Does your 2010 planning include a Chamber membership?

All last week the Simple Cents Bloggers talked about a series of financial workshops being offered to help individuals with financial education and planning.

How about business planning?

Do you work for a business in the Charleston area? If so, you should know the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce is in the middle of their 2010 membership drive.

Perhaps your business counts itself as fortunate to have successfully weathered this prolonged recession. Now you are in a position to do some real, longer-term, strategic planning. Your business should seriously consider a Chamber membership.

Back in October 2009, guest blogger Bridget Hearn-Simmons highlighted a couple advantages of being a Chamber member. These included discounts on office supplies, as well as sales and leadership training. She blogged about how the Chamber provides businesses with legislative insight and numerous networking opportunities. It’s also worth noting that Chamber members can acquire affordable health insurance for themselves and their employees.

If your company is a member, then so are you! Want to know more? Check out CharlestonChamber.net Better yet, call Bridget Hearn-Simmons at 843-569-4962 or Liza Rehill at 843-569-5197 and they can talk with you about how smart strategic planning includes a Chamber membership.

Plan ahead. Just do it.

To be prepared is half the victory. - Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish novelist, dramatist & poet (1547-1616)

Planning ahead requires effort, conscientiousness and time but we agree with Cervantes that it can get you where you want to be.  This week, your friends at SiMPLECENTS will make a case for the fact that planning is absolutely essential to achieve the greatest success in your work and personal life. 

Consider these true-to-life examples that show the virtues of planning:

• The high school student who applies early to college may be more likely to receive an acceptance letter, grants and loans
• The host whose guest room is clean and ready at all times is more likely to enjoy having houseguests
• The family that plots out a course of action during hurricane season could be more likely to emerge unscathed from a natural disaster
• The business that is diligent in its financial forecasting may be more likely to recover from the recession and turn a profit

Just when you're tempted to let the chips fall where they may, thinking it’s simply too much work to prepare for what may or may not be, consider this [arguably hilarious] article, “Scientists Show Bacteria Can 'Learn' And Plan Ahead.”  Don’t let the bacteria best you. Plan.

Who's got a great story about how a little proactive planning saved the day?

Raising a Money Smart Kid

About six years ago, I worked at a financial institution that was across the street from a college. I lost count of how many times I would have college students come to my office and gripe about getting non-sufficient funds charges on their account. Some thought the Visa or Mastercard logo on their card meant their debit card was an actual credit card,and they had a grace period to pay back the charges. Others would actually say that they thought they had money in their account because they still had checks left! Haha! What used to really get on my nerves (sorry, just being honest) was when they would call their parents right in front of me and demand that their parents deposit money into their account to clear up the negative balance and NSF charges. I remember when I was 16 and had my first checking account and I got an NSF fee. I remember my dad telling me that I would have to deal with it on my own. He would say, it was my account, my problem. He wasn't being mean, he was simply helping me reach a mature approach regarding monetary matters.

I realize that not everyone has parents who teach them banking 101, and there are some parents that may want to teach their children about money, but simply do not know how to start the process. Among many of the free financial seminars that we offer, we have a seminar coming up that addresses the importance of teaching your children about money, expecially at a young age. Its called How to Raise a Money Smart Kid. Check it out at www.scfedseminars.org. I encourage parents of children of all ages to attend!

Are you talking to your children about money?

Chao for now,

Leslita

Do you have a "splurge" recovery plan?

Too many of us fall off the proverbial budget bandwagon and we give up. Get tough, suck it up, and hop back on. It will be a lot easier for you if you have a "splurge" recovery plan.

In my session on Budget S.M.A.R.T. we discuss many important tips to ensure that your budget works.

1. Do not try to budget every last dollar on your spreadsheet. Leave some room for error. It's like an overdraft protection program. And, you better only use it in times of need. Stay tough, stick to the course and don't let a little loose change eat a hole in your pocket.

2. Have a "splurge" recovery plan. Yep. Everyone has the tendency to splurge at one time or another. Whether it is part of your "lent" commitment, a diet plan, or exercise routine, just know that you may teeter a bit. You just couldn't help buying that new purse. Or, that fishing pole was calling your name. So, what is your plan to get those feet planted firmly on the ground?

Enough of this ... now go to it. Get that budget plan in action and I don't want to see any wasted time. Stay focused and for goodness sake stop letting one little slip mess up your mind. If you need some help, check out these free seminars.

It is Thursday ... time to talk tough with Troy. Please let me know your budget successes, failures, or questions.

P.S. To schedule the Budget S.M.A.R.T. session for a group of folks at your work, school, community, or church event, just let me know. It's free and I'm really funny (grin).

Considering a Career Change? 7 Factors You Should Consider...

As fellow blogger Kimberly mentioned, financial education is a big deal here at the credit union. In 2009 our recruiting department had the opportunity to facilitate over 20 career services seminars to over 400 job seekers throughout the Charleston and Midlands areas.

Naturally, the majority of the employed is staying put and not looking to make a career change until there are strong signs of economic recovery. However, most recently I have received requests from both the employed and unemployed in regards to the best avenue to take when wanting to change careers. I would like to share a couple of those key areas; these are areas you will want to strongly evaluate if you are considering a career change now or in the future:

Personality- Is there a good match between your personality and chosen career? This can have a significant impact on whether you find your work fulfilling.

Motivation- This is one of the most important factors for long term career satisfaction. Find a job that motivates you and you've found the right career. Motivation covers a wider range of topics, such as your interest and what gives you a sense of achievement.

Skills- Having the right skill set is the key which opens the door to many careers.

Values-This might include the lifestyle you want and the type of organization you want to work for.

Constraints- These might include the geographical location you want to work, qualifications, etc.

Ambitions - What are your long term goals?

Opportunities- Within a normal job market there some careers are more lucrative (i.e., nursing) then others…so you may want to keep this in mind. Currently, this is an employer’s market (there are many more applicants than opportunities). Employers are literally weeding through thousands of resumes to find that one gem. Take a moment to review some of my previous blogs on how to land a great job; they provide guidelines on resume writing, social media tips, etc.

 How to Land a Great Job: You have 15 seconds to make a first impression

Who Do You Know?

 What Not to Wear

 Are You Connected?

If you are interested in participating in one of our local career services workshops visit www.scfedseminars.org for additional details.

Are you considering a career change or are you staying put?

Are you ready for the recovery?

• Can you identify signs of the recovery?
• What is the relationship between consumer confidence and the stock market?
• What economic indicators should you be looking at?

Every day the mainstream media bombards us with a barrage of economic information. Frankly, it’s tough to make sense of all the information coming at us. As a result, many folks tend to tune it out…at their peril.

No one has a crystal ball to predict the future, but one guy, Greg Stidom, will be sharing a unique perspective on the state of the economy in March. Greg is a Chartered Life Underwriter and a Chartered Financial Consultant. He’ll be talking with folks just like yourself about the state of the economy, what to focus on…and what NOT to focus on. He’ll also be talking about real life, sensible, investment strategies for today.

Join Greg at the Orangeburg Branch of South Carolina Federal Credit Union on Tuesday, March 30th from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Registration is easy. For more information, please call 803-813-8300 (local from Orangeburg) or 800-845-0432.

With Greg's help you'll be sure you are ready for the recovery.

Our stance on financial education

Financial education is a pretty big deal at the credit union. Every year we set increasingly lofty goals for the number of people we hope to reach by way of our free workshops, and every year we wonder if members and the public will come, yet the number of attendees continues to exceed our highest hopes. Something must be clicking. Last year, 5,738 people attended at least one of our free financial education workshops. If this is the first time you’ve heard about the program, then you should know:

• We provide group seminars at no cost to you, in a location convenient for you.
• Speakers can deliver financial education workshops on a variety of topics.
• Workshops can be tailored to groups of virtually any age or area of financial interest.

These days, rarely a week goes by without South Carolina Federal representatives being out and about in your community to present a free workshop. We’re at schools, churches, places of work, public libraries, civic group meetings, Chambers of Commerce and more.

