Make 2013 A Lucky One

Many cultures bring in the New Year in traditional ways to ensure that the coming year is a good one for their families.  Beyond the reflections of the previous year and the lists of resolutions, most of which fall to the wayside be February anyway, here’s a list of things gathered from other cultures that can help bring YOU luck for the coming year.

Start With What To Wear
It is said that you should wear white for good health and peace on New Year’s Eve and new clothes on New Year’s Day with red being the color of choice to help with a bright future.  In numerous cultures the color of your underwear will determine what’s in your future. Red means love and passion will be coming your way or if you’re all set in that department than try yellow which is said to bring the wearer wealth and happiness.

The Key To Good Luck Is Through The Stomach
It's all in the lentils with a tradition that started in Italy, but has been adopted by many other cultures. Eating lentils throughout the last day of the year will help the following year be filled with riches. Plus take a handful of uncooked lentils and throw them in your purse, briefcase, backpack or whatever you carry day to day and keep them there all year and money won’t be a problem. If you need a little more help in the monetary department, eating greens on New Years Eve are said to represent paper money coming your way, plus it’s just plain good for you.
One last food that you won’t want to do without is grapes. It is said you should eat 12 grapes for each chime of the clock at midnight to represent the 12 months of the coming yar. Each grape will bring sweetness and fortune for each of the 12 months of 2013.  In Portugal and Cuba those that follow this tradition also make a wish for each grape they eat and if they encounter a sour grape it is said that month will be a tough one.
In Greece they bake a loaf of bread with a coin in it and when it’s sliced, the person who gets the coin is said to be blessed with extra good luck.

Burn Baby Burn
Candles on New Year’s Eve holds meaning in Latin countries as a way to prosperity depending on the color of the candle. A yellow candle will help with your financial problems, while a green candle brings good health, a red candle brings love and passion, an orange candle for those who seek wisdom, and a blue candle will bring peace.
Another  tradition taken from the Latin culture is to write down everything that has caused you problems in 2012 before midnight and then burn the list to put it all behind you and start the year out fresh!
Another way to rid yourself of the suffering from 2012 is to throw a glass or bucket (depending on how many problems you’ve encountered) out into the street….maybe throw it on the fire you created when you were buring that huge list... it might give that water a little more purpose.

Money Money Money
It is said you should avoid lending money or paying any bills on New Years Day.   To  do so means you’ll be paying out all year. So if you use Tropical Financial BillPay, wait until the 2^nd to schedule or pay those bills.
It’s also a tradition in some countries to hold dollar bills in your hand at the stroke of midnight to bring financial prosperity in 2013, it should be your own money and keep in mind that the larger the denomination of those bills the better results!  To add to your financial luck, take a gold ring and drop it in the drink you plan to toast with at midnight.

Who Needs The Mistletoe?
Right here in the United States the tradition of kissing at midnight started and it started to purify everything that is evil. To miss the opportunity means a year of hard-heartedness.  If you’ve found your love, but they don’t know it, it is said that if you wrap a red ribbon around their picture and put it under your pillow that night you’ll find the love with that person you’ve been waiting for.  For those just looking, it is said that just after midnight you should sit down and stand up three times quickly…of course if anyone gives you a strange look just blame the champagne.

No matter what your traditions or beliefs, from all of us here at Tropical Financial Credit Union we wish you and your family a very happy, safe and prosperous New Year!!!

^Amy

Traditions listed here along with additional ones can be found at www.huffingtonpost.com , www.Bored.com,  www.atlastravelweb.com, ww.happywink.com , and www.123NewYear.com

Tropical Financial Saved The Day AND Dollars!

Steve with a very happy member, Chloe.

Credit Unions have been known to “serve the underserved”.  What is “underserved” and who are they?

Let me share a recent story of someone who, before visiting TFCU, was CLEARLY underserved. 

Chloe visited our branch first thing on a Saturday morning.  I unlocked the door -- she was waiting to come in.  She was all smiles and explained that she had just bought her first car and a friend told her she should come see us because we had low auto loan rates.

Chloe had all her documents with her.  She showed me the contract.  The first thing that JUMPED off the page was the VERY high double-digit interest rate.  We ran an NADA value and a CARFAX report on the vehicle and learned that she had overpaid $3,000 for her car and that the vehicle had been involved in an accident.  As much was we wanted to help her, we could not finance an amount that was 23% over the value of the vehicle or a vehicle that had been previously damaged.   

