Now that the Black Friday deals are winding down are you
still left with a list of people you weren’t able to check off? Everyone has at
least one of those special people on their list who “have everything,” leading
you to scramble at the last minute to find SOMETHING that will be appreciated. Instead
of spending hours searching online, why not try shopping SMALL – as in Small
Business Saturday.
Small Business Saturday was created in 2010 to highlight
local businesses and give shoppers an alternative to big box retailers (Black
Friday) and e-commerce stores (Cyber Monday) during the busiest shopping
weekend of the year. It gives shoppers the chance to support the local
community by investing in the local businesses which make our communities so
special and unique. At the same time you have access to gifts that you may not
find anywhere else in the world!From
locally owned restaurant gift certificates to one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. Giving
a gift that comes from a local business is not only special to the recipient,
but it also supports our community. If you’re not quite sure where to start to find local
businesses check out the locally operated InSouthFlorida.com, which highlights
businesses locally operated, including some awesome local deals! Click on the “Local Shops” to find some local businesses with unique and fun gifts you’re not going
to find at any of those big box retailers. So if you’re not too tired after the all night excursion at
the mall and you’re looking for gifts to satisfy anyone on your list, then head out tomorrow and Shop Local!
Today and tomorrow social media sites and the Internet will
be filled with family stories, pictures, and the annual sharing of warm and
fuzzy Thanksgiving messages. This is also a time of year when we remember the
great Thanksgivings past, back when we were kids sitting at the “kid table”
(really just a card table set up in an adjoining room because there was no room
at the main table). I want to use this moment to reflect back on the “good ole
days.” See if YOU can relate to any of my classic Thanksgiving moments:
Counting the years until I could move up to the adult table – never mind the fact that there was no minimum age it really all depended on who showed up each year.
FOOTBALL! I LOVE football and I can attribute that to my uncle taking all the kids to the Detroit Lions game every year while the cooking was being done…see I figured I could get out of cooking every year if I just went to a football game. Turned me into a true fan.Of course that also meant I never learned to cook!
The blood in the mashed potatoes from when my grandma would cut herself, because if there wasn’t a kitchen towel wrapped around her fingers/hands then it just wasn’t Thanksgiving.
The exploding glass jar that my grandma used to make the gravy thickener…now I don’t know what it means or how she did it, but it always involved flour and boiling liquid in a glass jar that she would shake up and inevitably it would explode as she removed the top.
The fight for one of the coveted turkey legs (a fight I STILL win to this day!)
The four different pies that people brought and you’d feel bad if you didn’t put slices from at least three of them on your plate.
The post dinner story telling where we all would sprawl on the couches, chairs, even the floor and laugh at the stories from prior year get-togethers.
Now my family is very different. My grandma passed away
several years ago and with her gone the family traditions changed as we all went our
separate ways to build new traditions.But
every year at this time I think back and share these stories with my own
children so that even though we’ve built our own traditions, they will always know
where it all started. From all of us here at Tropical Financial Credit Union we
wish you all health, happiness, and the creation of your own memorable Thanksgiving
with family and friends!
Happy Thanksgiving, ^Amy
The holiday season is upon us
which means it’s time for one of my favorite hobbies… shopping! I love the
thrill of retail therapy and if you give me a discount or a coupon, forget it,
I can spend hours online or in a store sorting through racks and finding great
deals.
But, are we always finding
the best deals? Since 2005, Black Friday has
become one of the biggest and busiest shopping days of the year. Each year the
store hours have opened earlier and earlier creeping into Thanksgiving Day.
People line up for hours to get the best deal on limited quantity. But, are you
really getting the bargain you think you are? Probably not!
Time for a new Plan Maybe it’s time to rethink your
holiday shopping strategy. According to many news articles these past few weeks
(including NerdWallet), Black Friday deals may not be the best deals. In fact,
if you were to compare Black Friday sale papers from last year to this year,
you will find a lot of the same sale items and pricing. For instance, in 2013and 2014 Target has had the Apple TV advertised in their Black Friday deals and
the price is still the same… $89.00.
Also, some companies are catching
on to the thrill of Black Friday and instead of lowering prices they are rising
them for Black Friday but giving you the idea that you are getting a deal.
Sneaky I know!
The best time to shop
Toys!So, for bargain hunters like
myself, when is the best time to shop so you can get the best price? According
to DailyFinance, the time is now! If you are looking for toy this holiday
season, the day before Thanksgiving is your best time to shop. December 8th
and 19th were second and third on the best days to shop list. Apparel!
Are you looking to get a new
wardrobe or maybe buy some much needed accessories? Cyber Monday is the best
day of shopping for you. If you can’t make it to the malls on December 1st,
try keeping December 11th and 18th free on your calendar
because the deals will be rolling out.
Electronics!
Every year people line up for
electronics with Black Friday. Sadly, we missed the best deals for electronics
it was November 1st. But, Black Friday will have some great deals as
will the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The nice thing about shopping the
Wednesday before Thanksgiving is you don’t need to camp out and be up at the
crack of dawn.