To find out our next destination and select a topic you might want to learn more about, visit our schedule of free financial workshops at scfedseminars.org. If you’re part of an organization, classroom or company that could use a free financial education workshop, simply let us know. We’re waiting for your email at financialeducation@scfederal.org. We also have a financial education hotline to take your requests at 843-569-5631 (Charleston) or 800-845-0432, ext. 5631 (Nationwide). Or maybe you've got an idea for a topic we haven’t tackled yet? We’ll design a workshop around your needs. The email address and phone number above accept great ideas, too!

Let’s start the discussion now. What free workshop(s) do you think we should offer?

 

Bargain or Budget Buster?

In the spirit of traveling debit and credit cards this week, I'm happy to inform my readers that my debit card has been on a shoe shopping frenzy! I'm not talking about one or two pairs of shoes...I'm talking about 6 pairs of shoes!

I'm supposed to be teaching my blog viewers good spending habits, so why am I bragging about buying 6 pairs of shoes? Simply because I got a really good deal! I got 3 pair of dress shoes that were regularly $60 each for $14.75 each, a pair of genuine leather boots for $17 (regularly $100), a pair of comfy every day shoes for $4.28 (regularly $70), and a pair of leather loafers for my hubby for $10 (regularly $80).

You are either shocked by my great deals, or questioning my spending habits. Some may say that I am a great bargain shopper, while others might say that bargain shopping is only a bargain when you get a good deal on something you needed, or originally planned to buy.

Six pair of shoes wasn't a need. Clearly a want. I justify my fun shopping sprees by using the funds in my spending account. I basically save to spend. I put a certain amount of money in a spending account because I know I like to shop. That way I know I am not spending my mortgage payment or light bill money on things like shoes!

Where has your debit or credit card been lately?

Chao for now,

Leslita

Does this credit card stuff make you feel like taking a nap?

So, does all this mumbo-jumbo about the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act (CARD) make you think, "I don't need all this hassle. Ahhh, maybe I should just put my cards away and take a nap!" Well this is one time you don't want to be caught sleeping on the job. Many of the changes are simple and easy to understand, and your friends here at the credit union have posted some handy-dandy info online.

My plastic and I are tight. Just this weekend we went to dinner, the movies, bought some shorts (I'm a shorts and flippies kinda guy), and treated my wife to some new nails (she loved that surprise). I use my debit and credit card all the time. As a matter of fact I have the same box of checks since moving here in 2005.

When I use my credit card ... I pay it back. If not all at once, then I do not extend my purchases beyond a three to four month window. Just love the reward points!

After you've taken some time to read the online scoop, wake up your debit and credit card and get busy. If you are responsible about how these financial tools are used, then you'll never have a "credit" nightmare. Remember what they say, "You snooze. You lose."

Got some tough questions about what you read? I can take 'em. It's Thursday, so get talking with Troy.

Should your credit report cost you a job?

Many Americans these days are discovering the catch-22 of unemployment. And that is: You might fall behind on your bills because you've lost your job, and you might not be able to land a new job because you've fallen behind on your bills.

Whether this practice is fair or not is up for discussion. A House bill introduced in July 09’ aims to prevent such a situation. The Equal Employment for All Act would prohibit employers from using the details of a consumer credit report in making hiring decisions, with exceptions for financial firms and government agencies, as well as jobs requiring certain security clearances. This bill is in the first step of the legislative process so there is really no telling when or if it will ever be voted on by the House and/or Senate.

If you wonder why companies use credit reports in their back-ground check process, I can give you a couple of reasons. Many companies see it as a possible indicator of performance on the job. It allows employers to identify those applicants who are potentially financially overextended or on the brink of problems that could adversely affect their performance on the job. It could signal a pattern of instability, as well as an inability to meet obligations. Other companies may use credit reports if the position or organization provides financial services to the public.

If you are actively seeking work I recommend you obtain a copy of your credit report. You can get one free credit report each year from annualcreditreport.com. The report can help you identify inaccuracies on your credit record. If there is something you do not recognize or that you disagree with, dispute the information with the creditor and/or credit bureau before you have to explain it to a potential employer. Keep in mind that a small error can have a large impact on your credit score, possibly affecting your ability get a job.

Just so you know, employers have responsibilities they are required to adhere to when using credit reports in the employment screening process. Employers must ensure;

(1) individuals are aware that consumer reports may be used for employment purposes and agree to such use.

(2) individuals are promptly notified if information in a consumer report may result in a negative employment decision.

Congress expanded employer responsibilities because of concern that inaccurate or incomplete consumer reports could cause applicants to be denied jobs or cause employees to be denied promotions unjustly.

Do you think a credit report is an indicator of performance on the job?

What’s your system?

My wife is obsessive about receipts…and I owe her a debt of gratitude!

Since we’ve been married my wife has developed a fool-proof system for preventing credit card fraud. Ready? Here it is: Match every receipt to the monthly statement. What? That’s it? OK, to some, this may seem like a no-brainer. To others, a good idea, but one that takes too much time and organization.

Whatever reconciliation system you use, you need to make sure you have one. Too many studies show that credit card fraud is on the rise and could be an even greater problem in the near future.

Looking for an easy system that works for you?

• How about the old envelope system?
• We’ve heard a lot of folks are snapping photos of receipts with their cell phones.
• An online company, Evernote, will copy and save your photo or scanned receipts for FREE.

For me, saving paper receipts in an envelope is easiest. And whoa is me if I don’t have a receipt to match to a statement line item, especially if it’s something blatant that I purchased. After a couple incidents that required some investigative research (which showed it was my purchase!), that doesn’t happen too much anymore!

Do you have a credit card reconciliation system that work for you? Kevin the online service-guy wants to know!

Credit card changes are coming

The CARD Act – more formally known as the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act – will take effect February 22, 2010. Our goal this week at SiMPLECENTS is to help you understand these changes and how they will affect you and your credit card(s). 

President Obama signed the CARD Act into effect so it pertains to all financial institutions and card issuers. In fact, changes first were introduced this past summer and next week’s changes kick off phase two of the plan. This article from creditbloggers.com offers a solid overview of the Feb. 22 changes, while this one from February’s issue of Real Simple magazine breaks down how the changes may be to your benefit.     

Stick with us this week as we do our best to shed some light on the subject. Also consider joining us April 20 or 22 at the Charleston County Public Library for our FREE workshop, "Puzzled by Plastic." Registering for your seat is simple when you scroll to the very bottom of this page at scfederal.org.  Have questions we can tackle in the meantime about the new credit card changes? Post a comment for me!

Dining Out Made Healthier...

It's no secret that I love to eat out! Some may argue that this hobby of mine is both wallet breaking and unhealthy, but I only use funds from my spending account (not bill account) to dine out and I usually always order a healthy side to go with my main meal. Most restaurants will let you substitute a traditional side (i.e., fries) for a salad or upgraded side (i.e. baked potato, vegetable medley). The catch is, that they usually charge $1.50 of more to do this. I am a fan of saving a dollar here and there, but I think it is well worth the extra dollar or two to get a heart healthy meal.

Many restaurants now have healthy meals on their menu. They are usually the same price or a little more than their regular entrees. So the next time you eat out, choose a healthy entree even if it is a few dollars more expensive. It is better to pay a dollar or two now than hundreds of dollars later in doctor bills.

Some people may argue that the heart healthy solution would be to just cut dining out all together. For those of you who know you will continue to eat out, just remember to balance out your meal with a salad or veggies even if it means paying a little extra!

What techniques do you use to turn your dining out experience into a healthy one?

Chao for now,

Leslita

Does the kind of car you drive help control your blood pressure?

This week we're blogging about "heart health." Instead of writing about it medically, I’m going to lay out an issue and then describe how I work through it.

People who drive in the passing lane with no intention of passing gets my heart pumping and my blood boiling!

I mean, where do these folks get these instructions? I was taught that there is a driving and a passing lane. Just because you happen to go the speed limit doesn't mean you get to drive in the passing lane exclusively. Why can't these folks just move over until I pass and then go back until the next "me" comes along?

So then, how does this "heart pumping/blood boiling" topic relate to the kind of car you drive? Well, that’s because "I drive a 'Jesus' car." Now, before you decide to stop reading and start thumping your chest (one way or another), you'll need to know the whole story and how that title came to be.

It was obvious to me and my passengers that some accountability to control my fist pounding, naughty expletives, and erratic hand gestures was needed. So, my wife bought me a license plate. I know there are multiple techniques that could have been used ... but, this one just seemed to fit.

