Finding the best online deals

While we’re all trying to save money here at GYG, I know that we sometimes have to buy a few things here and there. So if you need to shop online, but you don’t want to pay full price, here are some tips to finding the best online deals… because, after all, wouldn’t you feel better if that money went into your savings account?

1. Do some comparison shopping
Before you enter that credit card number, do a little comparison shopping. There’s nothing worse than buying something only to learn later that you could have gotten it for a lot less.

Sites like Nextag let you quickly compare prices and find the best deals on millions of products, financial services, travel packages, automobiles, real estate, education and more.

Simply type in what you’re looking for at the top of the screen. Nextag will generate a list of vendors who are selling that product or service. You can quickly scroll down the Web page to compare prices. Once you find the best deal, click on the “Go to Store” button and you’ll be directed to the retailer’s direct site.

2. Get paid for shopping online
You could get cash back when you shop online through affiliate sites like

eBates and Mr. Rebates. These sites have partnerships with thousands of retailers such as Best Buy, Dell, JC Penny, and Overstock.com. Retailers pay these affiliate sites a commission every time a sale is made; the affiliate then pays you a portion of the commission.

For example, according to the Mr. Rebates site, you could earn up to 30 percent back on every dollar you spend: “Each purchase you make through a Mr. Rebates cash-back store will automatically be added to your Mr. Rebates account… once you’ve earned enough rebates, you simply cash out and Mr. Rebates will send you your balance!”

3. Use coupon codes
You don’t have to limit your bargain hunting to online deals. Coupons, Inc. gives you a wide selection of printable coupons–from grocery stores to pet care services to restaurants and entertainment.

When you find what you’re looking for, just print the coupon and take it to the store to receive your discount.

4. Track and watch for sales
PriceGrabber lets you create a watch list for the products and services you want.

For example, say you only want to pay $50 for a certain pair of jeans. Add that item to your watch list and specify the amount you’re willing to pay for it. When the item reaches or drops below that price level, you’ll be alerted via e-mail.

5. Get free shipping
While it’s nice to find a great online deal, if you spend a lot of money for shipping, it kind of defeats the purpose, right? To avoid this, check out FreeShipping.org. You can find shipping coupon codes for retailers such as Macy’s, Target, Victoria’s Secret, and REI.

Now it’s your turn. Do you have any tips on how to score the best deals, both on and offline? Let us know so we can use them too! You’ll be helping fellow GYG community members save money so they can grow their green!

Don’t leave your child’s future up to chance

In February, California lawmakers voted to slash $8.4 billion from the $58.1 billion budget for public education. According to SFGate.com, the cut means “lowering per-pupil spending from $8,784 to $8,404 over the next two years.” (Read the entire article, Budget takes $8.4 billion from K-12 classes.)

Now, two propositions are on the ballot for a special election on May 19: 1) Prop. 1A, which increases size of state “rainy day” fund from 5 to 12.5 percent of the General Fund; 2) Prop. 1B, requires supplemental payments to local school districts and community colleges to address recent budget cuts in annual payments that begin in 2011–12. Prop. 1B would provide $9.3 billion to California schools.

The propositions are a move to close the state’s $42-billion dollar gap, which, obviously, has affected the state’s public education system. According to an April 22 L.A Times article:

“Educators say Proposition 1B is crucial for the state’s schools, which have weathered years of funding cuts. This year alone, more than 30,000 teachers, nurses, administrators and others received preliminary layoff warnings. Their fate–and that of the state’s 6.2 million pupils–will rest, in part, on the ballot measure.”

While our children’s fate may depend largely on this ballot measure, there’s something you can do today. Take Grow Your Green’s ‘Save 4 Your School’ challenge to make sure your child’s school can keep the important programs–music and sports– that they need. In fact, Tech CU may even match your donation, up to $1,000!

Because, as most educators agree, extracurricular programs such as music and sports help kids stay focused, develop character, learn about team work, excel in academics, and succeed in life. And they’re counting on you to save these programs. Take the Grow Your Green’s ‘Save 4 Your School’ challenge today!

Save and WIN money for your child’s school

Teach your children the meaning of saving—and giving back.

Do you know a student or teacher who has been affected by our state’s budget cuts? Perhaps their school lost funding for a sports or music program or, even worse, the school lost teachers due to staff cuts and layoffs.

