The fireplace in your home is a source of warmth and relaxation. Like any home appliance, it should be safe and properly maintained. Follow these guidelines to keep your fireplace burning safely:

Chimney Maintenance: Have your fireplace inspected annually and cleaned if necessary. A dirty fireplace can cause chimney fires and inhibit proper venting of smoke. Check for flue obstructions and make sure you trim back tree branches near the chimney.

Hearth Habits: Keep the area clear around the hearth. Always use a fireplace screen. Don’t leave a fire unattended, and teach all family members how to use a fire extinguisher.

Build Safe Fires: When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace on a supporting grate. Don’t overload the grate. Never bum trash in the fireplace.

Combining all your payments into one means less hassle and may even lower your payments. For example, if you have balances on department store credit cards, you may be paying as much as 21% interest. That’s why it takes so long to pay off the balances. And that’s why it’s not surprising that other bills begin to accumulate. If you owe $5,000 on a credit card carrying a 21% interest rate, you must make $188 monthly payments for three years in order to pay it off. This assumes you are not making any more purchases! Consolidating your bills with a loan from the Credit Union means a lower interest rate and lower payments. For most members, this means saving a substantial amount in total interest charges. For example, paying off a $5,000 loan at 9.5% interest in three years requires monthly payments of $160; this is a $1008.00 savings in interest charges compared with the $5,000 balance at 21%.

Consolidating your debt can help give you a fresh start. Put the difference in what you’ve been paying on your bills and your payment on your credit union loan into your share savings account. This benefits you in two ways: You have money in savings to help meet future obligations, plus you’ll earn dividends on your shares. The sooner you act the sooner you can begin to gain control over your finances.

Are you still standing in line at the credit union on payday to deposit your paycheck? Why not make your life easier with direct deposit from your credit union? Your paycheck can be automatically deposited to your checking and/or savings account. And, your funds are available for your checking and/or savings account. And, your funds are available for you to use on the same day as you are paid.

You are busy enough with work, home life, and errands. Have your paycheck put into your account automatically and get on with things that are more important. Call or stop by your credit union today to ask about direct deposit.

It’s the hi-tech crime of the millennium. Nobody mugs you or holds you at gunpoint. In fact, you don’t even see the perpetrator It’s all done online, through the mail, and over the telephone. It’s called identity theft. But the results are just as devastating - loss of privacy, theft of money, and difficulty in regaining your good financial standing.

The perpetrators accomplish identity theft by intercepting mail, sending fraudulent emails, and/or making phone calls - all attempting to get your social security number, your credit card numbers, or other numbers that identify you as a unique individual. They then attempt to empty your account and/or set up new ones to buy goods or services, with you footing the bill.

Here are a few tactics to help you avoid identity theft:

• Deposit outgoing mail at the post office and promptly remove mail from you mailbox after delivery - never leave mail in your mailbox overnight or on weekends.
• Shred or tear unwanted documents that contain personal information before discarding them in trash.
• Order and thoroughly review copies of your credit report from at least one of the major credit reporting agencies annually.
• Never give personal identifying information over the telephone or the Internet unless YOU initiated the contact.
• Don’t let any one “shoulder surf’ you at ATMs. If you sense someone is watching you, cancel the transaction immediately and leave.

As a credit union member, you’re already aware of the savings and convenience we have to offer But did you know your family members and coworkers could also join?

If you have eligible family members or coworkers who are tired of paying the high fees, interest rates, and service charges at banks, ask them to call or stop by the credit union for information on how to join. When they compare our financial products and services with what they have been paying, they’ll wonder why they didn’t join sooner and will thank you for telling them about us.

It isn’t easy to change your spending habits, but without financial independence, you are a slave to money. Accomplishing financial independence takes dedication, time, and lots of hard work —but it’s worth it. Listed below are a few steps to help get you started.

1. Make a spending plan and commit yourself to maintaining it.
2. Set practical financial goals —both short and long-term.
3. Prioritize your goals and review them periodically.
4. Recognize the difference between your wants and needs.
5. Keep a record of your expenses to determine where your money is going.
6. Make a comparison of your income(s) against your expenses.
7. To keep your spending plan in check, make sure you save for periodic and emergency expenses.
8. Shop wisely by becoming an informed buyer.

1. Convenience: Your time is valuable - save time and money Why waste time standing in line during lunch break or even after work? Have your paycheck deposited directly into your account. And best of all, it is free!
2. Safety: With Direct Deposit, your paycheck is sent electronically — no paper checks that may be lost or stolen.
3. Need Cash: No problem. After verifying that your deposit has been credited to your account, simply make a withdrawal from an ATM.

Give us a call or stop by the credit union today to find out how easy it is to make things a lot easier for you.

Off to enjoy your vacation! Here is a vacation checklist for securing your home while you are away:

• Make sure all doors and windows are locked.
• Have your mail and newspaper deliveries stopped or have them regularly picked up by a trusted neighbor or family member.
• Have a trusted neighbor check on your home daily.
• If you have pets and plants, arrange for their care.
• To deter burglars set times on interior lights.
• Put valuable papers and jewelry in a safe deposit box.
• Make sure you turn off water valves to your dishwasher, icemaker, and washing machine.
• If you have a water softener, make sure you set it for vacation mode.
• It is a good idea to unplug TV’s, computers, and appliances that are susceptible to power surges.