EPEFCU

Staycations: How to Enjoy Your Summer Vacation at Home

With the recent surge of gas prices, the thought of taking your vehicle out on the road for a long summer getaway might make you want to rethink the idea. So how do you have that fantastic summer vacation without the high price tag? Vacation at home- with the right plan you and your family can have a fabulous summer vacation that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. A home-based vacation can save you loads of money on transportation costs and lodging while expanding on the smart management decisions you’d make when traveling.  

If history is an indicator, American consumers haven't seen average gas prices rise this close to the $4 mark since 2008, the year some travel experts called "Staycation Summer."

Remember that a staycation will only fulfill your much needed vacation needs if it’s treated as a true vacation, not a cheap alternative. As your staycation approaches, make certain to make all necessary preparations just as you would if you were leaving on a trip this way you’re not stuck doing chores and paying bills while on vacation.

Get a hold of some local travel guides-many communities offer vacation style activities. There may be a variety of activities you’ve never gotten around to doing or just didn’t know existed. In El Paso for instance, we’re just a short drive (approx. 2 hours) to Elephant Butte Lake where you and your family can enjoy camping, boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, hiking and bird watching. Once you have an idea of where you’d like to go, plan out your itinerary just as you would on any other destination getaway. Make sure your plans get you out of the house-everyday.  

Set a budget-remember that the point of a staycation is to save money, so you’ll want to spend less than what you would have if you’d gone out of town, but more than what you’d normally spend on entertainment. This is your vacation after all!

Go on a chore strike. Most people don’t normally clean out their closets, make their beds or organize the garage while on their vacation, and you shouldn’t either. Take a break, hang up your chore hat for the next week and let yourself relax, after all, this is your vacation.

These days, American have been conditioned to think that taking a vacation means getting out of town. Vacation is a mindset, what we look forward to the most when taking a vacation is spending more time with our family, and getting a break from our busy work week and let’s face it, you can do both at home. And when you finish the summer without a mountain of vacation debt you’ll be able to start saving for a destination vacation next year. Need some help? Open up a Vacation Club Account now through July 31^st and start saving for that perfect getaway today!

 

 

Federally Insured by NCUA

 

 

Got Gas? (The car kind not the bodily nosie kind.)

Watching the numbers steadily rising as you dreadfully pour gasoline into your vehicle can be heartbreaking for anybody. But unless you hang up your keys and opt for public transportation or buy an electric vehicle, gas is a necessity and there isn’t much we can do about the price. When and if prices begin to fall is anyone’s guess, in the mean time we’ve got a few tips that will help you cut the cost of fuel consumption.

Stop the road rage. Driving like a crazy person and overexerting your engine is a great way to burn extra fuel. Also, avoid revving your engine as this too can cause you to waste fuel, and let’s face it, nobody likes a show-off. Instead, accelerate lightly and keep your speed at the posted speed limit because the faster you’re driving the more gas you’re wasting. According to Shell’s website, speed, rapid acceleration and braking can lower your gasoline mileage by 5 percent at lower speeds around town and 33 percent at highway speeds.

Shop around. As with anything else, finding the cheapest place to purchase gas could save you money at the pump. Check out applications such as Cheap Gas! for your iPhone. The app will help you find the cheapest gasoline nearest to where you are and then map a route to where the cheap gas is. In addition to phone applications, you can take advantage of discount programs at stores such as Wal-Mart. If you purchase gasoline at a Wal-Mart station using a Wal-Mart gift card, they’ll knock 3 cents off your purchase, now while this might not seem like much of a savings, every penny counts in the long run.

Don’t neglect your vehicle. Maintaining your vehicle and making certain that it is running properly is a sure way to save at the pump. Regular tune-ups and routine maintenance will ensure that your engine burns less fuel. Also, avoid carrying extra junk in your trunk. Only carry what you need to increase fuel efficiency.

Check the air in your tires. Maintaining proper air pressure can reduce the amount of fuel your vehicle uses while driving. Keeping the proper amount of pressure in your tires can boost your gasoline mileage by at least 3 percent, according to Shell.

Put your top on. Sure you might look sexy as your hair flows in the wind on a cool summer night, but driving with your top and windows up will minimize air drag, saving you gas.

While we can’t control the price of gasoline, we can control our driving habits. Follow these simple tips and make your wallet a little happier this summer.

 

Do you have some tips to share about how to save money on gas? Let us know! We’d love to read your comments.

Meet Melissa

El Paso Employees Federal Credit Union will be a silver sponsor for the Fiesta de las Flores celebration this labor day weekend. In addition, EPEFCU is also sponsoring Melissa Camargo, who will compepte in the Fiesta de las Flores pageant for the title of Queen of the Fiesta de las Flores. Help us support Melissa as we follow her progress in this journey! Check back often for updates.

 

Save Big on Groceries

It’s easy to spend much more than you anticipated while shopping for groceries, especially is you’re shopping on an empty stomach. But with the price of gasoline through the roof, savvy shoppers everywhere are looking for ways to cut back at the register. With a little leg work, we’ll show you how to keep the cost of food down.

Create a budget. It’s important to know exactly how much money you can and are willing to spend on food for that particular pay period or month.

Start by making a list of one to two weeks worth of groceries and stick to it. Don’t be influenced by sales, just because it’s half off doesn’t mean you need it. Straying from your list will only hurt your efforts to save. Going into the store without a plan is a guaranteed way to forget crucial items as well as buy things you don’t need.

Eat before you shop. Shopping on an empty stomach will most likely result in the addition of junk-food and other unnecessary items in your grocery cart. Avoid letting hunger pangs dictate what goes into your shopping cart.

Shop on Sunday’s. With a fresh batch of the day’s coupons from your paper and weekly sales circular, you could save some serious cash. Shopping for items at an already discounted price can be reduced even more if you’ve got a coupon. Don’t forget to search online for printable coupons. The internet has revolutionized couponing. When you find a coupon you like, simply print it and take it with you on your next grocery store visit.  According to a Consumer Reports survey, consumers who combined coupons with marked down items saved an average of $678 a year.

Compare prices. Some items such as deli meats are sold in various places throughout the grocery store. You can pick them up at the deli counter, or in your grocer’s refrigerated section. In some cases, the price may be cheaper in one section than the other.

Buy generic over national brands. According to a story published by the Wall Street Journal, many store labels are produced by the same manufacturers that make the brands you know and love. Chances are you won’t notice the difference in taste, but you’ll definitely notice the difference in price. Brand named items typically cost $1 more than their generic equivalents due to higher marketing and packaging costs.

Buy in bulk. Invest in a membership at stores such as Sam’s and Costco’s. The trick to buying in bulk is to purchase non-perishable items. The last thing you need is a stock pile of expired food.

Pay close attention to the price scanner and always double check your receipt. According to a survey conducted by Consumer Reports, 6% of respondents were overcharged at the grocery store check-out. Some grocery chains will even let you have the item for free if it is scanned incorrectly, but it’s up to you to catch the error.

Eat your leftovers. There’s no better way to throw your hard-earned money down the drain then to toss your leftovers. Bagging them up for lunch the next day will save you from spending the $5-$10 you would have spent eating out, and in most cases your sack lunch is probably healthier than anything you could grab at a fast-food place.

 

How do you save at the grocery store? Share your tips with us in the comments section! We’d be honored to read them!