How Do Successful People Stay Calm

The ability to manage your emotions and remain calm under pressure has a direct link to your performance.

Ninety percent of top performers are skilled at managing their emotions in times of stress.  Stress can wreak havoc on our physical and mental health, long periods of stress can cause degeneration in the brain that is actually responsible for self-control.

The tricky thing about stress or anxiety that it comes with is it is actually a necessary emotion.  Our brains are wired so it is difficult to take action until we feel at least some emotion, in fact, performance peaks under moderate levels of stress, as long as it is not for long periods it’s harmless.  Long periods of stress can contribute to increased risk of heart disease, depression and obesity and decreases performance.

Ten ways to help you stay calm:

1. Avoid asking, "What if" 
2. Stay positive
3. Disconnect - when you make yourself available 24/7 you expose yourself to constant stressors
4. Limit caffeine – this one is a huge difficulty for myself
5. Sleep
6. Squash negative-talk
7. Re-frame your perspective
8. Breath
9. Have a support system - use it
10. Appreciate what you have

Just food for thought, some things are easier said than done, however, with practice we can achieve way more than not.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Post by: Lori S.

Wish I was a Grandma

I was just delivered a flyer for a Spring Festival at the Bellin College Campus on Eaton Rd. Saturday March 28th. They have a list of exciting activities going on that I would love to participate in. Cookie Decorating (that is what I am famous for in my family), a Cake Walk, Planting Flowers (everyone here knows how much I love to work in my gardens), Bracelet Making (I am always wearing some kind of bracelet), Nail Painting (I love painting my nails an array of colors), Lego building (everyone loves to put something together with Lego's), and of course there is an Easter egg hunt (who doesn't like to hunt for something). How much fun does that sound like?

There is only one catch. It is only open to kids 12 and under. Both my children are grown now and it doesn't look like I will have any grandchildren in the near future. What am I to do? I am “wishing I was a Grandma” now.

Post by: Karen S.

Tips for First Time Homebuyers

My boyfriend and I are in the process of buying our first home. Now I am at a bit of an advantage since I do mortgage lending, but I have learned some helpful information along the way that I feel would be helpful for others. Buying your first home should be exciting and somewhat stress free so here are some great tips:

1. Get an idea of what you are looking for. We started looking for houses by using www.trulia.com this website allowed us to download an app to our cellphones and sent us an alert whenever there was a new listing in our preferred area. We could also select the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and the price range we were looking for.

2. Get pre-approved. Before you even starting looking at houses with a Realtor make sure that you get pre-approved for a mortgage loan. It is important to make sure you can afford the houses that you are looking at. It is a simple process and will put you at ease when looking at houses. Stop in one of our branches and talk to a loan officer about getting pre-approved for a mortgage!

3. Select a Realtor that you trust. A good way to select a Realtor is to talk to your friends and family to see who they used. I can’t imagine what our home shopping experience would have been like if we didn't like the Realtor we were working with. Remember a good referral goes a long way!

4. Get an inspection. Once you have put in an offer on a house make sure to schedule an inspection. This is something that your Realtor will go over when you are putting together your offer to purchase. An inspector will look over the appliances, the roof, the siding, and pretty much everything else and give you a detailed report of everything that they look over. An inspection will sometimes allow you to make changes to your offer to purchase and give you an idea of what will need to be replaced in the next 5 years. This is a cost that you have to take care of on your own, but it is well worth the money.

5. Give yourself some time. Buying a house is going to take time and patience. Make sure you are prepared for that. In most cases you are not going to find the home you want the first time you go to look with the Realtor. Buying a home can sometimes take up to a month or longer depending on the loan type and what is in the offer to purchase. Be patient. It will be worth it in the end.

Image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

Post by: Katie B.

Spring Flowers!

What comes to mind when you think of spring? FLOWERS! Planting flowers are a great way to brighten up your yard after the darkening days of winter and are the surest sign that warmer weather is coming. Spring arrives at different times depending on your location but most flowers bloom in sequence. Follow these steps to ensure your garden of flowers flourish and blossom.

Step 1. Make a list of flowers you would like to grow in your garden. Visit your local gardening center to choose the flowers that would best work for your gardening routine. Some flowers need a little more attention and nurturing than others and depending on the size of your garden, some flowers can grow quite large over time. My best advice is if you plan on planting several different types of flowers, try choosing ones with similar watering requirements and sun/shade exposure so that they grow equally as well in the same location.

Step 2. Select your gardening area in retrospect of direct sunshine or shade. An area with too much or too less exposure can be difficult for some flowers to grow in. Depending on the specifics of a flower, find a happy medium location with sunshine and shade throughout the day.

Step 3. Acquire the best soil as flowers need good soil in order to preserve and flourish. The texture and the pH level of soil should be considered before planting. Avoid soil that is heavy with sand and clay and test the pH level so that is has a balanced pH near 7. You can add or rectify the soil by mixing sulfur or ground limestone to neutralize it. You can find pH tester strips and various minerals at any gardening center. Soil fertility and plant productivity result from organic matter content in the soil, thus increasing organic matter in soil improves soil structure and increases biological activity, resulting in better plant yields.

