Your Little Superhero Could Win!

We would love to see pictures of your little superhero! Share a picture with us, and be entered to win a prize pack the whole family can enjoy. You have two options to enter:

Post a picture of your child to our page in his or her favorite superhero costume (homemade or store bought), with an explanation of why that superhero is their favorite! We won’t limit you to just the superheros with capes either--if you can provide an understandable explanation for your child’s superhero, then we will accept it. 

OR

Is your child an actual superhero in the community? If they’ve recently been involved in a volunteering or community event, post a picture and tell us about it! We’d love to hear what happened!

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask us by commenting on or private messaging our Facebook Page. 

GOOD LUCK! 

The Fine Print:  This contest is open to anyone who chooses to participate. As curators of the contest, we hold the right to define an “understandable explanation” and to change that definition as the situation calls for. Pictures must be posted between April 4th 2016 12:00AM and April 28th 2016 11:59PM. By posting the picture to our Facebook Page, you release the photo to be used by Horizon Community Credit Union for contest and marketing purposes. Only one entry per child will be accepted, though there is no limit to the number of pictures that we will accept. Winners will be determined by random drawing. The winner will be contacted through the Horizon Community Credit Union Facebook page. The winner has two weeks from the first date of contact to pick up the prize UNLESS arrangements have been made to allow for more time to pick up the prize pack at the branch that is convenient to the winner. By accepting the prize, winners also agree to allow a member of the HCCU staff to take a picture of the acceptance of the prize.

Start Young: Teaching Children Financial Literacy

photo courtesy of expertbeacon.com

“Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

-Benjamin Franklin

Do you remember how you learned about money? Think back! My grandfather used to pull out change from his pocket, have us name the coin and its value, and then have us make a given monetary amount with what we had available. Later on, my mother and I created an arrangement where I would clean the house for a certain sum of money. Soon after that started, she took me down to the hometown bank and opened up a checking account for me. She walked me through how to write a check and how to balance a checkbook.

Though these are great ways to teach a child the value of money, they aren’t the only things you can do. Here are some other ideas:

Play the Grocery Game: Give your child a fixed amount of money and a list of things needed at a local food back. Challenge your child to buy as much as they can with that fixed amount of money. For an older child, you can give them your grocery list and have them work out the cost and compare places and prices.

Need/Want Game: As you and your child are looking through a magazine together, ask your child if a particular item is a need or want and why. You can also have your child identify needs and wants while they walk through the store with you. It is important for children to know that a need is something essential, while a want is nonessential, and the significance of spending on a want instead of a need.

Let Them Adopt a Budget Line: Give your child a single budget category for a month and let them manage it. It’s advised that you choose a category where you can control how much or how little is spent, like groceries, education, and vacation. The child can do research online and find the best way to spend the money. This not only helps illustrate the concept of a budget, it allows the child to see their choices in action.

Show Them How to Use Budget Tools: There is an endless number of budgeting tools out there. Teach your child how to use a budgeting tool to help them understand the value of a budget and why it’s necessary to track all expenses.

Let Them Make Mistakes: We all make mistakes, and we tend to make a bit more of them when we’re learning! Let your child make mistakes, and, most importantly, let them see the consequences. Talk with your child about the consequences, and what could have been done to avoid them.

No Bailout: Resist the urge to help your child pay for the last few dollars of a purchase. Consistently bailing out your child sets up a future of bailouts, and it also diminishes the child’s effort and any feelings of accomplishment they have from paying for it by themselves.

Open A Youth Savings Account at HCCU: We have youth savings account at HCCU that have a special reward attached to them--a toy! Each time a child makes a deposit in their account, they get to choose a toy out of our treasure chest. As the child gets older, they have the option to open a Student Checking, or perhaps have an ATM or Debit Card. See a Member Service Representative for details!

We cannot stress enough how important it is for children to learn how to spend, save, and invest their money wisely. If they develop the good habits when they are young, they are far more likely to manage their finances successfully as adults. Because we believe success is on your and your child’s horizon, we are more than willing to help educate you and/or your child about the “tools and rules” that come with an HCCU membership. You can always call 920-433-0122 or visit your nearest branch if you have any questions.


Written By: Breanna B.

