Summer Driving Tips

Its summer time and people are traveling more than normal! Here are some driving safety tips to avoid an accident when behind the wheel:

- Don’t allow children to fight or climb around in the car (they should be buckled in their seats at all times).

- Cell phones can also take your focus away from the task at hand. Learn more in the Nationwide Blog about the under-reporting of cell phone involvement in fatal car crashes.

- Avoid driving when you’re tired. Be aware that some medications can cause drowsiness and make operating a vehicle very dangerous.

- Always use caution when changing lanes. Changing lanes too fast or not using your signals or cutting in front of someone may cause an accident or upset other drivers.

Horizon Community Credit Union wishes you a safe and happy summer!

Post by: Alice E.

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

Tips for Road Trips

Packing a cooler with drinks and bringing snacks and sandwiches along on a road trip is a smart thing to do.  Everyone gets thirsty and hungry on trips, so bringing your own goodies will save you money along the way.  (It's also healthier than a candy bar or a Big Mac!)  

Let's say you're on a road trip... You stop to get gas on your trip and you go inside the gas station to pay for your gas. You notice that a bottle of water cost $1.50. You paid $3.00 for a whole case at the local grocery store before you left.  A loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter cost around $5.00.  That’s almost the cost of a single sandwich at the gas station or fast food restaurant!  A bunch of bananas costs around a $1.00.  You’d  pay that for just one.  So pack up your sandwiches, beverages, fruit and veggies.  You can eat them along the way or stop and have a nice picnic.  Think of all the money you will save!  And who doesn't need a little more spending money on vacation?!

Post by: Alice E

Image courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

September Community Events

Just because school is starting doesn't mean that the fun has to stop! Check out these events around the area in September to either bring the kids or have a date night!

Art Harvest featuring Fall Family Festival at Green Bay Botanical Gardens
September 6th from 9-4
Free Admission!
Homemade lemonade, teas and coffee served by La Java. Concessions served all day include brats, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, veggie patties, chips, ice cream and more! There will be FREE parking and shuttle bus pick-up and drop-off at NWTC Lot G. Plenty of free activities for the kids! From pumpkin bowling, apple toss, build your own scarecrow, pumpkin ring toss, face painting from 10 - 3, pumpkin Golf, and wagon rides! Children will also have a chance to win prizes by participating in games and activities!

2014 Fall Harvest Fest
September 6 from Noon-6pm at Parallel 44
There will be a Traditional Grape Stomp starting at 3 pm. If you are interested in stomping, come early and enter your name in a drawing to stomp. Wine sampling (available for $6) includes 5 samples and a Parallel 44 Signature Wine Glass. Vineyard Tours will occur on the hour at 1, 2, 4 & 5 pm. Live Music Talk of the Town and local food vendors. Local Art Vendors will also be present displaying and selling their crafts!

“If Tombstones Could Talk" Woodlawn Cemetery Walk
September 9 & September 10 @ 6:30
September 13, 2014 @ 2:00
$6.00/person and $14.00/family --- Reservations Required
Come and listening about some of Green Bay's past residents, who now rest at Woodlawn Cemetery. You’ll get to hear some fascinating stories about lives in the earlier eras. The Tour involves walking and standing. Lightweight, portable chairs and flashlights are recommended.

Wet Whistle Wine Fest
September 12th from 4-8
September 13th from 10-6
Von Stiehl Winery- Algoma
Wine festival featuring food, grape stomping, music, arts and crafts.

Rails & Ales Brewfest
September 20th from 6:00 - 10:00
Standard Ticket - $35 in advance; $45 at the door
Premium Ticket - $55 advance reservation only
Walk around the Museum's historic trains while sampling dozens of craft beers, fine wines, and food prepared by local chefs! With the standard ticket you’ll enjoy unlimited craft beer, wine and food samples and take home a souvenir pint glass. And with the Premium ticket, you’ll enjoy a three-course dinner aboard the Museum's restored 1939 dinette-lounge car Silver Spirit paired with additional craft beer selections, as well as unlimited craft beer, wine and food samples in the Sampling Hall and take home a souvenir pint glass.

Fallfest on the Fox
September 27th from 10-2
Fallfest will take place in the Adams Street parking lot in Downtown Green Bay.  Fallfest on the Fox officially kicks off with the longtime favorite, the Annual ASPIRO Awareness Walk. The two mile walk will take participants through Downtown Green Bay, on the Fox River Trail and end on the Fallfest grounds.  Fallfest on the Fox will host the famous Chili Cook-Off and a popular children’s area with games and bounce house.  The ASPIRO Pub & Grill will provide food and beverage choices.  Also, Big Mouth will perform from 10:30 pm – 1:30 pm.

As always, there are local farmer's markets going on through the month of September:

Green Bay Farmer’s Market
Wednesdays starting at 3 pm and Saturdays starting at 7am

Stadium District Farmer's Market
Thursdays starting at 3 pm at Stadium View

Oneida Farmer's Market
Thursdays from 12 pm-6 pm at Oneida One Stop on Hwy. 54

(East) De Pere Farmer's Market
Thursdays from 7 am-12 pm
*Parking available in Seroogy’s Parking Lot

Post by: Sara D

Image courtesy of Evgeni Dinev at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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

Save Money at the ATM!

We know you want to do some traveling this summer, and we don't want you to feel tied down by your credit union.  We've all been there...we know how frustrating it can be when you're away from home and you need to take money out of an ATM, but you know you'll be charged a fee for taking your own money.  Sometimes, financial institutions charge their customers a fee ON TOP of the ATM's fee!  So, that $20 you needed really cost you $25 in the end!  Outrageous, right?

We completely agree!  For starters, Horizon Community Credit Union will never charge you a fee for using someone else's ATM.  And we can even help you avoid being charged by the ATM itself!  HCCU is a member of several nationwide fee-free ATM networks, which allow you to withdraw money at non-HCCU ATMs without having to pay that pesky fee. You read right. You can use your ATM or debit card at participating terminals without paying a fee. Simply visit this website http://www.atmallianceone.org/AllianceOne/ for more information and for a listing of a fee-free ATM near you.

Post by: Katie B

Points Points

Summer is slowly approaching (really slowly) and since Spring has not begun, it is hard to fathom that it will eventually arrive.  And who can forget what Summer means, ORANGE CONES and MORE MONEY at the gas pump.  The credit union has decided to reward you with double reward points when using your HCCU credit card at the pump.  Two points for every dollar that you spend at the pump. 

WHAT, you don't have a credit card with us here at HCCU?!?!?!?  Then it is time to sign up.  Just fill out the application on-line and submit.  The address to on-line applications is:  http://www.horizonccu.com/loans.php 

Scorecard reward points give you the opportunity to save up points for that special something, from a stainless steel coffee mug to a 55 inch LED 3D TV.  If you have not already signed up for the rewards program, this is the site to go to:  https://www.scorecardrewards.com/general_logon.asp  It is time to sign up and start saving!!!!

Oh and about those ORANGE CONES.  I say knock one over and if you get caught, tell the nice officer that it was your bank that told you do to do it.  From what I heard, it's the right thing.

- Your CU

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