 Tennessee’s traditional sales tax holiday on clothing, school supplies and computers begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 30, 2021, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 1, 2021.
During this time clothing, school supplies and computers may be purchased tax-free. Certain restrictions apply. Items sold online are also eligible. Items must be purchase for personal use, not for business or trade. New this year, food, food ingredients, and prepared foods are exempt from sales tax during this time frame. This includes qualified sales of prepared food by restaurants, food trucks, caterers, and grocery stores. Sales of alcoholic beverages are not included in items exempt during this period.  Through our BALANCE Financial Guide, members have access to nearly 30 calculators that can help you make good financial decisions through every stage of life. Check out these calculators to plan for retirement, savings, mortgages, credit card payoff, college, auto loans, and more!
 The LG&W Federal Credit Union Board of Directors has resolved to name its annual scholarships “The Bobby Blancett Memorial Scholarships” in honor and in loving memory of past Board member C.R. “Bobby” Blancett.
Bobby passed away in August, 2020 while an active Director. He served our Credit Union proudly and loyally for 50 years in many different capacities, serving as a member of the Credit Committee, as a Director, and as a Board officer in the roles of Treasurer, Vice Chairman and Chairman. He served on our Scholarship Committee many times and on various ad hoc committees, including the executive search committee. Bobby took his responsibilities as a Director very seriously and attended training and planning conferences and sessions to ensure that he was knowledgeable and informed on Credit Union compliance and management issues. Bobby was a graduate of Humes High School and the University of Memphis and was an accomplished athlete. He was inducted into the Memphis Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. Bobby worked for MLGW for 40 years, starting as a laborer, and ended his career as Supervisor of Survey and Records. He was a faithful member of Berclair Church of Christ. Bobby’s commitment to excellence helped the LG&W Federal Credit Union become a strong and vibrant financial institution to serve his MLGW colleagues and their families. Our Board, our staff and our members will be forever grateful to Bobby for his dedication and leadership and we will continue to honor his legacy with our annual scholarship awards.  Each year, LG&W Federal Credit Union offers $1,500 scholarships for qualifying high school seniors attending a college, university, or approved vocational school. We are pleased to announce the Bobby Blancett Memorial Scholarship recipients for the fall of 2021:
Alexander Field is graduating from Center Hill High School and will be attending Northwest Mississippi College with a major in art. Micheal Field is graduating from Center Hill High School and will be attending MIT with a major in computer science. Jackson P. Harris is graduating from Marion High School and will be attending The University of Memphis, Mississippi State University, or Baylor, with a major in mechanical engineering. Keenan Wilburn Jr. will be attending Mississippi State University with a major in electrical engineering.  Your relationship with food is probably pretty complex. In addition to sustenance, you may use food for comfort, gathering with others, distraction or pleasure. When you really commit to tracking your food expenses as part of putting together a spending and savings plan, you realize food can be a complicated part of your financial life too. While meals are of course a necessity, take a look at your food-buying habits. Odds are that there’s room to save.
