70561B1212 JAN U A RY 2013 TEENAGE DRIVER’S DILEMMA: How to Afford It... By Spencer, age 17 Driving a car doesn’t have to break your bank; with a few simple tricks you can keep both the ID and money pockets of your wallet happy. New or used? Buying used is usually a no-brainer for teenagers. Talk to family and friends. They might be willing to sell their cars at a discount if they know it’s helping out their kin. FIRST-TIME AUTO BUYING TIPS: Questions to think about. First insurance premium Most teenagers stay on their parents’ insurance plan, but it may be cheaper to get insured elsewhere. Shop around and look for the discounts most companies offer. Other ways to save: Take driver’s Ed classes. Keep up with your schoolwork—most companies offer discounts for good grades. Drive safely and keep a clean record. Purchasing your first automobile is an exciting time. But while you’re probably thinking about questions like, “Which car will impress my friends,” or “What color should I get,” you’ll want to consider other traits. Finding the right vehicle is about so much more. Consider the following questions to help you get started: Save on gas “What is the safety record?” You’ll want to drive as safe as possible. You can find government safety ratings, recall notices and more at www.safercar.gov. “What are the maintenance costs?” Sometimes a more expensive vehicle will actually cost less in the long run. Newer vehicles tend to have fewer maintenance needs. “Has this vehicle been in an accident?” We recommend ordering a CARFAX report (www.carfax.com) to get the details on a particular vehicle’s history. “What will the financing cost?” URW Community Federal Credit Union can help with this one! We have low loan rates and affordable terms. Just call or stop by to get started. Make your car more efficient When going to fill up, shop around and make sure you’re getting the lowest price. I use the GasBuddy app on my smartphone—before I even leave the house. At the pump, make sure you’re using the lowest grade recommended for your car—usually the big button with an 87 on it. Fill up when it is cooler, such as in the early morning or at night. Gasoline is measured and sold by volume, so when it is denser in the chilly weather, you get slightly more gas for your money. Make sure your gas cap is on tight so no fumes can escape from your tank. Change the air filter frequently to keep your engine from working harder than it has to. Keep the proper air pressure in your tires so your car drives efficiently. Lighten the load you carry in your car. Drive the speed limit—it’s better for your gas mileage, helps you avoid pricey speeding tickets, and is safer. Don’t jerk or rapidly speed up or slow down. You’ll save gas by gradually and smoothly getting up to speed. Minimize the time you spend idling. When I pick up friends, I will turn the car off while I wait for them. From tune-ups to major repairs For simple fixes, where the parts are small, usually labor is the biggest cost of taking your car to the shop. Same with routine maintenance—such as oil change, filling the windshield wiper fluid, or inflating the tires. Learn how to do it yourself. If you have to take your car to the professionals, shop around for the best price or for deals. Many shops will match a competitor’s price on a similar service. MOST IMPORTANT: Put aside some money in an emergency share savings account at URW Community Federal to pay for unexpected repairs. Copyright 2012 Credit Union National Association Inc. Information subject to change without notice. For use with members of a single credit union. All other rights reserved. Holiday Closing EASTER Monday, April 1 Why Your BFF – Best Financial Friend – is your Credit Union Whether you’re heading off to college, starting a new career, or simply sticking close to home, make sure you stop by URW Community Federal Credit Union for all of your financial needs. We can help you stay in touch with your money in many different ways: A Quarterly Publication of URW Community Federal Credit Union Our online banking and phone banking systems make it easy to keep track of your money. URW Community FCU Checking Accounts offer no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement. You will love the convenience of our debit card. Our low-rate VISA Credit Card is the perfect way to begin establishing your credit with a manageable safe limit. Keeping YOUNG MEMBERS We are here to help you establish good financial habits. Please let us know how we can serve you! Informed. TOP 10 REASONS to Join Our Credit Union if You’re in High School From the outside, URW Community Federal might look just like any other financial institution. It’s a place to go for savings and checking accounts, credit cards, car loans, and much more. 539 Arnett Boulevard 364 Lowes Drive, Suite H 142 S Main Street 1901 Goodyear Boulevard 701 Broad Street Danville, VA But look closer and you’ll see that credit unions are a special kind of financial institution, unlike any other. How so? And how does this affect you while you’re in high school? Take a look at these 10 reasons why URW Community Federal is unique. 1. The focus is on you, not profits. Because URW Community Federal is a not-for-profit financial institution, we charge fewer and lower fees, have lower minimum balance requirements, and offer better loan rates than banks. 2. You pay lower fees. When it comes to fees, the credit union difference is striking. Thinking about opening a checking account? Getting a car loan? Maybe even loans for college? While banks are in business to make as much profit as they can to please stockholders, we typically offer significantly lower and fewer fees on everything from checking accounts to loans. 3. You get more back. We often pay higher dividend rates on savings accounts. 4. Credit unions provide financial education for you. We have the resources to teach teens how to budget their money, manage a checking account, and establish credit. 5. Credit unions frequently are available where other financial institutions aren’t. Credit unions are available on many college campuses and now in some high schools. They’re also available in cities all across the country. 6. No-surcharge ATMs. We offer fee-free ATMs (automated teller machines) that any credit union member can use. 7. You’re an owner. Credit unions are member-owned financial cooperatives. This means that the people who belong to URW Community Federal are its owners, not just customers like at other financial institutions. 8. We give you “A” for effort. Show us you’re serious--by saving some money regularly, having pretty good grades, maybe holding a part-time job--and we’ll reward you with financial products that most banks only provide to adults. 9. Student-friendly products. Credit unions look out for the best interest of students. We understand students’ needs and work with you to help achieve your financial goals. Want to study abroad? Buy a computer? We’re happy to help you out with any of your financial goals. 10. You get extra attention. URW Community Federal is here to serve you! Our employees are here to answer questions or offer one-on-one counseling to help you make your best financial choices. Copyright 2011-2012 Credit Union National Association Inc. Information subject to change without notice. For use with members of a single credit union. All other rights reserved. Local Phone:434-793-1278 Toll Free:866-879-6328 Fax:434-799-0949 Teller Talk:877-793-5831 www.urwfcu.org Edited by Cheryl Doss Federally insured by NCUA ©CUAdvantage.com • 877.799.0784
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