Happy Holidays from HCCU!

We know the end of the year is a busy time for many of you.  Traveling, decorating, shopping for gifts, returning gifts, celebrating...  All that fun can get expensive, and we would never want you to be without access to your cash!  In order to help you plan ahead, our holiday hours will be:

Wednesday, December 24th    8:30 am -  12:00 pm
Thursday, December 25th       CLOSED
Friday, December 26th            8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday, December 27th        9:00 am - 12:00 pm   Voyager Dr. location only
Monday, December 29th         8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday, December 30th         8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday, December 31st    8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Thursday, January 1st             CLOSED
Friday, January 2nd                 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday, January 3rd              9:00 am - 12:00 pm   Voyager Dr. location only

To access your account information, It'sMe247 Online Banking and CU*Talk Phone Banking are available anytime of the day or night - even on holidays!  For cash, our ATM at Voyager Dr. is available 24/7 every day, but if that's not convenient for you, you can also use any ATM Alliance Network terminal without incurring a surcharge!  For a map of fee-free ATMs near you, visit the  ATM Alliance Network page on our website.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM HCCU!  

Debit or Credit-Which should you choose at the checkout?

So many people carry a debit card (aka check card) these days. They’re so convenient, they’re safer than cash, and the card allows the vendor to take the money right from your checking account. But at the checkout you are often asked Debit or Credit. Which should you choose & what’s the difference?

You might think that since it’s a debit card you have to say debit, but that’s not true. The best option for you is to choose Credit! (Yes, choose credit even though you are using your debit card) The result might seem the same either way, since the money will still be deducted from your checking account, however there is a BIG difference.

Choose Credit and you will be asked to sign for your purchase. Signature transactions are routed through the VISA network, which comes with the additional security offered by credit card companies, fraudulent use protection, and VISA’s Zero Liability Policy.

Just so you know, because we want you to have all the facts before deciding what to do. The credit union does get paid a small amount for each transaction that is routed through as credit, but remember we are a credit union! We don’t give the money we earn to a couple people on our board. Any money we earn is returned to ALL our members by bringing you new products and services, keeping our fees low, our loan & credit card rates low and our deposit rates high.

Choose Debit however, and you will be asked for a 4-digit PIN number. These purchases are processed through an EFT system like STAR or NYCE which don’t provide the additional liability protection offered by VISA.

While it’s great for us to get that little bit of extra income, the real bonus is the added protection choosing Credit offers you. So unless you are going to use the cash back option on your transaction to avoid an ATM fee, choose Credit, and be assured that if sticky fingers get a hold of your card or card number, you will be protected!

Post by: Cari J.

The 52 Week Savings Challenge!

So, it’s the time of year where we are all about spending money, whether it’s for gifts, visits to family, donations to charity, or for the fantastic meals that you’ve been dreaming about all year. It seems that everything around you is telling you to buy, buy, buy, so it may seem like a weird time to talk about saving your money, but we all have to start somewhere!

About a year ago, I found a cool savings challenge that I wanted to try. I’ve struggled for years to save enough money so that I would have a comfortable margin for error- if my car broke down, if an unexpected bill hit, etc- but nothing seemed to motivate me enough to actually start saving. Sure, when the problem was right in front of me, I would say that tomorrow I would start, but tomorrow is always just a little too late to help. The challenge I found seemed relatively easy, and since it was basically a competition, I was going to WIN.

For each week of the year, you put aside another dollar. So, the first week is one dollar, the second is two dollars, the third is three, etc. The most you ever have to do is $52, and that’s at the end of the challenge. By then, you’ve seen your money growing, and feel a sense of real pride. At the end of the year, you have an additional $1378!

If you started the challenge right now, this week, you would have enough saved next year to have a spectacular Christmas season, or perhaps something put aside to start paying for that new car, because the old one just keeps breaking. It’s also rather convenient to have a small fund to “borrow” from, something I’ve done at least three times this year. If I hadn’t been challenging myself, I wouldn’t have had enough to get my car repaired when the brakes went out, I wouldn’t have been able to purchase a new laptop when the old one refused to turn back on, and I wouldn’t have been able to pay my rent one month when the money from a paycheck was going to be a week later than I had anticipated.