I thought to myself, now how can anyone driving a car with a "Jesus" license plate act as idiotic as I was? Can you image how it would look to have that license plate staring at you through the rear view mirror? You look back and see some out of control driver pounding on the steering wheel and waving his arms with all the animation of someone fighting off a raging beast.

So, if you're driving in Charleston in the passing lane and a car with that license plate approaches you quickly from behind, rest assured that he is now cutting you some grace. He is committed to driving with the intent to save a life, instead of taking it.

It is Thursday ... drive those comments my way. Are you gonna talk tough with Troy, or what? Am I going to have to come out of this seat and .... (oops, guess if I'm going to continue like that, then I'll need another license plate for my computer; now, won't I?)

…one in three kids are overweight or obese

First lady Michelle Obama recently sat down with "Good Morning America's" Robin Roberts to discuss her focus for 2010: battling childhood obesity. Michelle Obama formally announced what she called a "very ambitious" program to end the American plague of childhood obesity in a single generation.

"We all know the numbers," Obama said. "I mean, one in three kids are overweight or obese, and we're spending $150 billion a year treating obesity-related illnesses. So we know this is a problem, and there's a lot at stake."

The far-reaching, nationwide campaign called "Let's Move" calls for initiatives that target what Obama calls four key pillars: Getting parents more informed about nutrition and exercise, improving the quality of food in schools, making healthy foods more affordable and accessible for families, and focusing more on physical education.

My thought on the issue, why wouldn’t we want the best for our children? Why shouldn’t we become more proactive in helping our kids obtain optimum health and possibly a longer life-span?

My 1 year old loves fruits and vegetables but my 3 year old wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole! I look forward to hearing additional details about, Let’s Move especially making healthy food more affordable and accessible for families across America.

A tip for parents with children who won’t eat their veggies: I recently purchased a book called, Deceptively Delicious. The author tells you how to incorporate vegetables and fruit purees in foods your children like. Eventually, I want my 3 year old to learn to love fruits and vegetables but for now, “deception” will be how she eats her veggies.

What actions will you take to elimate childhood obesity within a single generation? 

Fred’s new lease on life

Back in September, 2008, Fred was monitoring an “aortic aneurism”. It was Friday morning and he had just completed a series of medical tests when the unexpected news came from his doctor: He had five arteries each with >50% blockage. Five days later Fred was on the operating room table having quintuple bypass surgery.

Fred, who manages the sales finance team here at South Carolina Federal Credit Union, was born and raised in the south. He readily admits he enjoyed eating great southern cooking: chicken, biscuits, etc. But Fred was also very active. He enjoyed the outdoors, exercised regularly, and was an avid boater. The bypass surgery changed his life considerably. In discussions with Fred, he spoke highly of the recovery consultation he received from Roper cardio rehab specialists. His new heart healthy lifestyle can be distilled down to the following three points:

1. Cardio exercise is a must!

2. Eat heart healthy food.

3. Get regular checkups

How’s Fred doing today? In a word…GREAT! He’s lost weight with his new heart-healthy diet. Gone are the burgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, and sausage biscuits. Fred heads to the gym religiously and does his cardio on the treadmill. He also sees his physician regularly.

Fred has a new lease on life. In talking with him it’s evident this Valentine’s Day will be extra special for Fred and his family. We want to thank him for sharing his story and reminding us of the importance of living a heart-healthy lifestyle!

Put your heart in it

Whether or not you’re a fan of Valentine’s Day, you can’t deny that the imagery of hearts is just about everywhere in the weeks prior to Feb. 14. This year, look upon those red and pink holiday symbols as a reminder to show yourself some love and take better care of your heart. After all, February isn’t just for Cupid; it’s also American Heart Month.

Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States, and that there are some very concrete steps you can take to reduce your risk of death from a coronary event?

This Valentine’s Day, set down that box of chocolates and really show love to yourself or someone you care about by putting your heart into it. Schedule an appointment to have your and your loved ones’ heart health checked by a doctor. Commit to one or more healthy practices that can ensure your ticker and that of your family keeps on ticking. And read our SimpleCents blog this week for tips from which you can learn from and personal anecdotes to which you can relate. What heart healthy change(s) will you make?

Lessons for life formed in youth...

I was 15 years old when I got my first job. I was a file clerk at a general surgeon's office. My duties weren't strictly filing patient documents. I also had to answer the phones, schedule appointments, and even take patient samples to the hospital next door which gave me a queasy stomach!

I photocopied my first check and still have it in one of my photo albums. I made a little over $80 my first week. After about a year, I was able to buy my first car which made me feel very proud of myself. It made me feel as though alphabetizing all those hundreds of files finally paid off!

Going in to the work force at a young age taught me the value of a dollar. It taught me that money didn't grow on trees and shouldn't always come from mommy and daddy. It felt good to have my own money to be able to pay for things like a car and car insurance.

After highschool, I went to college. It took me from 2000 to 2007 to get my Bachelor's degree. Why so long? Because I worked full time and went to college part time because my parents helped me pay for as much of college as they financially could, but I had to help pay the rest. Working 40 hours a week and having to go to class from 6-9pm four days a week proved to be very exhausting, but I was determined to finish my degree and not let anything stand in my way.

The moral of my story is that jumping in to the workforce at a young age helped me build character and responsibilty. It made me realize that working hard and studying hard results in success and allows you to have a feeling of accomplishment for one's self that no one can take away from you!

What lessons did you learn at your first job that have stayed with you to this very day?

Chao for now,

Leslita

... what "works" for you?

My first job (aside from the daily chores around the house) was that of a newspaper writer, editor, publisher, and delivery boy. I grew up in a small town of about 250 people in Harrison County, West Virginia. In October of 1969 (at the age of 9 and 12 respectively) my brother and I decided to make some money for Christmas. Since I had some creative talents and a desire to write, we began a family-run Newspaper business.

Using a collection of information from the local paper, Reader's Digest, the Bible, and a few other publications, we wrote our weekly subscription for almost two years. Mom and I would type it on a Royal typewriter, which could crank out about three or four copies when we used carbon paper. Yes, carbon paper. For those too young to remember, just follow the link; you'll be amazed. After school, we'd gather up the newsprint from the previous day's production and head out for a little door to door sales. (Too funny, huh?) The papers were sold for a whooping 5 cents each, although sometimes we'd score big and get a quarter.

That early entrepreneurial spirit is now reflected in five work-related tips that have served the hallway well over the years.

1. Work at going to school. This is not me telling you to get a job working at the school. I mean treat going to school as a job. If you do that job well, then your education will be your weekly pay check. It is a proven fact that folks with an education may earn upwards of 3 to 4 times that of someone who either performed poorly, or did not finish school.
2. Work for yourself. Start a small business and work it in the evenings or during the time off from a job that pays the bills. I think you know what I mean here without a lot of explanation. If not, then comment below and I'll fill you in.
3. Work as an unpaid intern. There are many companies who partner with local schools and colleges to offer course credit for intern work. Currently, the credit union offers several unpaid intern positions. It is a win-win-win all around. The student receives real life experiences beyond the classroom, and has another entry for a resume. The credit union is contributing to the educational system and its community, plus has the added benefit of potentially training a new hire for future employment.
4. Work any job within your field. Sometimes it means that you accept an entry level position paying less than what you had expected while you gain valuable experience. This is a very good idea for young folks living with mom and dad. Case in point: my daughter wanted to work in criminal justice, so she accepted a job working security in the shoe department of a major retail store, which paid less than the job at the cosmetic counter. During the  interview and selection process she was told that her degree and security experience had landed her a job as a Police Officer.
5. Work your contacts. Yes, good ol' fashioned networking pays big dividends. Don't be afraid to ask your contacts for help. For example: your pastor is someone in your contact list, probably a Facebook friend, a person who tweets, or an avid blogger, too. He may not know of a job for you, but he will surely know someone who does. Therefore keep this in mind... it's not just who you know that counts; it's who you know that they know.

So, now you've heard it straight from Troy talking tough in the hallway. "What works for you?" This blog may not be as tough as other posts, but it is Thursday and nonetheless your chance to talk with Troy.

