How healthy are you…
financially?
We’re talking money. Moolah. Cash.
So, are you healthy?
Here is a quick test to show you where you may be strong and the areas that could use some work. Take it and find out your grade here.
I got a B.
All As was never really my thing.
Good news and bad news.
Good news: It’s Tuesday and we are drawing a name. Someone is going to be $50 richer today!
Bad news: We only have 4 drawings left! Only 4 more winners.
Make sure you are signed up today so you have a chance at that 50 bucks!
This weeks winner:
Casey Nash
Congratulations Casey! Enjoy that free money!
Credit unions are 100 years old this year! I want to say ‘happy anniversary’ and give you a little history about credit unions as a whole and how we fit into the picture.
Here is a little history:
The credit union movement was founded by innovative leaders who strongly believed that the banking industry was not serving the people as it should. Financial services were too costly and the power to influence decisions was kept in the hands of the highest depositors. This spurred an international grassroots movement started by a handful of forward-thinking individuals. Here is a timeline of how credit unions came to be and some highlights of NWGACU when we moved onto the scene.
The result of this movement was credit unions: not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperatives that are overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors. Because the members are the owners, there are no stockholders to pay, and each member elects the Board of Directors with an equal vote, regardless of the size of his or her account.
Thanks to the pioneering spirit of leaders before us, Northwest Georgia Credit Union is able to offer this fresh, “people helping people” approach to money, with emphasis placed on your financial health, not your potential profitability.
So, happy 100 years credit unions! We are thankful to be a part of such a movement.
And just for fun, here are some interesting things I learned in my research of the history of NWGACU:
Wow, times have changed!
At the risk of pigeon holing, my question for you is this: are you the disciplined type, or are you the free-spirited type?
Me? I’m somewhere in the middle, but I probably err on the side of discipline. I believe in structure, and I am usually pretty okay with saying no to things that aren’t the best option. Case in point: I know I don’t need to spend money on eating lunch out more than about once a week, so I bring my lunch almost daily, even if that means I eat the same meal two days in a row. Do I like eating the same meal two days in a row? No. Do I wish I was eating Moe’s instead? Um, yeah. But for the sake of the family budget, I choose the less desirable in the short-term for the long-term benefit of meeting our financial goals. Hard now, easy later.
The free spirits out there might think this mentality is binding and the antithesis of “living”. I think it’s the opposite. The freedom from financial stress that I feel most of the time tastes a lot better than Moe’s. Or a new pair of shoes. Or the vacation I really wish I was taking this year. That reduced stress pours into the rest of my life, especially in my marriage, and it enables my family to be givers when an opportunity arises. Of course, this doesn’t mean that spending money on unnecessary things is wrong…but only after I am confidant that I have the money to pay my expenses and have money to save.
This sounds a lot like knowing the difference between needs and wants, doesn’t it?
Have you ever looked through our website, www.nwgacu.org? It’s a great website with a lot of great resources.
Resources? What kind of resources?
Allow me to introduce you. This is Anytime Advisor, a fantasic website that you can get to through our website under the Embark! section. Why under the Embark! section? Well, that’s where we keep financial education resources.
Okay, let’s say I’m in the market for a house. Scratch that…no one is in that market. Let’s say I’m in the market for a used car. The first thing I’m going to do is click on the Used Car Buying Coach on the Anytime Advisor website. I can figure out what my price range will be with the payment calculator, learn how to negotiate a good deal, and find out everything I should watch out for.
There are coaches for all kinds of things: car buying, home buying, identity theft, credit management, and more!
Another resource that might interest you is also on our website under the Embark! section. It’s the Home and Family Finance Center. This website will help you find news and information about cars, homes, owning a small business, saving, and retirement. You wouldn’t believe all the questions that are answered!
For example: What steps should you take to buy a home that has been foreclosed?
Good question! The answer is here. And there are plenty more where that came from.
This last resource is for a younger audience. It’s called Money Mix and it speaks to teens. There are blogs, videos, and articles. They’ve got information on all kinds of topics ranging from earning and borrowing to investing and insuring.
I found a great article about some changes being made to college student aid programs here. Good to know at least someone is keeping up with all of those changes!
The possibilities are endless with these resources. Let us know if you are looking for something specific and can’t find it. We’ll be happy to help you search!
I would like to apologize to the viewing audience for our blogging hiatus last week. It has been a crazy couple of weeks full of:
Whew! It was crazy, but really fun!
We spent the past few weeks away from our trusty computers out in the real world of teachers and students. And we loved it!
So, I’m sorry for leaving you hanging, but we should be back on track this week.
Now, on to this weeks winner. The lovely Phyllis was my eStatement drawing assistant this week and for that I am grateful.
And the winner is…
Dwight Blalock
Congratulations Dwight!
And if you have no idea what Dwight just won, click here.
Welcome ladies and gents to the weekly installment of the eStatements Drawing.
Let’s cut to the chase, our winner this week is:
Susan Pankowski
Congratulations Susan! Exciting start to the week!
I hope that everyone is enjoying their eStatements so far! They are great… if I do say so myself. I’m loving that I can see my checks any time I need to with Check Images!
If you aren’t signed up for eStatements, here is all the information you’ll need.
Remember when I told you about the scholarships that we give away every year? If not, maybe this will refresh your memory.
We asked for applications and we got them from some very intelligent students all over Rome. An anonymous group of judges did the judging and the results are in.
Are you ready?
The winner of the $1,000 Tom Nunn Memorial Scholarship is:
Kacie Minter
Here she is accepting her award:
Kacie will graduate this semester and continue her education in the Fall. She has hopes of becoming a speech pathologist. Good luck Kacie! Congratulations!
The second scholarship we give is the Progressive Leader Scholarship and this years winner is:
Sarah Godfrey
Congratulations Sarah!
Sarah plans to attend Brigham Young University in the fall in pursuit of a degree in music education. Good luck Sarah!
If you will be a senior next year and you are a member of the credit union, fill out a scholarship application next spring. You never know, you could be next!
Northwest Georgia Credit Union loves teachers. We think they are all great, but we want to hear why your teacher is the best!
If you have a fantastic teacher that deserves to win our contest, go to the Q102 website and tell us why your teacher is the best in 50 words or less. Then, listen to Q102 everyday this week to find out if your teacher is the winner. Northwest Georgia Credit Union will reward the winning teachers with a $50 VISA gift card to enjoy.
Our first winner is Ms. Fuller, a 4th grade teacher from Pepperell Elementary. Congratulations Ms. Fuller!
Only 4 more chances to show your teacher how much you appreciate them. Tell us all about your teacher here!
It is Monday and that means we’re drawing a name!
The lucky winner gets $50 and their name in lights.
Okay, not lights, just bold letters on this blog post.
I got some help drawing a name from some friends having lunch in the break room. And the winner is…
Jessica Rice
Congratulations Jessica!
Everyone remembers why we’re drawing names on Mondays, right? It’s all because of eStatements! You can read all about them here. Sign up today!
