When a “Sale” is NOT a Good Deal

Everyone wants a bargain. Why wouldn’t you want to pay as little for something as you possibly can? But a sale isn’t always a good deal, and just because something is supposedly on sale doesn’t mean you should buy it. Here five reasons to pass on a sale.

1. Two For or Buy One Get One Free are only a good deal when you really are getting two or more for the price of one. Some stores will raise their prices on the original item and then offering two for one. That’s not always a deal. Now, if you actually need two or more of the product, and the price increase still makes both of them cheaper with a BOGO, that is indeed a great deal.

2. If something is on sale that you’ll never use, not even as a gift for a friend or family member, don’t buy it. It’s so easy to get excited about a sale, but you’re just throwing away money if it’s something for which you have no use.

3. High shipping costs can turn an online sale into a waste of time and money. Sometimes you have to buy quite a bit in sale items to make the shipping costs worthwhile. Check shipping rates before you start shopping online. If the shipping rates are based on how much you spend, just know you may have to buy a lot to truly get a deal.

4. A bargain for someone else may not actually be a bargain for you if you have to go in debt to buy it. Remember, the whole point of buying something on sale is to save money. If you buy it on credit and end up paying interest for several months or even a year, it’s costing you more money to buy it on sale.

5. Sometimes “all sales are final” conditions apply on sale and clearance items. If something breaks, tears or has some other defect you can’t see when you buy it, you’re throwing away money. If you’re thinking of buying something that can’t be returned, examine it closely before making a final purchase.

Don’t buy something just because it’s on sale. Really think about if you need it first, and then make an informed decision.

Why is Insurance Necessary?

There’s something in the human psyche that makes us think something truly bad can’t happen to us. House fires, theft, automobile accidents or even disease are things that happen to someone else. The truth is, it happens to more people than we realize:

Statistics
· Nearly 4,000 Americans die every year from house fires (U.S. Fire Administration)

· More than 16,000 people are injured in house fires (U.S. Fire Administration)

· Property loss from house fires averages $15.5 billion each year (U.S. Fire Administration)

· A motor vehicle is stolen in the U.S. every 33 seconds (FBI)

· Nearly 2 million Americans die each year from some type of disease (CDC)

Insurance can’t prevent situations like these from happening. What it does is protect you and your loved ones when tragedy does strike. Most homeowners have homeowners insurance, because it’s required by your financial institution, and anyone who owns a car is required to have auto insurance. Here are some other types of insurance to consider.

Renters insurance pay to replace your belongings if your rental home or apartment is destroyed or broken into. If you rent and do not have renters insurance, get it – especially for an apartment. One small fire in one apartment can destroy an entire complex and leave you with nothing. Renter insurance protects you.

GAP insurance is another type of car insurance for people still paying on an auto loan. If something happens and your car is declared a total loss, but the value of the vehicle isn’t worth as much as you owe on the loan, GAP pays the rest of the loan and usually gives you at least $1,000 toward the purchase of another vehicle. Without GAP, you’re stuck paying on a car you no longer can drive.

Life insurance helps your loved ones survive financially when you die. This type of insurance is very important but is often overlooked. If you die tomorrow, how will your spouse or children continue paying the mortgage and the rest of bills? Will your children be cared for financially? They will if you buy life insurance.

Many people think insurance is a waste of money, because you only need it if something happens. Unfortunately, good things sometimes happen to bad people. Insurance doesn’t cost that much. Cover yourself before it’s too late.

 

Does it Make More Sense to Rent a Home or Buy One?

Own
The biggest benefit to owning your own home is the investment you’re making in your future. Every mortgage payment you make is paying for your own piece of the American dream. When the mortgage is paid in full, your payments stop and you own the home outright. You will pay a lot of interest on your mortgage over the life of your loan, but that interest is also deductible on your tax return, and so are your property taxes.

As the home’s owner, you are responsible for all maintenance on the home and its appliances. If the air conditioner has to be replaced in the middle of the summer (or any time for that matter), the hefty price tag is yours and yours alone, unless of course you have a warranty. Also, when you move in to a home, you’re usually responsible for your own washing machine, dryer and refrigerator, to name a few. When you add that to the down payment required for a mortgage, you’re looking at thousands of dollars in upfront costs to own your own home.

On the flip side, it’s your house. You can decorate it however you want, landscape it the way you want and even sell it if you want. Knowing you’re in total control can be a satisfying and comforting feeling.

Rent
Renting a home doesn’t require nearly as much money up front. It’s also beneficial when you’re moving far away and don’t have enough time to visit the area ahead of time. Renting a home gives you the necessary time to get acclimated to the area, learn about the local schools and either shop for the home you want or build one.

