Things to Do on Your Staycation

There are so many hidden gems in West Virginia, and many of them are in our area. If you’re looking to take a mini vacation, but don’t want to venture far from home, a staycation right here in our area is just the thing you need.

Guyses Run Fishing Park

If you’re looking to try something new, make sure to add fishing at Guyses Run Fishing Park to your list. The fishing pond provides catch-and-release fishing for avid fishermen and beginners alike. Learn more Guyses Run Fishing Park here.

Photo courtesy of Times West Virginian

Hovatter’s Wildlife Zoo
Hovatter’s started as a small zoo with a collection of deer, black bear, cougars, and even tigers! Since then it’s grown into a variety of fun animals to come visit, including chimpanzees, grizzly bears, white and orange tigers, leopards, baboons, and lemurs. Learn more about visiting the zoo here.

Valley Falls State Park

This beautiful state park has all the outdoor activities you ever wanted, including hiking, fishing, picnicking, and even mountain biking. If you’re looking to disconnect, sit back and soak up the sun on one of the perfect flat rocks among the falls. Learn more here.

Immerse Yourself in the Arts
Harrison County is bustling with a fun and talented art scene. Catch a show at the amphitheater or visit a performance put on by the Cultural Foundation for Harrison County. Their next big event is the Celebrate America Concert put on by the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. To find more details about the event, please visit their website.

Forks of Cheat Winery

If you’re looking for a relaxing night complete with a tasty glass of wine, visit Forks of Cheat Winery in Morgantown. Enjoy the views while sipping on a glass of wine from one of Virginia’s foremost wineries. To learn more about the history of Forks of Cheat Winery and how you can grab a glass of wine, please visit their website.

Visit a full-service Fairmont Federal Credit Union location to speak with a member service representative about saving for your staycation. To find a location and to learn more about the services we offer visit fairmontfcu.com. Your FFCU family wishes you a safe and enjoyable summer.

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References

http://www.mcparc.com/curtisville-lake.html?utm_source=MarionCVB&utm_medium=Link&utm_campaign=MarionCVB

https://marioncvb.com/things-to-do/

http://www.cityofclarksburgwv.com/262/Things-to-Do

https://wvexplorer.com/recreation/winery-touring/wineries-in-west-virginia/

http://wvwines.com/forks-of-cheat-winery/

The Origin of Mother’s & Father’s Day

We have a lot to be proud of in our state of West Virginia. One of our greatest accomplishments in the history of both Taylor and Marion counties, is the origin of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day in Grafton and Fairmont respectively. And while Mother’s Day has come and gone this year and Father’s Day will be celebrated soon, we thought taking a quick look at the history of these holidays will give a better appreciation for why we take a day to celebrate our parents.

Mother’s Day Started as a Memorial Service

On the first anniversary of her mother’s death, Miss Anna Jarvis reflected on all of her mother’s accomplishments. Her Mother, Mrs. Anna Reeves Jarvis, focused her efforts heavily on “Mother’s Work” in churches, gave talks on the “Mothers of the Bible,” and held a “Mother’s Friendship Day” service at the end of the Civil War. It was very apparent that Mrs. Anna Reeves Jarvis saw the beauty and importance of motherhood, and her daughter wanted to find a special way to remember her mother. It was decided that they would have a “Mothers’ Day” at the Andrews Church on the second Sunday in May annually.

And Then Turned Into Something More

Word began to spread about the heartfelt and touching ceremony that Miss Anna Jarvis had created in remembrance of her mother. Though she credits her mother as the “real creator” of the holiday through her service in the church, it was Miss Anna Jarvis who had the idea to extend the service from Grafton to the world. She spent many years making contacts with all the right people to make this happen.

Father’s Day Started in a Similar Fashion

In 1908, Grace Golden Clayton was mourning the loss of her own father. He, along with 361 other miners, perished in the Monongah Mining Disaster, the worst coal mining disaster in American history. 250 of those men were fathers, and over a 1,000 children had to grow up without them in their lives. With Mother’s Day celebrated in nearby Grafton, Fairmont hosted the first observance of Father’s Day in July 5, 1908.