Well, here at Technology Credit Union, we want to support our community and help kids keep the educational programs they need by encouraging our members to save money through our Savings Challenge accounts that will be donated to their favorite school. That’s why we launched the Save 4 Your School savings challenge back in May. Participating is as easy as 1-2-3, and, for our part, Tech CU will make a donation match to the account that has saved the most, up to $1,000!

Here’s how it works:

1)      Open a Save 4 Your School savings challenge account.

2)      Register online at Tech CU’s Grow Your Green community
for the Save 4 Your School program.
(Make sure you indicate in the profile that your savings are for a school or educational program.)

3)     The deadline to qualify for Tech CU’s Save 4 Your School donation match is Sept. 30, 2009.

Get started now—this promotion ends Sept. 30!

For more information on how to save for your school, visit Save 4 Your School Savings Challenge. You can also stop by one of our 10 conveniently located Financial Centers or call (800) 553-0880 to learn more.

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Join me on Facebook!

Hey guys,

I’m also on Facebook so remember to add me as your friend. Let’s keep the money-saving conversation going!

~CashCat

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I’m also on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CashCat

Money grows on trees (sort of)

If you visit one of Tech CU’s 10 Financial Centers in the SF Bay Area, you may notice our ‘Grow Your Green’ money trees on display. These serve as little reminders that money doesn’t grow on trees, but that we can still plant the seeds of financial success and continue to grow our green every day.

It’s symbolic of the entire ‘Grow Your Green’ movment, really–to remind us that, just like those trees, our savings accounts need care and attention in order to grow and thrive. So we’re so glad you’re part of the GYG movement because that means you’re planning for your future too.

And hey, we want to help. Remember to post comments and videos. In fact, Tech CU is holding a video contest, and giving away a gift card* worth $25 to the first two members who post a video** on GYG each week, starting Monday, April 20 through the end of May. (We’ve even posted how-to instructions.) Oh, and at the end of the month we’ll ask our online community to vote on their favorite video; that person will receive $50! And then there’s the grand prize of $1,000–at the end of the year GYG members will vote for the winner of the $1,000 grand prize. How’s that for a boost in growing your green?!

So whether you’re stopping by a Financial Center to make a deposit to your savings account or you’re logging onto GYG to let us know how you’re doing, keep up the great work!

Oh, and while you’re at it, remember to tell your friends and family about the ‘Grow Your Green’ way to save for their financial goals–how being a member of this online community can help them to save even more. They’ll thank you for it, because we all can use the support and encouragement. (At least I know I can!)

*To be eligible for the $25 gift card, you must have a Tech CU Savings Challenge account. The two weekly winners will receive an email with a choice of gift cards valued at $25. After winners select their choice via email, Tech CU will mail them their gift cards. We must have a valid home or office address in order to mail the prizes. Tech CU is not responsible for lost or stolen cards.

*Video topic must be related to the ‘Grow Your Green’ Savings Challenge.

Tech CU helps you celebrate Earth Day

Celebrating Earth Day–Tech CU helps you to do your part!

Here at ‘Grow Your Green,’ we’re all about all things green. That’s why, in celebration of Earth Day, Tech CU was inspired to make a difference for our environment by promoting several “green” e-services that will help reduce unnecessary consumption of paper.

Because did you know that the average American consumes more than 700 pounds of paper a year–that’s the world’s highest per capita figure! If the U.S. cut office paper use by just 10%, it would prevent the emission of 1.6 million tons of greenhouse gases. That’s the equivalent of taking 280,000 cars off the road!!

Go Green–Go Paperless!

Any Tech CU member who takes advantage of one of 3 of the e-services listed below between April 22 and May 31, 2009 will receive a solar-powered cell phone / MP3 charger.

• Pay three (3) bills online using Tech CU’s free Bill Pay service
• Sign up or opt in for an eStatement
• Sign up or opt in for an eNotification

And by doing so, you’ll also be entered into a Grand Prize drawing for a $500 donation made on your behalf to a Bay Area “green” non-profit organization of your choice.

Going Green is Easy!

