9 Ways to Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day

9 Ways to Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day  American author and cartoonist, Scott Adams, says, “Remember, there is no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”  February 17 is National Random Acts of Kindness Day and we put together a list of 9 ways you can celebrate and spread kindness.  Leave quarters at the laundromat  Pay for the person behind you in the drive-through  Do a sibling’s chore without them asking  Leave a generous tip at a restaurant  Hold the door for someone  Donate to charity  Give someone a…

February 6, 2022We Are PEFCU No Comments

9 Ways to Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day  American author and cartoonist, Scott Adams, says, “Remember, there is no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”  February 17 is National Random Acts of Kindness Day and we put together a list of 9 ways you can celebrate and spread kindness.  Leave quarters at the laundromat  Pay for the person behind you in the drive-through  Do a sibling’s chore without them asking  Leave a generous tip at a restaurant  Hold the door for someone  Donate to charity  Give someone a…

2x Scorecard©Rewards: February – March, 2022

Looking for a fun, safe, and budget-friendly spring break trip? We have got you covered!   Here are three ideas to get you started on planning your locally inspired spring break vacation.   Be a local tourist. Stay in town and visit museums, restaurants, parks, or streets you’ve never been to before. Check out your local tourism office for ideas and see if they have any walking or bus tours that you can take. If your budget allows, it can also be fun to check into a local hotel or guesthouse for a change of scenery.  Travel regionally. Sometimes the fun may…

February 6, 2022PEFCU Perks, Wallet Wins 2 Comments

Looking for a fun, safe, and budget-friendly spring break trip? We have got you covered!   Here are three ideas to get you started on planning your locally inspired spring break vacation.   Be a local tourist. Stay in town and visit museums, restaurants, parks, or streets you’ve never been to before. Check out your local tourism office for ideas and see if they have any walking or bus tours that you can take. If your budget allows, it can also be fun to check into a local hotel or guesthouse for a change of scenery.  Travel regionally. Sometimes the fun may…

How To: Break Up With Your Bank

If you’re breaking up with your big bank this Valentine’s Day (or any other day), here is a step-by-step guide to switching banks. We’ll help you take inventory of all your finances so that you can transfer everything over to your new PEFCU account! Get ready for the start of a beautiful relationship.  1. Open your PEFCU account. As a Publix Associate, you and your immediate family members are eligible for credit union membership. When you open a PEFCU account, you’ll first open a savings account, which makes you a member of the credit union. From there, you can choose…

February 5, 2022Wallet Wins, We Are PEFCU 2 Comments

If you’re breaking up with your big bank this Valentine’s Day (or any other day), here is a step-by-step guide to switching banks. We’ll help you take inventory of all your finances so that you can transfer everything over to your new PEFCU account! Get ready for the start of a beautiful relationship.  1. Open your PEFCU account. As a Publix Associate, you and your immediate family members are eligible for credit union membership. When you open a PEFCU account, you’ll first open a savings account, which makes you a member of the credit union. From there, you can choose…

Black History Month: Innovations That Changed The World

February is Black History Month, and it’s a time that we can celebrate how Black American contributions are woven into the fabric of everyday American life. In particular, as a Publix associate, you may encounter some of these innovations in ways you may not realize as you go about your daily routine. Let’s start with when your alarm goes off. It’s a beautiful day to bleed green! Time to iron that uniform to a crisp. By the way, did you know nineteenth-century dressmaker Sarah Boone helped with the evolution of the modern ironing board? In 1892, Boone would become one of the…

February 5, 2022We Are PEFCU 2 Comments

February is Black History Month, and it’s a time that we can celebrate how Black American contributions are woven into the fabric of everyday American life. In particular, as a Publix associate, you may encounter some of these innovations in ways you may not realize as you go about your daily routine. Let’s start with when your alarm goes off. It’s a beautiful day to bleed green! Time to iron that uniform to a crisp. By the way, did you know nineteenth-century dressmaker Sarah Boone helped with the evolution of the modern ironing board? In 1892, Boone would become one of the…

Black History Month

In 2021 we discussed the rich history of the Black community’s relationship with banking. You can read that blog here: A Celebration of Black History. This year, we’re highlighting some of the major players in the history of the cooperative banking movement.   First, let’s talk about Thomas Patterson, the founder of Piedmont Credit Union. Piedmont CU was one of the first (if not THE first) African American Credit Unions in the United States. Thomas Patterson was a farmer in North Carolina. He wrote about the struggles of being a farmer, while Jim Crow laws were prevalent, in an article published…

January 28, 2022We Are PEFCU No Comments

In 2021 we discussed the rich history of the Black community’s relationship with banking. You can read that blog here: A Celebration of Black History. This year, we’re highlighting some of the major players in the history of the cooperative banking movement.   First, let’s talk about Thomas Patterson, the founder of Piedmont Credit Union. Piedmont CU was one of the first (if not THE first) African American Credit Unions in the United States. Thomas Patterson was a farmer in North Carolina. He wrote about the struggles of being a farmer, while Jim Crow laws were prevalent, in an article published…

4 Ways to Boost Your Home’s Equity 

How is home equity calculated? Basically, it’s your home’s current value, minus the amount you owe on it. The equation would look something like this:  The current value of your home: $200,000  – Remaining mortgage balance: $125,000  = Home Equity: $  75,000  But, building home equity takes time. Each month, a portion of your mortgage payment goes toward the loan principal. You build equity as your principal decreases, which usually occurs over many years. If you want to speed up the process so you can build equity faster, here are four things you can do.  Make a Larger Down Payment The…

