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

Taking Steps to Beat Cancer

Tropical Financial employees who volunteered
to walk in the Komen Race For The Cure event
in Miami on Oct. 20th

This post is dedicated to my sister, a cancer survivor, and to everyone who walked or in their own way supported the annual Race for the Cure at Bayfront Park in Miami.  Here's my motivation:

It's  a phone call I'll never forget. It was my sister.

My phone rang while I was driving to the gas station.  She, who rarely calls, said, "I have breast cancer and need to have a double mastectomy as soon as possible.  Can you go with me tomorrow to the surgeon?" Somehow, I don't know how, managing to stay calm I said, "Of course, of course I will go with you." Then she recited what the doctors had told her. I don’t think she really understood a single word. She seemed to be mimicking the medical-speak, like a parrot. I must confess, after I heard the word cancer, I didn't hear much more myself. 

As a very emotional person, I knew I needed to prepare myself to meet with my sister and her doctor.  I was determined to be the calm one and ask the intelligent questions and support her in every way I possibly could.  Was that tough!   Thankfully Dr. Marc is a very sweet, genuine and caring young man.  He held our hands and hugged us through the tears.   He coaxed us into asking questions, writing things down, he understood – his Mom had the same type of cancer 30 years ago – and she’s still alive and doing very well!

The surgery was performed a few months ago and she is back on the road to recovery.  Thankfully, no chemo, no radiation, just a few more surgeries.   She is a very busy administrator for a very large firm headquartered in Miami, mother of three in three different schools, Sunday School teacher, wife and volunteer.  Friends, family and coworkers rallied around her like we’ve never seen before.  Every night for six weeks someone came over with a home-cooked meal. There were casseroles and baked chicken, sometimes Chinese or take out for the entire family.  On some weekends a family friend came over to make breakfast! Prayers were offered up in every religion and house of worship, friends that we haven’t seen in ages called and sent words of encouragement and others visited.

It really does  take a village to raise a family.  Our family has learned it takes a village to help a family heal. 

Over the past few years cancer has touched our Tropical family and it has touched someone in almost every family in one way or another.  Gather with your village of friends, family and coworkers.  Be thankful for your health and theirs! 

Thank you, everyone! Your support makes all of us strong and helps us all know that when that phone call comes, we will be strong enough to accept the help offered by the village.

^Kat

Myths of Buying Rental Cars

Back in 2005 I bought a new car – not just any new car, the brand new 2005 Ford Mustang – the first year of the retro design.  It was gorgeous, beautiful candy apple red with black interior and when I drove that baby people just got out of my way...except for that cop that issued me my first ticket ever, only two weeks after I got the car. I loved everything about that car, until the gas prices started to soar. Four years later it was costing me nearly $50 to fill the tank and I was filling it close to two times a week!  It didn’t take many months of watching the money pour into the gas tank that I made a decision to trade the car in for a more fuel-efficient model.

That’s when I learned about Enterprise Car Sales.  I had always steered clear of buying used rental cars, I was sure they couldn’t possibly be good cars…after all people who rent cars just beat them up, and who wants to buy an abused car?  Then I spoke to a woman who only bought cars from Enterprise Car Sales and I learned how my perception was completely wrong.

The reality is that Enterprise cars go through a stringent inspection process and they keep only the best cars for resale through their own program. The rest go to auction and many end up on used car lots...the very same lots I used to think were better places to buy used cars.  Plus Enterprise cars are maintained at a much higher level than the general public would maintain their own cars and most have less than 40,000 miles when they are sold. 

So back in 2009 I traded my Mustang for a 2007 Toyota Prius at an Enterprise Car Sale through my credit union. This car may not be as sleek as that Mustang, but I get more questions and comments about it than I ever did with the Mustang, I’m averaging 45 miles/gallon (city and hwy),  plus I’ve had fewer problems than any car I’ve ever owned…AND no tickets.

