Emery FCU eNotes

Top Five Overdone Christmas Decorations

In the true spriti of Clark Griswold, one has to ask- "How long did this take to put up?" 

#5. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#3. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#2.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#1. 

 

Emery FCU Donates Over $8500 to Shriners Hospital

In September we hosted our 4th annual Charity Golf Scramble with a Sold Out field of play.  as a result of the charity event we were able to donate over $8,500 to the Cincinnati Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Shriners Hospitals for Children® — Cincinnati is a 30-bed pediatric burn hospital, research and teaching center and is one of the three hospitals specializing in burn care operated by Shriners Hospitals for Children®. The hospital is verified as a burn center by the American College of Surgeons and the American Burn Association.

Please mark your calendar for Monday, Sepember 12, 2011 for our 5th Annual Event at the Golf Center at Kings Island in Mason, OH.

 

Importance of Backing Up Data

For a brief moment this week I have felt what it has been like to be "y2k'd."  I regularly back up data to an external hard drive, albeit monthly, so I am assured to not have lost nearly as much as I could have.  Almost as a religious ritual- on or about the 1st of every month I back up the hard drive.  Unfortunately when the lid of my 3-year old ThinkPad closed on the night of Nov. 30 after watching a streamed version of the Office on hulu.com- it would be the last opportunity I would have to view anything that had been completed during the month of November.

Working as a Marketing Director and Graphic Designer that, unfortunately, encompasses more than a few megabytes of information.

As Christmas comes close and the cameras roll out of storage for all of the family gatherings at Grandma's or the kids Christmas Plays... remember to BACK UP your data (including pictures) and "unimportant" documents that you may want a few months from now.  And ABOVE ALL- if you have financial records, BACK THEM UP and store the backup in a safe location!

My financial records spanning the ten years of my marriage could have been at stake, but fortunately those records have never existed on the hard drive but have ALWAYS been on an external drive.  Therefore, my sensitive financial information is 100% up to date.

If your computer hard drive crashed right after you read this- how far back into the stone age would you be?  Fortunately because I have been in the habit of regularly backing data up- what could have caused a "heart-attack" will merely be a "migraine head-ache."

It may cost you a few "shekels" but the investment of a back up hard drive (or subscription service) is WELL WORTH the money.  I had 10 years of financial records at stake.... I can't put a price on that.

Potential Blog "Recess"

Over the next few days our Blog may be "offline"- our web administrator's (who happens to be me) computer had a fatal crash this morning.

Funny thing is, Emery FCU is looking into beginning to offer a Service Organization (CUSO) for computer services... we may have our first client in line...

To be continued...

Catch Emery's Britt Scearce on Simply Money!

Emery Federal Credit Union's Business Development Executive, Britt Scearce, will be a guest on the Simply Money drive-time show on Cincinnati's 55KRC tonight.

Simply Money is from 6:00-7:00pm on AM 550!

Best Christmas Movies (from one person's perspective)

We've done this a few times over the years and have always attracted a fair amount of feedback, so we'll pitch another one out and see what happens.  No, this isn't financially relevant (unless you're in the movie industry) but 99.9% of those who may come across this I'm willing to bet have seen these. 

So, with that in mind, here are my picks for the "Top 5 Christmas Movies:"

 

5) "A Christmas Story"

Set in Hammond, Indiana in the 1940's, and poor old Ralphie only wants one thing for Christmas: "an official Red Ryder cabine-action 200-shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock, and this things that tells time. "  In my 37 year, I can think of many MANY times that too many boys have tried to double-dog-dare someone to stick their tongue on a frozen flag pole.  Sad thing is, many have tried it.

 

    4) Polar Express 

In my mind, sort of an animation classic (Christmas or summer time).    But then again, I'm a Tom Hanks fan- so that probably figures into it.     The movie does a pretty good job of bringing the book to life- with a       "few" embellishments.  "Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most     real things in the world are the things we can't see."

 

3) Elf 

In the lineage of Saturday Night Live actors branching into big screen successes (among the many busts)- Will Ferrell hit the jackpot with the staring role as Buddy in the movie that has come to define much of his career.  "The best way to spread Christmas Cheer to singing loud for all to hear."  And the occassional to "testy" people- "oh... sounds like someone needs to sing a Christmas Carol."

 

 

 2) It's a Wonderful Life 

Funny piece of this is that the movie wasn't really all that popular when it came out.  It wasn't until years later that it picked up followers to make it sort of the classic it is today.  I have resonated with some of the thoughts of George Bailey... sometimes to the "well you look like the sort of angel I'd get."

 

 

1) Christmas Vacation 

Chevy Chase had many forgettable movie roles.  BUT- this movie became the defining role of his career.  He will always be Clark Griswald.  Way too many quotes learned from this movie to pick just one.  Unfortunately, for me, it will be YEARS before I let my kids watch it.  "I simply solved the problem. We needed a coffin... Er, a tree. There are no lots open on Christmas Eve. Lewis burned down my tree so I replaced it as best I could."

