Member News

This November 24th, GHM Insurance wants to share Small Business Saturday® with you! It’s a holiday shopping tradition, backed by American Express, that celebrates small businesses like those here in Waterville. And it wouldn’t be a celebration without local businesses like you joining us.

To be a part of the fun, please contact Bethany Mitchell-Legro at bethany@pbcmaine.com and we’ll add you to the Shop Small® passport. It’s as easy as that! We’ll deliver the passports to participating businesses ahead of the 24th so all you’ll have to do is stamp them as visitors come through your doors.

So, mark your calendars for November 24th — the Saturday after Thanksgiving — and get ready to Shop Small® with us.

You can help get the word out and celebrate Small Business Saturday by using #ShopSmall on Facebook, Instagram, and all your social networks.

We’ll see you Saturday, November 24th!

GHM Insurance, #PartnershipIsPowerful

There’s never been a better time to be a Credit Union member….and here is why…

As we gear up to celebrate the credit union difference and to recognize the contributions that credit unions make every day in the lives of their members and their communities worldwide, we also want to celebrate you—our members.

Beginning in 1948, credit unions have come together annually on the third Thursday in October to commemorate the credit union movement’s history and achievements. This year, we celebrate 70 years of International Credit Union Day and the theme chosen “Find Your Platinum Lining,” combines the traditional gift of platinum for 70th anniversaries, a play on the sayings “every cloud has a silver lining” and a celebration of the platinum lining differences and impact credit union and other financial cooperatives have made and continue to make for their members.

Read More here!

Do you think living a frugal life would make you feel deprived? Wait, before you think that I am going to suggest that you use rainwater to hand wash your laundry and live entirely off the grid spending only $1.00 per day……let me assure you that you don’t have to go to such extremes to make a significant dent in your expenses.

After meeting with several of our members over the past year, I found that when assisting them with their household budgets, that they would benefit from the ways I have learned to live more frugally. Here are a few principles that may help your family as well. Feel free to evaluate these tips by yourself or discuss them as a family:

Choose your splurge category: When I evaluate and make suggestions about a member’s budgeting expenses, I ask specific questions to determine what they really don’t want to live without.  Perhaps their main social activity is dining out, or it’s having an extensive wardrobe, or it could just be that getting a coffee at a local coffee shop is their “can’t live” without daily routine. Individually these spending categories could fit into your budget, but you may realize your budget cannot support them all. Pick one category that you don’t want to live without and reduce or eliminate your spending on the others.

Eat simply and healthy:  There are thousands, possibly millions, of web pages that offer recipes using few (3 to 5) ingredients or less. Try searching some of these pages for inspiration on how to make meals for less. Also, encourage everyone in your household to eat what is in the refrigerator, cupboard, or pantry first before going grocery shopping again. Buying seasonal produce, shopping sales and using store reward programs can also save you money on groceries.

Prioritize experiences over “stuff”: To live a more decluttered and frugal life, my husband and I started organizing our home by selling or getting rid of stuff that we no longer need or value. It’s a liberating experience! We live by the following mantra, “If we will not use it frequently and it doesn’t bring us happiness, it doesn’t come into our house.” Instead of collecting “stuff,” collect memories! Plan low-cost activities with your family and snap a few photos as a keepsake. A fun afternoon activity can give you more long-term happiness than any “have to have” item that typically ends up at a future yard sale anyway.

Spend time with frugal people: If you have family or friends that like to live the “high roller” lifestyle, it can be detrimental to your budget as you strive to “keep up with the Joneses.” Consider having an honest conversation with family and friends who suggest expensive dining restaurants, sporting events or shopping trips and let them know that though you love spending time with them, you need to keep your financial goals in mind, too. Perhaps you could offer less expensive ideas that fit within your budget.

Set aside a few “guilt-free” dollars:  Once you have a handle on your budget (and be sure to call me if you need help), it’s important that you identify a specific amount of money slated just for you, as well as the other members in your household, and label those funds as “guilt-free” dollars. This can be as little as $2.00 per week to spend on a treat, snack or some other guilty pleasure. It gives you and other family members the flexibility to choose how the money is spent without guilt because those specific dollars are not allocated to other household expenses. Here’s the kicker though…once that designated amount is spent for the week, you’re done spending until the next week. Period! It’s tough at first, but it gets easier, I promise!

Living frugally is not a bad thing, it’s just about balance. If you need a little helping getting your budget in balance, please email me at tverzoni@newdimensionsfcu.com, or call me at (207) 313-5924. I’d be glad to help!

Until next time ~

Tanya

NDFCU is proud to announce a new resource for your next vehicle purchase.

Groove car is now available on our website to assist you with getting all the facts about your next car–all in a one-stop shopping venue. Check it out here!

https://newdimensionsfcu.groovecar.com/

Financial health is our priority! At New Dimensions Federal Credit Union, we provide important financial education for you that will help lower your blood pressure when it comes to your personal finances. 

Take our Financial Health Quiz to determine if you could use NDFCU’s help in getting your finances “healthy.”

We are excited to announce that Capitol Computers is changing its name to Unlimited Technology, effective September 1, 2018.

You will continue to receive the same great service and dedication to excellence you’ve come to rely on, now as Unlimited Technology. As part of our continued commitment to providing end to end security services to our clients, we will be adding to the services we already offer, including Cyber Security and Exero services.