The event itself was not widely celebrated outside of the community, it took over 60 years and several attempts from different groups and politicians around North America to be established by law as an official holiday alongside Mother’s Day.

What started as a memory of a strong and passionate woman, or fathers lost to a disaster, has now become a worldwide celebration of mothers and fathers everywhere. All stemming from the love a child for their parents, and from right here in West Virginia. We at Fairmont Federal Credit Union wish you and all the mothers and fathers in your life a happy Mother’s and Father’s Day!

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Sources:

http://www.wvculture.org/history/women/mothersday03.html

http://www.wvculture.org/history/miscellaneous/fathersday02.html

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mothers-day

http://www.theholidayspot.com/fathersday/history.htm

Save it for a Rainy Day!

How to Quickly Build Up Your Rainy Day Fund

Money grows on the tree of patience - Proverb.

Everyone has that one, special container that’s kept in a private place in their home. It holds a few extra dollars that you didn’t spend while you were buying your weekly groceries. It contains a pile of spare change you collected when you were recently cleaned out your car. That’s right; it’s your rainy day fund.

Every rainy day fund naturally means that there’s going to come a day when you’re going to spend that precious, carefully stored money. How did you always envision spending that money? Maybe it’s buying a sleek new laptop. Perhaps there’s a trip you’ve always dreamed of taking, and this saved money will turn that dream into a reality. You might have even had your eye on a brand new car.

But then, the unexpected occurs; your current car needs to be fixed, a repair is needed on your home, a larger-than-planned bill needs to be paid. Soon that rainy day fund is quickly depleted, and you’re saying goodbye to that trip to Florida with kids, or that new car.

But never fear, there are plenty of ways to quickly restore that precious fund so you can spend the money how you want to spend it! Here are a few of our favorite ways that you can be saving money for your next rainy day:

Understand its Purpose

Having a specific definition of what this money will be used for is the best way to ensure you are working towards that goal. Maybe you want to refurnish the basement for the kids to use. What will the costs be to do that? Now picture the outcome and how happy everyone will be. Having a vague outline of how you will spend that money will only encourage your to be more frugal and less impulsive with your purchases.

Be Honest With Yourself

It’s time for some self-exploration—think about your current spending habits and have an honest conversation with yourself on how they can be changed. Make the commitment to yourself to alter how you save; it will let you reach your goal quickly.

Spend Extra Income Wisely

It’s tempting to treat yourself to a night on the town, or splurge on an expensive purchase, but think before you splurge.  If extra income comes your way, put it in your rainy day fund right away, before the temptation to spend it kicks in.

While going on vacation, getting a massage, or buying that golf membership is a fun way to spend that extra money saved, sometimes practicality and responsibility have to take over. That rainy day fund would make a big difference in a Savings Club Account at Fairmont Federal Credit Union. You can save up for something specific, such as auto expenses, home insurance and,  yes, even that dream vacation very easily with an account like this. Not only is there no minimum balance required, but you can earn dividends with regular savings, make unlimited deposits and withdrawals, and you don’t have to follow a payment schedule. It doesn’t get much better than that.

For more information on our Savings Club Accounts and how they can help you save for your rainy day fund, trust your friends and experts at Fairmont FCU. Visit our website for more information on how your rainy day fund container can become an electronic banking account instead.

Develop A Winning Budget Strategy On Any Income

It happens every year. As the snow melts, people everywhere turn their collective attention to basketball tournament brackets in hopes of winning big in the office pool, or pulling for WVU & FSU. But what if you could extend that rush of winning to last all year?

With a little planning, you can prioritize your budget to score big by creating your own budget bracket! To do that, it’s important to identify your “Fixed Expenses” and “Flexible Expenses.”

Fixed Expenses

Fixed expenses are those payments that you make each month that you have little-to-no control over. Examples of these payments include: Rent or mortgage,

health insurance, car insurance, student loans, etc. These can be adjusted when you sign up or switch services, but otherwise these payments do not change and must be paid.