BTW... a special shout out to my new friends at WAY FM 100.9 that I met on Saturday, January 23rd who said they'd like to talk tough with Troy on Thursdays (grin).

Are You Connected?

As of December 2009, the number of unemployed persons is at 15.3 million and the unemployment rate at 10 percent. At the start of the recession in December 2007, the number of unemployed persons was 7.7 million, and the unemployment rate was 5.0 percent. The bottom line is the traditional approach most job seekers have taken in the past is no longer viable.

Traditional methods would steer you towards looking for job ads and faxing or e-mailing a resume to a company, completing an on-line application, or even posting a resume on-line…then cross your fingers and hope that you will get a call back.

One of my recruiters reviewed an article which concluded that 80% of people get their jobs by knowing someone. Eighty percent! Now don’t get me wrong, having a great resume is usually pretty crucial to earning an interview. The question is how do you get your resume noticed? If you reviewed my posting, How to Land a Great Job, Part 1: You Have 15 Seconds to Make a First Impression, you received some tips from an employer's perspective on how to make your resume stand out amongst the thousands; however, we cannot ignore that this is the era of social connectivity.

With the evolution of the internet over the past couple of years, you can play a more active role in landing that great job by exploring the networking tools available right at your finger tips!

There is a great on-line tool called LinkedIn, which works similarly to Facebook, but is designed for professionals. You make a profile, which is really a virtual resume of sorts, and invite current and past colleagues and classmates to be a connection. Also, don’t underestimate Facebook and MySpace. You might think of these websites as purely social-casual forums, but think of all of those people who may work for companies or even know people in your industry that may have some jobs coming available soon.

A final thought. Many companies are beginning to see the usefulness of these social-networking sites, and there is a huge trend in which recruiters are finding candidates for jobs through LinkedIn, Facebook, and MySpace. My tip? Keep it clean...make sure you are proud of the on-line face you present.

Are you connected?

A little hard work never hurt anyone

This week the credit union kicks off the search for our new 2010 Young & Free South Carolina Spokesperson. It got me thinking and reflecting back to some of the early jobs I had, lessons learned, and a solid understanding that a little hard work never hurt anyone.

Growing up in Vienna, Virginia, a small town in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., I began working in my early teens. My brother and I developed what turned out to be a thriving neighborhood lawn mowing business. About that time I learned ventriloquism and started entertaining at neighborhood birthday parties. My parents were supportive, but ensured school work was always the top priority.

While in high school I worked evenings cleaning offices at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). A gun-toting CIA security guy walked behind me as I vacuumed offices and emptied full ashtrays. Looking back, it seemed like everyone in those offices must have chain-smoked all day long! My other high school job was working at a lumber store, primarily to make $$$, but also to meet girls. The store owners hired the best looking high school girls as cashiers.

Fast forward to college. While at Virginia Tech I worked part-time during school in the cafeteria and then summers as a construction laborer. In fact, after a summer of backbreaking construction work, any thoughts about not going back to college in the fall were out the window. That hard work sure helped me crystallize my priorities!

What has all this taught me? First, a little hard work never hurt anyone. In fact, it helped me set definitive goals and become more financially independent. Second, it taught me how to be a more responsible individual. Third, all these jobs eventually helped me understand the importance of post-high school education.  Finally, having parents who instilled a strong work-ethic was a blessing.

That’s my perspective on work. Care to share yours?

My first job -- and one that’s much better

My first paying job was in a bagel shop, where I learned several lessons: (A) loyal customers really like their faces and their preferences to be remembered, (B) food service workers generally are an underappreciated lot and (C) apparently, I breathe through my hands because wearing plastic gloves causes me to overheat in seconds.

Far from glamorous, that first job at Chesapeake Bagel Bakery gave me some pretty key insights about life (in terms of Items A and B, at least). In the long run, it made me a better employee because I absorbed a common truth about people wanting to be noticed and appreciated (Item A), and a better person because I experienced the rude behavior that service workers too often endure from their customers (Item B) and vowed never to do that to anyone waiting on me.

A far less “dirty job,” yet one that could teach you or yours oodles of worthwhile lessons about life and work, is open right now at the credit union to someone between the ages of 18-25: 2010 Young & Free South Carolina Spokesperson. While this job lacks the appeal of my bagel gig with its polyester aprons and cream cheese scoops, the one year position with Young & Free SC does offer a salary, benefits and perks, including use of a Toyota Prius and paid gas for a year. In return, we’d ask you not to master the art of the Cheese Melt, but to create, edit and upload video to YouTube, blog, mix with people at events and shed light on financial topics for people your age – even if you’re still learning, too.

Not bad, huh? And you’ll never end your day by mopping a floor with bleach water. Could you or someone you know take this job?

The Direction of Your Savings…

I love clipping coupons and saving money any way that I can. When I buy groceries, I love looking at the bottom of my receipt to see how much I saved. Two months ago, I found a coupon online for a medicine I take that gave me a two month’s supply free (a $60 savings!). Without the coupons/offers, I would have had to pay regular price, so what do I do with the money I save?

 

Sometimes I make an extra principle payment on my credit card or car payment, but other times (almost quarterly or twice a year), I send a check to an organization that is very near and dear to my heart, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. My dad passed away from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in May of 2005, so each time I send a donation, I hope and pray that my money along with other people’s donations, will help speed up research and progress in order to save the lives of many people suffering with these blood related cancers.

 

So next time you save $20 on groceries or get a free oil change, think about what you can do with that money since you would have had to pay it out anyway if it wouldn’t have been for the coupon or deal you got!

 

Where does your extra money go? To you or a good cause?

 

Chao for now,

 

Leslita

Is that a SMART donation?

If you're a SiMPLECENTer then you know that we've begun the year blogging about New Year's resolutions, SMART goals, IRA info, and just last week on the topic of MUSC's change bandit program.

So, with that in mind, today we can chat (well actually, it's more like I tell you stuff then you comment; I comment back and so forth) about how "giving" can have an impact on your budget. First, let me remind you that I am not a qualified tax adviser and cannot tell you whether you may deduct this item or that item on your taxes. What I am prepared to share are some tips on how to think about and organize your charitable and crisis giving.

Let's go back to a simple theory of SMART goals and see how this is applied to donations.

Stay in budget. What? No budget item for this? Then, it's a good place to start. When you make your list of expenses include space for "Giving."

Make a goal of how much cash you'd be able to give to causes this year. For instance, you may want to start out with setting aside 10% of your income. Okay, if that's too aggressive, then set an arbitrary amount like $10 a week or $520 a year. (BTW... the stuff in your garage or basement is definitely worth donating to a cause, but I'm focusing on the cash aspect right now.)

Arrange to make smaller more manageable donations through your bill payment service or payroll deduction. For instance, if you tithe to your church, or give regularly to United Way then set up a weekly or bi-weekly amount that fits your budget. By breaking the amounts into smaller, bite-sized amounts, it is easier to manage your weekly or bi-weekly cash flow without breaking the bank (pun intended). This way you're not looking for a large sum of money all at one time.

Retain your documentation in a central location. When you donate online through a secure channel be sure to save your confirmation in a centralized file folder on your computer. If it's a paper receipt, then place it in a file folder or envelope especially marked for the current tax year and keep that in a centralized place, like a drawer in the kitchen, the desk in the home office, or a shelf in the closet. Wherever you decide, be consistent and diligent in storing your receipts until you need them for tax time. 

Train yourself to stick to your goals. However, I know, I know, you're human. Okay, so if you decide to splurge for those new pair of shoes, or that new fishing pole, then please be accountable to your budget for that unplanned moment of euphoric rush and make an adjustment somewhere else in your spending patterns. Maybe it will come from spending one less night out to dinner, or you choose to stay home rather than going out to the movies; perhaps you use the excess in your paycheck this month because you worked an extra hour or so more than before. 

Be SMART about giving, which also means checking with a qualified tax adviser to be sure that what you can deduct you do. Trust me, don't take chances. Being on the radar screen of the IRS is not any taxpayer's dream.

Quick recap ...

• Stay in budget;
• Make a goal;
• Arrange small amounts;
• Retain receipts; and
• Train self control.

There you have it. 'Talk tough with Troy' Thursday just got a whole lot smarter. Don't you think?