If you’re in the market for a car – take a look at Enterprise Car Sales through Tropical Financial. We are holding a special event this Saturday at our Miami branch where Enterprise will have 30-50 cars at the branch for a sales event between 9am – 2pm.  If you're not available this Saturday they have  local lots along with a website to search for the kind of car you want. 

Either way,  I can tell you from personal experience that buying through Enterprise Car Sales and financing it through the credit union is definitely a WIN-WIN!

^Amy

Buying And Selling A Home?

I just moved down to Florida a year ago.  Moving your family out of state is an incredibly taxing and stressful event, add to that starting a new job and a daughter moving into a new high school in the middle of her sophomore year, drama is sure to unfold.

The original plan was to rent an apartment in the city where my daughter’s school was located, until we could sell the house back home. Unfortunately, like so many others we were underwater on our old house and the neighborhood wasn’t selling very well.  So we made the decision to see if we could buy a home down here and rent back in Michigan.  So the search began.

The first stop in the process was to find out exactly how much home we could afford – there’s nothing worse than falling in love with something and then finding out you can’t afford it.  Getting pre-approved would also let any potential sellers know that I was a serious buyer.  Next was the fun part – looking through the MLS listings online.  At Tropical Financial we now have a program called CU Realty where you can not only look thorough MLS listings, but also gather important neighborhood information AND find a trusted realtor once you’re ready to start visiting your potential new homes.

The CU Realty program also offers something else that is unique and incredibly helpful – CU Rewards Dollars to help you with your closing costs. As long as you use one of the approved CU Realty real estate agents, the Rewards Dollars can be applied to your closing costs…and the dollars can be significant. 

Here’s a sample of what your savings could be:

Those dollars works both ways, whether you’re buying OR selling your home.  There are also realtors all over the country, so in my case I have contacted a realtor up in Michigan through the program who will be working with me to sell my house back there.  Once the house is sold the CU Rewards Dollars will work basically as a discount on the agent’s commission, which will be very helpful in an underwater home sale.

So whether you’re buying, selling or both it’s good to know that the credit union is there every step of the way!

^Amy

Mid-life Mortgages

Just when we were approaching the last few years of mortgage payments, just when we thought we were almost “home-free” and just when we were ready to start planning a little mortgage burning ceremony…BAM the roof springs a leak. 

At first they were just little patches, $250 here, $300 there.  Then those little patches grew to $500 or more and our roof repairman decided he couldn’t do it anymore and said those dreaded words, “it’s time you get a new roof.”   We took it in stride and spent several hours on the phone talking to friends, relatives and neighbors about a reputable roofing company.  We made several appointments for estimates – and several were broken or even worse, complete no-shows…how frustrating!

Many estimates later, we came to the shocking realization that a new roof was very expensive and that there is no such thing as a roof lay-away plan.  So, we choose the roofer we felt was the most reliable and after checking his credentials we made arrangements to get started.  Our contractor  told us not to worry, that they simply need a third of the money to get started, then next week another third and when they finished – in about three weeks –  the remaining third…oh sure, let me just get my purse now!!!

Luckily we are members of Tropical Financial Credit Union and we knew the mortgage rates were very low and we would most likely qualify for a refinance since we had lots of equity in our 20+ year old home.    While in the process of gathering information for our refinance, our air-conditioner took its last breath so now we needed several more thousands of dollars…We called Tropical and spoke to a Mortgage specialist and decided to refinance all the remaining payments and get enough money to pay for the roof and a/c, plus we asked for a few thousand extra for leeway. 

We now have a brand new, Spanish tile roof, a brand new energy efficient state-of-the-art air conditioner and just for the heck of it we decided to throw in a new driveway and a washer/dryer as well!  To top it off, with the left over money we are looking into getting hurricane proof windows , I know we’re a pretty crazy couple!

Our monthly mortgage payments have dropped significantly, our electricity bill has dropped a few hundred dollars a month and the value of our home has greatly increased;  not to mention it is a much safer home now. 