Tech CU’s electronic services help ease paper consumption with the added benefit of minimizing the risk of identity theft.

eStatements are electronic versions of your paper statements–offered in your choice of HTML or PDF formats. You can view eStatements for any Tech CU account or loan that receives paper statements (except credit cards). Plus, you can access eStatements from as far back as 1993.

eNotifications are e-mail alerts regarding your account activity so that you can better manage and protect your accounts.

Bill Pay is a free online service to arrange automatic payments to almost anyone in the U.S. at any time. With Bill Pay, you can set up automatic payments for recurring bills with set amounts, such as mortgage, car payments, medical expenses and much more!

Click here to see contest rules

Saving for a raining day

How long will the recession last? I don’t know. How long will my raining day fund last? At least that I can know. Let’s see, cut out restaurant, shopping, and travel. Add in money for job searching….well, probably not as long as I liked. Time to save!!

Dining on a dime – Tips to save while dining out

One of my biggest expenses is dining out. I’ve been tracking my budget more carefully lately, and this is one of the areas where I can definitely improve. For example, I usually eat out about twice a week. At roughly  $20 a meal, that turns out to be about $160 that I’m spending on dining out every month. Yikes!

While I don’t want to sacrifice these nice occasions with my friends and family–it’s great to sit down and catch up over a warm, delicious plate of spaghetti–this is cutting into my savings and financial goals. That’s why I’ve developed a few ways to stash more cash while still enjoying a fancy meal now and then. Hope these ideas can help for you too.

1. Search for discounts and specials
Search your local newspapers and free regional publications for coupons to your favorite restaurant.  Also use the Internet; sites like Wow-CouponsValpak.com have the latest discounts for chain restaurants such as Quiznos, Subway and Papa Murphy’s. finds coupons and running specials for restaurants in your area. All you have to do is enter your zip code and it’ll run a search. (You can also search for discounts and coupons for local grocery stores, mechanics, even cable TV specials at Valpak.com)

And if you have an idea of where you’d like to dine, remember to visit that restaurant’s website. You could find a coupon there or learn about a nightly special that you might not be aware of. If you’re a regular at the spot, also request to get on their mailing list to receive coupons and discounts in the future.

2. Go out for lunch instead of dinner
Most restaurants have lunch specials, and those prices are usually less than what’s on the dinner menu. So if you can plan to have a late lunch and make it your biggest meal of the day, you can save money–lunch entrees are in the $10 range while dinner entrees usually run $15+. Here’s another bonus: you can avoid the evening crowds and slower service associated with peak periods.

3. Have your kids eat for free
If you’re planning a trip for the entire brood, look for places where kids can eat for free. For example, children 9 and under get a free meal at Fresh Choice on Wednesdays, as long as they’re with an adult who’s dining there. Search for similar deals at sites like KidsMealsDeals and MyKidsEatFree or call ahead to ask about kids’ specials.

4. Order appetizers
Appetizers are usually cheaper than full entrees but can be just as filling.  If you’re dining with a friend, you can order a couple of hot appetizers and share them. You still get the experience of a nice dinner (or lunch) without the hefty tab.

5. Skip the drinks and dessert
You could save a lot of money by asking for water instead of ordering cocktails–in fact, this habit could help you save enough for another meal!  If you want to round out your meal with a sweet treat, pick up something from the grocery store after dinner. Consider this: for about $5, you could buy a whole gallon of ice cream! That’s what you pay for 1-2 scoops at the restaurant.

6. Take home leftovers
Don’t feel like you have to finish your meal in one sitting. Box up your leftovers and take them home. You could eat leftovers for lunch, which means the savings carry over to the next day. Splitting your entree over several meals is also healthier, given the large portions many restaurants serve.

I hope these tips help. And remember to savor the experience and to enjoy yourself. Whether you choose to eat out for lunch or dinner, plan your money-saving strategy in advance so you won’t have to stress over the tab at the end of the meal. Because for most of us, going out to dinner is more than just eating food. It’s the social interaction that’s so important–the pleasure we get from spending time with friends and family. And for those of us who don’t cook (I’m guilty), it’s also about eating a good meal that you didn’t have to prepare! So ‘bo appetit’ as you grow your green!

Lessons from Obama, Biden 2008 tax filings

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. On Thursday the White House released Obama and Biden's 2008 tax information.

Oh man, that’s a lot of money!