Eliminating “extra” expenses like dining out or buying pricey steaks is a good place to start. But also keep in mind that a successful food-purchasing plan isn’t just about cutting things out. It’s also about understanding your habits. Going out to lunch at work You may grab “a quick bite” at work because it’s easy. But it might actually take you less time at home to put together the same meal. Then you get to spend more of your lunch period at work relaxing, going for a walk or reading a book. Or you could just spend the time thinking about the hundreds of dollars you will save this year by brown-bagging. Convenience store or check-out aisle buys If you actually look at the prices, you realize that the mark-ups on the quick-grab items near store cash registers are incredibly high. But that’s just the thing. Stores realize you don’t stop to examine and consider prices in those situations. If you find yourself reaching for a pack of gum or some candy as you are about to check out, instead, make a commitment to stock up ahead of time and keep these items in your car or your purse or your desk. By buying them online or at a bulk retailer, you could pocket a bunch of extra dough. Fast food The fast burger or taco for $0.99 sounds like the perfect recipe for our modern sensibilities; we want food in a hurry and we don’t want to pay a lot. While the speed of delivery may be enticing, the end price may not be all that great. Consider: how many times have you gone to a fast food restaurant and ordered just one thing? The advertised item may be under a dollar, but when you add on a drink and fries or another side order, the costs add up. Shopping when you are hungry It’s silly to think that you are always going to shop on a full stomach. So instead of feeling like you need to plan all your grocery shopping excursions in tandem with meals, just be aware of why you are putting each item into your cart. Are you reaching for that plastic canister of candy rope because it’s a part of your spending plan or because your blood sugar is a little low? “High end” grocery stores You may like to go to the more expensive grocery in your area because they have a few specialty items that you can’t find at other stores. That is certainly understandable. But make sure those items aren’t available for a lower price at your regular grocery first. They may be tucked away in a place you hadn’t thought to look. Also, even though you might go to the more expensive grocery store for a few specialty items, doesn’t mean you have to pay a higher price on the regular items; try to just purchase the specialty items there. Buying prepared items Any financial coach worth their salt will tell you that cooking your own meals instead of buying prepared meals saves you mounds of cash. But also think about the fruits and vegetables you buy. Fruit medleys or even individual chopped fruit packages can cost much, much more than just buying the fruit in its whole form. Same goes for salad mixes. Is it really worth the extra money to have someone cut up your fruit or mix up some greens for you? Failing to plan If you are one of those people who wander around the grocery store until they find some things that look yummy, you are probably paying more than the list makers of the world. In a perfect world you would plan out your meals for a couple weeks and create a shopping list based on that. But at the very least, try to formulate a list of necessities. Allow yourself one impulse buy if that helps you stick to the plan. Remember that “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. Meat-centric meals If you plan your dining experience with meat as the centerpiece, you are not alone. It’s a common tactic. But it doesn’t have to be an all-the-time way of looking at meal construction. By sometimes substituting in tofu, beans or legumes as your protein source, you can save significantly at checkout time. Brand name insistence There are certain consumer items for which you can make an argument that brand name goods are a better choice. But that isn’t generally the case with food. Lima beans are lima beans, whether the name on the can is the one you heard on TV or it is completely new to you. Making money-smart choices about your food purchases doesn’t have to mean denying yourself the things you love. Instead, think of using these tips to get all the food you like, while giving yourself extra money to spend on things you enjoy.  Do you have serious white-knuckle moments once or twice a month, waiting to see if your money will last until you get paid again? If so, you’ve probably looked for ways to avoid this stress. You’ve worn your expense tracking pencil down to a nub and you regularly see spreadsheet columns in your dreams. It just doesn’t feel like there’s anything left to cut. While you may feel like you’ve exhausted all options, there are certain steps financial counselors point to time and again as overlooked ways to give yourself some cash flow breathing room.
