Handling Periodic Expenses

Handling Periodic Expenses

Do you struggle to come up with the cash to pay your car insurance, property taxes, or other periodic expenses? If so, you are not alone. Things like food and gas are always on your radar, but if you only pay for something once or twice a year, it is very easy to forget to budget for it. However, a little planning can make paying for periodic expenses much easier. The first step is to figure out what periodic expenses you have and how much they cost per year. You may want to look through your bills or checking account statements to help you remember them all. List both fixed expenses, such as insurance, as well as variable expenses, like car repairs. Obviously, you will not know to the penny what you will be spending on variable expenses, but you can take an educated guess. Next, for each periodic expense, divide the yearly cost by 12 to get the per month amount. This way, you can start thinking of it as a monthly expense. Your car insurance is not costing you $600 every six months – it is costing you $100 a month. (Sure, mathematically they are equivalent, but it is much easier to come up with $100 on the spot than it is $600.) Instead of paying it to a business, like you do with regular expenses, you will just put the money aside in savings each month. You can put everything in one savings account (don’t leave it in your checking account), but many people prefer establishing separate accounts for different purposes. Not co-mingling funds can make it easier to, for example, not blow the money for your car insurance on your vacation. Some financial institutions allow you to set up subaccounts within one savings account. Otherwise, you can open new accounts. (Be sure to pay attention to the minimum balance requirement and fee schedule.) After you have set up the desired number of accounts, determine how much you want to go into each one. If possible, have some of your paycheck directly deposited into your savings account(s) or set up a regular automatic transfer from your checking account to your savings account(s). If, despite your best efforts, you are unable to save enough to pay your periodic expenses on time, talk to whomever you owe. Can you lower any penalties by paying what you can now? Can you set up a monthly payment plan? Charging things to your credit card when you cannot pay off the balance in full the next month is usually not wise, but in this case, it could be the best option if the interest you are charged on your card is less than the fees you are charged for paying the bill late. However, you don’t want to make it a habit. If you currently cannot put enough in savings, it is a good idea to examine your expenses to see what you can cut to free up cash. By thinking about periodic expenses year round, they do not have to be a cause of periodic alarm.

Lower Fees at Credit Unions

The Move Your Money Project is a great resource for those who are unsure of whether to join a bank or a Credit Union. Do you have a friend who is with a bank, but is considering making the switch? Maybe showing them this chart published by the Move Your Money Project will help!

You can follow the Move Your Money Project on Facebook as well as your very on Vons Credit Union!

Pre-Owned Vehicle Sale, 2010 Hyundai Elantra

Available for purchase at Vons Credit Union.

4-Cyl, 2.0 Liter, Automatic, 4-Speed with Overdrive, FWD, ABS (4-Wheel), Air Conditioning, AM/FM Stereo, No Cassette, Cruise Control, Dual Air Bags, F&R Head Curtain Air Bags, Keyless Entry, MP3 (Single Disc), Power Door Locks, Power Steering, Power Windows, Side Air Bags, Steel Wheels, Tilt Wheel, XM Satellite.

Mileage (6,985)

Kelley Blue Book 2/4/2011 - 2/10/2011

Total Wholesale / Retail KBB Value $12,950 / $14,955

Minimum starting bid: $13,499

Click here to see the Carfax.

Click here to view Kelley Bluebook.

If you are interested in any of the listed pre-owned vehicles, please contact Bill Rice 626.444.1972, Ext. 320 or click here to make a bid online.

Healthy Hummus!

Eating healthy is a key ingredient to dropping weight, toning up, and becoming a healthier you. When you are giving your diet a makeover, there are many challenges you will face. One of those challenges is adjusting your budget to fit your healthy choices.

At the Vons Credit Union, we know the importance of creating a budget and sticking to it! We also know that the cheapest option is often not the best option for your heart and muffin top. The answer? Find ways to save money with healthy at-home options.

One great healthy delicious snack is fresh veggies dipped in hummus. Unfortunately, a little container of hummus can sometime set you back $4.00 or more. A good solution? Make your own! It's super easy, fast, and CHEAP! Try this version made with edamame from self.com if you want to mix it up.

In the beginning go for a basic (but still heavenly) version from Registered Holistic Nutritionist Rebecca Sutherland at Vive Nutrition.

Hummus

Ingredients

1 16 oz can of chickpeas

1/4 c water

2-3 tbsp lemon juice or more to taste

1 1/2 tbsp tahini

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbsp olive oil

Pinch smoked paprika

Directions

Drain chickpeas and add all ingredients to a blender or food processer and process for 3 minutes. Serve with a sprinkle or paprika.

The Team Advantage

When the Beatles said, "I get by with a little help from my friends" they were talking about me! We designed The Biggest Winner Challenge as a group competition so everyone has a built in support system. After all, if losing weight and toning up was easy to do on your own, we would already be fit!

If I'm tempted to snack on chips, my teammates are there to hand me an apple. Thinking of sneaking out on Friday afternoon without putting in my time at the gym? Not getting away with that anymore! My team keeps me in check on a day to day basis because my success is their success.

Each team has a team captain, team name, and team colors. Ana, captain of team Chunky but Funky, sends an inspirational message to her teammates every day. Here are the motivating words she shared today! I think they are pretty funny:

ALL OF YOU, SHAPE UP, BY THIS I MEAN, NO CHILE RELLENOS, NO STARBUCKS…DO I MAKE MY POINT?

The Biggest Winner Logo

The Biggest Winner Competition is kicking off and we are pumped! One of our Member Services Representative created this incredible logo for the contest. It's amazing what diverse talent we have here at the Vons Credit Union!

I think I'm somewhere between the guy on the left and the guy on the right. With a little luck and a lotta sweat I'll be down a few pounds and up a few health points in no time! Stay tuned for more updates on our competition as well as health tips from our trainer!

A Celebration of Life

Vons Credit Union celebrates the life of our employee, friend and colleague, Louis Caldwell, who passed away unexpectedly. Louis is survived by his wife Stephanie, two step-daughters, his parents, two sisters and a brother, along with additional extended family.

Louis began his career with Vons Grocery Company many years ago in the computer tape library – he later left Vons to start his own business. Louis was always a great supporter and friend of Vons Credit Union. In 2005, he began another career with our credit union assisting members in a variety of ways over the telephone.

We will miss this gentle, kind man. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends.