Archive for category Financial Rewards
Ready or not, Valentine’s Day Is Coming! 4 Ways to do Heart Day on a Budget
Posted by UECU in Financial Rewards, Personal Finance Tips, Savings on February 9, 2012
If you’re single or part of the anti-Valentine’s camp this February, you may be off the hook for February 14th expenses. However, if you are part of a couple, Valentine’s Day can be stressful for your relationship and your wallet. While we at UECU can’t offer you any relationship advice, we can share some ideas to take the burden off your budget…
1. Plan ahead for dinner: If dinner at a nice restaurant is part of your celebration, find out if they are offering a special menu or package. Many include flowers so you won’t end up paying for them twice. Also, consider an earlier meal that may allow you to order from the lunch or early bird menu, which could provide big savings without forfeiting the ambiance.
2. Don’t buy roses: If there’s one day a year you shouldn’t buy roses, it’s Valentine’s Day. Because roses require a lot of manual labor to grow, ship, and store, the volume of demand for one day increases the price. Buy them for your loved one’s birthday or anniversary but stick to a more common botanical variety, or even paper flowers, on Valentine’s Day. If you’re going for a natural bouquet, why not save even more by taking advantage of your credit union discount to FTD? UECU participates in the Invest In America program, which offers “Love My Credit Union” promotions like a $15 discount on many of the flowers and gift choices available through FTD.
3. Give from the heart: Why not give a handwritten letter, a personal poem, a meaningful book, or CD? These gifts are more personal and will usually mean more to the recipient than the generic candy and flowers. Recount the year on a blank calendar or download songs that commemorate your firsts (date, kiss, trip, and so on). These ideas are far less costly than others that are packaged for the masses. Also, don’t think it’s taboo to talk about Valentine’s Day beforehand, so you understand each other’s expectations. This is the best way to avoid spending more money than you need to when your partner is simply happy being with you.
4. Do your own thing. Whether you’re part of a couple, or just hanging out with your single pals this Valentine’s Day, do what makes you happy. Singles, why not take that fun day trip you’ve been planning or have your own Valentine’s Alternative party or film fest at your place? Couples, if you’d rather skip the crowds, why not meet up for lunch and a wintertime walk, or order-in for some relaxing quiet time? You could also check out the seasonal online promotions from sites like Groupon, LivingSocial or Google Offers to find a fun and affordable activity in your neighborhood!
What are your plans to save money on Heart Day? Share your frugal Valentine’s tips by leaving a comment!
Article modified from PSB
Energy & Utility Workers Enjoy Incredible Financial Benefits & a Cash Bonus at UECU!
Posted by UECU in Energy & Utility Industry, Financial Rewards, UECU Membership on January 26, 2012
It’s here! If you noticed the hints UECU has been dropping through our newsletters, website and social media pages, you know we’ve been gearing up to unveil a new rewards program for our members.
We’re now pleased to announce the Member Loyalty Bonus™, which further rewards our members for making UECU their financial institution of choice for saving and borrowing. Thanks to the Member Loyalty Bonus™ program, the more you save and borrow with UECU, the more you’ll EARN in Cash Rewards!
In fact, UECU has given our members more than $1.2 million in total for the 2011 Member Loyalty Bonus™!
With the debut of the Member Loyalty Bonus™, UECU has joined the very elite number of credit unions across the United States to offer this type of financial reward to its members – and just try to get this from your bank. In UECU’s latest President’s Message to Members our President shares why UECU decided it was essential to offer this exclusive program to you, UECU’s member-owners, and explains how your Bonus is calculated. The basics: UECU takes the interest you’ve earned on your deposit accounts and interest paid on most UECU loans – and gives you an extra percentage – a nice bonus deposit in your share account.*
Even better, the Member Loyalty Bonus™ is really the icing on your cake – it’s the fantastic year-end Bonus you can earn on top of a year filled with UECU’s other member perks – year-round VantagePoints™ rewards, annual MyChoice™ rewards, savings rates significantly higher than the national average, amazingly affordable loan rates, a variety of free financial services, and low or non-existent fees.
We invite you to visit BONUS.UECU.ORG to discover ALL the rewards and benefits you can enjoy as a UECU member. Use our fun, interactive site to calculate how much more you could earn toward a 2012 Member Loyalty Bonus™ by doing more or all of your financial activities with your Credit Union. You can even add up all the money UECU will put in your pocket through the year, when you make use of our three rewards programs, the member giveback you receive with great lending and savings rates, and the incredible fee savings we offer.
You may be amazed by how much you can add to your wallet with UECU in a year. When you make UECU your primary financial institution you and your family members earn more in a lifetime! UECU…Where Loyalty Pays!