It’s been said there are only two things in life that are certain: death and taxes. Well, it seems there are no exceptions — Uncle Sam even collects from our Commander in Chief.

This week the White HousePresident Barack Obama released tax information for and Vice President Joe Biden. According to an article from Reuters, Obama made millions in 2008 from his two best-selling memoirs:

“Obama jointly filed his 2008 federal income tax return with his wife Michelle, reporting an adjusted gross income of $2,656,902 and paying $855,323 in federal income tax and $77,883 in state income taxes, the White House said.”

The Obamas also donated $172,050 to various charities including anti-poverty groups and the United Negro College Fund.

And, according to the Reuters article, the Bidens’ income seemed paltry compared to the Obamas. Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, reported an adjusted gross income of $269,256 and an after-tax income of $183,315.

You can view the Obamas’ entire 1040 forms here, and the Bidens’ filings here.

This news has been buzzing on the Web, and it got me thinking:
What about regular folks like you and me? While I didn’t pay as much in taxes as Obama and Biden, I’m sure I could have saved more with my own filings.

That’s why I think, especially now that times are tough, we should really get a firm, honest handle on our finances, and save more by thinking ahead.

Plan for 2009 and beyond

Tax Day may be behind us (at least for another year), but it’s not too early to start planning for April 15, 2010. If you’re looking for ways to watch your money grow tax-deferred, here are two types of accounts you might be able to take advantage of:

Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) are tax-deferred retirement accounts that let you set aside money each year, with earnings tax-deferred until you begin withdrawing at 59.5 years of age or later. There are several different types of IRAs including traditional IRA and Roth IRA.

So if you make a contribution to your IRA, you could save on your taxes. This is a terrific example of short-term and long-term planning:  while you’re saving and planning for your retirement, you’re also saving on taxes owed each year.

The IRS has a booklet on everything you want to know about IRAs.

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are also tax-deductible savings plans that can help you offset healthcare expenses — HSAs save pre-tax dollars for any future medical bills you may have.  HSAs were created by Congress to combat rising medical costs by providing an incentive for us to help pay medical deductible costs. These accounts are usually paired with HSA-eligible health insurance plans. If you have any questions, the U.S. Treasury has a very helpful site, complete with answers to FAQ’s.

HSAs are different for everyone so you should do your homework, and then shop around. There are fantastic deals out there. For example, with Tech CU’s HSAs, you earn 5.50% APY* on the first $1,000 of your contributions. You also get lots of other convenient benefits. Click here to learn more.

Looking ahead

These are just a few examples of how you can save more for the things you need, such as a retirement fund and medical expenses, plus also save on taxes at the same time. A Tech CU financial advisor** may be able to help too, if you’re looking for additional ways to save on taxes next year. They could also show you how to minimize your risk and to protect and grow your assets. Check www.techcu.com for more information on Tech CU’s investment services.

As for me, I’ll keep looking for other ways to save and I’ll post what I learn on our ‘Grow Your Green’ blog.  And if you have any tips on saving, remember to post them too. Your fellow GYG savers will really appreciate it!

Hey, we may not make as much as the president and his second-in-command, but I’m sure we could all benefit from smarter financial planning. (I bet even Joe the Plumber could use this advice!)

*$5 minimum opening deposit. There is a 10% IRS penalty on non-qualified withdrawals.

**Investments and investment advisory services offered through CUSO Financial Service, L.P. (CFS), an independent broker-dealer and SEC Registered Investment Advisory are NOT NCUA/NCUSIF insured, are NOT credit union guaranteed and may lose value.  Tech CU is affiliated with CFS. Financial advisors are employees of Tech CU and registered through CFS. (Member FINRA/SIPC).

Avoid credit card temptation, save more

Here at ‘Grow Your Green,’ we’re all trying to save more money — whether it’s for a new iPod, like Jillian, or a Harry Potter book set, like Shreya.

Me? I’m saving for a rainy day. The last 18 months have shown us that the U.S. economy is fragile and we should have some padding in our savings accounts to weather this storm. I know, though, that for many of us it’s hard to save money if we’re paying our huge credit card bills every month. And Americans owe a lot.

According to CNN Money, the average American household with at least one credit card has nearly $10,700 in credit card debt.

