It’s Cash Cat here, and I want to thank you for participating in the Grow Your Green Savings Challenge of 2009. Your hard work in the savings challenge and your activity in the online community throughout the year have really made a difference and has served as an inspiration for other savers. I’m honored that Tech CU was able to be a part in helping you work toward your savings goal.

As you may already know, the Grow Your Green Savings Challenge ended at the end of December with the selection of our Super Saver of 2009. Ron Vogel was the lucky winner of our $1,000 grand prize. Not only did Ron save consistently all year to reach his financial goals, but he also shared his many wonderful money-saving tips with other Grow Your Green members. (You can read them here.)

But Ron wasn’t the only one who was rewarded for saving. From March to November, eight monthly winners received $100 to be added toward their Grow Your Green savings goal. We’re also proud that the campaign was effective in helping our members save more in 2009. Here’s what we were able to accomplish: 34 Grow Your Green Savings Challenge accounts for a total of $17,966 saved!

While this campaign was designed to last for one year, at Tech CU we know that saving money and smart money management should be lifetime efforts. That’s why we’re committed to helping you stay financially fit all year long. If you enjoyed all the useful tips and entertaining articles we had here at the Grow Your Green site, I’m confident you’ll love Tech CU’s main blog, Money Savvy.  With articles such as Haitian Relief: Be Generous but Be Careful and Banks Lure Customers with Cash: Deal or No Deal?, you’ll continue to find relevant, insightful and helpful articles at our blog to help you succeed in your financial goals.

Thanks again for participating in Grow Your Green. And remember, we still want to stay connected to you so join the Facebook Tech CU Fan Page or follow us at Twitter/TechCU. That way you’ll continue being the first to learn about Tech CU’s rate changes, promotions and specials.

Until we meet again!
-CashCat

By the way I love the phrase ‘ Grow your Green’. I can’t stop telling this to my friends at school.

P.S. I also posted a video for you to watch!

Saving money is very rewarding!

I’m your new “Grow Your Green” (GYG) community manager, CashCat.

If you’re reading our “Grow Your Green” posts, chances are you’re trying to save money — whether it’s to buy a new iPod or go on a dream vacation or for your retirement. We’re all here for some personal financial goals, and contributing your comments and ideas to GrowYourGreencampaign.com is a great way  to help and encourage one another along the way.

I know I need the help. Saving is hard for me. Especially when there are so many cute outfits and cool gadgets to buy, and so many fun things to do and great restaurants to try in the Bay Area. Still, whenever the cashier is ringing up my new sweater or charging me for another appetizer, there is always a nagging voice in the back of my head that says, “Cat, you should be saving this money for when you really need it.”

Logically, I know this. After all, saving money for a rainy day is one of those lessons you hear time and time again. The question is: do you listen to the adage?

Saving is also becoming a lot more difficult for many of us because of this slumping economy.  Now that so many of us are seeing those “rainy days,” it’s more important than ever for us to figure out how to be smart with our money, while not compromising our quality of life.

I don’t have many answers but I am doing my homework on how to be financially smart. I’ll share what I learn with you. In the meantime, if you have any tips or ideas you’d like to share with the GYG community, feel free to chime in.

Looking forward to hearing from you,
~CashCat

You could see fatter paychecks from the "Making Work Pay" stimulus bonus.

Get ready for a fatter paycheck. The “Making Work Pay“ tax credit takes effect on April 1, which means most taxpayers will soon see an increase of about $30 per paycheck in their take-home pay. Individual taxpayers could receive up to an additional $400; $800 a year for married joint filers. The tax credit is available for 2009-2010.

Sounds like fantastic news, right? There are a few things to consider though, before you go spending all that extra cash:

You have two jobs: If both your employers pay the full tax credit, you may actually owe Uncle Sam money at the end of the year. To avoid this, check with your employers to see if they’re withholding the correct amounts.

The credit doesn’t apply to everyone: This tax credit will be calculated at a rate of 6.2% of earned income and will phase out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $75,000 ($150,000 for married couples filing jointly).

There’s a little more fine print, but overall the tax credit lets most people get more back. The government hopes these workers will turn around and spend the money to boost our sagging economy.

Read what the IRS has to say about the credit. CNN Money also has a thorough article on what you need to know about the stimulus money.

A lot of people have been saying they’d rather get a lump sum of $400, while others say a slow distribution of roughly $30 per paycheck means people are more likely to spend the extra cash… and that the economy really needs it.

What do you think? Also, what do you plan to spend this extra money on?

Grow Your Green is Tech CU’s year–long campaign to help you save. 

Here, you’ll find tips, resources and financial advice on how to save more. Join our Grow Your Green community of savers and be eligible to win prizes throughout the year. Share your savings story, and you could win $1,000! 

Make 2009 your year of saving — Grow Your Green with Tech CU.

Click here to learn more. 

Hi, my name is Jillian and I’m 10 years old.  My mom is a member of Tech CU, and I want to participate in the GrowYourGreen campaign, and save for an iPod Shuffle and music downloads. Watch my cool video featured on the main page and stay tuned for more!

Jill

I am self-teaching myself to play the Blues on my trusty Fender Stratocaster which used to play through a Fender Amp I parted with back in 2001.  While I have been using my MAC computer as an amplifier, there is no comparison with the real thing!  The model I am looking at is called the Fender Deluxe and the price tag is pretty hefty at $799 w/out tax.  So my goal is to practice and save at least $75 a month if I can and hopefully by the time I can purchase tha amp I’ll be able to play something my next door neighbor won’t hate!