Shop safely online during the holiday season!

As you shop this holiday season, remember that being cautious doesn’t mean you are paranoid.

Most retailers online ARE legitimate, but it doesn’t hurt to keep a few things in mind before you click and

pay.

• Pay by credit card rather than by check or money order.

• Don’t buy anything from companies that use bulk email solicitations -- you might not ever see the

merchandise.

• Only do business with companies that provide a physical address and a phone number.

• Only do business with companies that offer a strong guarantee and/or warranty.

• Keep good records by printing out a copy of any online products or services you purchase.
• Search the seller’s name or URL to see if anyone else has posted any complaints indicating fraud.

• Use PayPal or other options that do not reveal your card information to the merchant.

• If you are not sure that the site is legit, don’t use it.

Finally, if you happen to be a victim of online fraud, call your credit card provider to cancel and reissue your card, then report it to the Federal Trade Commission.

Source: Shopsafeonline.org

Winter Emergency Kit Checklist!

Bundle up! Weather forecasters are predicting (as best they can) a colder than normal Winter for the Metro area. Whether we experience another Snowmageddon or not, it’s always best to prepare for emergencies. FEMA recommends emergency planning supplies for home, work and vehicles. (More information can be found at: www.ready.gov.) Here’s a list to get you started:

Home —
• Your disaster supplies kit should contain essential food, water and supplies for at least three days.
• Keep this kit in a designated place and have it ready in case you have to leave your home quickly.
• Make sure all family members know where the kit is kept.
• Additionally, you may want to consider having supplies for sheltering for up to two weeks.

Work —
• You need to be prepared to shelter at work for at least 24 hours.
• Make sure you have food and water and other necessities like medicines in your kit.
• Also, be sure to have comfortable walking shoes at your workplace in case an evacuation requires walking long distances.
• Your kit should also be in one container and ready to “grab and go” in case you are evacuated from your workplace.

Vehicle —
In case you are stranded, keep a kit of emergency supplies in your car. This kit should include:
• Jumper cables
• Flashlights and extra batteries
• First aid kit and necessary medications in case you are away from home for a prolonged time
• Food items containing protein such as nuts and energy bars; canned fruit and a portable can opener
• Water for each person and pet in your car
• AM/FM radio to listen to traffic reports and emergency messages
• Cat litter or sand for better tire traction
• Shovel
• Ice scraper
• Warm clothes, gloves, hat, sturdy boots, jacket and an extra change of clothes
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• A fully-charged cell phone and phone charger
• Flares or reflective triangle
• Baby formula and diapers if you have a small child

Be prepared for an emergency by keeping your gas tank full and if you find yourself stranded, be safe and stay in your car, put on your flashers, call for help and wait until it arrives.

Holiday Planning 101: Make a Budget!

by Janice Forostiak, Marketing Department

It happened.

Somewhere between celebrating July 4th and chillin’ at the beach, the holidays came back. I witnessed it firsthand in the stores in early September and grimaced. (I mean, I’m pretty sure I JUST got the last of the snowmen put away before Memorial Day. . .) Decorating, shopping, parties . . . it’s a big drain on everyone’s wallet. . . are you feeling the stress?

Not to worry. Remember that it always gets done, and you’re ALWAYS “ready.” But maybe you don’t have to worry about the funds so much if you have a game plan. First, start with a budget. Do you have any funds from a Holiday Savings Club? It’s the best way we know to save regularly and have enough set aside each year. Click here for details.

If you have something really special planned, but don’t have the money, resist the temptation to splurge using high-rate credit cards, and apply instead for Signal Financial’s low 4.95% APR* Holiday Loan, and pay it off easily over 12 months! Click here to apply.

Next, make a holiday gift expense spreadsheet on a program like Excel. I know … it sounds so nerdy, but it really works. Plus, it’s all you’ll need to track your holiday expenses. If you have a smartphone, you can create your holiday expense spreadsheet in Google Docs™ and download Google Drive™ as an app so you’ve always got it with you.

When you shop, don’t forget to log gifts into your nifty spreadsheet so that you know what you’ve spent and who you have left on your list. (Have you ever opened your secret “holiday closet” and found you bought the same toy twice, and maybe even THREE times?? Guilty…)

Don’t forget to track the cost of your gift giving. The first column in your spreadsheet will include the name of everyone you need to buy for from your kids and spouse to grandparents, relatives, teachers, coaches, and babysitters. Don’t forget other holiday budget-busters, such as greeting cards, postage (Yikes! $50 to mail all my cards??! Hmmm…Did my kids REALLY change all that much since last year?), holiday clothing, office incidentals, travel expenses, your tree and other decorations, charitable giving, hostess gifts, entertainment, food for holiday entertaining, and so on. Whew!

Once you set your budget, start shopping! Our friends from Bankrate.com have a few tips for holiday money management:

Maximize your spending power!