A Call to Service

~ If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else. ~ Booker T Washington

If you have a tight budget a wonderful way you can give back is through volunteerism.

President Obama spoke to the larger moment our county is facing with the following compelling speech on volunteerism:

We need your service, right now, at this moment in history. I’m not going to tell you what your role should be; that’s for you to discover. But I’m asking you to stand up and play your part. I’m asking you to help change history’s course. Put your shoulder up against the wheel. And if you do, I promise you – your life will be richer, our country will be stronger, and someday, years from now, you may remember it as the moment when your own story and the American story converged, when they came together, and we met the challenges of our new century. To read his full speech, visit The White House Blog.

Also, in support of volunteerism, Disney hopes to inspire one million people to volunteer a day of service to a participating organization in their communities through it’s Give a Day Get a Disney Day program. Disney is celebrating these volunteers' good works by giving each of them a 1-day, 1-theme park ticket to the Disneyland® Resort or Walt Disney World® Resort, free! All you have to do is enter your zip code and a listing of participating organizations within your area will be provided.

How wonderful it is to be of service to someone in need. How will you give back?

Payment Manager makes donating easy and safe

Kimberly mentioned in her Monday blog post that South Carolina Federal Credit Union is accepting donations from members and the public to support relief efforts following the devastating earthquake in Haiti. If you follow my blog posts you know I often talk about the many benefits and security of online banking and electronic bill payment (a.k.a. Payment Manager). If you’ve been thinking about making a donation, using South Carolina Federals’ Payment Manager makes it easy as 1-2-3:

1. Access your personal account via the Online Banking Login at scfederal.org. Need help logging in? Click the appropriate help link below the login or contact us.
2. Click on Payment Manager…and then Add a Biller.
3. Search for your desired charitable organization and designate how much you want to send. South Carolina Federal Suggestion: Select Company without an account number. Payment Manager will ask you for a phone number. Type in 843-769-7395. You’ll see it found Water Missions International (WMI). Click Add Bill and you’re all set to make your SAFE, SECURE donation to WMI using Payment Manager.

South Carolina Federal encourages folks to support relief efforts by donating to Water Missions International (WMI), a locally-based organization that already is working to provide water purification systems in Haiti. The credit union will also match your donation to WMI up to $5000. Click here for more information on the specific steps to have South Carolina Federal match your donation.

With Payment Manager, your donation will be routed immediately…securely…and there is no cost to mail your check or send a text message.

Never used Payment Manager before? This could be just the reason to give it a try. Why not share your donation experience today.

Donate at your credit union for Haiti earthquake relief

This week, especially in light of the devastating media reports and images coming from Haiti, we will focus on the very timely financial subject of charitable and crisis giving. If charitable giving is important to you but you have not yet supported the relief efforts in Haiti, we encourage you to consider committing any financial resources you can, large or small.

South Carolina Federal Credit Union now offers a convenient way for you to address the dire need. It is collecting donations for Water Missions International (WMI), a non-profit based in Charleston, S.C., that designs and deploys water purification systems, and will match funds received, up to $5,000.

Clean drinking water is an especially critical need following natural disasters and is essential to aid emergency relief efforts. WMI provides a life saving service by making unclean water fit for human consumption. Its Living Water Treatment Systems^TM can purify up to 10,000 gallons of water per day, which can meet the needs of 3,000 to 5,000 people.

South Carolina Federal is accepting donations for WMI at all 19 branches throughout the state. Additionally, it will accept checks made out to Water Missions International and sent to:

South Carolina Federal Credit Union

Attn: T. Husser, Marketing Dept.

P.O. Box 190012

N. Charleston, S.C. 29419

We look forward to receiving at least $5,000 in contributions from members, the public, and our fellow credit unions and providing our matching $5,000 contribution to WMI. Thank you in advance for your help.

Behind that beautiful smile….

A child’s smile is so innocent and full of life! Behind those smiles are stories and experiences that we may never know about….Let me tell you what lies behind Joseph’s (JoJo) smile.

 

In March of 2006, Joseph caught a virus that caused him to have a high-grade fever. The virus invaded and damaged his heart. Joseph was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a rare weakening of the heart muscles. JoJo faced a long admission at MUSC with the implantation of an internal defibrillator.

 

On March 24, 2007, JoJo collapsed on his porch. Luckily, the defibrillator discharged appropriately and saved his life! His father, Stephen, successfully performed CPR on JoJo. Within 3 hours, JoJo was airlifted to MUSC. On March 25, 2007, Joseph was placed on a life saving heart and lung bypass machine (ECMO). On March 26, 2007, Joseph was placed on the Heart Transplant list. The medical team had decided immediately that Joseph needed a ventricular assist device. They began working eagerly to get Joseph a device never used at this facility before. It has not been used much in the U.S. at all. It is not even FDA approved. It is known as the Berlin Heart Pump.

 

On April 4, JoJo made history by becoming the first pediatric patient in South Carolina (88th in the nation) to receive a Berlin Heart during the 10.5 hour surgery at the Medical University. Within hours of the surgery, he was alert and responsive. Amazing!

 

Joseph underwent a heart transplant on April 13, 2007, only 8 days after receiving the Berlin Heart and five days before his 6th birthday! He recovered well and was released from the hospital 2 weeks after his transplant.

 

Truly an amazing story that gives me chills! JoJo is a wonderful example of bravery and resilience!

 

To learn more about JoJo’s brave battle, log on to www.helpjojo.com and to do donate to a great cause, stop in and see us at one of our branches!

 

Chao for now,

Leslita

Can you spare some change for an angel?

Often the little things go unnoticed. Sometimes the simplest of actions bring about the greatest rewards. A very wise man once told me that we reap what we sow and it would be foolish to store up your treasures here on this earth. This advice has worked well for me.

This week, I've been reminded of that sage advice and have decided to help the littlest angels of MUSC, which has meant emptying my pockets and that special jar on the kitchen shelf of all my loose change. 

Previously, in a special blog series for Children's Miracle Network, you were introduced to four of these angels ... Chase, JoJo, Kristin, and Paris. Today, I share with you a fifth. In loving memory of Luke James Sechevich, here is his story.

Luke was diagnosed with high risk Medulloblastoma on January 30, 2006 at age 1-1/2. He underwent multiple operations and many months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. In March 2007 Luke’s tumor metastasized to his spine and paralyzed him from the waist down. Astonishingly after much hard work and determination by the amazing staff at MUSC, Luke regained the ability to walk.

On January 3, 2008 Luke received his angel wings. For the three wonderful years the Sechevich family was blessed with his presence; Luke was full of life and love.

Luke’s family has started “The Angel Walk” for children facing a devastating diagnosis and in memory of a little boy who left us too soon but whose spirit and smile will always be with us. The money from this event along with other money raised by MUSC Children’s Hospital’s Change Bandits programs goes to fund research and other important needs at the MUSC Children’s Hospital.

Can you find a little change for an angel? Stop by any South Carolina Federal Credit Union branch office and we'll help you get your donation to MUSC.

This is one Thursday, when giving generously is more important than talking tough with Troy.

Meet one tough young man

Meet Conor….

Conor has recently started Montessori school and loves baseball and the beach.

Conor’s Story…

Conor was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis at four months old. Neurofibromatosis, is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow along nerves, affecting the development of bones and skin. Diagnosed in childhood, neurofibromatosis, or NF, is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder occurring in one of every 3,500 births. Conor and his family know there'll be more surgeries as the NF growths continue. "Conor is tough, and he keeps popping back. You can't faze him," his mom says proudly.

Help Change a Child’s Life…

This is your opportunity to get involved! If you are low on funds I challenge you to sacrifice a non-essential like that daily cup of coffee at Starbucks or those daily visits to the vending machine. Instead, replace that cup of coffee or bag of chips with a charitable donation which will assist in making miracles happen in the lives of our local children. What will you give up to help change a child’s life?

The Contact Center digs deep again

Back in December I wrote a post about Chase and an opportunity employees of the Contact Center at South Carolina Federal Credit Union had to really understand the impact of their donations to MUSC Children’s Hospital.

Meeting Chase and his mom, Whitney, reminded us that funds raised for the Children’s Miracle Network were helping to save the lives of children like Chase and others you’ll meet this week.

