The preview night is for anyone thinking about attending U of M-Flint.  If you can’t attend our preview night there are other days and locations available.  For more information or to register for a session click HERE.

*Bonus* If you attend one of the preview nights and are an undergraduate student you can bring your official transcripts and ACT scores (in a sealed envelope) to be considered for admission.  The $30.00 application fee will be waived.

If you have any questions about my experience at U of M-Flint but can’t attend the session feel free to leave a comment to this post and I will be sure to answer it.  I endorse U of M Flint because it was my school of choice and it helped me achieve my dream of working in marketing.  There are also many other great colleges in our community.  It is a good idea to search all of your options to find out which school is best for you and your intended major.  Mott Community College, Kettering and Baker are just a few of the other choices!

Click on the U of M Flint Connect logo to get connected to different social networks to learn more about U of M-Flint.

I hope to see you there!

With so many things to prepare for, there’s a common question on many College Freshmen minds this time of year. With so many different laptops to choose from, how does one know which computer is the right one for them?

Well, that’s a great question.  It’s not really about getting the best laptop as there really isn’t a “best” one out there. It all depends on what you need from the laptop that becomes the best one for you.

 Now, let’s take a look at some familiar laptop characteristic/performance battles “Step by Step” and see if you can decide which one is the best one for you.

1.)Super-Size Screen vs. Standard Screen

Larger screens make for easier reading and viewing when it comes to a laptop, that’s a given. However, it’s not always necessary. Keep in mind that the bigger the screen, the higher the price of the laptop and the heavier it can be to tote around. Suggestion: If you have decent vision and really just need your laptop for writing papers, researching things on the web and the once-in-a-while, (let’s be real here, every other minute) Facebook status updating, a smaller screen will suffice. If your major is somewhere in the visual arts area, a larger screen may be necessary for better visual quality.

2.)Fast vs. Faster (processor size)

Most freshmen college laptop users will never push their computer’s processors to the max. So my advice would be to save money and not get the highest processor known to mankind. Unless your major is in video game design , software development, or computer-dependent majors relative to those,  I’d say stick with a processor that’s just suitable enough to get the job done.

3.) Battery Life

About two hours of time is the deciding factor on this one.  If you think you are apt to use a laptop for more than two hours without a wall outlet nearby to recharge on a regular basis, then investing in a laptop with a larger capacity battery is the way to go. But keep in mind that longer-lasting batteries can be a bit more costly.

4.) The Weight Debate

Shedding pounds on a laptop can be another costly move.  Less is definitely more in this debate.  If you can manage to tote around the extra weight of a laptop, you’ll be happy to feel the extra weight from the leftover cash sitting in your pocket, too.

 Hopefully this helps some of you with trying to figure out what kind of laptop you are looking for characteristic/performance-wise for your freshmen year. As far as computer brands go, search for one that meets most of your performance needs mentioned above first, and see what brands comply with those.

*The buzz around town is that:

A Dell or HP laptop is good for a college student who plans to write many papers and do research and web surfing. (English, History, Education, Accounting majors, etc.)

An Apple (Mac) laptop would be best for a student that is majoring in visual arts. (Graphic Design, Website Design, Videography, Music Engineering, etc.) This student will need this more expensive laptop for editing purposes and a Mac is the way to go!

Alienware laptops are for the extreme- gamer college student. They usually come with the best visual graphics cards and highest processors to get those games loaded and/or developed :)

**These are just some views on what I’ve heard works best by talking to  friends that were in various majors during their college experience.  Hopefully this will help guide you to discover the best computer for you!**

One stereotype that young people have is that they are naïve, and sometimes this stereotype is right on point.  I know I’ve been taken advantage of many times.  Sometimes someone very smart meant to do it to me and other times I was just so uneducated that I let it happen to myself.  This article is meant to try and give you a leg up when it comes to being a victim of counterfeiting. 

The Government is introducing a new $100 bill in February of 2011 and it’s never too soon to educate yourself about it.  The beauty of this new bill is that some of the safety features are amazingly easy to spot, and this should make it much simpler for an average Joe to spot a fake.

The two major features that will allow you to spot a fake are the 3-D strip that is just to the right of the presidential portrait and a bell in an ink well that changes color as you move the bill.  The color-changing ink is a feature that has already been used on other bills, but this time it’s much easier to spot.  Before this, the color-changing ink was used to make the number 100 in the bottom right hand corner change colors, but now the color-changing ink makes the bell look like it vanishes and then returns.  There are other new safety features as well, but these two are the ones that the general public will use the most to spot counterfeit bills. 

Below are a couple of links to a government website that is meant to help educate the public on this new bill and how it’s safety features work.  The first link is episode one of a podcast that is dedicated to the safety features I discussed in this article.  The second link will take you to the homepage dedicated to the new bill, and will allow you to watch more podcasts dedicated to helping you learn about its security features.  I hope this will help you avoid being taken advantage of in the future.