Step 4. After all steps have been reviewed and strategically thought out, planting the flowers at the right time is a critical step. There is an art to choosing the perfect time to plant your garden. Wait to plant flowers until at least two weeks after the most recent frost. Avoid planting until temperatures at night stay above freezing on a regular basis. To play it safe, plant a few weeks later rather than risk freezing your plants out. Use a farmer’s almanac to find the best time to plant flowers in your area.

Follow these steps for a successful garden full of beautiful bold rainbow colors. If you are an inexperienced gardener and have additional questions and concerns, speak with an expert gardener to fully undergo the involvement of planting one’s own garden. Good luck and remember to have fun and be creative!

Earth laughs in flowers. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Post by: Mai Y. 

Credit Life & Disability Insurance

Image courtesy of [num_skyman] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What are some things you buy each month to treat yourself every so often? Maybe a coffee from the drive on Fridays, a quick burger for lunch with a friend, or even an after work beer. In the moment it may not seem as though these items cost that much, but over time, they sure do add up. So what if we were to skip one or two of these things once each month, what would you put that extra money toward? If I were to tell you that setting aside $1-$15 per month could get you Credit Life & Disability Insurance on a loan would you believe me? WELL YOU CAN! I know once you read the word insurance, your nose instantly turned up, but I promise this is worth reading! We all hope and pray that nothing will happen to us or any of our family members. But the truth is something might, and we need to be as prepared as possible. Let’s pretend your family just purchased a new vehicle and financed it through HCCU, I want to show you what the difference in payment looks like with and without the coverage.

	Without Coverage	With Coverage
Loan Amount	$15,000	$15,000
Interest Rate	3.99%	3.99%
Term	48 Months	48 Months
Monthly Payment	$315.06	$319.78

WAIT! Do you see that??? That’s only a $4.72 dollar difference! Over the life of the loan that only adds up to $226.56! I’m not sure what you’re thinking, but I think that’s SO worth it! I know we don’t like to think about it, but we have to. Make sure you’re prepared for the worst, and add credit life and disability to your loan today!

Post by: Emily P.

Join us in the March for Babies!

What it is: The March of Dimes March for Babies is a three-mile fundraising walk.  You can walk individually, or join a team (like our Horizon CCU team!).  The event raises money and awareness for premature birth and birth defects.  The Green Bay walk takes place April 25 at 9:00 am at Ashwaubomay Park.

What it does: The March of Dimes was originally started by President FDR to combat polio.  With that original mission accomplished, they turned their attention to another issue that affects the lives of millions – premature birth and birth defects.  Now, the mission of the March of Dimes is to make sure that every baby is born healthy and full-term.  Funds raised by the March of Dimes are put to work on research and education for vaccines, diseases, medications, genetics and screening procedures that will help accomplish their new mission.  Aside from the March for Babies walk, the March of Dimes also funds its work through grant money.  In 2003 they started a campaign to end premature births.  Using this grant money, they have implemented programs including group prenatal care and risk reduction services that complement a woman’s overall care during pregnancy, such as smoking cessation services, substance abuse counseling, management of diabetes and hypertension, and case management services.
  
Why it is important: About 1 in 9 babies is born too soon – amounting to 450,000 premature births in the US, and 15 million premature births worldwide, each year.  Babies born just a few weeks early are at risk of severe health problems and lifelong disabilities. Premature birth is the number 1 killer of newborns.  Overall, the US is given a grade of “C” for this statistic.  Our premature birth rates are worse than many other developed nations.  In an effort to improve that grade, the March of Dimes also advocates for the passing state and federal laws which help to improve health screenings and education for expectant mothers and their unborn babies.

What you can do: Join the walk!  Start a team of your own, or join up with ours!  Ask family and friends to pledge donations for your walk.  Even if you’re not able to make it to the actual event, you can still make a donation yourself, or raise money on behalf of a team.  This year, all donations that Team Horizon CCU raises will be matched, up to $1000.  So donations automatically get doubled!  We hope to see you there!

Spring is on the way…

Now that it’s officially March, the coldest days are behind us, hopefully! The sun is shining, and the birds are chirping. Maybe spring really is right around the corner. But before we get there, let’s take a look back at some of Wisconsin’s record setting winters:

December 27-28, 1904: 26 inches of snow fell in Neillsville in 24 hours. It still stands as the record for 24 hour snowfall in the state.

January 25-27, 1978: In Southeastern Wisconsin, there was a blizzard that brought 1 to 2 feet of snow, 50 to 70 mph winds, and 10 to 15 foot drifts.

January 25-27, 1979: A record snow depth in Milwaukee was made : 33 inches on the ground.



October 19-20, 1989: Milwaukee recorded 6.3 inches of snow that coated power lines and trees still full of fall foliage. The weight of the snow dropped trees and power lines, cutting off power to eight thousand residents.

May 10, 1990: The same situation occurred on May 10th, 1990 when 6 to 8 inches of snow fell in a band that extended from southern Oconto County, to northern Racine and Walworth counties.

January 31- February 4, 1996: High temperatures ranged from the teens to twenties below zero; lows dropped to the 30s to 50s below zero. State's record coldest temperature -55 F was set in Courderay on February 2nd and 4th.