1. Make a spending plan (That's the spreadsheet we made above!!)

2. Know your limits

3. Track your spending

4. Shop with a list

5. Shop early

6. Be an educated consumer

7. Load up your wallet with cash

8. Use credit judiciously

9. Beware of sales pitches

10 Car Maintenance Tips That Will Save You Money!

by Janice Forostiak, Marketing Department

I'm no expert at car maintenance. I rely on my better half to take care of the car calendar -- but admittedly, this is not the best strategy. So, I came across this list, and wanted to pass it along to our members and readers. If you learn one new thing, hopefully it will save you some $$! Here you go:

• Avoid paying for high octane gas as the benefit doesn't justify the cost.

• Inflate your tires to the level listed in your car's owner's manual, not the maximum listed on the tires. This will help you achieve better mileage and less wear.

• Have your fluid levels checked before every long drive.

• Thoroughly research online reviews of local mechanics to find the best.

• Get your tires rotated at least twice a year to make them last much longer.

• Install a vehicle service app for your mobile device to help you remember when to perform your maintenance.

• Avoid the rapid acceleration and abrupt braking of "jackrabbit" driving.
• Make sure your spare tire is present and in working shape to remove the need for a tow in the case of a flat tire.

• Consult with your trusted mechanic and your owner's manual about the appropriate mileage benchmarks for oil change. You may not need to do it every 3,000 miles. However, make sure it doesn’t void your warranty.

• Perform the easy task of changing your own air filter instead of paying a mechanic to do it.

From Dollars & Sense at www. Balancepro.net

7 Ways to Save Money BEFORE the Holidays!

by Janice Forostiak, Marketing Department

If you woke up after the holidays last year with an overspending hangover, or you’re wondering where you’ll get money for gifts this year, here are a few tips to help:

1. Stop Paying Uncle Sam to Hold Your Money. If you get a fat tax refund each April, you’re giving the U.S. government an interest-free loan. Stop that. Considering that the average refund is $3000, that money is returned to you without interest. So recalculate your W-4 exemptions, and make adjustments so that you can have the cash NOW, when you need it.

2. Clean House. Sell Stuff. Make $$.
Have a yard sale, sell your stuff on eBay, Craigslist or wherever you choose. You could earn hundreds or MORE! Remember that one person's junk is another's treasure.

3. Examine Your Phone Bills. Save $120 to $200 annually. Take a good look at your phone bill, or call the phone company to get a representative to go over the minutes and data you are paying for. If not, drop your plan down a level and put the money saved into your holiday fund.

4. Drop your landline: Save $400/year.
Are you ready to lose your landline and use your mobile instead?

5. Consider cancelling collision coverage on your old car. Save $$ by dropping the collision and comprehensive auto coverage, which pay to repair or replace a vehicle if it is stolen or vandalized or if you’re at fault in a collision. Do not cancel the liability portion of your policy!

6. Take a brown-bag lunch. If making lunches isn’t your thing, don’t worry. This isn’t a lifetime commitment. For a few months until the end of the year, cut out restaurant food and take your lunch to work. You might even grow to like the money you save . . . or the homemade food you eat!

7. Stop your expensive latte habit: Save as much as $330 per year! Those who regularly buy coffee spend an average of about $1,000 a year. That’s another $60-75 you could save by year’s end if you start right away. (OK, treat yourself to one Pumpkin Spice Latte per week....but after that, brew your own and doctor with flavored creamer.)

Finally -- be proactive and set up a Holiday Club account at your credit union! Commit a regular amount each payday and have it direct deposited right into your account. (You probably won't even miss the money that doesn't first have a chance to burn a hole in your pocket.) Click here for Holiday Club information.

Signal Financial also offers members the opportunity to apply for a low-rate Holiday Loan from November 1st thru January 31st (to take care of debt AFTER the holidays). Stay tuned for details!

For more ways to save, go to MoneyTalksNews.com

10 Fees You Shouldn't Pay

by Janice Forostiak, Marketing Department


Looking for ways to save money? Look everywhere! Because there are sneaky fees hidden in many products and services. You might say “It’s only a dollar or two.” But those dollars add up quickly. By the end of the year, you could be saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars!

Get it for free, or at least get it for less. . .that’s the goal of this post. Most of the time you can avoid being nickeled and dimed. Our friends at BillShrink.com -- a free cost-savings site – offer up the following tips:

1. 'Free' checking fee. Banks are starting to attach more strings to their free checking accounts. Unless you go with no-fee, credit union checking from Signal Financial – no kidding! Click here for information.

2. Balance-transfer fee. Some credit card companies now charge up to 5% for balance transfers. At Signal Financial, all balance transfers to your VISA Classic or Platinum cards are FREE*. Click here for information.

3. Retailer credit card fees. Are you tempted by your favorite department store offers: "Do you want to save 10% on your purchase today by opening a card account with us?" The discount is tempting, but remember that these cards often come with higher interest rates than traditional credit cards. If you don't pay your bill in full, that discount you got will quickly be wiped out by the high rate you'll be paying on your balance.

4. Credit card late fees. Avoid late fees by signing up for payment alerts from your credit card company. You'll receive an email or text message several days before your bill is due. Or, set up an automatic minimum payment to cover you in case you forget. (You can do both of these with a Signal Financial VISA Card!)