Chloe told me that the dealer had a 72hr “test drive” policy and that she could still return the car.  If that was the case, I recommended that she should do so.  I also referred her to Enterprise Car Sales (one of our trusted business alliances).  She visited Enterprise, found a vehicle and then went to return the vehicle she had originally purchased. 

Unfortunately, the car salesman had only “told” her that she could return and/or exchange the vehicle.  She had nothing in writing and, you guessed it…they would not take the car back.  Armed with the information about the actual value of the car and the CARFAX report, we were able to help her negotiate with the dealer for a return of the vehicle.  After several more issues, the dealer agreed to take the vehicle back and substitute a new qualifying vehicle saving Chloe an additional $2,000.

We completed an application and processed a 1^st time buyer loan for Chloe.  The interest rate that Chloe was able to get at our Credit Union was 12.30% less than the original dealer contract!!  We were able to reduce the payment by $140 AND we reduced the number of payments as well!

Chloe is, or WAS, the underserved.  She had never purchased a car nor had she ever applied for a loan.  She was at the mercy of an unscrupulous auto dealer.  Our TFCU mission is to “provide member-owners with valuable products, services, and education to help them achieve their financial goals”.  For Chloe, we had a great product (low interest rate auto loan), a great service (we helped her negotiate a much better deal), and we provided some guidance and education.  As a result, Chloe has a better automobile with very favorable financing and payments that she can live with!

Chloe chose a credit union.  She has learned that she can rely on our commitment to our members to serve them in the best way possible.  She knows that we will always work hard to build a strong relationship—she can count on us to help her achieve her financial goals today and in the future.

Chloe is now a life-time member…an ambassador!  She has already moved her banking relationship to Tropical Financial and has referred two friends and a family member.

We give the “underserved” what they “deserve”, great products, great service, and a commitment to help them achieve all of their financial goals!

^Steve

End Of The World?

According to the Mayan calendar today is the day our world ends….but besides cooler temperatures here in Florida and a few blizzards to the north, which also isn’t unusual this time of year, I’m not seeing the mass destruction that should accompany Armageddon.  Those who have been paying attention to the experts of the Mayan civilization know that today really is the last day of the Mayan long calendar, but just like the calendars that hang on our walls – it simply means it’s time to flip the page and start the calendar over.

SO, instead of looking at this as the last day of the world – let’s look at this as tomorrow being the FIRST day of the rest of our lives!

Now that we know the “sun will come up tomorrow” and with the holidays in full swing, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the last year and begin to think about what meaningful changes we can make in our lives for 2013 and beyond.  If you have been concerned about debt and how it is affecting you and your family, now is the perfect time to look at programs that are available to Tropical Financial members to help get your financial life on track and get balance back in your life.

The program, called Balance, offers Money Management Counseling, Housing Counseling, Credit Report Review, Debt Management, and even Identity Theft prevention and counseling.  The program counselors are people who really understand the problems and obstacles that people have had to endure with money management and will walk you through a program designed for your own situation.  For more information or to speak to a counselor check out the information on our Balance page at Tropicalfcu.com

From all of us here at Tropical Financial Credit Union we wish you and your family a very happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

^Amy

Community At The Global Level

The events of last Friday touched so many lives, well beyond the borders of Newtown, Connecticut.  This was an event that touched the hearts of millions of people around the world and together we mourn.  We mourn the innocence lost, we feel the struggle of the families who were directly affected, and each of us pulled our own families a little closer than ever before over the weekend.  We marvel at the heroism of those adults who threw themselves into danger without a thought of their own personal safety to protect the children in their care.

Over the weekend parents had to talk to their own children and answer some tough questions to best of their ability.  The “why” is the one that may never be known, but is probably the most asked.  Some parents kept the TVs off to try and protect their children only to go to the local stores and have the kids exposed to everyone talking about Friday’s events, speculating on the “why,” trying to make sense of a senseless act.  We want to protect our children with everything in us, and as one person here always says – she wants to fold her boys up and put them in her pocket to keep them safe.  We may not be able to put them in our pockets, but we can teach them that although we live in an imperfect world, there are still things we can do to be alert and report to authorities anything that is unusual at school or in the community. 

In the aftermath of this tragedy, the one thing that continues to amaze and give strength is the incredible outpouring of support from throughout the world.  We have become one community behind this one small town.  As employees of a credit union we know what it means to get behind our community, so every one of us here at Tropical Financial send our thoughts and support to all those affected by this tragedy in our global community; but especially to those directly affected in Newtown.

Today we begin another new day, renewed in the comfort that we are not alone.