Flexible Expenses

These are the things that you spend money on monthly that you can be changed. It’s important to understand Need vs. Want in this situation. There are things that you need to survive (groceries) and then there’s things that you want but can live without (fun money). Why aren’t the Needs in the Fixed Expenses category? Because you can adjust what kind of groceries you pick up, how often you eat out at restaurants, etc. But hobbies and a social life can also be as important.

Bracket Time

To create a bracket, you will first need to determine your monthly income: how much do you make each month? The next step is to subtract all your Fixed Expenses from that total. What remains is what you will be working with for the bracket.

Then sit down and write out as many monthly flexible expenses as you can think of, and aim to have at least 16. Flexible Expenses examples include: groceries, hobbies, going out, internet, new clothes, gas for your car, cellphone, savings, etc. Place them randomly into a selection bracket, and run through each section. Is “cellphone service” more important than “new clothes?” How about “groceries” over “happy hour?”

The winner doesn’t necessarily get the rest of your monthly income, but those who make it further in your bracket are your priorities - the things in your life that matter most. Start with the winner and determine your spend towards that each month, then work backwards from there. Usually the important things like food and internet will be at the top, and the things that are not as important filter to the bottom. It should be the same for budgeting.  

It gives you some perspective on where your money goes each month, and it can also give you a cap on how much you want to spend. If you give yourself a budget and follow it, you can limit yourself from overspending on things that may not be an actual priority for you. Having some money left over to go into your account is also a good idea for any unexpected payments or emergencies.

March Madness doesn’t need to end with March, and you can do this exercise year round. And you’re not alone if you’re looking to save big. Fairmont Federal Credit Union is courtside with you. Visit us at  www.fairmontfcu.com, call 304-363-5320 or stop in the nearest branch location today!

Sources:

https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/march-madness-budget-basketball

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-1020-make-budget-worksheet.pdf

https://www.mycreditunion.gov/tools-resources/Pages/Personal-Budgeting-Worksheet.aspx

Learning to Love Budgeting

Most people cringe when they hear the word “budgeting.” But when it boils down to it, budgeting is just a plan for your money. Budgeting means you’ll be spending with purpose before the month begins, and it won’t limit your spending freedom, but give you more. Budgeting is all about being intentional about where your money goes, and will give you a clear plan and picture about where your money is going.

1. Budget to zero: This means that before the month even begins, you’re making a plan and giving every dollar a name. It doesn’t mean you have zero dollars in your bank account, just that your income minus all your expenses will equal zero.
2. Budget together: If you’re married, you and your spouse should sit down and make sure you’re on the same page about your budget. Remember, since you’re a single unit, it’s not your money or my money, but our money.
3. Every month is different: Some months you’ll need to save for school supplies, and others you’ll have to save up for a vacation you’ve been wanting to take. Make sure you’re adjusting your budget accordingly to accommodate for these changes.
4. Start with important categories first: Giving and saving should be at the top of your list, along with food, shelter, utilities, basic clothing and transportation. Once those necessities are taken care of, you can fill the rest of the categories in your budget.
5. Pay off your debt: If you have debt, paying it off needs to be a top priority. You can use the debt snowball method and Baby Steps to get rid of debt as fast as you can, and stop letting it rob you of your income and budgeting plan.
6. Trim things out: If you’re on a tight budget, you can start to cut certain things out, such as your cable or dining out. You can also shop at discount clothing stores, and budget out meals before you go grocery shopping.
7. Cut up your credit cards: If you have a credit card, and are really committed to sticking to your budget, you need to ditch the credit cards. Having no credit card debt will mean no more minimum payments you need to make each month.
8. Make a schedule: Set specific dates to pay bills, and buy your groceries on a set day every week, or twice a month. When you know what to expect and when to expect it, you take a lot of stress and potential pitfalls out of the picture.