Check your tax withholdings Do you get a big refund every year after completing your taxes? If so, you are loaning the government money that could serve as your financial cushion. Talk with your human resources person and/or your tax pro to devise a plan to get more money in each paycheck and less in your return. The more, the money merrier You probably have some relatives you just can’t see living with. On the other hand, there are likely some who could become pleasant housemates. Splitting rent/mortgage payments with a family member may not have been your original plan, but doing so can really help you get a leg up on your savings. Sacrifice seasonally Do you insist on soaking up as much sun as possible in the summer? Or are you a big-time winter sports participant? If you’re like most people, there is a time of year when you end up spending more time outside the home engaging in favorite activities. Identify which season you spend the least time on the couch and eliminate your cable package during this time. You may even find that you don’t need to go back to it. Earn seasonally Having an extra job year-round might not sound appealing, but there are jobs you can pick up for a limited engagement that could help you sock away a little extra cash. Wrapping packages around the holidays or greeting visitors at a tourist attraction could bring a high reward-to-commitment ratio. Communicate openly and honestly If you are part of a couple, getting ahead is going to take teamwork. With a tight budget in place, you may find yourself wanting to carve out your own little hidden piece of the pie or keep some spending decisions secret, fearing that you otherwise won’t have any of your own fun money. This kind of behavior tends to be counterproductive since the off-the-books spending isn’t figured into your plan and can easily snowball. Work together to create a spending plan that allows you to each have your own discretionary treats. Framework Setting goals is a must for financial success, but you also need to use those goals regularly to help you frame spending decisions. Get in the habit of asking yourself whether each and every purchase is in line with not only your budget, but your goals too. Mind the mindless As the saying goes, you are a creature of habit. You pick up that magazine in the check-out aisle, you grab that coffee on the way to work and you instinctively choose the name brand wheat bread at the grocery store. While they may seem like harmless expenditures, these unexamined spending choices can really cost you over the course of a month. Save your raises The warning used to be that you “spend what you see” – meaning that if you have money in your checking account, you’re going to spend it. However, these days a more apt phrase would probably be that you “spend what you see and then a little more.” Don’t use a raise or a bonus at work as a reason to spend more. Instead, think of it as an opportunity to save and get yourself off the hamster wheel of money worries. Avoid late fees Don’t fall into the trap of sticking your head in the sand to avoid thinking about your dwindling accounts. Most financial institutions now offer free online banking and mobile account alerts. By staying in touch with your accounts, you give yourself a greater chance of avoiding the downward spiral that can begin with insufficient funds fees. Get cookin’ All across the personal finance blogosphere are stories of regular folks who saved big by cooking more and opting for fewer restaurant or prepared meals. An often ignored tip is that not only do the savings come from the cost of the food, but also in the entertainment category. Turning the process of preparing a meal into a fun activity for family or friends can be just as pleasurable as a night out at the movies or concert. So get your ingredients, put on some fun music, and start saving! Death to debt High-interest unsecured debt is one of closest friends of the paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle. And by friend we mean no-good, jerky enabler. If you’re just continuing to make minimum payments on your debt, you’re never going to get to strong financial footing. Look for ways to aggressively slash away at your debt and free up money for savings. Perhaps most important in the process of getting off the “just scraping by” treadmill is to stay positive. There are certain to be methods you try that aren’t going to work. However, by continuing to hammer away at improving your situation, eventually you will find techniques that get you to a healthier money lifestyle. In the coming weeks you will receive a new LGWFCU VISA credit card in the mail. Your new VISA credit card replaces your current LGWFCU VISA card, and will be ready to activate and use on Monday, February 22, 2021.
Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming LG&W Federal Credit Union VISA credit card upgrade:
If you have recurring charges and payments, once the new VISA card is activated, you MUST notify any companies that automatically bill your credit card. Provide them with your new VISA card number and expiration date. Examples of these charges are gym memberships, Netflix, insurance, utilities, etc. This information should be updated on or after 2/22/21. Note: On conversion day, February 22, 2021, you may not have full access to your available credit line. We suggest making large purchases the day before or the day after the conversion. We are excited to provide our members with this new, improved LG&W Federal Credit Union VISA credit card. We appreciate your patience during this conversion. Please reach out to us at 901-680-7995 if we can answer any additional questions. We are here to serve you!  We are pleased to announce that LG&W Federal Credit Union will again offer four $1,500 scholarships for qualifying high school seniors attending a college, university, or approved vocational school in the fall of 2021. The credit union scholarship program was created in 2008 to help young members with the financial challenges of higher education.
