Time to start saving money by stamping out bill payment by mail.

More than ever before American’s have started using online banking to save time and money. The latest postal rate increase is a great excuse for those of us who have not connected yet, to also make the switch.

I started paying my bills online several years ago. Even though the cost savings was not significant enough to make a huge difference, the simplicity of the process and the time savings, made the minor learning curve well worth my effort.
The first-class postage rate is now 42 cents. If you're like most Americans, you pay 20 to 30 bills per month. So for those of you who are still "going postal," the 1-cent increase will cost you about 40 cents to 60 cents per month.

For the first time, bill payments made online exceed paper-check bill payments among online households, according to the 2007 Consumer Bill Payment Survey, just released by Harris Interactive and The Marketing Workshop. About 74% of households not pay at least one bill online.

Granted, online banking is hardly new. During the dot-com days, intrepid onliners used various financial-software packages, including Microsoft Money and Quicken, to help automate their bills and monthly statements.

But they had to learn the software. Then they printed lots of checks anyway, because most recipients weren't set up to receive electronic payments. And banks charged fees for online transactions. The software packages helped you categorize expenses and print neat checks, but they didn't save much time or money.

Now things have changed. It is as simple as a couple of keys strokes and a click of the mouse and you can be on your way to a simplified life, more financial control and some extra money in your account.

Click here to learn more about Hawthorne’s Online Banking and BillPayer.

Hawthorne participates in the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life”!

It is that time of year again. Time for Hawthorne Credit Union to participate in our yearly event by sponsoring the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life”! Relay for Life raises money to fight cancer and raise awareness of cancer in the community. The relay for life honors cancer survivors, and remembers those who have lost their lives to cancer.

The fight against cancer continues to goes on. Unfortunately, most of us have been touched by this terrible illness and on this very special night that we can all come together to continue to fight again the disease and help others.

The Hawthorne Relay for Life of 2008 is now in the planning stages at Hawthorne. This year the event will be held on July 25 (rescheduled due to bad weather), at Naperville North High School.

Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s nationwide signature event. This 24-hour, overnight event raises money and awareness while serving as a celebration for cancer survivors, and a memorial for loved ones lost.

One great way to help Relay for Life participants honor survivors is to make a donation of any amount to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. If you are interested please visit one of our branches.

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life raises hundreds of millions of dollars each year in the fight against cancer. Millions of people will walk or run through the night to raise money to fight cancer. Relay for Life builds awareness of this dreaded disease and makes a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer HERE AND NOW!

Below is a poem that I thought you might like to read. It helps us increase your awareness of what the Relay for Life is all about.

"Relay For Life - Bring Hope"
Caring For Cancer

Today, we honor our survivors and remember those who we have lost.
But every day, every year, there is progress.
Yesterday’s death sentence is today’s prognosis for a full recovery.
Yesterday’s HOPE is today’s CURE!

And so to honor those battling cancer with us today, we present each survivor with a seedling that they can “grow” with.

Each day, remember how far this tree has come, and how far you have come.
Each day, remember that this tree was once a seedling, and remember how you were once at the beginning of your treatments.
Each day, remember that curing cancer has become an eventuality, not an impossibility

It's Time to Ditch your Bank for a Credit Union!

Are you getting ready to ditch your bank for a credit union? It’s about time! If you're sick of getting bombarded with fees, or caught off guard by hidden fees and earning lousy interest rates then now is the time to make a change. Who said that you needed to settle for a bank? Financial relief could be as close as the nearest credit union.

Because so many people are not sure about the differences between banks and credit unions, I'll highlight the most important distinctions for you and explain how credit unions deliver increased savings and better service to their members.

Credit unions operate in many ways like banks but there are some important distinctions. For example, credit union are not-for-profit, cooperative financial institutions. These institutions are managed and directed by members and a volunteer board.
Credit unions serve a specific field of membership defined by their charters. Anyone who falls within the credit union's common bond of affiliation, location or employment can become a member.

Credit unions are not-for-profit organizations and do not make a profit for a select group of stockholders. They are democratically controlled by their members who elect a volunteer Board of Directors from among the membership.
Credit unions also specialize in educating their members to help them achieve a better financial future. Whether it's young savers, college students, first time homebuyers or retirees, credit unions educate members on the best ways to manage their financial resources.
You may be asking yourself, am I eligible to join? Almost certainly! Virtually everyone in the United States can belong to a credit union, thanks to where they live, where they work or the associations to which they belong.