*The Member Loyalty Bonus™ will be classified as interest earned and reported on IRS Form 1099-INT. Visit uecu.org or call for complete program details.Written by Amanda Y.
Energy & Utility Workers: 5 Year-End Tactics to Prepare for Tax Season
Posted by UECU in Financial Rewards, Financial Services, Personal Finance Tips on December 16, 2011
The economy has changed. Tax laws have changed. Your personal financial situation may have changed. What has not changed are these basic tips to consider at the end of the year that may help you save on taxes.
Charitable donations and monetary contributions. If you’ve been collecting your clothing and books or saving coins in a jar, don’t wait any longer. Donate to your charity of choice and get a receipt.
Speaking of receipts…begin collecting them for tax filing. Think about whether you have any deductible expenses, from non-reimbursed business expenses like uniforms and cell phone bills, to postage and paper costs for job hunting. Your tax advisor will direct you on what can be used, but now is the time to put together your paperwork to back up your plan of action.
Mileage expenses. Did you drive your car … to medical appointments? …to or from volunteer work? … to job interviews? Use an online mapping application and categorize how you used your car in 2011. Again, depending on your personal tax strategy, the expense of many miles of travel can be deducted.
Have your UECU tax forms delivered electronically. Reduce your paperwork and get email notification the instant your Tax E-Forms are available in your Advantages Online™ home banking profile. Log in to Advantages Online™ and sign up today to go paperless for 1098, 1099-INT, 1099-Q, 1099-R, 1099-SA, 5498, 5498-ESA, and 5498-SA forms related to your UECU accounts.
Let UECU help you make tax season more convenient & rewarding. For instance, to get your refund faster, be sure to request it be automatically deposited in your UECU account. To easily file your taxes and access tax advice online, try Turbo Tax® – and visit uecu.org to learn about our member discount for Turbo Tax®! And finally, why not be rewarded for paying your taxes? Your UECU VISA® Power Card™ makes payment easy AND earns you VantagePoints™ – convenience and rewards – suddenly tax season is looking brighter!
Article provided by PSB and featured in the November 2011 issue of UECU’s News You Can Use.
Energy & Utility Workers: 3 Reasons Fall is a Wonderful Season for Financial Rewards
Posted by UECU in Checking, Financial Rewards, VISA Credit Card on October 6, 2011
Autumn has arrived – leaves are beginning to change color, temperatures are falling, and UECU is celebrating a new season of rewards for our members. Here are three fall-time reasons to celebrate UECU’s VantagePoints™ Financial Rewards program:
1. All Autumn Long (& All Year-Round): Add VantagePoints™ Without Extra Effort. Since UECU members earn reward points for nearly every financial product or service they use, it’s easy to quickly rack up points for your everyday financial activities without even thinking about it!* VantagePoints™ are your ticket to great financial rewards – exchange your points for cash back, gift cards, or even loan rate discounts!** As a UECU member, you’ll earn ongoing points for your deposit balances, utilizing home equity or personal lines of credit, and for the signature-based purchases you make with your UECU VISA® Power Card™ or Advantages VISA® Check Card™.^ What’s more, you can earn an extra 500 VantagePoints™ EVERY time you refer a new member to UECU. There’s no limit to how many you can earn, so spread the word to family members and utility or energy co-workers about the incredible rewards and financial services waiting for them at Utilities Employees Credit Union!
2. October-December 26: UECU’s “Treasure Hunt” VantagePoints™ Online Giveaway. Would you like to have some fun and earn EXTRA rewards every week this fall? UECU members who start playing this week could earn up to 3,000 VantagePoints™ during our fall Points Giveaway – UECU’s Online Treasure Hunt! Play pirate for the day and explore the uecu.org website for hidden links using new clues each week – find the links and you’ll gather up your own treasure trove of VantagePoints™! Members can play our Online Treasure Hunt every week through December 26, 2011 to earn some of the thousands of VantagePoints™ UECU will give to our members. Visit uecu.org for the complete giveaway rules and play today!
3. November 25-December 31: Holiday Double VantagePoints™. Why not make your holiday shopping count by earning a little something for yourself? UECU members earn DOUBLE VantagePoints™ when they use their UECU VISA Power Card™ or their Advantages VISA Check Card™ from November 25, 2011 through December 31, 2011! It’s UECU’s way of rewarding our members for taking your UECU cards with you for your busy year-end errands. Don’t have a VISA Power Card™ or an Advantages VISA Check Card™? NOW is the perfect time to get one so you can enjoy our holiday promotion!
So, why not make the most of this autumn? Not a UECU member yet? Learn how to JOIN today – and then invite your utility or energy co-workers to join, too – in addition to UECU’s incredible savings, loan and credit card rates, you’ll be joining the credit union that REWARDS its members. And come the holidays, don’t forget to give the gift of membership to family … family members can earn 500 VantagePoints™ for opening each new adult UECU member account … and you’ll earn the same for each person you refer! *
Written by Amanda Y.
