The Bottom Line
Small business is important to Central Oregon, and to Mid Oregon. Find tips and resources for business, and information about Mid Oregon’s commercial services and business members.
Share with Friends: Free Family Saturday!
Free Family Saturdays at the High Desert Museum
Want to spend a day for free at the High Desert Museum? The dates have been set for the two Mid Oregon-sponsored free days at the museum on Highway 97 just south of Bend. The first date is Saturday, January 27th, and the second is Saturday, February 24th. The museum, a fixture in Central Oregon since 1982, is open from 10 am to 4 pm. Anyone can take in the museum and its exhibits these days at no charge. Credit union membership is not required.
Who do you know that would benefit from a free day in this quality educational and fun environment? Other family members? Co-workers or neighbors? Young families and others who might have a difficult time with admission fees? Would you share this opportunities with anyone and everyone you know?
High Desert Museum is Top Rated Opportunity
The High Desert Museum is consistently rated as the top Central Oregon attraction by Trip Advisor. With 135 acres and more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, it’s a “must see” for anyone in Central Oregon. Get a close-up view of native wildlife, such as river otters, bobcat, porcupine and badger. Talk with historic characters who share tales of early Oregon explorers and settlers. Visit an authentic homestead and sawmill from 1904. The attraction includes a Museum store and café.
Mid Oregon is proud to offer this opportunity to Central Oregon residents, and is thankful for the partnership and excellence provided by the High Desert Museum staff and volunteers. Together we want to ensure thousands in Central Oregon can see the museum these days.
Stay tuned for future details on parking, shuttle service and more!
For more information about the museum, its exhibits and other details, visit www.highdesertmuseum.com.
Watch the 2017 Free Family Saturdays Video:
Freezer Tips for Smart Savers
No one likes throwing away food, especially if you’re trying to save money. But what do you do with those fresh string beans you got on sale that may not get eaten before they go bad? Freeze them. Follow these handy freezer tips for smart savers and you’ll be able you to enjoy your favorite foods for months.
Vegetables
It’s best to freeze veggies when they’re fresh. Blanch them first. This stops the enzymes that cause vegetables to lose their flavor, color, and nutritional value. Blanching time is crucial, but it also varies depending on the vegetable, so check the National Center of Home Food Preservation’s website for blanching times. After the recommended time, dunk the vegetables in ice water for the same amount of time, then drain them thoroughly. Finally pack them into freezer bags or freezer safe plastic containers and be sure to mark each container clearly with the name of the item and date. When you’re ready to cook your veggies, throw them in the pot while they’re still frozen.
Fruit
Very ripe fruit is perfect for smoothies. First wash them. If they’re bananas, remove them from their peels. Then chop them up, bag them, and put them in the freezer. You can leave grapes whole before freezing and use them later as ice cubes in your favorite drinks.
Meat
You can freeze meat in the store wrapper for a month or two, but if you’re going to keep it longer, add a second wrapping to maintain quality and prevent freezer burn. You can use airtight heavy-duty freezer foil, freezer paper or place the package inside a freezer bag. If food does get freezer burn, it is still safe to eat, though it may be dry in spots.
Dairy
Milk, hard cheese and egg whites (not the yolks) freeze well. Store milk in plastic jugs, not glass or paper. Cheese should be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. Egg whites can be poured into a freezer bag — just make sure to note how many eggs you used.
Herbs
Make simple herb butters by combining fresh herbs with softened butter and crushed garlic. Wrap them in plastic wrap and pop them in the freezer. You can also make flavored oil cubes by tearing your favorite fresh herbs into ice cube trays and filling each compartment with olive or canola oil before freezing. They can go straight into the pan when you’re ready to use them.
It’s very important to clearly mark the date and description of each item so you don’t have a freezer full of mysteries. Most vegetables can be stored for 8 to 12 months, fruits for 6 to 9 months, and dairy products and leftover meals are safe for up to 3 months.
For more information, go to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service at www.fsis.usda.gov.
Go to the USDA Website
Trim Spending To Reduce Stress
Five Resolutions to Trim Spending and Reduce Stress
As we move through the holiday season, most of us wish we would have saved more money during the year. With the new year approaching, now is the perfect time to make a resolution to save more money, and trim spending to reduce stress.
Here are five tips that will help you trim spending, beef up savings, and reduce stress.
1. Pay it off.
Pay off your credit cards to save money. Let’s say you have a $2,000 balance at 18% interest. If your minimum payment is 2% of the balance due each month, it will take you 19 years to pay it off and you’ll incur $3,862 in interest. But if you increase your monthly payments to 8% of the balance due–much more than the minimum–you’ll reduce the payback time from 19 years to three years and nine months, and your interest costs now are only $433. You’ve just “saved” $3,429.
2. Conserve.
Small changes mean big savings on your utility bill:
* Properly insulate all ducts.
* Use programmable thermostats. Turn your thermostat back 10% to 15% for 8 hours each day during the winter to save as much as 10% a year on your energy bill.
* Use ceiling fans to reduce both cooling and heating bills.
3. So what’s a buck?
Grab a calculator. Add up what you spend on so-called “little things” that end up being budget-busters:
* If you spend $1.00 a day on soda, that adds up to $365 a year.
* If you spend $2.75 a day on coffee, that’s $1,003.75 a year.
* If you spend $6 every weekday on fast food, that’s $1,560 a year.
* If you spend $6.20 a day on cigarettes, that’s $2,263 a year.
4. Tune it up.
Regular automobile maintenance–including low-cost oil changes, filter changes, and tire rotation–can save big bucks by preventing costly repairs. Keep your engine tuned and your tires inflated to their proper pressure. On the road, stay within speed limits– gas mileage decreases when you drive faster than 60 MPH. Avoid “jackrabbit” starts, unnecessary idling, remove excess weight from the trunk, and combine errands.
5. Transfer it.
Pay yourself first–set up automatic transfers to your share or money market account. Have your paycheck automatically deposited to your credit union account. Consider using direct bill payment from your share draft account for recurring payments like household bills, insurance premiums, automatic investment and savings plans, mortgage payments, auto loan payments, and charitable donations. Set up a Savers Club Account. Participate in your employer’s tax-advantaged retirement plan.
It all adds up! You can trim spending to reduce stress. For savings options, visit Mid Oregon Credit Union or your financial institution. Visit midoregon.com for our savings products. There are options for long, medium, and short term savings goals. We would love to discuss your objectives and help you reach them!