The nation's credit unions count 90 million members, and our trade association estimates members save $8 billion a year thanks to better interest rates and reduced fees. Credit-union-issued credit cards, for example, tend not to have annual fees or to charge punitive interest rates for a single late payment. Most credit unions offer free checking accounts, and penalties for overdrawing those accounts tend to be lower: a $25 or $29 fee is typical, compared with up to the $39 charged by banks.


These differences and the advantages to members of our community are why Hawthorne has joined the iBelong Campaign.

iBelong is a statewide effort by Credit unions across Illinois that are pooling their resources to spread the word about credit unions to consumers in our state. That’s because many consumers just don't know what they're missing by not belonging to a credit union. And those who already belong, may not realize that the reason they're so happy is because of the credit union difference; it’s our not-for-profit, member owned structure that makes us really focus on the needs of our members.

The iBelong campaign is also a beautiful example of the credit union philosophy and spirit. More than one hundred credit unions from across Illinois, many that compete in the same market, have pooled their funds to advertise together. This kind of cooperative spirit is rarely found in other industries.

You can check out the iBelong TV commercials. The campaign shows credit union members telling their stories of why they love their credit union. At Hawthorne, we're running a giveaway contest where you can win a $100 Visa Gift Card if you tell us your story of why you like Hawthorne. Click here for details.

iBelong Hits the Airwaves!

About 30 minutes ago at 6:51 AM I heard our iBelong radio ad running on WLIT 93.9 FM, the Lite. It sounded wonderful – it was a very warm and positive message. I was so proud! Great time slot, too! I'm so happy that the credit unions of Illinois are pooling our resources to spread the word about credit unions to consumers in our state. So many consumers just don't know what they're missing by not belonging to a credit union. And others who already belong, probably don't realize that the reason they're so happy is because of the credit union difference - our not-for-profit, member owned structure that makes us really focus on the needs of our members.

The iBelong campaign is also a beautiful example of the credit union philosophy and spirit. Here we have hundreds of credit unions from across Illinois, many that compete in the same market, who have pooled their funds to advertise together. That's what I love about credit unions - we have a spirit of cooperation that is rarely found in other industries. Proof positive that we live up to our promise, I think.

Check out the TV commercials that are running for the next 3 weeks on cable stations through out the state. THe campaign shows credit union members telling their story of why they love their credit union. At Hawthorne, we're running a giveaway contest where you can win a $100 Visa Gift Card if you tell us your story of why you like Hawthorne. Check that out at eHawthorne.org

My Trip to Washington D.C.

Today I was in Washington D.C. and had the honor to represent Hawthorne Credit Union, the Credit Union National Association and 8,400 credit unions around the country at the Subcomittee Hearing on Finance and Tax of the House Committee on Small Business to tell more of the credit union story on how we serve small businesses with Hawthorne's business services.

I am very proud of the fact that Hawthorne has twice now been prominently used as a great example of how credit unions serve their membership. This is indeed a testimony to the fine work our staff does in their daily contact with our members.

I'm grateful for the support of our staff in making this happen. I would not be here without their effort. Today also happens to be my birthday. This has been a great birthday so far.

Helping Kids Get Smart With Money

National Credit Union Youth Week April 20-26

From saving to planning and investing, Hawthorne is committed to teaching young members how to be financially successful. Join us for our special events during National Credit Union Youth Week

This year's youth week theme - "Got Green" Grow it at your Credit Union - aims to help children understand the credit union difference, explaining that as members of a not-for-profit credit union, they earn better rates on saving and loan products, pay lower fees, and receive personalized service.

In 2006, according to the Commerce Department, Americans spent everything they made, and then some, pushing the savings rate to a negative one percent, the lowest level since the Great Depression. Many parents are hoping for more for their children, which is why it's never too early for us to start talking with them about money.

In a nationwide survey released on April 9 by the Federal Reserve as part of National Financial Literacy Month, high school seniors had the worst scores so far in the six years the survey has been conducted. American teenagers answered only 48.3 percent of questions correctly about personal finance and economics.