Scholarship applicants must submit a completed application and one-page essay (typed, double-spaced) to LG&W Federal Credit Union located at 1616 Whitten Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38134 on or before March 1, 2021 to be considered. Scholarship selection will be based solely on the essay, which will be judged by a Scholarship Selection Committee on content, creativity, and clarity.  Holiday spending is often a spending plan-buster. The expenses can be numerous: presents, wrapping paper, cards, decorations, food, and travel, to name a few. Yet very few people have an unlimited holiday budget. If you do not have the funds to buy everything you want, there is no need to despair. A little bit of creativity and energy can get you through the holidays without draining your wallet. Gifts Why spend $75 to buy a scarf if you can knit it yourself with $15 yarn? Making your own gifts is a great way to save, since supplies usually cost less than the finished product. Not only are homemade gifts cheaper, but many people appreciate them more than store-bought gifts because of the effort that goes into making them. Are you not an experienced crafter? No problem. Writing a letter describing what the person means to you or framing a memorable photo are ways to give personalized gifts without having to break out a glue gun. Baking is another option that is easy for most people to do. Standard cookies or brownies can be dressed up with sprinkles and ribbons in holiday colors. Offering your services is a great cost-saving gift, since it only costs time. Why not offer a free night of babysitting to your sister with three kids or a month of lawn-mowing to your parents? Think about what service you want to offer, and create a coupon that the recipient can redeem at a later date. Gift-wrapping Now that you have taken the time to choose economical gifts, you probably do not want to spend $50 wrapping them. Skip the fancy wrapping paper and bows, and look around the house to see what you can use. Do you have a newspaper? (The comic section is an especially suitable choice.) Computer paper? Shopping or supermarket bags? Cheap craft supplies, such as glitter and paint, can be used to decorate plain surfaces. Cards It is not uncommon for store cards to cost $4 a piece – or more. If you sent cards to 20 people, that would cost you $80, not including postage. Creating your own cards can help you save, but resist the temptation to buy the pricey supplies that pepper the scrapbook aisles of craft stores. If you create and send cards electronically, you avoid spending money completely. You can make your own or use one of the many free services online. If sending electronic cards is not your thing, consider trimming your mailing list. You can probably skip sending cards to your third grade teacher and the second cousin who you never see. Decorations Like with gift-wrapping, you can avoid buying decorations by seeing what is lying around the house. Making a garland out of popcorn is a classic holiday decoration. Pine cones and acorns – available in abundance in many parts of the country – provide a perfect seasonal touch. If you are really craving store-bought decorations, consider waiting until after the holidays to buy. Most stores will be selling them at a deep discount, and you can use them next year. Food If you host holiday dinners or parties, you may find yourself spending a significant amount of money on food. Potluck dinners are an easy way to shift the burden of buying all of the food off of you. However, if you do not want to ask your guests to bring food, there are other options. Consider eliminating a full dinner and just providing appetizers and desserts or avoiding expensive items, like meat and wine. Look for where you can buy the cheapest food. Often bulk stores are cheaper than regular supermarkets, but not always. Travel Airfare is generally more expensive during the holidays, since that is when everyone flies. If you want to celebrate with far away family, why not have a “holiday” dinner during an off-peak time of the year, when airfare is cheaper? Whenever you fly, being flexible can usually help you save – you probably won’t have to spend as much if you fly at night or have a layover. You do not need to spend a lot of money to have a good time. By being creative with your purchasing and not straining your finances, you cannot only celebrate during the holidays, but afterward as well.  The recent scandal at Wells Fargo has left many consumers uneasy. When over 5,000 employees were fired for stealing from customers, it makes you wonder, “How secure are my finances?” Meanwhile, data breaches at major retail chains like Target and Home Depot aren’t uncommon, making shopping almost seem dangerous. It’s critical, then, that we take extra steps to monitor our money. Here’s how:
Watch your account activity It sounds obvious, and yet it remains one of the most important ways to protect yourself. Check your bank and credit card accounts regularly and make sure there are no unusual transactions. This rule especially applies if you recently shopped at a store that experienced a data breach. Check your credit report every four months Technically, you can only access a free version of your credit report once a year. However, there are three credit-reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion). So if you time it right, you can order a free report every four months or so. Watch for any unfamiliar accounts and contact the creditor to dispute inaccurate information. Set up alerts If you bank online or through an app, many companies let you set up alerts, which can help you detect fraud as soon as it happens. Messages via text or email can alert you to significant or unusual account activity. Whether it’s a large withdrawal or your credit card balance rises above a certain level, you’ll get an immediate notification. Use LG&W Federal Credit Union's CardValet app as a way to check activity on your debit card. |
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