So when South Carolina Federal announced in early January that we were supporting MUSC’s Change Bandits Program to raise funds “to make miracles happen in the lives of area children”, the Contact Center, along with other South Carolina Federal employees, dug deep.

Want to know more about what your change supports at MUSC? Check out a post from Troy last summer. Or you can check out Chase’s News and Updates blog. In a post from January 4th Whitney thanks all those that have helped Chase and encourages readers to provide financial support:

If you think there is nothing you can do to help….you are wrong. Every dollar that goes to research is instrumental in funding these clinical trials. Clinical trials SAVE LIVES!!!

If you want to help, simply bring your loose change and cash to any of South Carolina Federal branches. You can make a difference in the lives of area children like Chase.

Donate coins for Change Bandit$

Through the end of January, South Carolina Federal Credit Union will collect coins at all branches in the Charleston area and Georgetown. The purpose is to support the Change Bandit$ coin collection drive for MUSC Children’s Hospital, which conducts research and brings lifesaving medical care to thousands of families with sick children every year. 

With the month more than half over and just a handful of business days left to collect change, our bloggers this week will share some real stories of MUSC’s miracle kids. We hope they inspire you to donate a few coins to the effort next time you visit our branches in the Lowcountry. If you like, you can even ask your teller to take the coins out of your check (i.e., deposit your check for $25.36 as $25, with 36 cents going to Change Bandit$). Use of coin counters in the Lowcountry branches this month is free to members and non-members who donate coins for Change Bandit$. 

Please donate your change - for a lot of little reasons!

At First Glance

Being bilingual is very fun and many times very interesting. On a few occasions, I have been in a store where someone was talking about me in Spanish and thought I had no idea what they were saying. I once replied back to a rude comment and the person’s facial expression was priceless (They were shocked by the reply in Spanish, not the reply)!

Whenever I order a meal or buy an item from a business that primarily speaks Spanish, I get a lot of surprised looks because I do not look like I can speak Spanish. I’ve also been in a group conversation where comments have been made about Spanish speaking people as the person who made the comment assumed me nor anyone else in the group had any ties to the Spanish language or culture. I feel as though there are stereotypes out there that have a certain description about what Spanish speaking people look like, but I am a prime example that you can’t always judge a book by its cover.

You never know who speaks what language or what people’s backgrounds are, so in the spirit of our diversity blog week, I encourage everyone to be mindful of the diverse makeup of our communities and to embrace people’s differences as that is what makes us unique.

Is there something unique about you that most people don’t know about until they get to know you?

Chao for now,

Leslita

Who's your favorite?

Seems like such an innocent question, doesn't it? Okay, if I were to tell you that my favorite color is ...green, my favorite shape is ...heart, my favorite flavor is ...chocolate (just love chocolate cake; don't know why they even bother with that yellow or marble concoction), my favorite Christmas movie is ...White Christmas, or that my favorite team is the ...Pittsburgh Steelers, then you'd probably chime in and tell me your favorites. (Of course, you may be a real sports fanatic and have a definite opinion about my favorite sports selection. This would inevitably lead into a harmless conversation of bantering statistics about players' talents, six Super Bowl wins, the most ever, and stuff like that. Grin.)

Now let's apply that question to people and see where we get. My favorite actor is ...Sean Connery, my favorite dancer was ...Danny Kaye, and my favorite teacher was ...Mrs. Meyers (7th grade Science).

So far so good, but I believe that's because these "favorites" although based on personal preferences, tastes, and interests are quite fairly innocuous in nature. I mean, "Who really cares anyway?"

Now suppose that in your family or your work place one starts to distinguish 'favorites.' Hmmmm. What if grandma says she likes Billy more than Mike? And, that's obvious because she hugs him tighter when greeted, spends more time talking to him when she visits, or asks him for his opinion. Or, how about your sister who says at dinner that she likes Uncle Jack and Aunt Millie better than ...? She even goes so far as to make them a special gift at Christmas, but doesn't do the same for ... Go a step further. The office rumor is that Max is the boss' best buddy. Is it the truth? After all, he always gets the fun projects, is invited to go out after work on Fridays, and is never corrected in front of the staff.

I would suspect that how you feel about these 'favorites' would be very different than the ones discussed about color, taste and sports. But, why? Is it because when a 'favorite' is declared on a neutral topic and based on low-impact discriminating values, then it doesn't really matter? However, when this concept is applied to people like family members or co-workers it becomes ... well, er ... downright personal. Is it possible that those selections were made by comparing and contrasting similarities and differences that could affect how others are treated? Could some of these choices be based on cultural issues? Languages? Body art? Clothing?

For me, that's the danger in forgetting how important diversity is in the public arena. Whether at church, home, school, or work, I must be mindful of how I express my 'favorites' especially when these selections are made with respect to personal similarities or differences. There may be no clear way for me to rid my mind of them, but I can and do have the choice of how I treat others because of them. I believe in people being created equal. I do not believe that we were all created the "same." That's my point ... equal ... just not the same.

Well ... now ... this has been an edgy topic. Do you have stories of how this happened to you, or other family members that you can share? Do you have questions on how best to handle situations like this in the public arena? If so, then talk tough with Troy and get busy with some comments. It is Thursday ... all email lines are open and operators are standing by (that would be operator me, of course.) 

Diversity in the workplace and beyond

My fellow bloggers have focused on compelling analogies and supportive materials which represent the meaning of diversity. I would be remiss if I didn’t pay tribute to Honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , which is the inspiration for the rest of our blogs this week.

However, I thought it would be important from a HR perspective to discuss the meaning of diversity within the workplace. Diversity and inclusion exists when members of an organization act in a manner that recognizes and respects individual similarities and differences such that employees feel they and their work are valued and meaningfully contribute to the mission of the organization.” Nathan Ives, Principal Contributor, StrategyDriven

South Carolina Federal has always embraced diversity through the benefits we offer which appeal to all groups; some of these benefits include work-life balance, flexible scheduling and a learning center that promotes continuous education to our employees to better serve and anticipate the needs of our members.

Last year, we created a diversity council so employees throughout the organization would have an opportunity to voice their opinions on important topics and decisions. An initial goal with the implementation of the council was to squelch the misconceptions of what diversity is.

Some common myths are:

• Myth 1: Diversity is just about race and gender.

• Myth 2: Diversity is Human Resources' responsibility.

• Myth 3: Diversity is the “In” thing to do right now.

What are your thoughts on the above myths? Believe me, I can go on and on about this topic; however, it would probably be more interesting to start a dialogue. What is your definition of diversity and if you practice it, how does it interconnect with your life outside of work? Are you from an organization that practices diversity and if so, what are some programs you have implemented? Lets talk!

Is there a “typical” user of online banking?

Here at the credit union, you may be surprised at the wide range of folks who have embraced online banking, mobile banking, and electronic bill payment. It’s certainly a contrast to the picture painted by the mainstream media of Gen X’ers and young college students checking balances by mobile phone, or double-checking debit card balances online.

Take Mr. Brown in the photo to the right. He’s 70 and has been a South Carolina Federal Credit Union member for more than 20 years. He’s also been an avid user of online banking for two years. When I spoke with him last week, he shared that he uses online banking to view his eStatements, to transfer money, and to generally help him manage his funds more effectively.

Mr. Brown recognizes he’s not the typical person one thinks of when they picture a user of online banking. He has embraced the change to the new online world and encourages others to give it a try.

Since most of the folks reading this blog are already users of online banking, the question is: have you helped others embrace it? If so, perhaps you could share your story.

Note: Member name and photo used with permission.

Honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In preparation for the celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day next Monday, Adam Parker of the Post and Courier this weekend posted, “What do they think? Area youths discuss cultural history.” This was a commendable effort to get readers thinking about King’s legacy and his vision of freedom and equality for everyone.

The young people Parker interviewed represented a cross-section of ages (pre-teen to young adult), genders, races and religious traditions, but more importantly, a broad range of cultural perspectives. The opinions, experiences and observations they shared for the article are powerful statements because they reflect their diverse views of the world. What better time is there to uplift and pay tribute to diverse worldviews than on the commemorative holiday honoring an icon of civil rights?