^Amy

Change Is Never Easy

I’m sure you’ve noticed that our online banking has been going through some changes this past month, but I wanted to take a moment to explain some of the changes and why these changes are all happening now. One of the biggest changes is to increase the security of your account.  It may seem like a pain to make changes to your user id and password, but it’s important to understand that as more and more people use technology to do their banking that also means more, more criminals take to the Internet to commit their crimes. They are looking specifically for weaknesses in financial institution sites, so it’s important to us to make changes to keep them locked out and keep your money safe.

First if you have been using your account number as your “username” that’s the first thing you will need to change. You will be prompted to change it to a minimum of six characters and they can’t be just numbers, they should be made up of a combination of letters, numbers and the following special characters: @$*_-=! ~

                TIP: Sometimes it’s easier to create a user id and password that is unique and special to you and replace the letters of the word with numbers and special characters. For instance instead of a word like “password” it can be changed to “P@$$w0rd” Change the a to @ the s to $ and the letter o to the number zero. (please don’t actually use this as your username or password, it’s still too common). 

Your password will also need to meet new requirements – it must be six or more characters and also contain both letters, numbers and/or the same symbols allowed for your username.

After you’ve changed your username and password you will still need to go through one more new steps so our system can identify that it’s really you using that particular device. You will be asked to provide your land line or cellphone number for a phone you have with you and we will immediately send you an access code via voice or SMS text message – you tell us which you prefer.  We also can send you an email to the email address you have on file if you don’t have a phone with you if you select “I do not have access to a phone” during enrollment.  Once you get the access code, you can then enter that access code into your computer to complete the new login process. If the computer is one that is secure and one you use a lot you can choose the option of bypassing this step on the next login by selecting the option that it is private, but if you’re using a public computer or one you don’t usually use, you will not want to choose this option, but the next time you login from that computer you will need to go through this process again. You will also go through the same process for each new device you log on from.

                Tip: No matter what computer you’re using when EVER you’re conducting business online that requires you to enter any secure information like usernames/passwords/credit card info, etc. you should make sure to protect that site with Trusteer – the security software we offer TFCU members for free. Once downloaded on your computer make sure to click on the gray arrow in the upper right of the address bar and secure that website (click here for more information on how Trusteer works).

Once you’re logged into your account the top portion of the page will look different, and there will be some navigation changes:

Upper right hand corner

My Profile - Change your login credentials, update security contacts, maintain alerts and notifications, Update account nicknames, User Options – change email, email promotions, account nicknames, change postal address and change phone number (not for OTP)

HELP – view help text online

Support – how to contact us

Logout – ALWAYS use to log out of Online Banking properly

Main Navigation Bar

My Accounts – view your accounts, transaction history, check images, export transactions, make a transfer

Bill Pay –Save time and money Pay your Bills Online!

Move Money – Make a transfer, Schedule a transfer (one time or recurring)

Manage Money – Finance works and Turbo Tax

Additional Services – Mobile Banking Alerts, eStatements, TFCU Loan Payment Center, Tropical Mortgage, EZ Deposits, Products and Service - Reorder Checks, Account Opening,

Secure Forms – Cross Account Transfer, Account information update, Election to convert you existing checking account, Student checking

Credit Cards – Online Access to your Tropical Credit Card.

To put all these things into place you probably have noticed that we have had some downtime and I’m afraid this weekend, Saturday December 15^th, we will be down for one more upgrade. The change will start at 9pm on Saturday and again will last around 4 hours. During that time you won’t have access to your online banking, telephone banking (Homebranch), or mobile banking.

If you have questions about the process, check out the frequently asked questions about the new security changes.  We apologize for any inconveniences and we appreciate your understanding as we continue to work toward bringing you the best and most secure online banking experience possible!

^Amy

Doing It Right The First Time

Reviewing my checking account last week I noticed a charge for my satellite radio….I guess my free subscription with my new car had expired.  Unfortunately, I forgot how much I authorized them to charge my card and the timeframe it included when I gave them the info upon purchasing the car. 

I put off calling the company until I could speak to a representative without any interruptions. So, on the way home from work one evening I called from my car, using Bluetooth of course,  I called and was asked to press 1 for this and 2 for that for my language preference.   Then I was asked to press 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on and so on and so on for the purpose of my call.  The only fitting category was CANCEL my service.   I was immediately transferred to a customer listening representative.  Hannah was very friendly and reiterated several times that she would be happy to work with me if I decided to continue the subscription.  I love my satellite radio, but the holidays are around the corner and this was entirely too much to pay to listen to the radio! If worse came to worse I would ask my teenager to burn some music to a disc for me rather than pay out money that in my mind, was frivolous and unnecessary.

