Coupon Deals: Always in Fashion (well...almost)

by Janice Forostiak, Marketing Department

Ah, prom night! The promise of a magical night of dining and dancing with your high school buds, all dressed up in their finest tuxedos and sequined gowns.

As they finished posing for their pictures, I hugged my son and quietly pressed a piece of paper into his hands. He gave me "the look" and said "What's this?"

"It's a coupon for a free Bloomin' Onion, honey. Isn't it great?"

"Mom...I'm not using a coupon for our prom night dinner."

I felt the air leave the room, my hopes dashed. Clearly he was NOT as thrilled as I with saving money. "Cool" had trumped savings.

A friend of mine once said to me "If you have to pay full price, it's not meant to be." Simple as that. Who doesn't love a good bargain? Perhaps my Bloomin' Onion coupon crossed the line...

Nowadays, everyone's getting in on the coupon act. Coupons are cool again! In fact, 96 million adults will use digital coupons this year! (source: Market Research company Emarketer) But, how do you find the best deals? Special websites and mobile apps make saving money easy. Here are a few to try out:

1) SnipSnap: Prepare to save some serious moolah because this app makes it easy to use and offers promo codes online. SnipSnap is the first app to scan, save, and redeem printed coupons on your mobile phone. Just snap a photo of a printed coupon and SnipSnap magically recognizes all the text and images, and turns it into a mobile-ready offer. Works for most retailers and restaurants. (See snipsnap.it for more information.)

2) Coupons.com: Online plus mobile app makes it easy to use promo codes online -- Just drag and drop!

3) The Coupons App: This #1 app from iTunes allows you to coupon shop, update deals, locate cheap gas and share with friends.

4) Retailmenot: Great for shopaholics! Offers thousands of coupons from top retailers ranking them for quality.

5) Groupon: Get incredible deals at 50-70% off retail price on travel, tickets, Broadway shows, merchandise, services and more!

6) Gas Buddy: Finding cheap gas just got better! This app locates the cheapest fuel nearest you.

7) Expedia: Travel cheaper with the Expedia website and app. They have great deals on hotels, vacation packages and more.

8) Shop Savvy: Make sure you always pay the lowest price with this barcode-scanning app. When you're planning to buy something, just take a picture of its barcode with your iPhone's camera and the app will search the web for the lowest price.

These are only a few of the hundreds of money-saving apps! Most are available online or via iTunes. Happy shopping!

Did you know that Signal Financial makes banking easy with our FREE mobile app? You can pay bills, check balances, deposit checks and much more! Click here for information!

Keep Your Pets Safe This Summer!

by Janice Forostiak, Marketing Department

The dog days of summer are now upon us, and nothing beats a Washington summer with its heat and humidity. Thankfully, humans adapt to whatever Mother Nature dishes out. Remember that while you're adjusting to the heat with extra water and cool A/C, remember that your pets are suffering too, and Fido and Kitty may need some extra precautions just like you.

Our friends from the Humane Society caution pet owners about heat safety and offer up the following tips to keep your animals safe on the hottest days of summer:

Heat stroke can affect your pets, just like people, so keep them indoors during the hottest days, make sure they can get to a cool shady spot for outside time, and give them plenty of fresh water.

Give them a haircut! A little less hair in the summer might keep them quite a bit cooler, so don't hesitate to tell the groomer to go a little shorter.

NEVER leave your pet in a parked car Even a comfortably air-conditioned car can rise by 20 degrees in just a few minutes while you run into the store, feeling like an oven in no time. Better to leave your pet at home on hot days.

Watch the humidity Animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. If the humidity is too high, they are unable to cool themselves, and their temperature can skyrocket to dangerous levels very quickly.

Limit exercise on hot days. Adjust intensity and duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature. Also, remember that asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet's paws, so walk your dog on the grass if possible. Always carry water with you to keep your dog from dehydrating.

What to do if you suspect heatstroke.If your pet is panting excessively, is disoriented or begins vomiting, he may be suffering from heatstroke. Move your pet into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice packs or cold towels to the head, neck, and chest or run cool (not cold) water over him. Let him drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes. Take him directly to a veterinarian.

A hot summer doesn't mean we all become shut-ins; with extra precautions for people and pets, we can all go about our business as usual and enjoy the warm-weather months.

Stay cool!

For more information about pet safety and related topics, go to www.humanesociety.org

Reverse Your Cash Flow!

by Janice Forostiak, Marketing Department

Do you ever get to the end of the month and say to yourself "Where did all my money go?" We've all been there, and the answer is generally -- to bills, mortgage payments, home improve costs, health care, transportation, food ... the list goes on. Even if you keep the strictest records, there's one area you might be overlooking: Miscellaneous. This can be anything from daily coffee shop trips, to entertainment costs, to fast food, and everything in between. These things are like vacuum cleaners -- they suck the cash right out of your pocket if you aren't careful. So what do you do? Here are a few tips to help you KEEP more money for the bigger things in life: savings, college, retirement, vacations .... anything you choose that's a little more important than say, that expensive coffee treat.

Beware of Impulse Buys. How many times do you go into Costco for groceries and end up with beach towels, new rugs, the latest best-seller, socks, etc.? If it's not on the list, keep the cart moving.

Shop the Specials. Check out websites before you go shopping. Use "old fashioned" Sunday paper sale flyers to see where the best deals are, or go online to find the best deals. Plan shopping trips around weekly specials, and sign up for rewards at your local grocery store. The savings? As much as 20%!

Buy Off-Label. Try store brands for pre-packaged items. Many times these products are made by the same name-brand makers, but the prices are lower because there are no pricey advertising fees built in. Items like your favorite cereal, crackers, condiments and cookies might be worth trying off-brand. And if you hate it? Don't buy it again. But the savings can be substantial! (Editor's Note: I once tried store-brand grapefruit soda, thinking it would be as good as Fresca -- blech! Not even close.)

Reclaim Rebates. Only about 21% of consumers actually send in rebate forms, so it's a great gimmick to get you to buy. So, be one of the 21%, fill out the form and send it in for your cash rebate!

Fight Fees. Your bank or merchant credit card may charge as much as $35 insufficient funds fee for a simple oversight or timing error, but if you call up and ask nicely, they'll often waive it as a courtesy, particularly if you have had a good payment history.

The moral of this blog is, we all have to be a little frugal at times, but the savings can be huge!

Congratulations to Micaih Murray, winner of the 2014 Les Dauphin Scholarship.

"Come on, get HAPPY!"

by Janice Forostiak, Marketing Department

I love radio. Really, I do. But it seems like 4 or 5 times each hour, Pharrell's "Happy" song is on. And every morning I wake up to:

"Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do."


Instead of being annoyed, I decided to embrace the suggestion. What a great song with a positive message! Even at 5:30 in the morning. Who could argue with wanting to be happy? We all go through the highs and lows of life because, well, that's LIFE. But did you know there are ways to improve your level of happiness? Sometimes, the things you do, and the thoughts you cultivate, can lead to a better frame of mind -- or happiness.

Here are a few common-sense tips to help improve your mood or outlook on life:

1) Invest time in your family and friends. Strong ties to family and friends reduce rates of depression, suicide and stress. Better yet, it may even help you live longer!

ACTION: Schedule more time with friends and family for dinners and outings.

2) Find your purpose. Happy people have a reason to get up in the morning, and are able to fuel their passions to help their communities and their personal lives.

ACTION: What makes you happiest? When do you feel your best? What do you want your life to look like in a year . . . 5 years. . . 10 years? Go for it!

3) Get your financial house in order. This is a biggie! And here's where we could really help to get you back on track. First, you should be happy you're a credit union member to begin with :) Next, remember that the happiest people may not be rich, but they have enough money to be comfortable. (Food for thought: If being rich made you happy, there would be no reality TV.)