*For complete details and rules of the VantagePoints™ Network Rewards Program, visit uecu.org.
**Transactions must be signature-based; PIN based transactions do not earn VantagePoints™. Points are earned net of credits.
^ Rate reduction can be used on a new loan only. Rate reduction cannot be used on VISA® Power Card™, Home Equity Loans, Mortgages or Lines of Credit.
Utility & Energy Industry Families: Enjoy Your Vacation MORE – Spend LESS & Earn REWARDS
Posted by UECU in Family Finance, Financial Rewards, Personal Finance Tips on June 28, 2011
When it comes to frugal fun, my family likes to live it up. Our latest vacation to the shore was no exception. With a little planning and smart choices on the road, we were able to save some bucks and get to more places with our vacation budget. And as always, our trip was made more carefree by knowing our credit union was traveling with us – and helping us earn rewards along the way. This summer, we spent some time enjoying the sand and the Atlantic, did a little shopping, visited a few nature preserves, and still had the time and funds to check out the local historic and cultural sites. Your trip itinerary may take you different places each day, but there are thrifty ways to adapt your spending strategy while you’re on the go. Are you looking to save on a vacation this summer? Your family may have their own tips and secrets – here are a few that worked for us …
1. Planning Ahead To Get The Inside Scoop
We’ve always had fun planning our family trips and now we don’t even need to line our bookshelves with travel books. The Internet is an inexpensive source of information on travel destinations. A little research ahead of time makes all your spending decisions much easier along the way. I like to check out the local attractions, what events are going on in town that week, neighborhood shops, and the best local eateries. Think about prices and make a list of the “definite” and “maybe” places on your hit parade. And don’t forget to check the weather forecast. Pick your best days for outdoor activities and avoid losing the value of admission fees because bad weather spoiled the day. If you get unexpected rain one day like we did, your list will come in handy for indoor substitutes.
2. Reaching Your Destination – Without Spending Your Budget On The Way
Packing and a long drive may be the only downers of taking a road trip (well, aside from the after-trip laundry pile) – but you can improve your experience. Need something to put in your suitcase? If you’re a fan of the outdoors like me, you might be dressing for the occasion. If you need a new hat, clothing, walking or hiking shoes, swimwear, or camping and recreational supplies for your adventure, you’re in luck as a UECU member. If you buy ahead of your trip, you’ll want to take advantage of Shop America, which offers credit union member discounts to more than a thousand big name retailers’ online stores. I was amazed at my buying options, which include discounts to more than 200 clothing and shoe providers and 90 stores selling outdoor gear and sporting goods!
For the drive, we took the family’s most fuel-efficient car and tried to minimize our cargo. Filling the tank is still painful, but we rewarded ourselves by always using our UECU VISA® Power Card™ at the pump. With our PowerCard™ we earned 1 VantagePoint™ for every $1 we spent – we’ll redeem our reward points for cash back or gift certificates we can use to book future vacations – UECU’s gift certificate vendors include several options for transit companies and travel reservation services. And while we used our own vehicle this time, the PowerCard™’s free travel security features like auto rental insurance and travel accident insurance always come in handy for reserving rentals and flights.
3. Getting Your Munchies For Less
Worried about spending too much on your meals? Think of ways to take a bite out of the local cuisine – but not your wallet. We chose one night to splurge on a seafood dinner and aimed for savvy spending the rest of our trip. When we’re eating out, we try to order our bigger meal early in the day from the more affordable lunch menu. Our UECU VantagePoints™ rewards have come in handy too – it’s easy to run into a participating restaurant on the road, since there are more than 20 restaurant chains in UECU’s gift certificate options!
Picking the right hotel helps, too – some offer a complimentary continental breakfast included in their price – and many have a mini refrigerator and/or microwave you can use to prepare a small evening meal. You can even take your edibles on the go during the day with a well-iced cooler. This way, eating “out” doesn’t have to mean another bill. Al fresco can be a nice change of pace – we enjoyed lunchtime tuna sandwiches by the sea on our trip.
4. Staying The Night
Are you vacationing in a large town or a frequent tourist destination? The hotel prices I find for these spots often make my eyes pop. One idea is to visit your destination in the “off-season” – but that only works if attractions are open year-round. My family’s method of coping is to check hotel prices in the surrounding smaller towns. Often one or two exits down the highway, you’ll get the same hotel room for significantly less a night. We usually find the savings far outweigh the few extra minutes your car’s on the road. If you like staying in the same hotel chain, many have rewards programs that earn you discounts on future stays. And once again, VantagePoint™ rewards have saved the day more than once with 14 hotel gift certificates to choose from!