If you have only a couple minutes right now (2 minutes, 17 seconds to be exact), view this abridged footage from Dr. King’s inspiring “I Have a Dream” speech. If you can commit more time, the text of the entire speech is worthy of review. How far do you think the world has come since that day in 1963 that Dr. King delivered his famous speech? How much further can you help your world grow?

Online Filing Phobia

Every year around tax time, I hear lots of people talking about how great online tax services are. I have thought about trying it a couple of times, but I just can’t work up enough courage to do my taxes online.

I use the internet for a lot of things, so it's not about privacy or security, it's more about me being afraid to input and organize all of my tax information by myself. I feel as though if I do my own taxes online, I might miss something. I have been going to the same tax lady since I was 15 years old. If I had a simple return to file, maybe I would try to overcome my fear and try it, but I have a pretty complicated joint tax return (in my opinion) which includes mine and my husband’s W-2’s, husband’s tuition expenses, medical/pharmacy expenses, day care expenses, rental property info, stock info, etc…

All that information can get pretty confusing and I just don’t feel comfortable handling it all on my own. If I were to file online, the question "Am I  missing something?" would be playing over and over in my head.  If I miss something, I might get audited or I might miss something that would have given me a greater refund.

I also handle my mom’s taxes. When my dad was alive, he always handled their taxes, but when he passed in 2005, I took over that task, so I do double tax duty every year. I don’t feel comfortable doing her taxes online either. What if I miss something on her return?

I’m not sure I will ever get over this phobia. Plus, I have been going to the same tax lady for so many years, that she charges me a VIP rate that I can’t complain about (less than $65 dollars)!

Are you a brave online tax filer or do you still take your taxes to a preparer/CPA?

Chao for now,

Leslita

You want a tax tip? Get an IRA!

Okay folks, I'm going to get tough with you on this topic. Not going to soft pedal it. No sales pitch. Just plain, good ol' advice from the good ol' boy, Troy. If you want to make your tax filings easier, then follow my three simple tips: 

1. ...get organized. That means start in January, not December. However, if you waited until the end of the year to put your affairs in order, pat yourself on the back for at least getting it done. And, don't let yourself get sloppy after you file, because you're gonna hate it when the process comes around again and you don't know where stuff is for the next year. Yeah, in case you didn't notice there is a cycle here and tax day is the same every year, so it shouldn't just sneak up on you and come as a big surprise.
2. ...get an online service, i.e. Turbo Tax, HR Block, etc. and follow the prompts. Unless you are a multi-millionaire (safe bet you're not reading this blog), your tax filing is not that complicated and you'll find these programs will give all the support you need to "get 'er done." BTW... they keep your info on file from year to year, which makes the next time you use them even easier.
3. ...get an individual retirement account (IRA). It is not joint. It is called ‘individual’ for a reason. Plan now for your future and you might be surprised how much of a tax break you can get. (Note to self: you can open a 2009 IRA or make a 2009 contribution to an existing IRA from now through April 15, 2010. Be sure to let the processing agent know that it is for 2009 or it will be classified as 2010. Also, if you don't know that much about the subject, then get an IRA education and attend a free seminar. And, you can check out my blog posting on Roth IRA.)

So, how important is it that you have a plan for your future? My wife and I refused to lend our adult son or daughter money until they started IRAs. If they were not willing to invest in their future, then we were not going to make it easy for them now. They each started with $25 dollars in an IRA savings and set up an automatic transfer from checking to the IRA savings on each payday. Once the IRA savings balance reached $500, they transferred it from the IRA savings to an IRA CD to earn a higher interest rate.

Here's a Million Dollar tip we told 'em, "At 20, put away $2,000 a year for the next 16 years and retire a millionaire!" Just wish I had gotten that tip when I was 20.

It's your turn now. Hit that "comment" button and fire away. I can take it. You can always talk tough with Troy on Thursday ... or any day for that matter.

Children are priceless....right?

Until tax time that is! The government offers generous tax breaks to help ease the financial burden of the necessary expenses that come with raising children. It is however, up to moms and dads to take full advantage of them. Personally, I am lucky enough to have an accountant for a husband who I without reservation pass on this responsibility to each year.

Some basic terminologies to keep in mind as you begin this tedious process:

A deduction, such as a tuition and fees deduction, merely decreases taxable income.

A tax credit, such as the child-tax credit, allows taxpayers to subtract the amount, dollar for dollar from their tax bill or add the amount to their refund. Cha-Ching!

Do your research! Just be knowledgeable of the tax breaks that may be available to you so you can ask questions to ensure you are maximizing your returns!

Tip: Consider taking advantage of your employer’s flexible spending benefits. This allows you to set aside pretax dollars for medical and child-care expenses. If your employer offers this benefit and you are not taking advantage of it you may want to rethink your decision.

Anyway, I am looking forward to our 2009 childcare tax credits, especially after this holiday season. What about you? Talk to me!

Practicing What I Preach

Last week we talked about how to be an even SMARTer credit union member in 2010. Over the next few weeks, as tax time approaches, I’m committing to practice what I preach.

Historically my wife and I would spend January and February organizing our tax stuff to hand over to our tax preparer. Because of the relatively simple nature of our tax situation, the turnaround was pretty quick, and we were always confident in her knowledge of tax laws.  But it would still cost us at least $400.

Scratch all that in 2010. This year we’re going to save time and money and do it ourselves using Turbo Tax. Over the hustle and bustle of the holidays, did you notice that Turbo Tax is NOW available via Online Banking? It is…and it’s integrated into your Online Banking. In fact, it will auto-populate certain information right from your Online Banking account. Plus it’s safe and secure for the many reasons we’ve discussed in the past.

This year my wife and I plan to roll up our sleeves, organize our tax stuff, and follow the step-by-step instructions with Turbo Tax for Online Banking. Per Kimberly’s suggestionin her Monday post, my wife and I plan to begin preparing in early January even if we have to wait until the Jan 31st W-2 deadline.

So, stay tuned. I’ll provide an update in a couple weeks to let you know how it’s going. If you’ve already initiated usage of Turbo Tax for Online Banking, please share your observations with other readers.

P.S. Don’t tell my wife about all this, I’m going to surprise her. I think she’ll be thrilled we’re doing our taxes ourselves, don’t you?

The early bird gets...

The worm, right? Nearly everyone knows that saying. It just so happens to apply aptly to our discussion topic for this week: IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts) and taxes. These may not be the most exciting subjects but hey, it’s a new year: time to take stock and be accountable for improving your life in the next 12 months and beyond. When it comes to IRAs and taxes, staying mindful of the old adage about the super punctual bird will take you far. It behooves you to start now on both fronts and here’s why:

When it comes to IRAs - Quite simply, the earlier in your life that you start to save in a Roth IRA, the richer you will be. Earnings in a Roth IRA accumulate tax free and time is on your side in this process. In addition, the earlier in the year that you join the IRA party, the better. You have until April 15, 2010, to make a qualifying contribution for 2009. Rather than restating what’s been explained so eloquently before, I refer you to this great resource to learn more about IRAs. There are also some changes in store for IRAs in 2010 that you might want to review. If you remember nothing else, simply realize that you should start an IRA now.

When it comes to preparing your taxes - Ah, April 15: a date that inspires dread in the hearts of many. On some level, everyone knows it’s wise to start one’s taxes as soon as all W-2s have been received (By law, employers are required to submit W-2s to their employees by Jan. 31), but how many seize the day? In 2010, your tax return must be postmarked no later than April 15, or sent no later than that date if you're filing electronically in order to avoid penalties.

Spare yourself some stress this year and commit to start your taxes as soon as possible. While waiting for your W-2s, gather receipts for your medical expenses and charitable contributions so you’ll be prepared with info for qualifying deductions. Be an early bird and you can enjoy all the beauty of Spring when it arrives and merely shake your head in pity for all the folks who are trapped inside doing their taxes at the eleventh hour. I think this early bird thing has some merit. Who’s with me?