In the end, my subscription was extended at no charge and I am paid in full for a long, long time.  We exchanged pleasantries and I expressed my gratitude for her help in getting the package deal and economic pricing and wished her a nice evening.

Now, WHY do we have to call and discuss these things??  This is certainly not the only company that I have experienced this with, as a matter of fact; I am the spokesperson for half of my very large family when it comes to these types of issues.   In most cases, the issues/pricing/package deals etc.  are resolved very quickly and to my satisfaction.  I appreciate that, don’t get me wrong but if a better price is available, why not give it from the get go?

The time and energy I spent making the phone call and pleading my case was entirely unnecessary and very annoying to me.  Although it worked out, I prefer to do business with companies that do it right the first time!

Let’s get back to great customer service! Do business with companies that do things right the first time!

Do business with Tropical FCU, we are here for you and we are listening!

^Kat

'Tis The Season For Giving

We all have busy lives and especially this time of year we all seem to be busier than ever – but it’s also the season of giving,  Not just giving to family and friends, but also to our community – giving back.

So here’s a quick list of things you can do in your everyday life that can give back in subtle ways and won’t take up too much of your time:  

• Shop locally – yeah the prices may be a little higher than those giant stores, but it helps the local economy thereby helping us all.
• Donating money to a local charity. It doesn’t have to be much – even a dollar or change from a purchase can make a difference. Often retailers will have canisters next to the cash register; if it’s for a local charity it’s a perfect opportunity to share your change.
• Lots of businesses are collecting for various organizations, like cans of food or toys – just pick up an extra can of corn when you’re at the store and remember to drop it into that box next time. At Tropical Financial we just finished our canned food drive for Feeding South Florida, and had excellent participation from employees and members!
• Next time you go for a walk in your neighborhood, take a garbage bag and pick up any trash that might be lying around – you get the exercise AND help your neighborhood look nicer.
• How well do you know your neighbors? Do you know one that is elderly? Surprise them with a meal or a box of homemade cookies, it will warm your heart more than you can imagine.
• Have a Facebook account? Do a search of local charities then share one or two of your favorites on your own wall and ask your friends to go like that charities page – it will help raise their awareness and give them new people to share events with.
• Are you a dog lover? Check with your local shelter to see if you can volunteer to help take some of the dogs for walks on a Saturday.
• If you have a little more time, stop by a nursing home or assisted living facility and volunteer to read to some of the residents.
• Pay it forward - Do something unexpected and nice for a stranger, like buy a cup of coffee for the person standing in line behind you or pay the toll for the car behind you and ask the attendant to give that person a message from you  to continue to pay it forward....that is if you can find a toll booth that still has an attendant ;-)
• And last, but not least, share this list with others so we can all do our part this holiday season  to brighten the lives of others in our community!

Happy Holidays!

^Amy

Fall Means HOLIDAYS!

Here it is already fall, although in South Florida we usually don’t even notice the seasons.  For us it’s either hot or cold!  Like the last few weeks the temperature dropped a few degrees and we were dressed in sweaters and boots and feeling chilly…

It is the time of year when we can open our windows and let the fresh, cool air blow through our previously air-conditioned homes.  Maybe even gets us in the mood for cleaning, - or not!   Arts & Crafts Fairs pop up throughout the county and going with the girls and buying the handmade artifacts, is so much fun.   South Floridians truly enjoy fall weekends because it seems like there is always something to do.   Holiday decorations are displayed everywhere, cinnamon scents wafting through the air encouraging us to indulge in the purchase of sweets, mmmm!  Guess what folks, the holidays are here! 

This year we will have relatives coming to visit from the north and from "across the pond," we are preparing for a very large and happy holiday with a few more seats at our very long family table.  These relatives first visited us in January of this year after finding each other through the magic of Facebook.  They came bearing gifts for each and every one of us –children and spouses, included!

I have begun my shopping and I am relying on the TFCU FinanceWorks to help me stay within my holiday budget.  I do not want to overspend, but I want our “new” family members to feel welcome and perhaps take them to a few famous sights as well as invite them to a nice dinner out with some of the family – not all 25 of us – pulleeezzee…

With the FinanceWorks budgeting feature I can set up a budget and keep tabs on how I’m doing by simply signing on to Online Banking – everything appears on the opening page and when I see that round graph, I get an at-a-glance check of how much I’ve spent.   FinanceWorks is a tool that TFCU offers through Online Banking at no cost, that’s right, a Quicken financial management product at no cost to TFCU members through Online Banking.