Whatever your goals and dreams might be, at Hawthorne, we believe it's really cool to save! Since we are not-for-profit, which means we work harder to return more money back to your account, you can deposit your money into your Hawthorne Youth (Savings) Account, and your saved money 'earns' more money.

It's never too late to begin setting aside a portion of your allowance, or money made from your part-time job or lawn-mowing business and put it into a youth savings account. Start saving today!

Join us on Saturday for our FREE Kids Activity Day, click here for details.

In addition, refreshments, giveaways, coloring sheets will be available for all kids. The event is open to everyone in the community.

Did you participate in Earth Hour?

Did you turn off your lights for Earth Hour? For one hour on Saturday, the World Wildlife Fund asked people around the world to reduce their electricity use. At home my husband and I unplugged and turned off everything we could, including my scanner in my home office, which I didn't even know was on. It really made me aware of how much incidental electricity I use every day. It was really easy to participate, too.

Cities around the world, including Chicago, participted and turned off the lights on major landmarks and tall buildings.

And it appears that it made a difference. I read on thedailygreen.com that local utility Comm Ed reported that Chicago saved an estimated 420 tons of carbon dioxide by turning off the lights.

Next year, I'm hoping to get the credit union involved in Earth Hour in some way. We are closed on Saturday evenings, so we are already powered down for the most part at that time. However, perhaps we can celebrate Earth Hour a little earlier on Saturday - before closing time? Of course, we have to consider security so we'll have to plan carefully, but there must be something we can do even if it's a small step. Let us know if you have any suggestions!

Meanwhile, it's great to see the conversation that the WWF started. Here's looking foward to next year.

What Does Your Credit Report Say about You?

There are few of us who have not experienced some really stressful financial times throughout our lives. The excessive credit card spending, medical bills or the loss of a job has put many of us in difficult financial situations.

Many times we are able are able to overcome these situations and recover from the financial problems that we find ourselves in. But there are also times for some of us that we are so far in debt that we cannot seem to get a head. The inability to pay our bills in timely manner has eventually left a mark on our credit score.

Put simply, a credit report is our financial report card – the history of our debt and spending and our track record when it comes to making on time payments. Lenders look at our credit report to determine if we are credit worthy and should be given a loan and at what interest rate that loan can be given at. Over the long run a good credit score can save you thousands. Do you know your score?

Our credit report is held by the three largest credit bureaus – Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax; all three gather information regarding our financial health including amount of debt that we hold, any history of late payments, and any incidence of loan default. These factors together account for our credit score – a numerical value that is attached to our credit standing and is pivotal in our financial success.

A few years ago I started getting my yearly free credit report to help protect myself from identity theft and to keep an eye on my credit score. Annually checking the information on my credit report helps me manage any inaccuracies or changes to the information, and also lets me know of any suspicious activity. As an Illinois resident, you are entitled to one free copy of your credit report per year from the three credit reporting agencies. Click here for more information.

Knowing as we do that our credit score plays such a significant role in our lives we should all take the time to understand our credit and how our credit score is established. On Saturday, April 5th, Hawthorne is having a FREE credit reporting seminar at our Bolingbrook Brach from 10 am to 11 am. Click here for details.

What will you do with your tax rebate check?

President Bush has now signed the multibillion-dollar economic rescue package that will mean $300 to $1,200 rebates for many American households, depending on their tax bracket and claimed dependents.

While the refunds will probably not arrive for a few months, the unexpected check from Uncle Sam could be your ticket to jumpstart your savings or pay down your debt.

What will I do with my rebate check? Already the wheels in my mind are turning – that’s a nice chunk of change. And it’s my civic duty to spend it, right? Maybe, but look at it another way – if you use it to reduce your debt it could help the economy in the long run better. With less financial burden on each individual we’ll be freed up to make bigger spending plans in the future. For example, the $200 credit card payment I might eliminate can be put into a savings account and spent later on a family vacation or a down payment on a new hybrid vehicle.

An Associated Press poll found that only 19 percent of those surveyed said they planned to spend their rebate checks. Forty-five percent said they would pay bills, while 32 percent said they planned to invest the money.

Consider using the unexpected income to pay off debt or increase your savings. Click here to learn the best way to handle a financial windfall, and visit www.FeedthePig.org for more money-saving tips.