Let Fairmont FCU help! Use online banking and schedule your payments to pay your bills on specific dates and to set-up savings goals.  You can also open club accounts for specific items like insurance, auto expenses, education, etc and the best part is the club account is tied to your membership ID/account number making it easy to transfer funds or set-up automatic transfers to each designated club. For details or to apply online visit www.fairmontfcu.com, stop in any full service office or call 304.363.5320, option 1.  #WeAreFFCU #wvcreditunionscare #onceamemberalwaysamember

How to Declutter Your Life in 2018

What do you like to do in your down time? Perhaps you enjoy settling in on the sofa and reading a good book. Maybe you prefer to go on a walk or take a bike ride in your neighborhood. Whatever your favorite method of relaxation is, one answer we don’t hear a lot of is cleaning or organizing the house. Let’s face it—there’s a bunch of other things we’d rather be doing in our spare time than scrubbing our bathrooms or cleaning the kitchens. But you have to admit it, once you actually do, doesn’t it feel amazing?

There’s really no better time than now to de-clutter your life; after all, a new year means a new you.  Having a closet in your home full of mystery contents or a drawer with too many miscellaneous items is so last year. This is 2018; this is going to be your year where your life has minimal chaos and excessive order.

It sounds a lot scarier than it is; after all, we’re always afraid of some potential, hidden problem we’re going to find. But getting your finances in better shape, particularly with tax season right around the corner, is going to be the most therapeutic and beneficial way to get a fresh start in 2018.

Here are a few things we consider to be helpful to declutter your financial life in 2018:

Pay Bills Immediately

Never receive a bill, set it aside, and pay it later. Not only are you adding extra steps to your process, but you are just adding more paper to an already growing list of bills. Instead, open your mail as you are in your home office, and pay your bills immediately with a computer in front of you. Better yet—set up automatic online payments as you work on that computer.

Buy a Shredder

Bills like credit card statements and bank statements don’t need to be saved; often your bank will easily be able to access that information online for you. We recommend you go for a cross-cut shredder to help declutter your files.  

Ditch Paper Receipts

There’s an app we are loving right now that will easily declutter your life in 2018. Foreceipt Receipt Tracker is a great way to take pictures of your receipts and organize them digitally, set budgets, and track your spending. It’s an easy way to both store the information you need while significantly cutting down on paper.

Organizing your storage, re-evaluating your financials, or cleaning out your closet doesn’t have to mean that book that you’ve been reading gets abandoned. Decluttering your life and sorting out your bills means bringing a renewed balance between your professional life and your personal life. For more information on how to start the new year right by better financial organizational tips, contact your friends and experts at Fairmont Federal Credit Union.  Call 304-363-5320 or visit one of our locations today.

Holiday Traditions Handed Down

When most people think of traditions, they think of holiday traditions.  Holiday traditions and the recurrent experience of it every year, is a cornerstone of most people’s lives.  These moments create positive memories for our children and create reliable events for everyone to participate year after year.  It takes away the stress and anxiety of the unknown and the unpredictable.  Traditions can anchor family members to to each other, providing a sense of unity and belonging.

There is an endless list of holiday traditions, ranging from surprising your neighbors with treats, starting an ornament collection, camping out under the tree, helping the needy,  baking cookies for santa, and seeing candy cane lane.  

Here are some examples of how families across America create traditions to be handed down.

• White Elephant Gift Exchange: Because of their sheer size,  some families chose  a “White Elephant” gift exchange.   This adds a lot of humor and eases the anxiety and pressure of gift giving.  

• Bake christmas cookies: Bring the cookies to a nursing home, homeless shelter, or a “Boys and Girls Club.”  
• The 12 Days of Christmas: Each person gets a list of mixed up names and for the 12 days prior to Christmas Eve,  puts a small wrapped gift in the stocking of the person that was on your list for that particular day. On Christmas Eve, families open the 12 small gifts.
• Autographs on a Tablecloth: Spread out a white tablecloth on the main table at Christmas dinner.  At the end of the meal, everyone who was present writes their name, the year, and sometimes a short message. This is especially enchanting with children and seeing their handwriting change from year to year.  

Holiday traditions come from the fundamental need that people have to be with each other and bond. What kind of traditions does your family have? Share your thoughts, ideas and memories!  

Fairmont Federal Credit Union's success has been built on our commitment to the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People!" Follow us on Facebook.

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Sources:

https://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/12-25-14-holiday-traditions-passed-down/

https://www.mnn.com/family/family-activities/blogs/multicultural-winter-holiday-celebrations

http://mommyperfect.com/2015/11/the-importance-of-holiday-traditions/