Log on to your account to check out FinanceWorks through your online banking account for yourself – there is even a demo you can watch.  You’ll be able to set up goals and a budget.  You can also add other accounts including credit cards, your 401K and your kids accounts, you can keep track of all your finances in one place. You can even set up weekly emails to let you see how you're doing or alerts if you fall below thresholds that you set.  It's like having a full time assistant at no cost lol!  Let FinanceWorks do all the work and help you get through your shopping this holiday without getting you in over your head. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

^Kat

Still Shopping?

Black Friday, Cyber Monday and even the newer Cyber Tuesday have all passed and some of us can sit back drinking eggnog knowing our holiday shopping is done.  But for others who avoided the insanity, or for those who simply are the procrastinators, fear not – there are still deals to be had! The trick is knowing the best time to buy for WHAT you’re looking for. Savings.com recently released a handy calendar giving you the best dates to buy particular items for 2012 – definitely worth a look!

In the meantime, now is the perfect time to start saving for NEXT year…I know it seems a bit premature, but the sooner you start saving the more your budget will thank you.  Just this week WSVN Channel 7 news visited us to share the TFCU Holiday Club account with their viewers for their Money Monday special report.

The beauty of the Holiday Club Account is that you don’t have to do anything more than determine how much you want to save, and when you want it saved.  Tropical does the rest.  You don’t even have to worry about making sure the money is available when you need it in November and December.  In October, the account automatically moves the cash from the Holiday Club account to your Checking or Savings account (whichever you prefer).   The funds are available to you at any time in the year! 

Check out what I learned about how one of our members uses the Holiday Club Account.  This member has transformed the Holiday Club Account into an art.  This is what they told me:

“I put money aside each paycheck.  By the time May comes around, I have enough saved up to pay for my kids summer camp fees.  In June and July, I am able save more which I use for back to school expenses like uniforms and school supplies.  Then from August-December I save for Christmas.  I use the amount set aside as my budget for the holiday shopping.  I have done this for the past five years.  I started because I got tired of these big expenses “creeping” up on me each year.  I found myself scrambling to get all of these expenses taken care of, knowing fully that I was spending mindlessly all year long.  Now I don’t even notice the money taken from each paycheck, we learned to manage without it and we are OH SO thankful that when we need the money, voila!  There it is!”

As you can see, this member has perfected the art of saving and is using the Holiday Club account to pay for all of the “big” expenses.  Imagine how you could save a little bit each paycheck and then get a BIG payoff!   All you have to worry about now, is which stores and websites have the best deals and when you need to go there! Even if you hadn’t made use of one this year, don’t despair – there’s ALWAYS time to get started, but the first step is to get into a branch or go online and open your account TODAY!

 

My favorite advice? Use your TFCU Visa to pay for all your purchases and then pay the credit card right off with your Holiday Club savings, that way you get the credit card points and still don’t overspend! Best of both worlds!

^Amy

Hit The Reset Button: Say Thank You

Michael McCullough, a professor of psychology at the University of Miami says that counting your blessings and giving thanks can make you happier.  He further states that “it makes you happier and can change your attitude about life, like an emotional reset button.”

Scientists have also determined that gratitude works to reduce stress.  There are a lot of theories about brain chemistry, hormones, and neurotransmitters.  The bottom line is that it works!  Saying thank you is the way we acknowledge another person’s kindness.  The reset button slows us down, gives us the opportunity to enjoy the thoughtfulness and consideration of others.  It also gives us the opportunity to make someone feel noticed and feel happy.

Thanksgiving is a day for reflection on all of the things that we are thankful for.  Professor McCullough and his colleagues must be right.  Once we get into the Thanksgiving mood, we tend to be happier, nicer, more polite, more forgiving, and more accepting.  This euphoria carries through the entire holiday season.  Makes you wonder if our Ho-Ho-Ho’s are directly related to our Thanksgiving!

There is a focus on Thanksgiving as our day to give thanks, but in reality, we have reasons to be thankful every day.  Gratitude and giving thanks helps us focus on the positive things in our lives and positive thoughts produce positive outcomes.  Even in adversity, we can find ways to be positive and be thankful.  Recently ^Kat wrote a blog about her sister beating cancer.  Instead of focusing on the negative, family and friends rallied together to create a positive environment that helped bring about her sister’s recovery.  I am sure that everyone can relate to a similar story in their lives.  Having friends and family to help us get through the tough times is truly something to be thankful for.