S.M.A.R.T Chores

Some people sigh at the thought of having to dust, vacuum, mop, etc. I personally despise laundry. I can handle loading them in the washer and placing them in the dryer, but folding/hanging clothes really gets on my nerves. Between my clothes, my husband’s, and my son’s, it seems as though our hamper constantly stays full. My husband and I both help each other with our laundry, but it seems as though no matter how many loads we wash or how much help we give each other, we just can’t seem to reach the bottom of the hamper! I have seriously thought about taking our clothes to a drop off service or paying someone to come to our house to solely do our laundry. Even though I detest laundry duty, I can’t stomach paying a weekly fee for just laundry service!

So here’s our SMART plan for 2010:

Separate colored, white, and delicate clothes into separate hampers. (Maybe this is why the pile looks so enormous right now!)

Make sure that all dirty clothes are rounded up nightly and placed in the appropriate hamper (With an 18 month old, clothes seem to be lying around everywhere!)

Assign Wednesday night as hubby’s night to wash, dry, fold/hang one load of clothes; I will wash, dry, fold/hang one load on Saturday morning.(This will eliminate the 3 loads we usually wash every weekend)

Reorganize our closets. Keep every day wear in our downstairs closet and keep dressy and non-seasonal clothes in our upstairs closet. (This will free up space to easily hang clean clothes and place folded clothes in drawers)

Take the clothes out of the dryer right after the dryer buzzer goes off. (Eliminates clean clothes from sitting in the clothes basket for days and getting wrinkled and creating a clean clothes pile-the dirty clothes pile is enough!)

How do you handle household laundry? I need all the tips I can get, so please comment!

Chao for now,

Leslita

Does "older" and "SMARTer" still go together?

There are days when I ask myself that very question. One thing for sure ... I'm definitely getting 'older.'  But, am I getting "SMARTer"? Suppose I'll just have to leave that answer to my family, friends, and avid blog followers who know me the best. For the rest of you (that I have totally fooled) you will be amazed at how 'smart' I am.

All kidding aside, wife and I have created a little process that works well for us when it comes to setting goals with the family. We focus on spiritual, financial, and physical ... the mind, body, and soul.

For us, beginning with the spiritual lays the groundwork for priorities and substance. From there we focus on the financial aspect of running the family by preparing for what we expect will be the coming year's immediate needs and what we think will affect us in the next two to three. After that, the rest falls into place. 

Here are five steps to setting SMART family goals ... in the hallway.

• Stay focused on what matters the most to you and your family. Think big and dream bigger.
• Make setting goals a fun activity with the family. The key words are 'fun activity' and 'with the family.' These are not just mom and dad's goals that are shoved down to the kids, but rather an excellent opportunity for teaching about mutual respect and give & take.
• Adorn your goals on poster board and have everyone draw pictures of what the completed goals will look like when achieved. (You'll be amazed at all the creativity.)
• Realize that each family member is motivated differently, so make sure to include something of importance for all.
• Trim the goal list to just a handful of really, really, important ones. These are the goals that must be done no matter what. It is easy to help keep yourself and your kids on track if you set up these boundaries in the beginning. Then later in the year when someone wants to do or buy something that will take away resources from the primary goals, you have a practical and reasonable starting point for the discussion that is based on fact and not 'just because you said so.'

Now to wrap this up, you will need to keep track of your progress and update your poster when progress is made or at least monthly. It would be a good idea to do a quick monthly recap as part of a family night activity. Make sure the goal poster is displayed where everyone can see it, such as on a wall in the laundry or mud room, maybe near a family desk that serves as a place for school work or study, or on the back of the door to that central closet that everyone uses to store umbrellas, shoes, and flippies.

Okay ... so now the older has given you tips for a SMART family in the coming year. Go forth, my followers, and be wiser. Seriously, let me know how it goes and don't be shy about asking me how to help make this work for your family. After all, it is Thursday and time to talk tough with Troy.

2010 S.M.A.R.T. Goal

In closing my “Finding Me Time” series of blogs I am going to keep this one very simple and to the point ladies and gentlemen. I have a couple of major objectives for 2010 but the major one that will be the launch pad for success with my other personal goals will be incorporating “me time” in my schedule.

Specific- More “me time” through activities such as reading and/or exercising.

Measureable- 30-60 minutes, a minimum of 3 times per week.

Attainable- This goal is achievable.

Realistic- Before the kids wake up in the morning or after bedtime.

Time-Oriented- No better time to start then the present!

What is your 2010 S.M.A.R.T. goal?

The Credit Union has some SMART Members. Are you one of them?

Throughout the last year I’ve posted a number of blog messages about Online Banking. It’s become evident in 2009 that a lot of our members here at South Carolina Federal Credit Union agree that using Online Banking is SMART banking. As we look ahead to the New Year, a couple thoughts on why using Online Banking is SMART for 2010:

Secure: Probably the biggest misconception is that Online Banking is less secure. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. Check out this blog post from July which confirms that Online Banking is secure.

Mobile: We live in a mobile society and in 2009 South Carolina Federal saw the use of Mobile Banking more than double. Members are using Mobile Banking to check balances, locate branches/ATM's, and even pay bills on-line!

Accurate: Want to know your balance? Want to see if a check cleared? A quick check of your Online Banking account will give you the accurate information you need.

Reliable: Do you like banking in your pajamas and fuzzy slippers? With Online Banking you can access your financial information 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Always available, always reliable.

Timely: Earlier this year I posted a blog about the advantages of paying bills online. I personally like the ability to schedule my bills to be paid at the times that work for ME!

If 2010 is the year you plan to gain better control of your finances and financial information, then do like so many SMART credit union members did in 2009 and check out Online Banking.

Still on the fence? Not sure it’s right for you? Perhaps some of our readers will share their perspective on how Online Banking works for them.

Kim's S.M.A.R.T. goal for the New Year

I admit it. I have a major problem with paper. My husband and I really don’t have that much “stuff”; our issue stems from the newspapers, magazines, bills, cards, invitations, FedEx shipping slips, receipts, lists and random notes that multiply quickly and end up all over nearly every flat surface in the house. I detest what this does to the environment in my home and to my state-of-mind.

So, we find ourselves at the start of a New Year. There’s no better opportunity to make a clean break with clutter and declare publically my resolve to eliminate it forever. My long-term objective for 2010 is to feel prepared to welcome friends and family into our house at a moment’s notice, instead of freaking out at the thought that someone might drop by and see the disaster in which we typically live. Like all of our bloggers this week, I’m using S.M.A.R.T. goals to achieve the short-term ends that will secure my long-term objective. Here’s how my S.M.A.R.T. goal will work.  It's:

Specific – I will keep surfaces in my home clear and clutter-free.

Measurable – I will set aside a few minutes every day to find or make a place for everything so that everything stays in its place.

Attainable – Can I do what it takes to have a well-ordered house? Absolutely.

Realistic – Is it realistic for me to devote 5-15 minutes every day to preserving my sanity? Do I have the time and skills necessary to do this? Yes!

Time-Oriented – This goal officially kicks off as soon as the renovations work in my house is finished (estimated completion date: 12/31/09). I’ll measure progress daily.

Google “S.M.A.R.T. goals” yourself and you’ll notice the acronym applies almost universally, from finances to fitness. Devote just a few minutes to plotting out your S.M.A.R.T. goal and there your road map to success will be! Are you ready to decide what you want this year and how you’ll go about getting it?

Home Alone series

My co-worker Carlissa and I were talking about favorite Christmas movies the other day and she mentioned that the Home Alone series was her absolute favorite. She said she could watch them over and over again! Here’s one of her favorite clips. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

 

 

Are you dreaming of a White Christmas?

Blog writer Troy shares his all time favorite Christmas movie:

 

The all-time favorite Christmas movie played in the hallway is Irvin Berlin’s White Christmas. As a child we would check the local channels to see when it was on (no VCRs, DVDs or TiVO back then … shock) and would plan some sort of Christmas activity around the movie, i.e., tree decorating, baking cookies, wrapping presents. I probably have seen it at least 30 times and I still love the part when they sing ‘What can you do with a general?’ It is a very touching scene that sums up the season … giving someone a gift for which they did nothing to deserve it.

 

 

 

My Christmas wish is that others will be drawn to doing for others all year long and beyond without concern for getting something in return. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Alvin and The Chipmunks: Christmas Don't Be Late

It’s crazy how I actually remember the words to this song! A classic! How cute they were and how our 3 little mischievous boys have grown...Happy Holidays!