Click the bill to go to the podcast!

Click the bill to see the government's homepage for new money!

This is only half true.  Banks tend to turn people away based on their credit score alone so, if you claim bankruptcy, many banks will not want to help you.  Many Credit Unions will still lend to those that have claimed bankruptcy.  So first lets start with a little background information on credit unions:

Credit Unions are non profit.  This means that they do not make any profit for themselves, and instead give all profits back to the members in the form of lower interest rates on loans and higher interest rates on accounts.  Credit unions care about their members, and do not base whether or not to help the member on the credit score alone.  They realize that bad things happen to good people and want to fully understand the situation in order to make a more informed decision. 

Though bankruptcy is never a good option, sometimes it is the only option.  If you have filed BK like so many others right now start by off obtaining a pledged visa or share secured loan.  The pledged visa is where you give the credit union the dollar amount of the limit you want, plus one hundred dollars, and put it on hold in a savings in your own name.  For instance, if Kelly is coming in to get a pledge visa with a 300 dollar limit she would put 400 dollars into a savings account and the credit union would give her a visa. This lowers the risk for the credit union but allows her to increase her credit!!  

The share secured loan works the  same way only minus the extra 100 dollars. In this instance if Kelly wanted a 300 dollar share secured loan she would put 300 in an account for her while she paid down the loan. 

Both of these options will help you to bring up your credit score to prove to your credit union that you want to pay them.  By doing loans and visas like these you are building a great relationship with your credit union and will be able to obtain more loans and a visa without the money pledged in the future.

So the moral of the story:  Go to credit unions first because they care.  They care about your situation, and they care about what happens to you.

Some of you may be looking forward to a new school year with great anticipation; others of you may be dreading the sound of that first hour bell.  There is a wide range of you out there, from high school freshman to seniors in college and beyond.  Whoever you are and wherever you are going to be attending school, these tips will help you hold on to a little more cheddar this semester. 

Going back to school has many different aspects.  You have to prepare mentally for all the new info you’ll have to cram into your brain.  You have to prepare physically and brush up your appearance just a bit for that first day back.  You have to prepare emotionally for the stresses of school, like that horribly uncomfortable moment when you are standing in the middle of the lunch room with books and a tray in your hand while trying desperately to find a seat, but trying not to look too desperate because nobody wants to sit with a desperate person…  Sound familiar?  I’m pretty sure we’ve all been there at least once.  And of course you have to prepare materially with notebooks, pens, and maybe even a laptop.  According to American Express, this is how much people are planning to spend on average on the following items for back to school 2010.  Check it out!

• Clothing $240
• Shoes $100
• School Supplies (notebooks, pens, planners, calculators, etc…) $90
• Grooming
• Haircuts $40
• Hair Styling (color, highlights, straightening, etc…) $60
• Waxing/Spa treatments $50-$80
• Athletic expenses (enrollment and/or equipment) $150

Wow!  That all adds up to over $700!!  While your first year in high school or college may be a little pricier, it does not have to be this expensive to go back to school each fall.  A complete new wardrobe is not necessary each new school year, and how often have you used only half a notebook and then discarded it?  Utilizing the materials you already have will make a big difference when back to school shopping.  The paper, pens, notebooks, and binders all inflate your tab at the checkout. 

Even though it’s still summer break, I know all you coupon clippers and clearance shoppers never take a break from smart savings.  So, please tutor the rest of us with your savings secrets!

When you’re in your 20’s, like I am, your credit report is rarely on your mind.  The exception to that is when you apply for a car loan, try to rent property, etc.  These reports are a major factor in determining whether or not you can be approved or denied when trying to get a loan.  You should be completely informed on whether your credit is good, average, or bad.  An amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide credit reporting bureaus to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. For more details about this visit http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre34.shtm

The main points that are looked at in a credit report are:
1. Credit utilization (The ratio of your debt to your available credit)
2. Payment history (Whether you paid on time or late)
3. Length of credit history (Self explanatory)
4. Types of credit history (Mortgage, Credit Card, etc…)
5. Recent credit history (Shows whether or not you have learned from prior mistakes)

After doing some searching I was able to find a survey done in 2004 by U.S. PIRG, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups, that asked adults in 30 states to order their credit reports and complete a survey on the reports’ accuracy.  Here are some the findings that are very interesting to say the least.

•  25% of the credit reports surveyed contained serious errors that could result in the denial of credit, such as false delinquencies or accounts that did not belong to the consumer.
• 54% of the credit reports contained personal demographic information that was misspelled, long-outdated, belonged to a stranger, or was otherwise incorrect.
• 22% of the credit reports listed the same mortgage or loan twice.
• Almost 8% of the credit reports were missing major credit, loan, mortgage, or other consumer accounts that demonstrate the creditworthiness of the consumer.
• 30% of the credit reports contained credit accounts that had been closed by the consumer but remained listed as open.
• Altogether, 79% of the credit reports surveyed contained either serious errors or other mistakes of some kind.