The eastern seaboard along with 6 other countries was devastated by Hurricane Sandy.  This massive storm was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record with a diameter spanning 1,100 miles.  But even in the wake of the storm we saw individuals and communities coming together to help those affected by the storm. 

We Floridians know all to well how it feels to have been in the path of destruction.  We also know how marvelous it is to pitch in and help others, and although we don’t do it for the “thank you”, those that are receiving the assistance need to say thank you—because saying thank you makes them happier, it makes them feel better…it pushes their emotional reset button!

This year let’s focus on Thanksgiving as more than just football, parades, and a great meal.  This year on Thanksgiving, let’s express our gratitude for the kindness shown by friends and family.   Let’s push the reset button as many times as we can and then let’s remember to press it as often as we can throughout the year!  So let me be the first to say "Thank You" to all our members for being a part of the Tropical Financial family - Happy Thanksgiving to all!

^Steve

Black Friday Survival Guide

As Thanksgiving approaches, the focus shifts from pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns and costumes to turkey, pumpkin pie, and family.  These are all happy thoughts and they make you feel warm and fuzzy.  But while the turkey tryptophan is beginning to take hold making you sleepy, you grab the nearest energy drink to get prepared for the impending mayhem known as “Black Friday.”

Back in the “good ole’ days” Black Friday madness began in the wee hours (meaning around 6am) Friday morning, but as more and more savvy shoppers have joined in the ritual the stores have begun opening earlier and earlier to the point where some never even close on Thanksgiving.  That makes it all the more important to be prepared as you plot your course for the day.  Steve and I got together and put together a list that we have found to be helpful in our own preparations:

1)      Make A ListCreate your list with a budget and STICK TO IT.  If you’ve been saving throughout the year with the Tropical Financial Holiday Club account, make sure to withdraw the money before Friday so you’re ready! If you haven’t, now is as good a time as any to start saving for next year to avoid putting unplanned purchases on credit cards and spending more than you intended.

2)      Check Your MailboxAs your mailbox fills with all those exciting offers, pay attention to the ones that match your shopping list.

3)      Go MobileMore and more apps are being created specifically to help you map out your Black Friday shopping experience, some with special promotions; do a search in your app store and read the reviews before choosing the one that works for you

4)      Cash Is KingOnce you have your list and have allocated how much you’re spending, when you take cash you aren’t tempted to spend more than you budgeted. BUT if you are taking cash, make sure you are keeping it in a safe place, like a fanny pack that sits around your waist and access is in front of you. I know they aren’t the most fashionable, but let’s face it Black Friday is a day of functionality, not fashion.

5)      Be ComfortableWear loose fitting clothes, along with your most comfortable shoes.  But please, do everyone a favor and leave the pajama pants at home, they may be comfortable, but ya gotta draw the line somewhere.

6)      Don’t Shop & DriveIf you’re lucky enough to have a friend/spouse who refuses to go shopping, but is willing to drive and drop you off you can avoid the stress of finding a parking spot.  Parking is often the first step in the stress for the day and if you can avoid that one, the rest of the day is oh so much easier. I’ve even known those who will take a cab, especially if their plan is stay at a mall all day; in the end it just might be worth it.

7)      SMILE SMILE SMILEBlack Friday IS one of the most stressful shopping days of the year, BUT it also can be a lot of fun. Remember to smile and breathe – the calmer you are the more enjoyable the experience will be, plus smiles can be contagious and you might just be helpful to another by sharing a smile.

8)      Block The NoiseA good friend of mine once told me she clips on her iPod before heading into a store, playing classical and holiday music. It blocks out the noise of the store and keeps her smiling through the day (see #6) – I think that’s brilliant and this year I will be giving it a try.

9)      Don’t Go HungryBlack Friday shopping is hard work – and requires plenty of energy to get you through the day. Smart shoppers make sure to pack a few protein bars, trail mix, raisins, or some other small snack that packs energy. Try to avoid too much to drink with it, nothing worse than needing a bathroom break while standing in line for that 52” TV you’ve been waiting 3 hours for!

10)   Stay Home

Yup, you heard me, skip Black Friday altogether and wait for the second biggest shopping day: Cyber Monday – where you can do all your shopping from the comfort of your home AND where pajamas are perfectly accepted attire.

^Steve and Amy

Help Feed South Florida

Imagine a time when you’ve been hungry, REALLY hungry.  Now imagine if you or someone you loved felt that every day.  We think of our country as being one of the richest nations in the world, yet there are still US citizens that feel the pain of hunger every day.  The fact is that 49 Million Americans are at risk of hunger*.  The good news is that we can help.