Sources:

Investopedia--5 Ways to Teach Your Kids The Value Of A Dollar

Investopedia-- Teaching Financial Literacy to Kids

Chain of Hearts Campaign for the Children's Miracle Network

3139 Voyager Dr branch
February 2015

If you have stopped by either of our branches lately maybe you have noticed the hearts by our teller windows and the chain of hearts we are creating behind our teller line! Well in case someone hasn't told you and you are wondering, throughout the month of February Horizon Community Credit Union will be collecting donations for the Children's Miracle Network HCCU has a goal to raise $2,000 through our Chain of Hearts Campaign and we hope that with all of our members help and support we can achieve that goal! 100% of funds collected will stay in Wisconsin! So help us put the money where the miracles are.

Hearts: $25
Links: $1

Please help us meet our goal of $2,000! No matter how big or small your donation is, every dollar donated counts! You can stop by either of our branches or give us a call to donate.

To learn more visit the Children's Miracle Network website here.

Creating miracles by raising funds for our local Children's Hospitals. 

Thank you all for your generous support!

- Horizon Community Credit Union

Post by: Karla C.

FRAUD ALERT

Some members have reported getting a text message from NEW Credit Union warning of a temporary block on certain credit card accounts and asking recipients to call a support number. The picture below is a screenshot of a text message received.

This is not from Horizon Community Credit Union.

HCCU will never include personal information or your account number in an unsolicited text or email.

Never call a number or click on a link as directed in an unsolicited text or email. Never give out personal information to someone who has called you.  If you receive a call, text, or an email that appears to be from HCCU, but you're not sure, contact the credit union using the phone number listed on our website.

Please visit this page on our website for information about fraud prevention.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact us!

WINTER LIFE HACK! How to Quickly Remove Ice From The Windshield

http://ow.ly/XZAS4 

Do you ever wake up to scattered ice on your vehicle windshield? You think to yourself, it is freezing outdoors and I have exactly 15 minutes to get to work. Well, I have the perfect remedy for this situation.

The initial approaches would be to either blast your defroster to heat up your window or to scrape off the ice. Either way, both approaches are time consuming and leaving your car on for a long period of time and wastes gas. Instead, use this method to save both time and money.

Take 1/3 part of water and 2/3 part of rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol and mix it in a spray bottle. Simply spray the solution onto the windshield of you car and like magic, the ice melts instantly. Rubbing alcohol has a freezing point of 128 degrees below freezing. Therefore, rubbing alcohol and water work well together because the water helps melt the ice and the rubbing alcohol ensures the melted ice does not refreeze. In colder climates, the ratio of the rubbing alcohol to warm water would increase.

Since the rubbing alcohol’s melting temperature is so low, you can keep this spray bottle right in your vehicle. Make sure to label the bottle so that children, including you, know not to use it for other purposes.

Post by: Mai Y.

Member Appreciation Week 2016

It's our favorite week here at Horizon Community Credit Union--Member Appreciation Week! 

Member Appreciation Week runs from February 1st to February 5th.  We've got a few things planned for you!

All Week

• Tables filled with swag and snacks
• Enter for a chance to win $50 cash, $100 cash, or an HCCU Swag Package. 
• Drawing will be done at the end of the day Friday. 
• Happy tellers ready to serve!

Wednesday

• 10a-2p Member Appreciation Luncheon (both branches)
• Stop by for a free lunch and a chance to mingle with other members and the HCCU staff. 
• 5:15p  Annual Meeting
• Those who attend the Annual Meeting are the first to see last year's fiscal reports and hear the Board's plan and vision for HCCU's future. Fiscal reports are posted on the website later (see the 2014 Statement of Financial Condition here). 

A Woman on the New $10!

The Obama Administration announced June 2015 that it plans to redesign the $10 Bill for 2020. The year 2020 is the 100th Anniversary of the Constitution’s 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote. The last woman on U.S. paper currency was Martha Washington, who was on the $1 Silver Certificate between 1891 and 1896. I

The Treasury Department led a campaign, headed by Secretary Jack Lew, calling for suggestions. The only requirement is that the nominated woman can’t be alive today. According to a Time Magazine poll, Susan B. Anthony is the most popular choice, followed by Harriet Tubman and Sacagawea. Another poll says that Eleanor Roosevelt is the leading nominee. You can find more information on the new $10 bill by visiting https://thenew10.treasury.gov/ .

I think it is an important step to equalizing the playing field between men and women.

Written By: Melissa K.