IRS Warns of Rebate Scams to Steal Personal Information

I am sure that most of you are patiently waiting for a decision to be made on the economy stimulus package. The refunds could vary from three to twelve hundred dollars depending on your income level and how many dependents you have.

But, believe it or not this tax rebate has encouraged identity thieves to make more attempts at obtaining your personal information. The IRS is now warning everyone to beware of rebate scams to steal your personal information.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Even before Congress passes an economic stimulus package, identity thieves are using promises of tax rebates to trick people into revealing financial and personal data, the Internal Revenue Service warned Wednesday.
Under one scheme, the IRS said, people are receiving phone calls telling them they can only receive a rebate if they provide bank account information for a direct deposit.

The tax agency stressed that it does not collect information by telephone and that no legislation has been enacted that would allow it to provide advance payments to taxpayers or that specifies the details of those payments.

The House last week, as part of an economic stimulus package, approved tax rebates of $600 and $1,200 respectively for most individuals and couples, with another $300 per child. The Senate is now considering a slightly different version.

The IRS also repeated past warnings of e-mails, supposedly coming from the agency, where people are asked to enter personal information on a form needed to obtain a tax refund.

A new scam, it said, involves an e-mail notification that a person's tax return will be audited with instructions to click on links to complete forms with personal and account information.

Businesses and accountants are also getting e-mails with instructions to download information on tax law changes. Clicking on these links could download "malware" onto the recipient's computer that gives the scammer remote access to the computer hard drive.

In another telephone scam, a caller claims to be an IRS employee who says the taxpayer has not cashed a refund check and asks the person to verify his or her bank account number.

On Tuesday, at a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing for Douglas Shulman, the nominee to be IRS commissioner, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., expressed concern that taxpayers would be victimized by tax preparers and lenders who charge high interest rates for short-term advances on their stimulus rebates.

The IRS advised people not to click on any link from an e-mail purporting to come from the tax agency. People receiving questionable e-mails can contact the IRS through phishing@irs.gov.

By Jim Abrams, Associated Press Writer

Illinois partners with Pennsylvania ‘iBelong’ campaign

Hawthorne Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit, financial cooperative serving the financial needs of our members.

As a cooperative organization, Hawthorne exist solely to meet our members’ financial needs, not to make a profit off of them. In fact, after expenses are paid and reserves are set aside, credit unions return their "profits" to members in the form of lower loans rates, higher savings rates, and free. On the other hand, for-profit financial institutions primarily exist to generate profits for a relatively small group of stockholders at the expense of their customers.

The Illinois Credit Union League (ICUL) will partner with the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association's (PCUA) "iBelong" media campaign to increase credit union awareness in Illinois.

The Illinois Statewide Image Awareness Task Force has met since last year to develop a program to increase credit union awareness among Illinois consumers. After reviewing several state campaigns, the task force chose iBelong.

"Pennsylvania developed a top notch campaign that we believe will play well here in Illinois," said ICUL Chairman Carl Sorgatz. "Between the research and all the elements that have been created, we feel this is an initiative our credit unions will get excited about and support."

The task force hopes to eliminate misconceptions about credit unions; increase consumer interest in doing business with credit unions; enhance credit union image among lawmakers; and complement and lay the foundation for individual credit union marketing.

"We can begin to change the way Illinois consumers think about credit unions," said John Bratsakis, ICUL vice chairman and task force chairman.

Shredding: What to shred, what to keep

Hawthorne's Shred It Days get rolling again in a couple weeks - on Sat. Feb 2, we'll hold our first of 8 Shred It Days this year. They'll be held the first Saturday of every month (except July, when we're cooking up a special event, to be announced later.) For a full list of our events this year, visit eHawthorne.org. You can bring up to 3 boxes of materials to shred - don't forget your old credit cards - they can be shredded too!

Many members have asked us how to decide how long they should keep documents and what to keep and what to shred. Here's a guideline from the Consumer Reports Money Adviser, January issue and the Credit Union National Association (cuna.org):

YONKERS, N.Y. (1/8/08)—If getting rid of clutter and unnecessary paperwork
is tops on your list of things to do this month, make sure you know what you
can--and can't--shred, and when it's safe to do it (Consumer Reports Money
Adviser January).