The mortgage process was so much easier this time than it was twenty years ago.  Back then I remember it being a very frightening experience, but this time my credit union was on my side making it a smooth and simple process.  So if little home fix-its start piling up and it feels like all you’re doing is working for your house, talk to a mortgage professional to see if they can help make your house work for you!

^Kat

Time For A Vacation?

As this was a short work week thanks to Columbus Day on Monday, it got me thinking about the importance of vacations.  After several years of planning, we finally did it… we took a long awaited vacation.  A week long cruise to the Caribbean was exactly what the Doctor ordered, but it wasn’t an easy decision to make. 

Overthinking has been my problem for the past several years.   My husband and I are what I like to call inside the Oreo.  We have teens and young adults in our homes and we have the elderly folks that are also living with us or nearby.  We are in the middle worried about the kids, worried about the parents, worried about ourselves and our futures.  We think twice before leaving town… will the folks be okay, will the pets be fed, will the kids have parties, or will the police be called?  Will the house even be standing??

Not unlike most Americans, the economy took its toll on our household, so we had to cut back and we have economized. The frills are gone, the dinners out are minimal, the weekend getaways are non-existent.  Through all of this, we are still preparing for our retirement; still contributing to our 401k, still putting away a little bit for our old age, still hoping Social Security will provide a stipend for us when we retire.

Because of my little habit of over analyzing everything, five years have passed since we’ve taken a real vacation.  That ended a few weeks ago when we threw caution to the wind and booked a cruise using our new Tropical Financial credit card.  We normally do not do this type of thing; we simply do not buy if we do not have the cash.  This time, though, we knew we would probably spend another five years vacation-less, so we made the move.  

We did it, we relaxed, we played, we met interesting people, and went to interesting places.  Sitting by the pool listening to calypso music sipping an umbrella garnished margarita…, dancing to salsa music in the club and relaxing in the ship's park,  awash in the evening moonlight enjoying the violinist and almost dozing off without a care in the world. 

^Kat

p.s. the house is still standing, the pets are healthy and happy and the police were never called…

Don't Worry, Be Happy...Use BillPay



Following a few simple steps can make the difference
between an enjoyable vacation...and disaster



I love to travel…well actually it’s the destinations I love. My husband and I just returned from a week-long getaway to our favorite place on earth – the Bahamas.  It’s become our home away from home, and as former Michiganders a little tropical warmth just before the chill of winter set in was always the armor we needed to make it through.  I was worried that when we moved down here to southern Florida, our trip to the Bahamas wouldn’t be as special; but I was wrong – it was more special than ever, made even more special because we were joined by some good friends from Michigan.

Planning for a vacation is always tedious, and amongst the list of watering plants, giving family emergency numbers, or buying the extra dog food; there are always the financial to-dos you don’t want to miss.  Below I’ve outlined a few important steps that I have found very useful over the past few years along with a few MIS-steps that have caused problems.

• Step 1 – No matter where you go, make sure to contact your credit card AND debit card providers to let them know your travel dates  AND destinations so there will be no embarrassing interruptions to utilizing these cards. ALSO if you’re traveling internationally find out if your credit cards adds fees for currency conversion as well as if that country is blocked from debit card use (call us at 888-261-8328 to find out a current list of blocked countries before you go)
• MIS-Step 1 – If you fail to notify your credit/debit card providers before you go, AT LEAST have a way for them to contact you so you can tell them WHILE you’re on vacation…and if you’re traveling internationally it will cost ya!
• Step 2 – Use online BillPay to schedule payments while you’re gone.   It’s fast, simple and it's easy.  If you don’t currently use BillPay, and you take vacations, sign up for this handy tool before you take your next vacation - you’ll see what I mean.
•  MIS-step 2 – If you don’t use online BillPay scheduler, then please make sure you write out the checks, buy stamps, and mail those payments in BEFORE you leave for vacation (especially if you’re going on a cruise…not a lot of post offices on the ocean).  OR if you think you can beat the system and pay the bills via phone, AND you happen to be traveling internationally make sure to buy an international phone plan. If not you may find that your phone bill to make those payments cost more than the late fees for the bills!
• Step 3 – Contact the post office and request that your mail be held for the duration of your trip. OR if you have a neighbor you’re close with, ask them to pick it up for you, which will save the time it takes to go to the local post office and pick it up from them when you return.
• Mis-Step 3 – Do nothing about your mail and come back to an overflowing mailbox and a nasty note from the mail carrier…okay so this one isn’t financial, but after just experiencing it, I thought it was worth mentioning.
• Step 4 – Don't Worry, Be Happy! 
• MIS-Step 4 – As long as you follow the first few steps, there will be no more MIS-steps! 