Wisconsin is known for its long, cold winters. And this winter doesn’t seem to be any different. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel! Before we know it, the sun will be shining and all that snow will be melted. So drink your hot chocolate, wear your warm mittens, and blast your heat while you can. Spring is on its way!

Image courtesy of [Serge Bertasius] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

Post by: Noelle C.

Six Steps to Your Own Pot of Gold

During the month of March, you can hardly escape the Irish jokes and the little leprechaun figurines. You may think to yourself "That lucky little leprechaun, always finding a pot of gold. I wish I could find a pot of gold!" Don’t deny it, it’s true. You've thought it at least once in your lifetime.

What if I told you that you could find a pot of gold? Or that you might already have it? You might think I've gone crazy. Nope! You have the power to create that pot of gold, simply by saving!

I've encountered many people that balk at saving, and have excuses like "It’s too hard" or "I don't make enough to save" or "I just can’t." There’s no such word as "can’t," and it’s not hard at all. Trust me, I know, I've been an anti-saver. Working at HCCU and other personal experiences have shown me how important saving can be as of late, and I want to spread the message on to you! If you’re able to save, you can give yourself peace of mind by putting away enough to cover unforeseen expenses or save up for a future purchase. Let me give you a few tools/ideas to help you save.

Transfer money: Put a given amount into your savings account at a given interval. For example, you could set aside $50 from each paycheck. You can do this manually or schedule it through ItsMe247 Online Banking (also known as OLB). You can also come into any branch and ask a Member Representative to transfer that money or help you set up an Automatic Funds Transfer.

Open a Club Account: Heck, open as many club accounts as you need. I suggest this because having a savings account allotted for a specific goal helps make that goal real. I have a club account that’s titled "Rent," and that’s where I place a portion of my paycheck. Doing this helps keep it separate from my other money and keeps me from accidentally spending it during the month. The account can be opened with a Member Service Representative, and you can nickname the account anything you want through your OLB.

Debit Card Round-up: This is a fantastic tool we've just rolled out this year. As it sounds, this service rounds up your debit card purchases. Here’s an example: You bought a coffee with your debit card for $2.50. The system rounds that total up to $3.00. The $2.50 goes to the vendor, but that extra $0.50 goes into a savings account of your choice at the end of each day. If you make multiple debit card purchases in a day, the sum of all that rounded changed is placed in your account. If you have any more questions about this, or to enroll, call or go see a Member Service Representative.

Avoid Fees: Avoiding fees will help keep those pennies in your pockets. There are three ways to avoid fees. The first is managing your money well. If you don’t manage your money well, you are likely to encounter fees from overdraft transfers, NSF fees or Regulation D fees. The second way to avoid fees is to make your payments on time. Late fees are just extra money out of your pocket! The last way to avoid fees is to use all your resources. For example, avoid incurring a $2 fee for a phone transfer done by a Member Service Representative by using OLB or the CU*Talk automated phone banking instead.

Budget: I don’t care who you are, you need a budget in order to maintain a good financial position. Allot a certain amount to various costs and stick to it. I aim to be a bit under budget if possible, because that allows me to save a little more.

Track Your Expenses: Truthfully, this has been the most helpful thing for me. You can use a little notebook, or one of the many apps available in the Google Play Store or the App Store. I am usually attached to my phone, so I use an app. I have to manually update each transaction in the app, so I reconcile it daily with ItsMe247 Online Banking, to make sure I haven’t missed something.

Even if you only try a couple of these, I’m sure you’ll be able to find your own pot of gold—it’s been there all along!

Post by: Breanna B.

The Legend of the Easter Bunny

Did you know that the bunny has been a symbol of fertility since ancient Egypt? From Egypt the symbol spread to Greece and Rome. The Celtics also used the rabbit as a symbol for the festival celebrating the goddess of spring. But the Easter Bunny got his origins in 13th century, pre-Christian Germany. He was first found in literature dating back to the 1500’s. Children celebrated ‘Oschter Haws’, a rabbit that left eggs and candies on their shoes. Why eggs? They are also a symbol of fertility and rebirth. In the 1800’s Germany earned my undying gratitude by introducing that delightful treat: the chocolate bunny!! The Easter Bunny tradition was brought to America by German settlers that came to the Pennsylvania Dutch area in the early 1800’s. Over the years the amount of candy and eggs delivered increased until finally baskets became common. Well, except at my house where the candy and eggs were delivered in covered shoe boxes, so the dog couldn’t eat our candy! The Easter Bunny isn’t used in every country though. In Australia, bunnies are considered a nuisance and instead they use a Bilby to deliver eggs! I wonder if they make chocolate Bilbys?

Post by: Mary D

The dark days of winter are almost over!

The cold dark days of winter are just about over and spring is just around the corner.  Darker mornings and lighter nights will start this Sunday with daylight-saving time. It begins at 2a.m. March 8, 2015.  You will lose an hour of sleep but you will gain an extra hour of daylight.

This happens the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.  November 1, 2015.

So remember to turn you clocks forward (spring forward, fall back) this weekend.

Post by: Alice E