Spending With Every Day in Mind

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We see it all the time, commercials telling us we’re just not hip enough unless we wear the latest pair of jeans. Or a TV show featuring a mailman living in a $2,500-a-month apartment in some exciting city. It seems our lives are rather boring when compared to others, or at least the image of others. So what do we do? We try to live a life that we think adds excitement, a life that perhaps really isn’t our own. These are the times when we may get into trouble with our spending.

Everyone’s spending habits are different, some even unrealistic, but you should always strive to be a smart spender. What does that mean?

Top Shelf Secret

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Shhhhhhhh. We‘ve got a secret. Well, actually Bankrate has the secret, and lucky for you, they don’t mind sharing. It seems they met up with a few talkative retail store store managers who were willing to divulge secrets from the savings vault regarding values within their stores. No names or places were uncovered, but there seems to be plenty of insider savings going on! Want in? We thought so.

Money Milestones for the Ages

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When it comes to money, we don’t magically wake up one morning and have our brains filled with financial knowledge. It’s a learning curve, hopefully started early so we grow up understanding the importance of the monetary system and the responsibility associated with it.

While different children grow and mature at different rates, experts at parents.com have created a generic timeline for how and when you might tackle the subject of money with your child(ren).

Credit Union Members Invest in America and Save!

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You already know credit unions rock, right? They’re owned by their members, they’re not-for-profit, and they operate under a People Helping People mindset, just to name a few very awesome things. But did you know besides saving you money with great rates and assorted free services, you can save money on select services and purchases simply by being a member? Oh yeah, it’s true!

The savings are all through lovemycreditunion.org and their Invest in America program. For example, savings on your wireless plan...

Cashing In at the Cashier

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Yes, ATMs are sure convenient. They seem to be on just about every corner, beckoning you to make a quick pit stop for some cash. Easy in, easy out. But beware. Under that shiny exterior of convenience, there may lurk a sinister byproduct.

If you have a Vantage checking account and use another bank or credit union’s ATM, you’ll likely be charged a fee by the institution for using their ATM. Basically, you’re paying for the convenience of using an ATM right then and there rather than going to your nearest Vantage ATM. But here’s a way to keep the convenience getting cash out where you are and save a bunch on those foreign ATM fees.

Coming Soon: MyE-Rewards Cash Back Program

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Gas prices…up. Food prices…up. Utility prices…up. The only thing going down these days is our discretionary spending. Budgets are taking a real beating. Who isn’t looking for ways to earn and/or save money? Well, Vantage is here to help with our new MyE-Rewards program, where the saving is easy, automatic and FREE!

The program
MyE-Rewards is available to all Vantage members who use a Vantage check card and manage their Vantage checking account using MyVantage online banking. You’ll receive targeted offers for cash back or percentage discounts based on purchases you make at places you already shop. There’s NO LIMIT to the amount you can earn; simply, the more you use your Vantage check card, the more offers you’ll receive and more opportunities you’ll have to earn money. It’s Click, Shop, Earn!

Post-Holiday Budget Backers

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Back in November, we shared with you some products that were known to offer pretty good deals for consumers right around the holidays. Well, wouldn’t you know it, the post-holiday retail lull offers some nice deals, too, as merchants try to shake the retail hangover left over from all the holiday spending sprees. So because we’re all about saving, let’s once again take a look at some items that could help ease your budget.

Warm Clothing, Hot Deals 
Hey, it’s January in the Midwest…we still have a few months of cold weather to muddle through, right? And you need warm clothes, right? You’re in luck! By January, most people have competed their winter wardrobes. That means retailers are looking to shrink their inventory, which means deals on all those hats, coats, gloves, even flannel pajamas. Experts say you could see price cuts of 40%-70%. Bingo!

There’s a Hole in Your Budget

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10:00 a.m. Here come the stomach growls, time for a mid-morning snack.

Today it’s a bag of chips and a diet soda. Total cost: $1.75. That won’t break the bank … but how about your budget? Have you ever thought about how all those easily forgettable little expenses can add up? Let’s take a look at just a few you may view as trivial at the time of purchase. You’ll soon see they add up to very real amounts over the course of a year.

Football’s Financial Follies

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Are you ready for some football?!

It's crunch time for the professional football season. The play-off picture is shaping up, although our hometown Rams have had better seasons (understatement of the year!).

What does football have to do with your credit union? Personal finances, of course! While most of us can’t begin to imagine life with the salary of professional athletes, we can see that they have many of the same financial problems we do, just on a much grander financial scale. It’s true. Just take a look at a few NFL players and former players who’ve had a tough time with finances for various reasons.

Home Economics for the Holidays

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Ah yes, there’s no place like home for the holidays, especially when you’re a college student. The food is free, the bed linens are fresh, and alarm clocks are simply clocks with no alarms. But after all the gift exchanges and jello-mold binges, school will call again. After all, there are classes to take and social functions to attend! So when you’re back in the Ramen noodles groove, taking notes on Steinbeck and creating imaginary business plans, here are some tips on saving money. Because as well all know, money seems to be in short supply in college after all the bills are paid.

Cash to Carry On with the Holidays

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Stuffing the holiday stockings comes with the reality that you likely need to stuff your pockets as well, with holiday cash. Who couldn’t use some extra money around the holidays? With that in mind, thewisdomjournal.com has some part-time ideas that may allow you to add to your household income.

Vigilante Holiday Vigils

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Remember last year when you were looking for the perfect holiday gift for your niece, the one who loves astronomy? You saw an ad that allowed you to name a star after her.  Far out … literally. The problem was, only the International Astronomical Union can officially name stars. The company you paid just chose a random star, named it Kourtney, and sent you a bogus certificate of registry. YOU could have done that yourself … for free.

The point is, you should always be on the lookout for scams, but it’s especially important around the holidays. With our giving mindsets, we are more prone to falling for less-than-truthful claims or deals. And it’s even more difficult to pick up on a “scam” when the set-up is perfectly legal. Ugh. We know, right?

With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few areas that are perfectly legal, but may prey just a bit on our trusting natures.

Free Puppies!

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“Please mom, oh please, please, puuuuuhlease!”

Who hasn’t heard the desperate plea for pet ownership? A free puppy, a displaced kitten … a cute addition to the family? Pretty hard to resist, we know. While we’re not advocating a no-pet policy here, we do want you to consider the costs associated with pet ownership before caving to the cuteness factor. What costs? Here’s what Americans spent on their pets in 2010 …

A Time to Buy

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As a financial institution, we usually preach the practical side of money, which often manifests itself as save, save, save! BUT, there are times when spending makes sense. With the holidays approaching, we’ll all be out there spending, trying to make this holiday season the best ever … on a budget. So finding good deals on what we buy is a smart idea. With that in mind, the peeps at MSN Money have highlighted a few items that are often priced best in November. Let’s take a look …

Breaking Up (With Your Bank) Isn’t So Hard To Do

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So your checking account is at a bank—like the U.S. MegaBank of Wealthy Stockholders… That’s okay, we won’t hold it against you. But your bank keeps adding more drama (and cost) to your relationship with more fees. Again? Well, keeping their stockholders happy is job one. Unfortunately, keeping YOU happy is job two … maybe even three or four. Don’t keep playing second fiddle to those huge entities out there in financial space. Break up with your bank! That’s right, cut the ties. Ditch the deviance. Move on to someone who will appreciate you and treat you with respect. And hey, we know just the credit union!

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