When you rent a home, the responsibility for maintenance generally falls on the landlord’s shoulders. If something breaks, you call the landlord to fix it. There’s no out-of-pocket cost to you, but you’re at the mercy of the landlord’s time and budget. He or she may not replace something as fast as you would replace it, and the quality may not be the same.

Decorating, landscaping and home improvements also are not your decision to make. Some landlords will give you free reign in their house, but in most cases, you’ll have to get permission from the landlord to do something as simple as painting a room.

There are pros and cons to both renting and buying. It really depends on your financial situation and on how much control you want over your living space. If you do rent, be sure to enter into a legal contract to protect your interest in the home, and be sure to buy renters insurance. This protects all of your belongings in case a fire, theft or tragedy causes damage to your belongings.

FreeFreebies.Org – Your Online Source for Free Stuff

Do you ever wonder how some people seem to find great deals and free stuff all the time? Perhaps they’re frequenting FreeFreebies.org, an online resource for just about all things free and on sale. Free Freebies scans the internet and finds all the best samples and freebies on the web. You’ll find coupons, samples, giveaways, and more, online or by mail.

“We find freebies where there's no participation required,” the site says.

The site is updated daily with new deals, as well as photos when applicable, and any conditions that may apply. If you’re looking for something specific, there’s a column to the right of the page with an alphabetical list of subjects (i.e. automotive, beauty, music, etc.).

At the top of the page, there’s a tab called Free Money. This page lists different ways to make extra money. Most of these are opinion polls, but they are opinion polls that real people have actually be paid to use. There’s also a tab on the site with tips on what information to give out when requesting free stuff.

The deals on this site aren’t just random junk. These are real deals that are saving people good money. One person who frequents the site got a free shirt, a free pair of shoes thanks to FreeFreebies.org. Click on the tab called Freebies I’ve received to read more real life success stories.

FreeFreebies is on Facebook and Twitter, and you can also sign up to receive e-mail updates. Go to FreeFreebies.org and start cashing in on your free deals.

Edom, Texas – The Perfect Staycation Destination

There’s a hidden gem about 75 miles from Dallas called Edom, TX – population 332. Located just 16 miles past Canton, Texas, This quaint, one-traffic-light town may be small in size and population but is sure has a lot of heart and character.

If you were a fan of the Andy Griffith Show and his little town of Mayberry, you will love Edom. It gives you the feel of Mayberry while offering modern conveniences like Wifi and credit/debit card usage. There also are some fun things to do whether you go as a family, a couple or even with a group of girlfriends.

Blueberry Hill Farms is the big draw to Edom in June and July. Visitors come from miles around to pick their own blueberries. It’s both fun and cheap. A half peck is only $14. That yields about eight to nine pints of fresh, sweet blueberries. Pick as many as you want and only pay for what you pick. The farm is open through July 24^th this summer.

The farm also has a general store. If you don’t feel like picking berries, you can buy the ones already picked. The store also sells homemade ice cream (vanilla and blueberry flavors), fruit preserves, syrups and a variety of fresh blueberry desserts made right there before your eyes.

Picking berries is more relaxing than strenuous, but you’re sure to work up an appetite. The Edom Bakery and Grill is literally just down the hill from the farm and is the perfect eatery no matter what size appetite you bring. Just about everything in this quaint café is made from scratch, including the raspberry vinaigrette salad dressing, which is so good you could eat it with a spoon. The restaurant has a variety of selections to fit all tastes, and don’t leave without trying one of the nearly two dozen homemade desserts in their pastry case. The restaurant serves large portions at a small price.

After lunch or dinner, take some time to stroll down the strip and browse the specialty shops that make Edom so unique. You’ll find antiques, hand crafted pottery, birdhouses in all shapes and sizes, jewelry, wood carvings and so much more.

The town also offers an annual juried art show in April and street festival every October.

Stay for the day or find a nearby bed and breakfast and make a weekend of it. You’ll be glad you did.

Your Gold Jewelry (Even Broken) Is Worth Good Money -

Are you sitting on a gold mine without even realizing it? You are if you have gold jewelry you no longer want. That includes the broken chain you planned to have fixed some day or those spare earrings you’ve been hanging on to along with the hope that you’ll one day find the matching twin.

Gold prices have gone up significantly in recent years, and people are cashing in. According to Goldprice.com, the price of pure gold (24K) has increased by $130 an ounce. That can translate into a nice amount of cash for your unwanted gold jewelry. Many dealers also buy dental gold and gold coins. They sometimes even buy silver.