Bills. Keep receipts for large purchases, and shred the rest after payment clears your credit union, and after the return or refund period expires.

Credit card receipts. Keep them for one year in case you need to return defective goods, then shred them.

Credit card statements. If they contain tax-related expenses, keep the statements for seven years in case you're audited by the Internal Revenue Service. Otherwise, keep them for one year and then shred them.

Credit union monthly statements. Keep monthly statements that contain tax-related expenses for seven years. Otherwise, keep them for one year and then shred them.

Investment account statements. Keep year-end statements for seven years, but you can shred monthly or quarterly statements as new ones arrive.
Retirement statements. Keep year-end statements for your 401(k), individual retirement accounts (IRAs), and Keogh plans until you retire or close the account, and keep Form 8606 if you've made nondeductible IRA contributions. Shred quarterly statements after you receive your annual summary and verify that everything is correct.

Pay check stubs. Shred the stubs after you receive your annual W-2 and verify that the information is accurate. Keep the last paycheck stub of the year.

Tax records. Keep a copy of all 1040 tax forms permanently. Remember: The IRS has three years to audit your return, but if you underreport your gross income by 25% or more, the IRS has six years to challenge it. And if you file a fraudulent
return or don't file one at all, the IRS can go after you at any time.

One final tip: Cut down on the amount of paper that flows into your home. Register with the Direct Marketing Association at the-dma.org, and opt out of preapproved credit card applications at optoutprescreen.com; you'll see a dramatic decrease in the number of preapproved credit card offers and other direct mail pieces that fill your mailbox.

Also, sign up for estatements! That reduced the number of monthly statements you'll need to shred!

New Year’s Resolutions that can help

Your wallet might be looking a little empty after the holiday season and I know that some of you are probably a little stressed about the balance in your bank account. Don’t be afraid to admit if you’re avoiding the mailbox because you know that pretty soon that big credit card statement will arrive.

My holiday shopping this year was a little less painful than usual because of my trusted Hawthorne Christmas Savings Account. I emptied it out already to help cover the bills that have already arrived, but on New Years Day I started getting an early start on my 2008 holiday shopping by depositing $50 into the account.

My Christmas club account is a savings account at Hawthorne that I can deposit money in to throughout year to effortlessly build up a nice gift fund. In November the money automatically gets deposited in to my savings account and I can go shopping without having to worry about paying for everything.

The holidays at my house are usually very stressful with too much going on and out-of-town house guests. However, each year I am trying to find new ways to alleviate some of the tension.
How, you might ask?

You can reward yourself financially by making some of your New Year's resolutions geared toward handling your finances or debt better. You can do it, trust me. This year one of my resolutions is to work on better organization and management of our finances.

Here's a list of seven strategies taken from the Consumer Credit Counseling Service that may help you. Good luck and Happy New Year!

1. Balance your checkbook each time you receive a paycheck so you don't spend more than the amount you make.

2. Have a filing cabinet or a secured box, handy? Well, you will need one to store financial statements. Make separate files for bank statements, tax documents, credit card bills, medical information, mortgage statements and other important records.

3. Create a monthly budget to determine your monthly income and recurring expenses. Focus on items such as rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, food, transportation costs, tuition savings, entertainment and personal grooming.

4. Ok, so once you've set up the budget; prioritize the expenses and spending based on your needs and wants. If you have any funds left after the monthly expenses are paid, split them between paying down your debt, for instance pay high-interest credit card bills and loans, and stash the money away in savings.

5. Create a varied savings plan. Make regular deposits in an interest-bearing account and don't pass up your employee-sponsored benefits like retirement and flexible spending accounts.

6. Stay aware of debt trouble. Problems can occur when you start falling behind on bills like mortgage, rent, or utilities or start using credit to buy items that you should buy with cash.

7. If situations like these occur, don't suffer in silence. Call your creditor and let them know you are having problems. It's possible that you just may be able to reach an agreement with your next payment or negotiate a lower interest rate.

You may also want to consider a Debt Management Program. If you have over $5,000 in debt then a debt management program may be for you. Hawthorne’s Balance Financial Fitness debt management program can help.