And because I’m addicted to a challenge, I have two going on at the same time, about two months apart. When this is all done, I’ll have almost $3000 saved in just over a year, and that’s something I haven’t ever done before. It’s enough to replace the car that keeps breaking, or take a little vacation, or perhaps to save for another rainy day. I do know that I’ll be doing this again next year, and maybe this time I’ll put it in an Add-On CD, so that I won’t be able to touch it unless there’s an emergency. Maybe that will encourage some better fiscal planning on my part. This challenge certainly has. 

Post by: Liz R

Coupon Craze

Need a new hobby that will save you money? Start couponing! It will be worth your time and effort! “I don’t have time for it” is probably what you’re thinking. I said the exact same thing. We’ve all seen, or at least heard, the show “Extreme Couponers” where people fill up their store carts and pay little to nothing for the entire transaction. How can you do that too? Read the tips below to start saving!

Tips for couponing:

· Purchase newspapers. Make sure to purchase 4 Sunday newspapers, this is where you are able to find most coupons. Since most coupons state “limit 4 like coupons per household per day”, a good rule is to purchase 4 newspapers, therefore, allowing you to buy maximum amount of products.

· Per Purchase vs. Per Transaction. When a coupon says “Limit 1 coupon per purchase”, per purchase means per item, NOT a transaction.
          Ex. If I buy 4 toothbrushes, I can use 4 coupons; one coupon per item.

· Stack/combine your coupons. Make sure to use manufacturer coupons and store coupons together. You are allowed to do this unless stated otherwise in the stores coupon policy. You cannot stack a manufacturer coupon with another manufacturer coupon, the same with store coupons.
          Ex. If I buy 4 toothbrushes, I can use 4 manufacturer coupons and 4 store coupons.

· Know the stores coupon policy. You always want to make sure you are up-to-date with updates done by the company.

· Don’t buy everything. Once you get a good deal, you don’t want to stop. However, a good rule is to buy only what you need. Otherwise, you will be spending more money than you need to.

Still don’t see where you can save? Read my shopping trip below for a better idea.

I went to a local store in town which had a sale: buy three (3) oral care products and receive a $5 gift card. I bought three (3) tubes of toothpaste, each for $3.99 bringing me to a total of $11.97 before taxes. I had three (3) manufacturer coupons for the toothpaste each for $2 and three (3) $1 store coupons that I also used for the products, bringing me down to a grand total of $2.97 before taxes. But remember, since I bought three oral care products, I also received a $5 gift card back. So really, I got three tubes of toothpaste for FREE and got back $2.03 as a credit. How awesome is that!

The math:
3 toothpastes @ $3.99 each = 3 x $3.99 = $11.97 (subtotal before coupons & taxes)
3 toothpaste manufacturer coupons @ $2 each = 3 x $2 = -$6.00
3 toothpaste store coupons @ $1 each = 3 x $1 = -$3.00
Total after coupons: $2.97 (subtotal before taxes)
Receive $5 gift card for purchase of 3 oral care products -$5.00
Final Price for 3 tubes of toothpaste: FREE with $2.03 credit

Couponing has now become an exciting hobby for me! Although it does take time to sort through coupons and deals, it will definitely be worth your time! Saving has never been so much fun!

Post by: Kelly V.

How to start a savings when saving seems impossible...

For most people, saving money is as simple as adjusting a few little habits!  Don't believe me?

1) If you buy yourself a coffee everyday on your way to work, skip one day and put that amount into savings. Average Starbucks coffee $5.00. Savings $260.00 in a year.

2) If you smoke, instead of a pack a day, cut back a little each day and bring it down to 6 packs a week. Average cost of a pack of cigarettes $8.00.  Savings in a year $416.00.

3) If you buy lunch out everyday and spend and average of $9.00, pack your lunch twice a week.  You'll save $18.00 a week.  Accumulated savings in one year $936.00.

4) If you buy a soda everyday at the convenience store at an average cost of $1.69, skip the soda three times a week and you will have saved $263.00 in a year, don’t buy soda at the convenience store at all, savings total for the year $615.16. 

*With all of these changes, cutting back will not only benefit your wallet but your health as well.  And that will save you even more in the long run!

Everyone deserves a treat, but we all deserve security too, so you don’t have to go cold turkey.  Take baby steps to start. When you see the savings growing you will be more motivated to make more small changes that equal big results.

