New Year, New Name

The year isn't the only new thing around here.... Fort Gordon's only on-post credit union now has a new name!
Fort Gordon and Community Credit Union.
We look forward to serving you in 2012!

Countdown to Financial Fitness in 2012

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.
~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

The presents have been unwrapped and put away, many of us have returned to work, and slowly the holiday decorations will be put in storage until next year. But in a few days we have an opportunity to celebrate again... with a fresh start in the New year. We will make resolutions and dream about the possibilities that await us in 2012. With a little (or a lot) of discipline and work, many of us feel determined that we can accomplish those goals this year!

So, you ate too much during the holidays. You resolve to get in shape in the new year. Join the club! What about your finances, though? Have unhealthy spending habits caused you a considerable amount of stress in the past? Is financial fitness your resolution this year?

Tips for getting Financially Fit in 2012:
-Create a budget and stick to it.
-Save 10% of your income.
-Create an emergency fund that would allow you to pay 3-6 months of expenses.
-Pay off debt as quickly as possible, and resolve to pay the entire balance of your credit card each month.
-Check your credit report.
-Switch from a bank to a credit union to get lower rates on loans and fewer fees.

Ok, so we had to throw that shameless plug in there last! But it's true. The credit union movement is about "people helping people". We care about our members and exist to serve you.
So, are you ready to get financially fit in 2012?

Here is a helpful website from the National Credit Union Administration, with resources, links, calculators and articles to guide you into better budgeting, saving and smart credit habits: http://www.mycreditunion.gov/ . And as always, you can depend on Fort Gordon Federal Credit Union to assist and keep you motivated towards reaching those goals.

Let's start the countdown to Financial Fitness in 2012! Happy New Year!

Avoid the Holiday Hangover!

The joy of giving is in the air during the holiday season. As we financially plan for all that giving, it's important to remember that costs go beyond purchasing gifts. Does your holiday budget also include travel, food, wrapping paper, greeting cards and postage, decorations and a tree?

Here are some helpful links to sites that offer money-saving tips on how to be frugal this Christmas:

Gift Wrap: MyDollarPlan.com "How to Save Money on Gift Wrap"
Travel: TheBusinessInsider.com "7 Rules for Saving Money on Holiday Travel"
Food: TheGroceryGame.com Coupons and price comparisons
Cards: Free printable templates at Xerox.com, free digital cards at PunchBowl.com, or search on Etsy.com for sellers that offer card design services for a small fee... customize, then download, then you can either print from your home computer or send to a photo lab to print as a jpeg image right onto photo paper!
Tree: Trees for Troops was at the Fort Gordon Tree Lighting last week. Check on MWR's website to find out when and where Trees for Troops will be in 2012.
Decorations: Pinterest.com is loaded with inexpensive, DIY ideas for Christmas decorations

And here are a few ways Fort Gordon Federal Credit Union can help you prepare for your holiday expenses:

It's wise to start putting money aside throughout the year if you are able. Set up a Christmas Club account. At FGFCU, there are no monthly service charges or fees. Your deposits can be made throughout the year however, you can only withdraw funds from this account from October 1st through January 31st without having to close the account.

FGFCU offers two promotions this time of year to help if you are a little short on cash. Skip-a-Payment allows you to skip one payment during December 1st through January 31st (Skip-A-Payment can only be used on the following loans: Vehicle, Signature, Flash Cash, Motorcycle, and Recreational Vehicle.) The Holiday Helper Loan, through December 31st, offers $1,000 for 10 months at 10% APR. Stop by and see one of our Member Service Representative to apply for the Skip-A-Payment and Holiday Helper Loan promotions.

Gobble up the Savings

Are you among the adventurous 1 in 4 Americans that will take on Black Friday this year? If you get an adreneline rush from catching amazing deals, or from being in the crowd of anxious and determined shoppers, then it can be a pretty exciting morning.
But, if you are a fan of sleeping in on your day off and avoiding having to park a mile away from the mall, then here are some tips to help you decide whether Black Friday is worth it or not:

1. It's the busiest shopping day of the year. The National Retail Federation found that numbers are up this year, from 27% last year to 33% this year that will be shopping on Friday. But stores are giving shoppers opportunities to come in even earlier. Some stores will be opening the night before, even at 9pm on Thursday night.

2. Do your homework. Serious Black Friday shoppers are on a mission to find specific items, so go through the ads and catalogs and have a plan. And keep in mind, the advertised prices might not be the lowest of the year. Don't you hate when you get up at 4am, buy something on sale, then see the price go down a week before Christmas? Hate that. Check out http://www.decide.com/ to help you decide when is the best time to buy electronics. And a lot of retailers have been offering sales just prior to Black Friday, with lots of free shipping offers for online sales. That leads me to....

3. Consider shopping online. Not only will Cyber Monday offer exclusive sales, but some retailers offer the same Black Friday sales online as they do in the store. And sites like Amazon.com help you compare prices among online retailers, many offering free Super Saver Shipping for orders over $25. Shop in you pj's, then wait for the packages to start rolling in over the next couple of weeks.

4. Orrrr why don't you just give the gift that always fits, and no one will want to return.... a gift card. FGFCU is the place to pick up Visa Gift Cards any time of the year. Call (706) 793-0012 for more information.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Protect Your Identity

Oct 16-22 is National Protect Your Identity Week

It's a scary thought, but an increasing problem... identity theft. Do you leave your account statments and bills in the trash? Have you ever clicked on a link in a legitimate looking email that led you to a bogus site asking for personal information (a.ka. "Phishing")? Do you monitor your credit? Do you use the same password for all your log-ins?

This week, take a little time to read about the risks that we as consumers are exposed to every day, and how to prevent identity theft from happening to you. Visit http://www.protectyouridnow.org/index.cfm for informative links, quizzes, newstories, and even games and videos.

And please remember: Fort Gordon Federal Credit Union will NEVER request confidential financial information or personal data by e-mail. To report or ask questions about Phishing, call us at (706) 793-0012 or email us at mbrservice@fgfcu.org.

Mark your calendar for our Community Shred Day on November 12 from 10am-1pm at the FGFCU branch on post:

Oktoberfest

Join us this weekend at Ft. Gordon's Oktoberfest! Folks from FGFCU will be there at the pumpkin patch, enjoying the live music, festive food, and carnival rides for the young and young at heart.
Visit FortGordon.com for more details

Find a Cure

This October, FGFCU will Think Pink, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month