How did we get here? Well, it can get too easy to depend on credit. Some of us charge everything — from dinners to cashmere sweaters to vacations and even rent — and then tell ourselves that we’ll pay it off eventually. (I’m just as guilty.) The truth is this dependency on credit puts many of us deeper and deeper in debt.

But, despite what you may owe, saving money, even in a down economy, doesn’t have to be painful. Here are some steps to becoming financially healthy and reaching your personal finance goal:

Use your debit card
Avoid using your credit card as a loan, and use your debit or check card instead. This habit forces you to only purchase the things you can afford, as opposed to charging that fancy pair of overpriced shoes or the latest plasma TV.

A lot of times, when I go shopping or out to dinner, I leave my credit card at home and just bring my debit card or cash with me. (There’s less guilt at the end of the month, and none of those awful feelings that you’re drowning in debt when the dreaded monthly statement comes in the mail.)

If that doesn’t work, you could also request a lower credit card limit. All you have to do is call the issuing bank, and they can set that up. Having a lower limit means you’ll have less to charge… and more to save!

Set a goal
Ask yourself what you’d like to save for. Do you want a new computer? A family vacation? Your dream home? Figure out the cost, and how much you can save on a weekly/monthly/yearly basis to reach that goal. This way you can establish a time frame. You can also track your success regularly with online banking. (I personally love watching my savings account balance grow!)

And it’s not that hard either. If you stash away just a few dollars a day — maybe bring your lunch to work a couple days a week or skip the daily coffee run — and put that money in your savings account, before long you’ll have reached your goal. For example, imagine setting $20 of every paycheck to be directed to your Tech CU savings account:

$20 x 2 pay periods = $40 saved per month
$40 x 12 months = $480 saved per year

That’s $480 you could save a year! And chances are, you won’t even notice that $20.

Set a budget
Now that you have a goal, figure out how much you can spend (and save) per week to reach the goal. Then stick to the plan. Also keep track of where your money goes. A latte here, a movie ticket there, and things can really add up.

If you have an iPhone, you can get an application that helps you track your expenses. This is helpful because you can actually see how much money you’re spending, where it goes, and how much more you can save by adjusting your daily routine.

As you trim your expenses, here are some other things you can consider:

- Can you move to a less expensive apartment or house? Can you refinance your mortgage?
- Can you consolidate your debts into one loan with lower interest rates?
- Can you save money on a more fuel-efficient car? Maybe give up a car altogether?
- Can you get a better price on auto insurance? Sites like insurance.com and netquote.com give you a side-by-side comparison on rates for auto, home, life and health insurance policies.  Be sure to shop around to make sure you’re getting the best price.
- Can you live with fewer cable channels? Premium cable packages are costly, but you could save thousands by switching to a different cable plan.

Pay down your debt
It can be frustrating trying to save if most of your money is going to your credit card payments every month. Start paying down that debt as quickly as you can. It may feel painful in the beginning, but the sooner you eliminate your debt, the sooner you will be able to save.

Still hesitant to part with your cash? Consider this:

Let’s say you owe $5,000 on a credit card with an interest rate of 18%. You make the  minimum payment of $200 every month. It would take you almost 10 years to pay off this credit card! And you would end up paying nearly $2,650 in interest!

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather use that money for something more worthwhile — like a Hawaiian vacation or a new car.

If you want to know how long it will take to pay off your credit card debt, the Debt Reduction Planner is a useful tool.

Open an interest-bearing savings account
I have found that it’s much easier to save money if I keep it my separate from the spending money in my checking account. You can also get better interest rates on a savings account, so that the money that you’re saving works for you. ( Hey, if you haven’t already done so, how about opening a ‘Grow Your Green’ Great Savings Challenge account?) And if you have a longer savings goal, consider other savings accounts options like CDs or money market accounts with higher interest rates.

Be patient
Saving to reach a financial goal takes a lot of time, hard work and discipline. In the beginning, brown bagging your lunch or spending a Saturday night in may seem like a huge compromise. Trust me, we all feel like that at some point but once you start to see your savings balance grow from $20 to $40 to $1,000 — and the pride and security that comes with having a reliable savings account — it will get easier.

Oh, and your GYG community is here to support and encourage you too. So let’s start growing some green… and let’s start sharing our success stories!

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