So when we think it is impossible to start a savings account, remember there is always a way!  And not only will you be saving for security and peace of mind, but you will also enjoy a sense of accomplishment.

Post by: Lori S

Photo Courtesy of photouten at freedigitalphotos.net

The Perfect Gift

Photo Courtesy of digitalart at freedigitalphotos.net

Paper or Plastic?   Replace those paper gift certificates with plastic VISA® gift cards today!  Gift cards are the perfect gift for any occasion or time of the year … birthdays, graduations, showers, weddings, and all holidays.  Buying a gift card is easy and requires very little thought or time.  Shopping for gifts can be a real dilemma.  Just what do you get your significant other, your child, or your co-worker?  Gift cards may be the answer: one size fits all, and the receivers can get exactly what they want.  Our prepaid VISA® cards range from $10 to $500 and can be purchased for $2.50 at both Horizon locations.  So come in today & pick up that perfect gift!  

Post by: Beth B

Out and about, don’t know your balance?

Out shopping, at dinner, or taking in a show?  Want to use your debit card, but you’re not sure what your balance is?  And you have no way to access your account on-line...or maybe there's no public wi-fi and you're almost over on your data for the month?  Call our toll free number @ 1-855-718-0884 to activate CU*Talk.

The system is totally automated, and easy to walk through.  All you need is a touch-tone phone, your account number, and a four digit PIN (password).  You can find out your balances, see what checks have cleared your account, check any deposits or withdrawal that have been made, and verify the date and amount of transactions.  You can even transfer money between your accounts if you are running low in one of them.  You'll even have the option to make a loan payment.  (Just remember transferring out of your savings via CU*Talk will count toward your allowable Reg D transfers.)

If you have not used our CU*Talk phone banking yet, your generic PIN will be the last four digits of your Social Security Number.  

CU*Talk is fast and easy to use.  Add us as one of your contacts on your phone and give us a call.

Any questions, you can still always call us during our business hours at 920-433-0122.  We'd love to chat with you!

Post by: Karen S.

Home Equity Loan vs. Home Equity Line of Credit...what's the difference??

Both products allow you to borrow money using the equity you have in your home as collateral.

With a home equity loan, you receive a lump sum of money at closing. You are then required to make monthly payments on the loan. You will not be able to draw fund from the loan again.  Since the funds are disbursed in full at the closing, your monthly payments will be fixed.   Horizon Community Credit Union's home equity loans are adjustable rate loans, with the rate adjusting annually based on the terms spelled out in your loan.  This can impact your monthly payment amount some, but generally it's not a large change.

The other way to borrow against your home’s equity is with a home equity line of credit (HELOC). This works more like a credit card – you have a credit limit, and you only pay on the funds you draw out. Monthly payments are 1% or 2% of the outstanding balance on the line.  Much like a credit card, you can draw on the line multiple times.  Horizon Community Credit Union's HELOCs are adjustable rate loans, with the rate adjusting annually based on the terms spelled out in your loan.

On both products you can borrow up to 80% of the appraised value of your home. For example, if your home is valued at $200,000 with a mortgage of $100,000, you would be able to apply for a home equity loan in the amount $60,000.

What could you use the equity in your home for??
Debt consolidation
Home Improvement
College tuition
Autos, motorcycle, Recreational vehicles
Vacation

Post by: Kelly B

Great Tips for Saving Money!

Here are a few simple little steps that you can make to improve your financial situation. They are all unbelievably simple and anyone can do them. These tips can save you a lot of money.

· Remember the Thirty Day Rule. Whenever you’re considering making an unnecessary purchase, wait thirty days and then ask yourself if you still want that item.

· Invite friends over instead of going out. Almost every activity at home is less expensive than going out.

· Take advantage of online banking with your credit union. This will help you keep much closer contact with your money and your balance and help you be in less danger of overdrafting.

· Don’t spend money just to de-stress. Instead of spending to de-stress, try some basic exercises or go for a walk, and see how you feel.

· Save your coupons. Using coupons can help reduce the cost of an item already on sale and sometimes you can end up paying barely anything for some things and sometimes actually get food for free.

· Read more. Reading is one of the cheapest hobbies around.

· Pack a lunch. Instead of going out to eat at work, you can make an enjoyable meal for your bag lunch and save cash too.