Gold Parties
When the price of gold started rising a few years ago, home parties became very popular. Much like a Tupperware or Mary Kay party, people host a party with a gold dealer and invite their friends to come sell their jewelry. It’s a win-win situation, because guests are making money instead of coming to buy something, and the hostess still makes a percentage of sales – the dealer’s sales.

By Mail
You can also sell your jewelry by mail. You may have already seen TV commercials for companies who will buy your gold. Many of these are legitimate businesses that will send you acheck or pay you through PayPal when you send them your gold.

Buyer Beware
Like anything else in life, there are precautions you should take to be sure you’re not getting scammed. Here are a few tips:

· Always get an estimate from one or two local jewelers before selling your gold to a dealer

· Don’t mail off your gold to a stranger. Get references from friends who have successfully sold their unwanted gold jewelry. The same goes for parties – especially in your own home. Financial guru Dave Ramsey endorse Gold Stash for Cash. Jodi Furman of Live FabuLESS also works with a dealer she highly recommends.

· Remember that the price per ounce is for pure gold. If you are selling 10K or 14K, your gold is usually worth between a third and half the value of pure gold because of fillers used to make your jewelry.

· Do not buy gold jewelry at the jewelry store with the intention of reselling it for profit. Jewelry stores mark up their gold by huge margins.

Start rounding up those broken chains and other spare jewelry. It could pay for your next vacation.

Get Discount Tickets Just for Being A NCU Member

Did you know you can get discount tickets to some of your favorite summer parks and entertainment venues just for being a member of our credit union? Check out the savings below.

Six Flags and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
Save on daily tickets to both venues when you purchases tickets online. (Username: NCUDALOT   Password: SixFlags9)

$24.99 for a one-day ticket to Six Flags
$17.59 for a one-day ticket to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor

Sea World San Antonio
Save 20 percent off a one-day admission or 15 percent off a two-day admission. Or, pay one full-price admission and come back as often as you want through the end of the year. Tickets must be purchased online.

One Day Admission
$ 47.19 – adults
$ 39.99 - children

Two Day Admission
$ 50.14 - adults
$ 42.49 - children

Fun Card
Pay full price for one day and come back as often as you want until the end of the year.
$58.99 - adults
$49.99 - children

Dallas Mavericks
Discount tickets to Mavericks professional basketball games are available here during basketball season. Use online code: myncu.

Be sure to check our Convenience Services page periodically for other discounts that may become available.

Free Water Fun This Summer

It’s a scorcher out there this summer – at or close to triple digit temperatures for close to a month now. If you like spending time outside but just can’t stand the heat, try visiting one of these free spraygrounds throughout the DFW area. It’s great, free fun for kids and could a refreshing lunch break for adults.

What’s a sprayground? It’s a mini water park that looks like a playground. Most spraygrounds are city-owned facilities located at public parks.

Dallas
http://www.dallasparks.org/Downloads/Spraygrounds.pdf

There are eight spraygrounds scattered across the city of Dallas. Click the link for hours and the location nearest you.

Allen
http://www.cityofallen.org/departments/parks_recreation/parks/celebration_rules_and_hours.htm

The spray ground at Celebration Park (701 Angel Parkway) operates from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. except Wednesdays. The sprayground is closed for weekly maintenance every Wednesday.

Arlington
http://www.arlingtontx.gov/park/funtimes/funtimes_summer10.pdf (page 15)

The splash grounds are located in Don Misenhimer, Brantley Hinshaw and California Lane Parks. Hours are 10 am to 8 pm. They are open weekends only from Labor Day through the end of September.

Frisco
http://www.friscofun.org/parks/Pages/SplashParks.aspx|
All Three spray parks are open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. every day.

McKinney
http://www3.mckinneytexas.org/www/parks.aspx?id=1812
The sprayground is located at Finch Park – 301 W. Standifer. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily.

Rockwall
http://www.rockwall.com/Parks/Parks.asp

The Sprayground is located at Harry Myers Park and is open 7 days a week from 9:00am to 9:00pm.

New Law in Place to Prevent Crypto Virus
There’s a new law in place to help prevent the spread of cryptosporidium, a water-borne parasite that was such an epidemic in the summer of 2008 that many public pools and water parks had to shut down. The new state Senate bill 968 mandates all area spray parks be treated with disease-treating chemicals, like chlorine, and that they be monitored on a regular basis. The bill also mandates that spray parks built in the future be fitted with crypto-killing systems. It’s also illegal to use a public water facility if you are sick. This summer should prove much safer for water recreation in North TX.