So, don’t stay home all summer – you can vacation for less – think thrifty, earn rewards with UECU – and enjoy your trip even MORE!
Written by Amanda Y.
Protect Your Holiday Purchases
Posted by UECU in Financial Rewards, Financial Safety, VISA Credit Card on December 16, 2010
Maybe you’re one of the lucky ones and you’ve finished your holiday shopping. Or, maybe you haven’t even started. Either way, getting your money’s worth is a goal everyone has in common. Make sure you do your part when making purchase and payment decisions this month.
Make your purchases using your VISA® Power Card™. This rewards credit card comes with FREE Price Protection, FREE Warranty Manager, and zero liability for unauthorized use that most members don’t realize or utilize. Also, if you need to return or exchange an item, UECU will go to bat for you if the merchant isn’t willing to help. But remember that the added protection that your UECU VISA Power Card™ offers won’t offset overspending or poor credit management. Use the credit card as a tool, but make sure your budget can handle making more than the minimum payment when the bill arrives.
Including a receipt or gift slip is very important if your gift recipient needs to make a return or exchange. Without it, they will either be turned down or only allowed the current price which may be below what you actually paid! It’s a simple thing, but one many people forget. Make the effort to ask and give the gift slip or receipt so your recipient doesn’t get short-changed.
While buying the extended warranty offered by the sales clerk isn’t always a good financial decision, when it comes to electronics, moving parts and kids—it is! Cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, and game consoles see a lot of action and take a beating from their owners, especially when their owners are still in elementary or middle school. Extended warranties for these items will often include full replacement value if it malfunctions, benefits if they are lost, and repair services that more than cover the cost of the warranty. Read the fine print, but in most cases, a $50 warranty on a $400 purchase may be a good investment.
The smartest way to get your money’s worth is to use your UECU VISA Power Card™ for all your purchases through December 31st and earn DOUBLE VantagePoints™*! Redeem those points for gift certificates, cash or a loan rate discount^ and give yourself a holiday gift too! Don’t have our VISA Power Card™? Call 800-288-6423 Ext. 4001 to apply.
*Transactions must be signature-based; PIN-based transactions do not earn VantagePoints™. Points are earned net of credits. DOUBLE points for the purpose of this promotion cannot be combined with double points earned on the first 30 days after receipt of your new card.
^Rate reduction can be used on a new term loan only. Excludes Home Equity Term Loans, Mortgage Loans, VISA Power Card™ and Lines of Credit.
(Article is provided by PSB and is featured in the November 2010 edition of the UECU News You Can Use newsletter)
Shopping Strategies for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Posted by UECU in Financial Rewards, Personal Finance Tips, VISA Credit Card on November 12, 2010
Two of the biggest shopping days of the year happen in November—the day after Thanksgiving known as “Black Friday,” and its new cousin two days later, “Cyber Monday.”
Long reigning as the busiest shopping day of the year and an important economic indicator, Black Friday may have lost some of its luster over the years to increased competition, but a bargain can still be found and shopping traditions across the land can remain intact.
Plan ahead. Gather your sale circulars. Write down your shopping list. Map out your destinations. The most efficient way to survive and save on Black Friday is to mount the offensive. Retailers will send out their sale notices in plenty of time for you to compare prices, make note of the special sale times, and store hours.
Shop early OR late if you can. The best deals are for the early-birds and the night owls. In an effort to manage their productivity and inventories, retailers now extend their operating hours and give deep discount incentives to those who take advantage.
Cyber Monday was coined after retailers saw an increase in online sales the Monday after the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Further research showed that many consumers were continuing their holiday shopping from work! Now, it’s become another reason to have a sale!
Start by checking out Cyber-Monday.org for a list of online retailers participating this year on November 29th. Sign up for email notices or newsletters from your favorite online retailers that will give you the edge over the general “public.” Have your credit card or checking account information handy.
Decide on shipping. If you’re having gifts shipped to the recipient, verify their address BEFORE you place the order. For those retailers not offering free shipping, see if you can combine orders with family or neighbors and split the cost.
A few simple steps will have you bragging at the bus stop or water cooler on Tuesday about all the money you saved. Plus UECU membership is especially rewarding from Black Friday until the end of the year. When you use either your VISA® Power Card™ or Advantages VISA Check Card™ for purchases over the Holidays you earn DOUBLE VantagePoints™!* Don’t have one of these fabulous cards? Call 800-288-6423 to apply.
*Transactions must be signature-based; PIN-based transactions do not earn VantagePoints™. Points are earned net of credits. DOUBLE points for the purpose of this promotion cannot be combined with double points earned on the first 30 days after receipt of your new card.
(Article is provided by PSB and is featured in the October 2010 edition of the UECU News You Can Use newsletter)
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