Don’t Let Your Holiday Debt Last Longer than it needs to:

With holiday spending over, our debt recovery time may just be starting. Our credit card bills will start arriving in the mail soon. Recent stats by the National Retail Federation show that the 2007 holiday season got off to a record start with “Black Friday” sales by US shoppers rising 8.3% to a record $10.3 billion. Figures for the following “Cyber Monday” shopping holiday, the Monday following Thanksgiving, also showed a healthy increase with a new one-day record of over $700 million in total purchases.

It is too bad that most of the record consumer spending was paid through the use of credit cards. Most consumers, including me, don’t hesitate to place $300 in goods on a credit card but certainly would think twice if they were forced to purchase the same amount of goods solely with cash? Because of this it is no surprise that the average credit card debt per US household is expected to rise again in 2008 as it has every year since the early 1990’s.

What will this increased spending mean for the New Year? According to John Silva, chief economist for Wachovia, “(Consumers) will still be spending money (in 2008) but it will be on credit card interest and minimum payments, not on apparel or eating out.”

So what’s the average consumer with thousands of dollars in credit card debt to do in 2008? Consider these five suggestions to get your debt under control in the New Year:

1. Reduce your card interest rate - Hawthorne members can now qualify for great rates and Reward points when they transfer balances between February 1 and March 31, 2008.

Visa Platinum Reward Cardholders receive 2,500 bonus points on balance transfers .**
Visa Platinum Savers credit card - 3.99% APR* for 9 months on balance transfers.
Visa Classic credit card – 6.99% APR* for 9 months on balance transfers.

Click here for more information.

2. Stop Using the Cards - seems simple enough? Stop using the cards now and stop accumulating more debt on top of the debt you couldn’t afford in the first place.

3. Pay more then the minimum – For example if you have $5,000 in credit card debt with a 16% interest rate and a minimum monthly payment of $110. Did you know that just paying the minimum means it takes 25 years to pay off your debt and that $5000 debt will end up costing you $12,000 in total? This total includes an extra $7,000 that you will have to pay in interest. A good alternative would be to DOUBLE your minimum payment to $210 and pay off the card in 28 months, which will save you about $6,100 in interest.

4. Consider a Debt Management Program - If you have over $5,000 in debt then a debt management program may be for you. Hawthorne’s Balance Financial Fitness debt management program can help.

*APR=Annual Percentage Rate. **Minimum balance transfer of $1,000.00. Also offering 1 bonus point per dollar of balance transfer up to a maximum of $10,000.00.

Bright Idea, Big Dilemma

The day came earlier than I expected - my first energy efficient light bulb burned out. You know the kind everyone is encouraging you to swap out -the curly bulbs that use less energy and are supposed to burn longer (in fact, they use a third less energy and last ten times longer).

It's said that if every U.S. household replaced just one incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb, the amount of energy saved could light 2.5 million homes for a year. That's fantastic, I'm all over that!

Unfortunately, those bulbs shouldn't be thrown away because they contain mercury, which is harmful to the environment. Yet the city recycling centers aren't set up to take them. For some reason one of mine burned out sooner than it was supposed to. Now I'm faced with the dilemma of what to do with it.

I found out that the Environmental Protection Agency schedules drop off dates throughout the year, but the next ones will be scheduled in 2008. I will start a little collection of bulbs until I hear of a collection date.

Also, behind the Naperville Fire Station Fire Station #4, 1971 Brookdale Road, there is a drop off facility that is open Saturdays and Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., excluding holidays. If you have questions about the City’s household hazardous waste collection program, please call the Department of Public Works at (630) 420-4190, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.

If you live in Carpentersville, Dundee, Elgin, Gilberts, Hampshire, and South Elgin residents
Residents with Carpentersville, Dundee, Elgin, Gilberts, Hampshire and South Elgin mailing addresses may call the HHW Hotline at 1-800-449-7587 to schedule a free pickup from your home. This service is operated by Curbside, Inc., and is sponsored by Kane County, the City of Elgin, and the Villages of Carpentersville and South Elgin.

These bulbs are so popular now, I'm sure the demand will increase next year for suitable drop off locations for disposing of the bulbs and it will get easier to dispose of them. Meanwhile, I know it's tempting to throw them away instead of bothering with proper disposal but hold onto your bulbs!