 

 

honorable mention: Muppets Christmas Carol

Not many people know this movie was ever made.  A pretty decent child-version adaptation of the original Charles Dickens Classic.  If you're never seen it- it's not too bad.  Good, obviously, for the kids as well.

 

 

 

 

Any others I am missing?  Stay tuned in the next few days/weeks we'll give our picks for the WORST Christmas movies (at this stage... anything on the Hallmark Channel....)- Best & Worst Christmas music... and perhaps some financial blog posts as they come.

 

Cyber Monday Poised for Record

Well, hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend- I, personally am not going to eat again until Christmas.  Did anyone take in any Black Friday Weekend shopping?  I am proud to say, I did NOT.  Unless buying a few strands of Christmas lights to replace broken ones from last year qualifies.  I did treat myself to a warm cup of Caribou Dark Chocolate Mocha though, but I tend to do that on most days.  Case-in-point, I'm not the shopper of the family.

USA Today predicts that Online shopping is on pace to make another round of significant gains on traditional shopping methods this Christmas Shopping Season.  A study says that an estimated 107 million people will shop for something online today, up from an estimated 96.5 million on Cyber Monday 2009. 

Good news for the economy is that overall shopping tallies were up from last year.... up slightly, but up nonetheless.  Early Black Friday shopping online was up 33% over last year- which essentially means the smart ones were at home and in their pajamas shopping at the wee hours of the morning and NOT freezing or experiencing what the sun looks like at 5am.

As you begin your annual shopping binges this year, remember to look at the cost factor involved behind the scenes.  Since online shopping does not accept "cash"- that means that most purchases will be on credit.  One of our relentless educational pieces that we try to get to our Members is that the best Credit Card deal out there is likely not in your wallet.  Check your Credit Card Interest Rates.

According to Bankrate.com- Average Credit Card Rates Nationally are as follows:

• 10.64%  Lowest Interest Rates (no frills card)
• 14.55%  All variable cards:  
• 15.82%  Balance Transfer Cards
• 16.51%  Cash Back Cards

First lets list out the Emery Federal Credit Union MasterCard Platform- best rate/case scenario.

• "A" Credit Best Rate: Prime + 4.39% (currently 8.14%)
• "C" Credit Best Rate: Prime +12.49% (currently 16.24%)
• Minimum rate- all cards: 4.39%
• Maximum rate- all cards: 17.99%
• no annual fee
• Local support based in Cincinnati, Ohio

 

According to CreditCardGuide.com- the most popular credit card in the nation is the Capital One No Hassle Rewards Card.  Lets take a look at the details shall we to see how much of a deal this is.

Capital One No Hassle Credit Card: (on site, mentions this card is for people with "excellent" credit)  http://www.capitalone.com/creditcards/products/details/?sol=11531&tc=11&credit=0&linkid=WWW_0608_CARD_TGAFF01_Z_Z_01_T_CP53111EW

• No Annual Fee (thats good)
• Rate after introductory period: 14.99%  (almost 7% more than Emery FCU)
• Rate determination:  Prime + 11.65%  (Emery FCU.... Prime +4.39)
• Penalty Rate: 29.4%...  (Emery FCU doesn't have a set penalty rate... but our Federally Mandated Maximum Rate is 17.99%... an astounding 11.41% over Emery FCU)
• Customer support based.... who-knows-where

Most popular credit card in the United States...  Is it really a deal?  What's in your wallet?  Capital One Rate Disclosure: http://www.capitalone.com/creditcards/disclosures.php?sol=11531&tc=11&print=1&linkid=WWW_0608_CARD_TGAFF01_CP53111EW_C1_05_Object%20id%20#219_CP53111ED

 

CitiBank Platinum Select MasterCard:

• No Annual Fee
• Best rate after introductory period: 11.99% (again, Emery FCU 8.13%)
• Rate Determination: doesn't specify- only that it is based on Prime and is 11.99%, 15.99% or 19.99%...  If you can figure it out, share it.  
• Penalty Rate:  29.99%!
• https://online.citibank.com/US/JRS/pands/detail.do?ID=CreditCardsOverview

 

A certain bank with numbers and fractions in their name boasts a Platinum Card with a 0% introductory rate that adjusts to somewhere betweeen 10.99% and 23.99% with no identifiable way to determine what that rate will be other than "based on credit worthiness".... who determines that????  For more information: https://www.53.com/wps/portal/pv?New_WCM_Context=/wps/wcm/connect/FifthThirdSite/Personal/Credit+%26+Debit+Cards/Credit+Cards/Platinum+MasterCard/

 

Just about everyone that has a Credit Card carries a monthly balance.  If you have one and do not- that is EXCELLENT, though you're in the distant minority.  If you have one and carry a balance either out of habit or necessity- it is up to you how much that card costs you.  I listed just three of the "popular" card offers out there.  Look at our details, our rates cut the popular ones by almost HALF!  If you don't have an Emery FCU MasterCard in your wallet, you should! 