Happy Shopping!
There you have it, now make a list of the gifts you need,
create a strong budget and get to shopping. Oh and this year spend time making
memories with family on Thanksgiving instead of standing in lines.
When you think about your dream
vehicle what is the first thought that comes to mind? Is it the style of the
vehicle? Maybe you think about the color. Or is it the must-have features like leather interior you need to make it a dream come true? I am fortunate enough to already own
my dream car. A 1972 Chevelle. It’s navy blue with white stripes and while
it might not have all the bells and whistles of the modern cars of today, my
Chevelle is perfect to me. Finding your dream vehicle is easy
to do… paying for your dream vehicle now that’s another story. There are
ways to turn your dream into a reality and it all starts with the basics,
creating a budget. That can be in done in three easy steps. To learn those steps, check out today's Money Minute to get started and create the perfect budget so you can quit dreaming and start driving!
What was the very first
financial choice you ever made? Think about it.
It likely took place
before your first job, even as far back as when your annual income consisted
of Tooth Fairy money and
lucky pennies. The very first financial decision you ever made is also
one of the most important
choices, it’s where to keep your money.
When you first made that
decision, piggy banks, sock drawers, and “buried-in-the-sandbox-like pirate-treasure” all seemed like
perfectly acceptable options. As it turns out, they aren’t nearly as super-secret as you
might have hoped. Opening a bank account is the best solution, but in order to do that you first
need to choose a financial institution—and so the choice becomes “bank or credit union?”
Banks and credit unions
offer essentially the same products and services, but there are huge differences in the way
they operate. Despite this, many people put more thought into building their Netflix queue than
they do choosing their financial institution. It’s a Money Thing is here to help fill in the gaps and
show you how the differences can affect your dollars. Whether you’re just starting out or
rethinking your current financial setup, here is what you need to know.
The main difference
between banks and credit unions is in their structure. Banks are for profit, while credit unions are
member-owned and operated. This means that banks have numerous expenses that credit
unions simply don’t have. Banks have to pay their shareholders, their private investors, and even their board of directors (credit union boards are typically volunteers elected by credit union
members)—and all this is in addition to regular operating costs. Banks are set up in a way that
allows a select group of people to make money off of your banking activity.
Credit unions, on the
other hand, are set up in a way that allows all of its members to benefit from its profits. Once its
operating costs are covered and reserves are set aside, the profits are distributed back to
members in the form of free banking products, lower interest rates on loans and higher interest rates
on savings accounts. Credit unions in the United States are also exempt from federal and
state income taxes which translates to even more profit that comes back to members.
Credit unions sound pretty
great, right? You might be wondering why some people choose banks over credit unions,
even though credit unions consistently outperform banks when it comes to deposit and loan
rates and customer service.
The simple answer is that
banks are bigger, and some people believe bigger is better. A better approach is to find out
what your banking priorities are. Here are some factors to consider:
1)
Am I eligible for an account? Banks are open to anyone. Credit unions have
membership requirements, but don’t
let that intimidate you! Requirements can be as simple as living in a
certain community or
working in a certain field. For example if you live or work in Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach County - YOU ARE ELIGIBLE to join Tropical Financial Credit Union!
2)
How much does it cost to get set up? Are there any fees associated with opening an account? Is there a
minimum balance required? Joining a credit union involves purchasing a share (at Tropical Financial Credit Union it's only
$5), but this is different from a fee, it means that you’re a member-owner of the credit union.
3)
Will I have good access to ATMs? You might feel as though you see larger bank ATMs everywhere, but credit
union ATMs are just as accessible. In fact, the largest credit union ATM
network is actually larger
than the largest bank ATM network. Find out what other financial institutions share your
local credit union’s network. Free ATM transactions are not limited to machines with a particular
credit union name on them.
4)
What can I do online? More and more financial institutions are offering
online bankingservices. Find out what
you can do from your computer and smartphone. Can you check your balance? Schedule
payments? Transfer money between accounts? Taking advantage of online products can be super
convenient, and save you from taking a trip to the ATM or to the nearest branch. At Tropical Financial you can take your credit union with you wherever you go on your mobile device! With our mobile app you can deposit checks by taking a picture, check balances, transfer money and even add and pay your bills!
5)
And speaking of the nearest branch, where is it? Find out what the hours of operation are and how they work with
your schedule. Find out if you can bank through other branches, too. This could come in handy
if there’s a location close to work or school.
6)
What can my financial institution do for me? Ask about products that
are tailored to your
situation. How do the
interest rates compare to other financial institutions? Are there free products you’re eligible
for? Don’t settle for a financial institution just because you need an account. You should want
to have an account there, too. At Tropical Financial we have different checking accounts to fit different needs - for the 25 and under crowd there's the Gen Next checking set up with extra benefits for those just starting out.
At the end of the day,
choosing a financial institution is a personal decision with a huge influence on how you
manage your money and your time. If you take some time to ask questions and compare services, you’ll find the best home for your
finances.