These errors can be detrimental to your financial future, but don’t worry they can be fixed in a couple of different ways.  First, you can notify any ELGA loan officer who you are working with of the mistake.  They will send in a verification worksheet to the company that the credit report was pulled from and ask that company to look at and correct the errors.  Second, you can try to fix them yourself by contacting your credit reporting company in writing and get them fixed that way.  For more info on doing it yourself go to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre21.shtm.

I hope this helps and if you have any questions or comments tell us what you think.

    This scholarship is extremely special to the ELGA Credit Union family.  The Carmen Lee Wilber Memorial Scholarship is in memory of Carmen Lee Wilber, the daughter of ELGA’s Executive Vice President Frank Wilber and his wife Veronica, and sister to Brendan and Brett.  In August of 2008, Carmen passed away at the age of four in an automobile accident.  One of the blessings that came out of this horrible tragedy was that the family decided to donate Carmen’s organs so Carmen has saved others lives.  In the picture below Frank is holding a picture of Carmen. 

Tiffany Gardner, Amy Ketner, Paula Paulus, and Nicholle Pierce were the four winners selected. These ladies are outstanding and have already accomplished so much in their lives.

Left to right: Nancy Shoenfelt, Marketing Manager; winners Tiffany Gardner, Paula Paulus and Amy Ketner with Executive Vice President Frank Wilber. Not pictured: Nicholle Pierce.

• Penalty Fees: You cannot be charged more than $25 for a late fee unless one of your last 6 payments has been late.  Your late payment fee cannot be greater than your minimum payment.
• Fee Protection: You can no longer be charged an inactivity fee for not using your card.  Companies cannot charge you more than one fee per transaction.  For example, you cannot be charged a late payment fee that puts you over your credit limit and then be charged another fee for being over your credit limit.
• Interest Rates: Credit card companies must now notify you of all rate increases.  If you do have your rates increased, they must be reevaluated every 6 months.  If, after the evaluation, an adjustment is needed, the company must reduce the rate within 45 days of completing the evaluation.

What do you think of these new rules?  Do you think they will help the consumer or will the credit card companies find a way around them?  Voice your opinion by leaving a comment!

There are a lot of things to think about when you’re moving out for the first time.  Your expenses go beyond rent alone.  On top of rent you need to be prepared to pay for…

• utilities (electricity and gas)
• water
• renters insurance
• car insurance (if you have a car)
• gas (for the car)
• your cell phone bill
• groceries
• student loans
• other loans or lines of credit you may have

Some optional ongoing costs include cable and internet service.  If you can get by without having internet and cable at home then you could save a lot.  Cable is not a necessity and by using the free internet at local businesses or school you can cut a big chunk out of your monthly expenses.  Having a car is not always necessary either.  If you live in an area with a good public transportation system, take advantage of that and skip the cost of buying and maintaining a vehicle. 

On top of the expenses already listed, there are things that are specific to the moving process itself, such as a deposit for the house or apartment, movers and a truck (if you choose to hire a company to move you), and other small things like shelving, hangers, and other household items that can really add up.  You should also set aside some extra money for gifts, entertainment, and savings. 

With all that said, make sure you calculate how much you are able to afford each month before you commit to moving into a house or apartment.  It’s a big first step and definitely something you want to be prepared for.  With some good planning and a realistic look at your income and expenses you will be able to determine if now is the time for your big move.

For a basketball fan like me, it is so great that we have a ladies team…especially with the Detroit Shock leaving us for Tulsa.  I remember when the Shock first came to Detroit, I was in middle school.  It was thrilling to watch their games.  I am so excited we have a team in our community that young girls can look up too.  When I was young I had this great dream of playing pro ball. But I never got taller than 5 foot 4 and never quite became more than a so-so player.  Although my basketball dreams never came true I sure hope this team inspires other girls to make good decisions and chase their dreams.   This is just another cool thing going on in our community.

The Flames really are a great asset to our community.  They have a real passion to give back.  Recently they held basketball clinics for kids ages 10 through 17 at the Boys and Girls club and Flint Northern High School.  ELGA was a very proud sponsor of this event.  The kids learned many basketball skills at different stations set up around the gym.  One of the stations the kids went to was the ELGA Credit Union “Financial Fitness” portion.  We got to talk to the kids about savings, needs versus wants, and goals.  It was so much fun and we had a really engaged group of kids.

Has anyone had a chance to go to a game yet?

Myself and Kathy hanging out at the Boys and Girls Club. Notice the Huge Banner with Detroit Shock players. On the other side of the room was a huge banner with current and former Pistons players and I wanted it!

Throwing a stress ball to one of the kids who answered one of our financial fitness questions

Boys and Girls Club

Flint Northern High School