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.
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!
Shop with Confidence During the Holiday Season
Five Ways to Shop with Confidence During the Holiday Season
Whether you brave the mall, shop local, or get caught up in the online shopping frenzy this holiday season, you’re in good company. The National Retail Association reports that 164 million Americans will shop Thanksgiving week, including on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and on Small Business Saturday and Sunday. In fact, the average consumer is expected to spend $967 this year. Here are five ways you can shop with confidence during this holiday season.
Spend Wisely
How much are you shelling out to spread holiday cheer? Do you want to find that perfect gift, without spending yourself silly? Here are some simple guidelines:
- Make a list of people you want to buy gifts for, and stick to it.
- Set a budget limit. As they say, “It’s the thought that counts.”
- Use the best credit card. As a not-for-profit cooperative owned by our members, we can offer lower interest rates on credit cards than many other financial services providers.
Protect Your Credit and Debit Cards
As a smart consumer, you can shop with confidence this holiday season.
- If you are a Mid Oregon member, use CardNav to protect your debit card use. Report any suspicious activity to us right away.
- Keep a list of all credit card account numbers in a safe place (Not your wallet!), so you can report it immediately if they are lost or stolen.
- At the cash register, protect your PIN by blocking the keypad from the view of cashiers or other customers.
- Some non-metal keypads have heat sensors that are active for several minutes after you enter your PIN, and infrared cameras on smartphones can be used to obtain your PIN. We suggest resting your fingers on other keys as you enter your PIN.
- Do not use public wireless networks for online purchases.
- Shop on sites with https:// in the URL, and be sure that an icon with a lock appears to the left. The “s” stands for “secure” and indicates communication with that site is encrypted.
- Type the merchant’s address directly into your browser; avoid links.
- Use complicated passwords with at least eight characters. Include numbers, special characters, and upper and lower-case numbers.
- Keep the antivirus and security software updated on your computers and mobile devices.
- We recommend that you don’t store your payment information on shopping sites or shopping apps.
Shop Safely
Don’t let the Grinch steal the season. When you go shopping, park in well-lit areas. Then walk to and from the stores with your head up and be watchful. Thugs look for people who are not paying attention. Keep your keys in your hand so you can hit the panic alarm if you need to. Unfortunately, tis the season for pickpockets, too. So keep wallets in zipped purses and front pockets.
Compare Online Deals
Online shopping is a wonderful timesaver! We know a lot of sites will claim to have great deals, particularly on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. They may not have the lowest price. If you find something you like, do a little comparison shopping by using sites such as Google Shopping or Pricewatch.com.
Give Yourself a Gift
Invest in “you” this holiday season. Open a new savings account, take financial education classes, or look for low interest loans to help you achieve your financial dreams this coming year. Come see us or visit us online for possibilities.