· Go for reliability and fuel efficiency when buying a car. A reliable and fuel efficient car will save you thousands over the long haul.

· Do holiday shopping right after the holidays. The discounts are fantastic and will save a bundle.

· Write a list before you go shopping. Don’t put anything in the cart that’s not on the list and you’ll save tons of money.

Post by: Beth B

What is 3" x 2", flat, and made of plastic?

Going grocery shopping, out for supper, or on a well-deserved vacation and don’t want to carry a bunch of cash? Boy do we have the solution for you! Instead of carrying a bundle of paper, carry a 3”x2” piece of plastic! It’s our VISA® debit card. It fits nicely in your wallet without all the bulkiness. It’s convenient and easy to use. When you make your purchase, you can sign as credit or use a PIN for debit. The money comes out of your checking account either way!  And  then, when you’re on that vacation and you are running low on gas, do not fear, that little 3”x2” debit card is here! You can get gas 24/7 with the plastic pump attendant!

Post by: Alice E

Month Challenge: Ways to Save – Change and Costs at Home

At the start of May I decided that I was going to do a challenge all month long on saving. Not just money but ways to save at home. I am huge debit card user, so instead of carrying cash around I decided that whenever I make a purchase with my card I will round up on the balance. So if I spent $36.34 on gas, I was going to round up to $37 and put the $.66 in my saving account. From just our normal spending throughout May, we were able to put $28.44 in our savings. That’s just from rounding up on change!

As for saving at home, I saved some milk containers and cleaned them out. Every time I’d run the sink water, waiting for it to warm up, I’d have the water run into the milk container. The water that we would have wasted, I used to put into the dog’s water dish. We've been able to save over 10 gallons of water that we would have other wise wasted.

The small things can add up. Those were just things you would do on a normal day. Now, if I were to save the change each month on our normal purchases, averaging the $28/month, I’d have $336 in my savings from just change. That doesn't include if you take out cash and save that change as well! Also with the water, just saving from the sink is the start. It opens my eyes to what other water we waste. From taking a shower, brushing our teeth, to doing laundry. I plan on challenging myself more to save! Every penny counts!

Why don't you see what you can save for the month of July?

Post by: Sara D

Don’t forget to spend your money too!

What? SPEND my money? Shouldn't we be telling you to SAVE your money? Absolutely! Make sure you can save as much as you can, but don’t forget to spend a little too! We've all gone window shopping and have seen something we were dying to get but have decided against it, but why? Don’t cheat yourself! You've worked hard to earn your money so treat yourself a little bit. But HOLD ON!! I don’t mean cleaning out your accounts and going on a wild shopping spree or purchasing that awesome car you saw yesterday. But seriously, spend a little, save a little. There is no reason why you should keep all that money locked up. So come on in to your credit union, take out a few bucks, or put a few in, treat yourself to an ice cream sundae and bathe in the sun. You definitely deserve it!

Post by: Kelly V

Free Stuff?!?!?! Everyone loves Free Stuff! How can I get some?

When you use your Horizon Community Credit Union Visa® Credit Card every purchase earns you reward points. And with those reward points, you can get free stuff. Since I have started using my Horizon Credit Card, I have accumulated many points. Which means I probably use my credit card way too much. :) With those points I have purchased two sets of pans for all the cooking I do, and a set of diamond hoop earrings (what girl doesn't want jewelry), and I still have points left to use!

You’re automatically enrolled in Scorecard® Rewards when you get a Horizon Community Visa® Credit Card so all you have to do is start using it. When you are ready to cash in some points or if you’d like to see what’s available to you, just visit www.scorecardrewards.com to set up your account. The website will let you know how many points you have and let you see the numerous items available, from housewares to jewelry, clothing and electronics, just to name a few. In the months of November and December, when we are all doing our Christmas shopping, Horizon offers double points. And now this summer, gas purchases will also double your points. So get out there and start adding up your points by using your Horizon Visa® Credit Card, and check out the great free stuff you can get.

Post by: Karen S

Summer Jobs

We all know how sad teenagers can be when school lets out for the summer. So instead of watching them lie in bed and sit on the couch for three months, why not encourage your youth to find a summer job? Having a job can teach young adults important values and skills that are important in the real world. It allows them to gain work experience which is very valuable on a resume. It gives them an opportunity to be responsible, and these traits can carry over at home and school. It also teaches them to be accountable with their money, as they will learn the value of it, and save up for things such as a vehicle or college!

