If purchasing a high-value item, consider using an online escrow service.
  
• Do not user your primary email address when shopping since you may inadvertently be signed up for excessive newsletters or marketing emails. Use a disposable account.
  
• Do not venture online without securing your PC. A good firewall is essential, and antivirus, anti-spyware and spam protection are also critical. Keep up with security update downloads.
  

Also, to save money, don’t forget to always check for a coupon or promotional code before checking out. Visiting CurrentCodes.com and getting a coupon only takes a few seconds and could save you anything from free shipping to 15% off or more.

Cruisin' Your Way to Lower Gas Bills

Here's a tip from The Daily Green on how to reduce your gas bills by using cruise control - and saving money on speeding tickets by slowing down . . . sensible advice!

"Worried about sky high gas prices? Did you know that by keeping your car
at a steady speed, cruise control helps save gas. It can also help save you
money in tickets, since you can stay “under the radar,” by avoiding the creeping
increase in speed that tends to plague drivers on long, boring hauls.

Whenever you hit the accelerator, you burn a lot of gas. Braking wears out
the pads, and forces you to use more gas to speed back up. Your vehicle’s
systems perform most efficiently at a constant rate.

Although fuel economy can vary significantly with model and conditions, the optimal range of efficiency is generally between 25 and 55 mph, according to the EPA. On the open road, try not to exceed 55, and try to stay steady at the speed limit on city streets. You’ll get there. "

Take a Bite Out Of School Lunch Costs

Every day when I make my daughter's lunch I carry on a tradition that started with my mom. She’d make my sandwich for school every day. And every day she’d take a bite out of my sandwich. For many years I didn’t even question it. It seemed so normal.

Then the kids started asking. “Who took a bite of your sandwich?” they’d ask.

“My mom,” I’d say. “You mean your mom doesn’t take a bite out of your sandwich?” I’d ask.

“No!” they’d laugh. I always felt a little sorry for them, assuming their mothers must not love them the way mine loves me. So now I carry on the same tradition…

“Geez mom do you have to take a bite out of my sandwich again?”

“Yes,” I said, mouth full. She caught me in the act … again.

But if you’ve taken a good look at the school lunch menu, you might understand why I take the time each day to maker her lunch. I've seen corndogs, nachos and pretzels with cheese on the menu. Excuse me but isn't that carnival food? The average calories per meal is between 700-800. I'm not a nutritionist, but that seems like a lot to me.

A friend of mine who recently started making her kids lunches had similar sentiments after making herself familiar with the school lunch menu. She was horrified and vowed to start making lunches in brown bags the old fashioned way.

Still, I have to give credit to the school lunch provider Sodexho. Making lunch for kids raised on McDonalds can't be easy. These kids grew up in a time when, until recently, the best tasting food made the biggest profit and few companies (or consumers, for that matter!) really cared about how healthy the product was. Taste came first at the sacrifice of health. Things are getting better. Still, lunchmakers like Sodexho (and me) compete for my daughter’s choice of lunch. My goal: nutrition. Their goal is to make a profit for their company and for the school district. If the food doesn't appeal to the kids they lose.

And I must admit this year’s school lunch menus are looking healthier.

Still, I make her lunch as often as I can – I think that whatever I send her is a little healthier than what they’re offering.

Plus it saves me money! I figure the cost of my homemade lunch at around $1, as compared to around $3. And then I get to take a bite out of her sandwich.

Beware - New Credit Card Phone Scam

We recieved an alert from our contacts at other credit unions that a new, very tricky scam is being conducted by phone. The bottom line to remember is that a ligitimate financial institution will never call to ask for your account information, because they already have it! Never give account information to anyone who contacts you.

This scam is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all theinformation, except the one piece they want. The scam works like this:

Person calling says, "This is (name), andI'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My badge numberis 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, andI'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a marketing company based in Arizona ?"

When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is acompany we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, justunder the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?"You say "yes".

The caller continues - "I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1-800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then givesyou a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card." He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers." There are 7 numbers; thefirst 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security numbers'that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card.

The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have you rcard. Do you have any other questions?" After you say, "No," the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do", and hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you theCard number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchaseof $497.99 was charged to our card . Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISAaccount. VISA is reissuing us a new number.

What the scammers want is the3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything onthe card as they already know the information since they issued the card! Ifyou give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving acredit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges forpurchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or moredifficult to actually file a fraud report. What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a callfrom a "Jason Richardson of Master Card" with a word-for-word repeat of theVISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a policereport, as instructed by VISA.