Right here there is an organization called, Feeding South Florida.  Their mission is simple: Feed South Florida’s hungry in order to improve their lives.  They do it by distributing food through a network of not-for-profit organizations, educating the public about the issue, and engaging the community in the fight to end hunger.  One of the biggest differences between this and other organizations is that it is local. All collections go to the aid of people living in West Palm, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties…our neighbors.  At Tropical Financial Credit Union we have been collecting food over the past several weeks to donate to this organization in time for the holidays.

If you would like to help, you can drop off your donation to any TFCU branch between now and Monday, November 19^th.

Recommended Food Donations:
      ● Canned meats (tuna, chicken)                    ● Rice & Beans (dry or canned)
     ● Canned Fruits & Vegetables                       ● Canned Soups & Meals
     ● Pasta Meals (ravioli, mac n' cheese)         ● Plastic jars of peanut butter & jelly

To give you an idea of how far this organization can make your donations go, for every dollar donated, Feeding South Florida can distribute 7 pounds of food and grocery item and out of each dollar, 98.4 cents goes directly to feed the hungry. 

So as we gather our families together this Thanksgiving, in addition for giving thanks for what you have, please consider helping us help others in our community have something to be thankful for - going without hunger instead of without food.

^Amy

*2009 USDA

Thank A Soldier

When I was a kid I used to marvel at the big display case over the fireplace at my dad’s house. It’s where he displayed all his medals from his army days. I’m very proud of my dad – he fought in World War 2 and was honored with numerous medals, including the Silver Medal awarded directly from General George S. Patton for bravery.  He was always a living “Captain America” to me.  One thing my dad used to tell me all the time was that freedom was never really free. There are brave men and women in this country who continue to put their lives on the line in support of this great country and the principles we believe in. On Sunday, November 11^th we will be honoring those great men and women.

Veteran’s Day was first recognized for the cession of fighting during World War 1 – on the 11^th day of the 11^th month in 1918.  The date officially became a holiday in 1938, this year it will be recognized as a federal holiday on Monday, November 12^th so all the branches of Tropical Financial will be closed.  Even though there were several years that the date changed, it has always had the same significance: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

At Tropical Financial Credit Union, employees get together around this time of year and donate time and resources to Forgotten Soldiers, an organization whose purpose is to send care packages and letters of encouragement to our deployed soldiers.  It takes only a few minutes to write a letter and anyone can do it, so I encourage everyone reading this to take a few extra minutes and thank a soldier.

My father passed away four years ago, but in his honor I have been writing letters to active duty soldiers to let them know what they are doing for our great nation will not be forgotten. 

^Amy 

An October Oreo

A few weeks ago, one of our bloggers, Kat, used a term I hadn’t heard before to describe being in the middle of caring for children and caring for aging parents – Oreo.  Ironically shortly after posting that blog I got a huge dose of exactly what it meant to be inside the Oreo.

My mom, who recently moved to SE Florida to be closer to our family, had a series of falls that triggered a hospital stay and a requirement for her to move into an assisted living facility.  In the course of four days I had to research, visit and choose a place for my mom AND move her in.  It has been one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do. My son even flew down from Michigan to help because it was so overwhelming.  Together we had to pare down her 74 years of belongings to fit into one small bedroom.  I knew she wasn’t going to be happy, but for the first time in my life I had to be a parent to my mom to keep her safe. 

My mom has always been a very responsible person – she has plans for after she passes, making sure that her family doesn’t have to worry about planning a funeral or paying for final expenses.  But what she didn’t consider is what would happen if she could no longer care for herself.

The costs for long-term care facilities, like assisted living or skilled-nursing homes, can be extremely expensive going way beyond what would be covered by medical insurance or Medicare.  What is needed is something to fill the gap, like Long Term Care insurance.  Many people don’t see the value in purchasing Long-term care insurance, until it is too late. However, over 42% of people will need some form of care at age 65¹.  That is a big number.  The need for Long-term care planning is real. The best thing we can do is educate ourselves on the risks and the options available.  At Tropical Financial we partner with CUNA Mutual Group to offer guidance on this widely misunderstood topic. November is Long-Term Care Awareness month, so that is even more reason to look into this important topic today. 

Looking back a few years, when my mom took care of her final arrangements, I wish someone had told us about looking into Long Term Care insurance.  Maybe then being inside the “Oreo” would be much more comforting…like an Oreo should be.