Post by: Matt K

How early is too early to save for the holidays?

The Christmas season is one of the most joyful times of the year, but it can also be the most expensive. Buying wonderful gifts for loved ones can sure take a hit on your bank account. If you’re not prepared, it can be stressful! There is actually an account here at the Credit Union that is designed specifically to help save up for this time of the year!

In 1909 the first ever Christmas Club Account was created to help consumers save for Christmas. At that time there were only 350 total account holders. Today, people all over the country use this option to help save up money throughout the year, not only for Christmas but for other big events as well!

This account can easily be opened by visiting an MSR at one of our branches! Then you just deposit a little bit each month. On October 1st, the entire balance of the account will be transferred back to you, either by a transfer to your checking or savings account, or in a check. There are no restrictions on the amount of withdrawals or deposits made either, so if something unexpected comes up, you can use your Christmas savings without a penalty! Come on in to set up one of these fabulous accounts with us and start saving now!

PS – Christmas is only about 6 months away!

Post by: Emily P

Will that be debit or credit?

You just swiped your debit card – should you choose debit and enter your PIN, or sign for credit?

Did you know you are more susceptible to an attack if you use your PIN?  When you choose debit, you could fall victim to PIN harvesting by a “Man-In-The-Middle” attack.  Fraudsters can intercept your information and PIN as it passes through the electronic network.  They can then use that information to create a fake debit card and withdraw your money using your actual PIN.  Even if a transaction was fraud, it is a lot harder to recover those funds when a PIN was used.  

If you are looking for a safer way to make your transactions, choose credit and sign rather than entering your PIN.  Signing at POS prevents PIN harvesting from happening.  Also, signing for your transaction gives you additional protection from VISA or MasterCard.  All HCCU debit cards carry VISA Zero Liability coverage for signature transactions that will cover you in case of fraud; PIN-based transactions do not receive the same level of protection.

So whenever you can, choose credit and sign on the dotted line rather than punching in a PIN code for purchases.

Post by: Lori S

Looking for a cheap date?

 Looking for something to do in the summertime in the Green Bay area.  Here are 10 dates for less than $20!  Write each date idea on a slip of paper, fold it up, and stick them all in a jar. Whenever you have down time and need a date night, grab an idea from the jar and head out for a day on the town. 

1.      Invite a couple or couples to meet for a game night.  Have everyone bring a board game and you are all set.

Cost 2 people = $0.00

2.      Gather some snacks from home, pack a picnic, and take a drive to Maribel Caves for the day and check out all the different caves, springs, rare ferns and flowers. 

Cost 2 people = $0.00

3.      Go to Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, check out all of the different wildlife, and feed the ducks followed by a fun ride on the Zippin Pippin.

Cost 2 people = $4

4.      Put on your Green Bay Packer attire and take a walk down ‘Walk of Legends’.  Walk of Legends is a free, one-mile public art walkway, east of Lambeau Field featuring 24 statues that chronicle the history, and honor the legends, of Green Bay football between 1895 and the present.

Cost 2 people = $0.00

5.      Check out Marcus Theatre on any Tuesday and popcorn is included for free.

Cost 2 people = $10.00

6.      If it’s a hot and gorgeous Wisconsin day, take a ride to Neshotah Beach in Two Rivers, Wisconsin to spend a day on a beautiful sand beach on Lake Michigan with areas for swimming, volleyball, and launching jet skis and kayaks.

Cost 2 people = $0.00

7.      Rent a movie from Red box and have a quiet movie night at home.

Cost 2 people= $1.50

8.      Head on out to the Farmer’s Market on Broadway each Wednesday afternoon to experience a variety of different restaurants, shops, entertainment from all around the area.  This is a free event to attend unless you feel like spending any money on items, food, and drinks.

Cost 2 people = $0.00

9.      Go to a dollar store and purchase two kites. And then go fly a kite together.

Cost 2 people = $2.00

10.  And the total without tax and of course gas mileage = $16.50.  Next make a stop at your favorite credit union family, Horizon Community Credit Union, and deposit the money you have leftover from your $20 and save it for a rainy day!!! 

Post by: Beth B