^Amy

Giving IS Receiving

Ask around, people will gladly tell you that they and the company they work for are committed to “giving back to the community.”       

What is that? How does that work?  Giving back…what does it mean?

If you are “giving back”, does it mean that you took something to begin with?  What do we take and what do we give back?

We take a lot for granted.  We open a business in a community and we expect the residents to come flocking in and make us successful.  When that does happen, how do we repay?  We give back to the community!

At Tropical Financial Credit Union, we believe that giving back to the community is more than just writing a check to support an event.  Yes, funding is what is ultimately needed to promote community programs and activities; but what about volunteering our time?  Giving back a bit of YOU?  That is truly giving back to the community.

For several years, Tropical has sponsored an event that highlights the food-service businesses and restaurants in our community.  As a corporate citizen, we support the event financially, but that’s not all.  I took it upon myself to represent Tropical AND myself as a part of the committee that organizes, promotes, and delivers an event that puts businesses in the spotlight and connects them to their customers.

That’s what Tropical and I do together to support our community and the businesses in our community.

How do you support your community? You eat at a local pizza joint, you use a local dry-cleaner, you take your pet to the local groomer, and you take your car to the local mechanic.  You may also give time to a charity or coach an athletic team.  This month is breast cancer awareness month, so perhaps you have pledged funds to a participant in a walk or are participating in walk yourself. 

Is it better to give than to receive? Or is giving also receiving?  When you give of yourself you always get more than you give!

^Steve

Save A Sparkle In October

Tropical Financial employees Diana, Amy,
Marylen and CEO Rich Helber all supporting
Breast Cancer  Research by wearing jeans.

October means a lot of things to a lot of people – pumpkins, Halloween, football, and even getting ready for the holidays. It’s also an important month in the fight against breast cancer.  October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

I thought I was lucky – I’m pretty healthy and have no family history of cancer, so breast cancer wasn’t anything I had to worry about.  Then I met Tiffany, a beautiful young mother of four young boys whom I worked with at my last job.  She was only 28, but had already accomplished so much and had a sparkle about her that you just couldn’t resist.  One day, out of the blue, her sparkle seemed to fade and I learned she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.  At first she wanted to keep it a secret, so very few people knew anything was wrong; beyond the exhaustion young working moms often experienced.  As time went on and the prognosis got worse she opened up about her illness and immediately her co-workers, friends, family, even many members wanted to help.

We started a program called Team Tiffany to allow anyone to donate to her and her family.  Within just one month Team Tiffany raised more than $10,000 in one of the economically hardest hit communities in this country.  It was a true testament to the power of the heart.

Less than a week after the money was raised Tiffany lost her battle to cancer and the money was put into a trust for her boys so they would have a reminder of how much their mother was loved…not just by her family, or friends, or co-workers, but by an entire community.

I’m proud to work for a credit union that values community and is committed to helping others. We have a team that will be walking in the Susan G Koman for the Cure at Bayfront Park in Miami on October 20^th. The entire credit union has gotten involved by wearing jeans on Fridays and donating $5 each Friday throughout October to help find a cure for this deadly disease.  I encourage and invite you to find a way you can make a difference this month.

I, for one, would like to see an end to breast cancer; simply to make sure another sparkle like Tiffany’s doesn’t get extinguished. 

^Amy