Be Frugal... Be Informed...  Be Deliberate...  Be Pro-Active... Be Calculated... Be Different!

Black Friday 2010

Anyone in my family knows, as is with most guys also (I think)- shopping isn't my thing.  

Wandering around aimlessly in retail stores for hours on end hoping that inspiration hits me just doesnt' rank on my top ten.  Yes, I am one of the working souls today; no shopping for me.  Today is truly one of the only days of the year I gladly take my place behind the work desk and forgoe the shopping ritual.

Upon my arrival at the office today I sat down to begin the day with the orderly reading of the various daily newspapers, journals, and online articles as usual.  And, as usual for today just about every front-page article deals with Black Friday shoppers- their stories, traditions, and how they prepare.  One of the articles I read was about a Mason (Ohio) woman who wakes the family at 3am to wisk themselves to their first of many stops by 4am for the deals.  This year- one of the search items was for a big screen TV.... no doubt to be bought using her Emery FCU MasterCard.  They were set to be at (whatever retailer it was) by 4am to sit in the line to grab this TV for a sale that didn't begin until 8am.

Now at this stage, being a pessimistically practical person- the savings for buying this TV at 8am for $150 off the normal retail price should get better scrutiny.  I suggest taking into consideration what one's time is worth.  Without doing much math, and to use a round number- I would like to think that my time is worth.... $25 an hour.  This is "personal" time, so I'll add a $5 premium for that time to make it $30.  3am till 6am are peak sleeping hours- so I'll tack on another $5/hour to make it $35/hour that I feel my time is worth.  So, at this stage in the game- dragging myself out of bed to grab a deal on a TV that is going to take five hours just to be in the buy time to get; my self-calcuated time sheet says i just wasted "spent" $175; $35 x's 5hrs... just to save $150.... so in my little world of practical algebra- even though I feel like I just robbed the system and grabbed a $150 deal.... I actually lost $25 in the transaction... and lost sleep.

OK- I am not a shopper, and I will resort to algebriac equations if it explains and serves my purpose.  Suggestion, sleep in today- get the real deal later!  Besides, last year I sent someone in my stead to pick up a GREAT $900 deal on a Sony FlatScreen.  Felt that sense of accomplishment of getting the deal.  one year later- same TV, same location; Brand New if I purchased this year:  $398.  You tell me who won and who the chump is.

Well, enjoy Black Friday if you must.  If you're the serious shooper- remember that an Emery MasterCard may be the best Credit Card that isn't in your wallet.  Our normal rate (Prime + 4.39%) is better than most cards "best" rate.  Go to our website and inquire today.

Document Shred & Electronics Recycling Day Coming!

Do you need to get rid of your old computer, stereo, printer... 8 track player? And, do you have documents that you no longer need but don't have a shredder to handle the job?

 

If you have answered yes to any of those you are invited to come to our Document Shred/Electronics Recycling Day being held at Lakota East High School parking lot in Liberty Twp on Saturday, November 6 between 9am and 1pm. We are partnering with Lakota Schools (www.lakotaonline.com), Cintas(www.cintas.com), and 2TRG (www.2trg.com) to provide this service to our Members and the surrounding community.

You may bring any volume of documents to shred for a donation. Electronics brought to recycle will cost $5 per item up to 50lbs. Heavier items will be at the discretion of the eRecycling staff on hand. This is not a free event for Emery to sponsor, however any proceeds from this event will be donated to an organization within the Lakota Local Schools (at the discretion of the School District).

  

Cincinnati Reds. 2010 National League Central Division Champions!

If you live in Cincinnati it's hard to concentrate on much else- unless you had been living under a rock the last few days as the Magic Number slinked down to "Clinch."  Last night around 10:20pm (or so) Reds Right Fielder Jay Bruce swung the bat on the first pitch of the bottom of the 9th and sent the ball over the Center Fielf Wall to the extreme delight of 30k+ fans at Great American Ballpark.

The win brought the Central Division Championship home to the Reds for the first time since 1995 and represents the return to prominence for this team for the first time since 1999!  I was fortunate enough to have been there- front and center for the winning hit!- I'm a life long Reds fan (except for Monday when I was a sworn die hard Cardinals fan hoping that St. Louis would win and the Reds could clinch at home)- I could live to be a 1000 years old and I won't forget last night!

The best part of the game (aside from the Homerun) was that probably 20,000 fans were still in the ballpark an hour after the last run crossed the plate.  One by one the Reds players trickled out of the locker room and interacted with the fans still in attendance.  I could write an essay but I'll stop short by saying it was an incredible experience!  From Drew Stubbs robbing the Astros of a Homerun earlier in the game to the crowd constantly on their feet every time Joey Votto or Scott Rolen came to the plate, to the thousands of flash bulbs going off when Aroldis Chapman pitched 100+ mph, oh- and Jay Bruce's homerun....  not sure what else to say!

If you weren't fortunate enough to get in on the Post Season tickets (which I believe have been sold out for some time)- you still have 5 games to go see this team play in person!  This is a unique team that is fun to watch!