^Amy

¹ Source:  American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, 2012-2013 LTCI Sourcebook, www.aaltci.org

Elect To Be In Control Of Your Finances

The clock is ticking its way to election day and you've probably noticed a steady stream of voters at area polling places casting early ballots.  Once the media attention shifts away from hurricane Sandy and back to politics, there will be no escaping the ads and commentary right through to the final tallies.  For so many of us, elections foster a sense of pride. They are empowering and a true sign of democracy in action.  Yet it's not uncommon for those feelings to give way to a feeling of futility, begging unanswerable questions like, does my vote really matter? It can leave you feeling insignificant and powerless, vulnerable to the will of others who you perceive to have more power or greater influence than you.

Take heart. You are powerful and influential. You are a member of the credit union. You have control over your finances and access to the best rates, plans and programs available.  As a member your vote is counted as a single vote in every election, not lumped into a geographic area where a representative of the plurality casts a vote. No, I'm not sure what that means, either. But it sounds like my single vote doesn't hold much weight. That's how we elect a president in the United States - by an electoral college. But that's not how you, a member of a credit union, elect your board of directors. At a credit union, it's one person, one vote. It doesn't matter if you have $20 dollars in your account and use just one service. You get one vote. It doesn't matter if you have $200 million dollars and use every service available. You get one vote. It's an even playing field where membership has its privileges, not where the privileged have membership.

By becoming a credit union member, you have cast your vote to take control of your finances, have a say in how your money works for the good of the members. Bank board members are elected by share holders, not the regular guy with a savings account and an ATM card. Not by the working Mom with a car loan trying to make a nice life for her family. 

Feel empowered and know that you matter. When you go to cast your ballot in this year's election, do so with pride that you have already made a good choice for you and your financial future. And although your national vote will be a small voice among the masses, you took the opportunity to have a say, to participate, because that's what credit union members do, they have their say.

^TFCU

Trick-Or-Treat Time

The traditions of Halloween and trick-or-treating actually date back to more than 2,000 years ago when the Celtics would gather together for a huge bonfire wearing costumes and making sacrifices to mark the end of the summer and harvest seasons and prepare for the coming of the cold winter. Over the years the traditions evolved and were influenced by Rome and Christianity and eventually made their way to the United States where Halloween has become more of a children’s-focused holiday.

Halloween is truly paradise to young children.   Think back to your own childhood.  The costume was everything - you spent eternity thinking about it, making sure to consult your friends so you didn’t wear the same thing.  There were parties in school and at your friend’s homes, but the final event that everyone looked forward to was the trick-or-treating. You plotted your route to get to the most houses in the allotted time period and made sure that your bag was big enough to carry all the candy you were sure to bring home. 

Today I’m a grandpa and things haven’t changed much.  My grandchildren (ages 4 and 2) have been talking about trick-or-treating all month!  They began their Halloween celebration deciding what costumes they would wear.  They chose Buz Lightyear and Cinderella - perfect choices!

As adults we love watching our children and grandchildren follow the same routines and show the same excitement we did as kids.  At the same time we now have a new understanding why our parents insisted on taking flashlights, going with us when trick-or-treating and going through the candy at the end of the night before letting us eat any of it.

Here are a few simple steps that I've learned over the years to help make your Halloween fun and safe:

• Make sure the kids have something to eat before going out trick-or-treating, so they won’t try and snack on their goodies before they get home and you get a chance to inspect their bag.
• Make sure to take a flashlight to see where you’re going and put reflective tape on the kids’ costumes so others can see them.
•  If you use any makeup, make sure to test the makeup beforehand to make sure that there won’t be any allergic reactions. Also make sure to remove makeup before bedtime to prevent breakouts.
• Tell the kids not to take unwrapped or homemade treats, or if they do take them, make sure to discard these things when you get home.
• Candles are used a lot for decorations on Halloween night, just remind the kids not to walk too closely to anything with an open flame, especially if the kids have flowing costumes.  It also helps to look for flame resistant costumes when shopping, just to be on the safe side.
• Make sure to walk with the kids and once they insist they are old enough, make sure you know the group they are going with, remind them to always stay together, use cross-walks when crossing streets, and also ask for them to tell you the route the group plans on walking.
• When inspecting the goodies at the end of the night, throw away anything that isn’t commercially wrapped or where the packaging is damaged.  Also if the children are very young look for things that could be a choking hazard like peanuts, gumballs, or small hard candies and discard them as well.

Following these simple steps can help you and your family enjoy a safe holiday.

From all of us here at Tropical Financial Credit Union: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

^Steve