If money doesn’t grow on trees, it must come from an ATM, right? From a child’s perspective, that’s logical. Have you ever told a child you were short on cash only to be met with the wide-eyed response, “Just go to the ATM!”

It’s amusing a child would think that money is just dished out for free from a machine, but the deeper issue is, children should be more knowledgeable about how money works and where it comes from. The key to a responsible financial future is a solid educational foundation that starts at an early age.

306,000,000 … and counting. That’s 306 million people, the current population of the United States. The counting part will take place in 2010 with a massive undertaking known as the census, an official headcount of U.S. citizens that happens every ten years.

This counting means census workers are now out in neighborhoods all across the country collecting the preliminary information they’ll need to put together accurate population numbers. Unfortunately, it also means thieves will be out to exploit the situation, posing as official census workers, trying to collect personal information they can use for fraudulent purposes.

Each day, more and more Americans add unaffordable medical debt to their list of financial challenges. For example, in the case of our own financial counseling provider, Accel, in 2008 more than 15,000 of their counseling clients claimed medical issues were at the root of their financial difficulties. And their challenges were significant. More than 30% of the people in this group had past-due medical bills to deal with. It’s a problem for the employed and unemployed alike. While many jobless folks struggle to afford health insurance and even individual doctor visits, those fortunate enough to have insurance are being burdened by additional expenses associated with healthcare coverage cutbacks and rising medical costs.

According to U.S. News and World Report, 41% of working-age Americans—72 million people—reported having trouble paying off medical debts in 2007, though most were insured at the time care was given. Of course, it’s impossible to predict if and when you might have unexpected medical costs, but careful planning and diligent budgeting can help eliminate a lot of the pain that results from medical debt, while helping you ensure medical bills don’t cause additional financial hardships.

Love is blind. Too bad finances have 20-20 vision.

As you strike out on your own, chances are good you’ll meet someone with whom you want to spend the rest of your life. It’s love, many times followed by marriage. And it’s a sure thing it will include finances—yours, his/hers and the combination thereof.

Will you take this man (and his credit card debt) to be your husband? Will you take this woman (and her poor credit rating) to be your wife? Be aware that the rosy hue of love can sometimes blur the reality of finance and the role it plays in a marriage.

MyVantage enrollment continues into week three. Statistics to date:

Number of active accounts:    23,542
Number of members who successfully auto-enrolled:   19,894
Number of e-statements: 24,767

Why is the last statistic such a great success? Because it’s a faster, safer, more efficient way for us to provide your statements. Not to mention, it saves the credit union a lot of money on printing and postage, and, statements remain viewable and available to you indefinitely. The number of e-statements listed above is an increase of 171% over our original number of e-statement enrollees, definitely a step in the right direction for Vantage!

Check 21 is a federal law that came into effect in October 2004. It was designed to enable financial institutions to handle more checks electronically. This makes check processing both quicker and more efficient.