Unlimited Technology was started in 1989 and has become a fully integrated solutions provider. Our owners and top managers have over 90 years of expertise in the security and technology industries. We have multiple offices throughout the country, and acquired Capitol Computers in 2015, which now serves as our Maine office.

We look forward to continuing to manage your technology needs so you can manage your business.

And don’t allow fear to rule your finances! If you’re delinquent in your mortgage payments — or expect to be — the best thing to do is to contact your mortgage servicer right away.

While it can be stressful to contact your lender, early communication puts you in a positive light. Foreclosure is very costly for a lender, and they would generally prefer to help you get back on track to keep your home. When contacting your lender be honest. Describe your situation and know how much money you have available to make payments – do not agree to a payment that is not feasible with your current budget. As you work with your lender, you’ll find that there are several options to consider that will make it easier to bring your loan current:

Reinstatement – This is a lump sum payment that brings your account current by paying everything you owe including missed payments and fees.

Forbearance – The lender agrees to a lower payment or no payment for a short period of time in return for higher payments thereafter or an extended loan term.

Repayment Plan – Under a written agreement, you pay more than the minimum monthly payment (over a short time period) to bring the account up to date.

Loan Modification – A permanent change to one or more of the terms of the loan including the interest rate, type of mortgage, or extending the time to pay the mortgage balance.

As a member of New Dimensions Federal Credit Union, you can take advantage of the GreenPath Financial Wellness program, a free financial education, and counseling program.  GreenPath counselors are available Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (EST), Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. To use this new service, simply call (877) 337-3399, visit www.greenpathref.com, or you may contact Tanya Verzoni, NDFCU’s Director of Financial Education at (207) 872-2771 during normal business hours.  At New Dimensions, it is our goal and mission to assist while you successfully navigate your financial journey.

Treasure Chest II is proud to announce that we have been recognized by the Center For Sexual Pleasure & Health (CSPH) for completion of their Community Sexual Health Resource courses.

We now have 2 retail associates certified to advise customers on a wide variety of subjects concerning sexual health, and wellbeing including:  Pleasure-Focused Anatomy, Safer Sex, and Sexual Difficulties along with several other subjects concerning sexual health.  Stop on by and check out what we have to offer.

The importance of personal finance at a young age…

The start of a new school year is underway and New Dimensions Federal Credit Union (NDFCU) is excited to be a part of the financial education that your child receives this year. They have prepared new lesson plans for students in kindergarten through senior year of high school, that will be presented as they visit classrooms throughout Kennebec and Somerset counties.

Recently, the Financial Director of Education of NDFCU attended a boot camp with teachers and educators from around the Central Maine region learning fun, innovative ways to teach personal finance to high school students in a way they can understand and relate into their current situations. NDFCU’s mission is to find ways that work for all ages while preparing those who are just beginning to face the challenges that come with adulthood. The boot camp was conducted by NextGen Personal Finance. * (NGPF) representatives who shared results from their nationwide survey of 13 million students across 11,000 high schools to find out how many students had access to financial education in America today. Sadly, the results showed that only 1 in 6 students received financial education, 1 in 12 for low-income schools, and only 5 states in the US have personal finance coursework as a statewide mandate—Maine was not one of them! The reality for Maine students is that less than 10 percent have a personal finance graduation requirement. Additionally, several studies showed that the younger the students were when introduced to budgeting techniques and good credit habits, the more likely they were to become financially secure adults able to avoid costly mistakes and life-long consequences.

This school year, NDFCU encourages you to take the time to ask your child’s guidance counselor, teachers or school administrators if personal finance classes are available to your child. If he/she is not able to access adequate financial education, or, if you are an educator in Kennebec or Somerset counties and would like some assistance in bringing energetic and customizable lessons to your classroom, we invite you to contact our Director of Financial Education, Tanya Verzoni, today! As part of its mission, New Dimensions is committed to educating its members (all ages) with personal finance guidance and best practices. Class offerings include the importance of saving money, needs versus wants, budgeting basics, understanding credit, how to buy a car and many other topics that would help your student(s) further their education. Also, you’re invited to register for our monthly newsletter by visiting www.newdimensionsfcu.com and clicking on the registration link at the bottom of our homepage. Our newsletter and social media pages will keep you informed of our FREE evening seminars that are open to credit union members and non-members alike, which will tackle such topics as budgeting, understanding credit, first-time homebuyer tips, home energy savings and more!

It’s never too early, or too late, to receive solid financial advice. Please feel free to contact Tanya Verzoni, Director of Financial Education, at (207) 872-2771 or at tverzoni@newdimensionsfcu.com.  We are committed to helping you have a profitable future. 

*Next Gen Personal Finance is a non-profit organization that connects educators with free resources, professional development, and advocacy tools in order to equip students with the knowledge and skills to lead financially successful and fulfilling lives.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time where we shine a light on this very large but often hidden issue that greatly impacts our families, friends, and communities. We are asking you to join us by putting purple lights in your storefront window. Let’s show our community that we support survivors and hold those who use violence accountable. 

To show your support, contact the Family Violence Project at 620-9043. For $20.00, you will receive a string of purple lights to display in your window and a small poster that explains the meaning of the lights as well as our helpline information. 

Together, we can end domestic violence.