5. Reward card annual fees. An increasing number of rewards cards charge annual fees. However, there are cards with great perks and no fees.

6. Directory assistance fees. Calling 411 is so yesterday. Plus, it can cost $1.25 or more. You can get free directory assistance by calling 1-800-BING-411 or 1-800-FREE-411.

7. Baggage fees. Unless you fly on Southwest or JetBlue, you'll probably pay a fee to check a bag. If you're flying with any of the other airlines and have to check a few bags, you might find it cheaper to send your luggage to your destination by FedEx, UPS or U.S. Postal Service ground shipping. (Or, you could pack less, too. A little reality-based planning could save you money: “Do I really need 8 pairs of shoes for a 4-day weekend?)

8. Airline booking fees. Don't even think about picking up the phone to book a flight -- unless you don't mind spending $15 or more for the privilege of talking to a booking agent. Book your flights online to avoid this fee.

9. Cellphone early termination fees. You can face a termination fee of $200 or more if you cancel your service before your contract is up. You can avoid these fees by signing up for prepaid service (and save money because these plans usually are cheaper).

10. Roaming fees. Cellphone roaming and international rates can be as much as $2.49 per minute. If you send a video while roaming, you could be charged up to $7. Wow! Remember that many cell carriers offer a Friends and Family network whereby you plug in your most frequent numbers and you won’t be charged roaming fees. This is a great benefit!

So, make some changes, evaluate your plans and start saving money today!

* For Credit Card option only: The rate is good for the life of the transfer. If your account is closed during the promotion, the remaining balance will revert back to the regular rate of the card (Visa Classic: Wall Street Journal Prime Rate + 8.51%=11.76% APR; Visa Platinum: Wall Street Journal Prime Rate + 6.50%=9.75% APR). If you are paying more than the minimum payment and you want the excess payment to be applied to your promotional balance, you must send this extra payment to: Signal Financial VISA Department, 3015 University Blvd., West, Kensington, MD 20895. Other restrictions may apply. Rates effective as of 01/2/14. Business cards are excluded from offer. Rates subject to change without notice. Transfer must be from outside source. APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Once you have committed to a rate, you may not change it. The Wall Street Journal Prime Rate is 3.25% as of 9/15/14.

BEWARE of the Ways Car Dealers Can Rip You Off

by Janice Forostiak, Marketing Department

The new cars are rolling into the dealers' showrooms right about now, and if you’re planning your next car or truck purchase, you’ll want to do your homework so that you get the best deal. You don’t want to be the victim of a sales tactic you can’t handle. So, pay attention to the following advice from Shauna Zamarippa of Money Talks News. (Not only is she a personal finance writer, she used to sell cars for a living!)

1. Inflated Sticker Prices
The stickers on the window include prices that aren't all set by the manufacturer. Some are called “bumper stickers” – not because they went on the bumper, but because they bumped up the price of the vehicle. What’s on there? Services like VIN etching, fabric treatment, undercarriage sealant – which you might not need or could do yourself cheaper.
Solution: Tell the dealer you want to see the “original invoice” minus the “bumper sticker.” If he refuses, walk out and head to a dealer who will.

2. Lowballing your trade-in
The Kelley Blue Book price is the most effective way for dealers to lowball your trade-in. But dealers actually use NADA (The National Automobile Dealers Association) for used-car valuations, typically higher than KBB, which can undervalue trade-ins by as much as $5000.
Solution: Print out the NADA values for your car based on its age, mileage, and condition – so the dealer knows that YOU know its true value. Better yet, sell your car privately before heading to the lot. That’s the way you’ll get the most money for it.

3. Paying for “Customer Service”
On your paperwork, you’ll notice something called a “customer service fee" -- or dealer charges for handling your paperwork, issuing your tags, processing your title, and paying your taxes – in other words “to do their job.” They can charge anywhere from $299 to a whopping $1,000 for something that takes about 30 minutes! (That’s a pretty good hourly rate, but you should keep that money in YOUR pocket!)
Solution: Don’t pay it. Or at least get it reduced, especially if you’ve obtained financing through the credit union.

4. GAP Insurance
Not a bad product, but way overpriced at the dealership. If you wreck your financed car, GAP insurance pays the difference between what you owe and what it’s worth. The dealership will try to sell it to you for $500 or more. But you can often get the same thing at the credit union for less than half.
Solution: Buy GAP insurance from your credit union! Click here for details.

5. Extended Service Contracts
Extra protection and peace of mind are usually good things when it comes to car buying, but a dealer isn’t the least expensive place to find it. You’ll find better rates after-market than at the dealership.
Solution: Before deciding on an extended service contract, shop rates, terms, and deductibles from outside warranty sources. (Signal Financial offers MRC, or Mechanical Repair Coverage, at substantial savings!) Click here for details.

Feel better about going to the dealer? Good! Test drive. Be tough, and come see us for the rest.


Source: Read more at www.moneytalksnews.com