January 18, 2022Future Planning No Comments

How is home equity calculated? Basically, it’s your home’s current value, minus the amount you owe on it. The equation would look something like this:  The current value of your home: $200,000  – Remaining mortgage balance: $125,000  = Home Equity: $  75,000  But, building home equity takes time. Each month, a portion of your mortgage payment goes toward the loan principal. You build equity as your principal decreases, which usually occurs over many years. If you want to speed up the process so you can build equity faster, here are four things you can do.  Make a Larger Down Payment The…

Why You Should Try the 50/30/20 Budget

Creating a budget can often seem so complex. The more complicated it seems, the less likely you may be to make the effort. But you need some type of budget to help keep your spending in check and to ensure progress toward your short- and long-term financial goals.   If you’re new at creating a budget — or have been putting it off for fear of messing it up because you don’t fully understand what it is you’re supposed to do — consider the simplified 50/30/20 budget instead.   Why Is the 50/30/20 Budget So Popular?  Shakespeare once said, “Brevity is the soul of wit.” It rings true today — especially when it comes to creating a budget.   The 50/30/20 budget is…

January 11, 2022Wallet Wins 1 Comment

Creating a budget can often seem so complex. The more complicated it seems, the less likely you may be to make the effort. But you need some type of budget to help keep your spending in check and to ensure progress toward your short- and long-term financial goals.   If you’re new at creating a budget — or have been putting it off for fear of messing it up because you don’t fully understand what it is you’re supposed to do — consider the simplified 50/30/20 budget instead.   Why Is the 50/30/20 Budget So Popular?  Shakespeare once said, “Brevity is the soul of wit.” It rings true today — especially when it comes to creating a budget.   The 50/30/20 budget is…

Shop Smarter: Best Times to Buy

We’ve scoped out the best times of year to buy some higher-ticket items so that YOU can save money throughout the year and stay on budget. Each month is listed with items that are most likely to be priced the best they will be all year, plus we’ve included the holidays when you’ll find major sales. Make sure to plan your shopping calendar and your budget accordingly!  January  Electronics: There are typically sales AFTER Christmas to encourage additional purchases after the holidays. You’ll probably find that some of your favorite electronics are on sale.  Fitness Equipment: Retailers know that people make resolutions to…

January 10, 2022Borrowing Basics, Wallet Wins No Comments

We’ve scoped out the best times of year to buy some higher-ticket items so that YOU can save money throughout the year and stay on budget. Each month is listed with items that are most likely to be priced the best they will be all year, plus we’ve included the holidays when you’ll find major sales. Make sure to plan your shopping calendar and your budget accordingly!  January  Electronics: There are typically sales AFTER Christmas to encourage additional purchases after the holidays. You’ll probably find that some of your favorite electronics are on sale.  Fitness Equipment: Retailers know that people make resolutions to…

4 Tips to Pay Off Your Holiday Credit Card Debt

If you’re struggling with holiday credit card debt, it might feel like you’re drowning in quicksand. The more you fight to get out of this high-interest debt, the deeper you get, it seems.   But there’s a lifeline! There are practical things you can do to pull yourself out of credit card debt, once and for all. These four real-life tips can help you out:   1. Stop Using Your Credit Cards. You must understand and accept that unpaid credit card debt is bad for you financially and must be corrected. If you’ve been using your credit cards to fill in financial gaps, now is the time to break the habit for good and vow never to return.    This sounds much simpler than it is.  Do these three…

December 27, 2021Borrowing Basics, Wallet Wins No Comments

If you’re struggling with holiday credit card debt, it might feel like you’re drowning in quicksand. The more you fight to get out of this high-interest debt, the deeper you get, it seems.   But there’s a lifeline! There are practical things you can do to pull yourself out of credit card debt, once and for all. These four real-life tips can help you out:   1. Stop Using Your Credit Cards. You must understand and accept that unpaid credit card debt is bad for you financially and must be corrected. If you’ve been using your credit cards to fill in financial gaps, now is the time to break the habit for good and vow never to return.    This sounds much simpler than it is.  Do these three…

9 Things to Consider When Buying a Car 

9 Things to Consider When Buying a Car  Whether you’re in the market for your first car, or it’s just been a while since your last vehicle purchase, you may have some questions. We put together a list of nine things you should keep in mind as you prepare to buy your car.   1. Set Your Budget  Consider how much you want to spend on your vehicle. If you’re taking out an auto loan, think about how much you want to spend on your monthly payment. Don’t forget to include tax, tags, and auto insurance in the cost. Here is an easy-to-use auto loan calculator…

December 27, 2021Borrowing Basics No Comments

9 Things to Consider When Buying a Car  Whether you’re in the market for your first car, or it’s just been a while since your last vehicle purchase, you may have some questions. We put together a list of nine things you should keep in mind as you prepare to buy your car.   1. Set Your Budget  Consider how much you want to spend on your vehicle. If you’re taking out an auto loan, think about how much you want to spend on your monthly payment. Don’t forget to include tax, tags, and auto insurance in the cost. Here is an easy-to-use auto loan calculator…