ACTION: Create a budget and stick to it. Come talk to us about helping you manage your debt better! We're your credit union, and we're here to help.

4) Exercise and eat right. Exercise releases endorphins, the ultimate mood booster. Eating a diet full of veggies, fruit, beans and nuts has been shown to lower blood pressure and cholosterol and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.

ACTION: Take a walk during your lunch break, join a gym or recreational sports team, and BUY healthier food. Stick to it!


Source: New York Times best selling author and National Geographic Fellow, Dan Buettner, is the author of The Blue Zones and Thrive. He studies happiness and longevity and created a test that measures happiness. Find out more and take the test at bluezones.com.

The Future's So Bright . . . I Gotta Wear Shades!"

by Janice Forostiak, Marketing Department

What's that in the sky?? It's the sun!! We thought we'd never see it again, but here it is! Time to break out the shades to protect your eyes. Do you choose a pair of sunglasses because they’re the latest trend? How about to match your favorite outfit? There is a more important factor to consider: your eye health!

Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun has been linked to cataracts, retinal problems and cancer of the eyelids and skin around the eyes. UV light can also burn the eye’s surface. Sunglasses can eliminate your eyes’ exposure to almost all ultraviolet light. With so many styles available in stores, keep these tips in mind when chosing pairs for you and your family:

* Choose sunglasses with lenses that block 99 to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Some labels may read, “UV absorption up to 400 nanometers.” This is the same as 100% ultraviolet protection.

* Choose the right hue. Although colored, polarized and mirrored lenses may offer benefits – reducing the brightness of sun entering your eyes or reducing glare from light bouncing off water or snow – they do not necessarily protect against ultraviolet light. Always look for a label that states the ultraviolet protection level.

* Opt for larger lenses or wraparound styles, protecting your entire eye area and helping to keep light from shining in around the frames.

* Use UV blocking contact lenses or wear sunglasses in addition to your contacts.

* Pick a style and size that fit your face shields your eyes all around the frames. If they slide down your nose, sunlight will shine in through the top and sides.

* Choose a darker lens if you work or play in very bright conditions.

* Spend wisely: Expensive sunglasses do not necessarily mean you’re getting high-quality lenses or UV blockage. Check the quality of a lens by looking at a rectangular pattern,like a tile floor. Cover one eye and hold the glasses away from your face. Move them up and down and side to side. If the straight lines bend and warp, especially in the middle, pick a different pair.

* Don’t forget a wide-brimmed hat! The right headgear can significantly reduce UV radiation of the eyes.

So, enjoy the warm weather, sunlight and all. Just be sure to don your shades before venturing out!

For more information about this topic and eye health, go to www.webmd.com.

April is Financial Literacy Month!

by Janice Forostiak, Marketing Department

Financial education is one of the core values of the Credit Union Movement. Personal financial literacy is more than just being able to balance a checkbook, compare prices or get a job. It also includes skills like long-term vision and planning for the future, and the discipline to use those skills every day.

In the US, we make great efforts to teach children to read and write, but we don't give their financial literacy the same attention. As a result, few young people know how to manage their personal financial lives.

This is a great time to ask yourselves: Am I saving enough money for an emergency fund, or for retirement? Life happens. And you want to be prepared for bumps in the road to avoid financial crisis. We recommend our members save 6-9 months living expenses. That's about the amount of time it could take to get another job if you were to become unemployed.

So, start now and do it regularly. Payroll deduction makes it easy, and you'll be surprised at how fast your money accumulates!

How can you become more financially literate? At Signal Financial, we promote financial literacy in a number of ways: via newsletter articles, links on Facebook to important financial tips, and now our informative blog! We also offer special savings clubs for youth to encourage financial literacy. And, our branch staff is always available to take extra time to answer your specific financial questions.

What else can you do at Signal Financial to improve your financial literacy? Encourage your children to join the credit union ... come talk with Members Financial Services about your retirement plans ... see our branch representatives about refinancing your debt ... and call us with questions about how to get started!

Take charge this month!