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.
April is Financial Literacy Month
This article is developed from the High School Financial Planning Program (HSFPP) Blog, dated 4/12/17, written by Kimberly Roy, titled “3 Student-Led Activities for Financial Literacy Month“.
A Brief History of National Financial Literacy Month
Did you know that Financial Literacy Month started as an HSFPP activity? In January 1994 NEFE and the Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture co-sponsored a national honorary observance to focus attention on youth financial literacy.
The goal of the first Financial Literacy for Youth Month was “to encourage schools to implement educational programs that give teens the financial tools they need to live responsible and rewarding lives” according to the November 1993 NEFE Digest.
NEFE turned the awareness campaign over to the Jump$tart Coalition after its founding in 1995. Jump$tart expanded the observance to all of their partner organizations. In 2004 the U.S. Senate officially recognized April as National Financial Literacy Month and, in 2012, President Obama proclaimed April to be National Financial Capability Month.
Today public, private and nonprofit organizations work together every April to promote educational initiatives and resources for all Americans.
3 Student-Led Activities to Engage Teens
The original intention of Financial Literacy Month was to encourage adults to teach youth about money, but that doesn’t mean we need to continue that model.
As a mother of two very vocal and independent teens, I frequently am reminded that teenagers are very capable of advocating for their own educational needs; their creativity and technical know-how often results in solutions adults would never dream of.
This April we can flip the script and engage teens in applying their own knowledge and unique perspective of personal finance to spread awareness to their communities. Here are three ideas for student-led activities:
- Publish a Finance Article
Challenge your teens to write a personal finance story for their high school or local newspaper. Students might use Money Matters, a resource NEFE provides in partnership with the Radio-Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), to provide journalists with story ideas, reporting examples, coverage strategies, case studies and more. - Students Become Teachers
Empower students with an opportunity to teach younger students, or challenge them to organize an after-school class to teach members of their community about a personal finance topic. - Let Creativity Lead
How might your students use their skills, creativity and new technologies to teach a financial lesson? Would they create an app or a video game, write an educational song, make a video or use animation? Let them design the lesson and come up with a medium to share their educational content beyond the classroom.
Other Financial Literacy Month Resources
Thirty Steps To Financial Wellness- Money Management International
April is the official National Financial Literacy Month; however the experts at Money Management International know that regardless of the day or month of the year you begin, the 30 step path will help you achieve financial wellness. Take the first step today!
Mid Oregon Credit Union Opens 7th Branch in Sisters
Our member-owned financial institution headquartered in Bend announced that we have opened our seventh community branch in Sisters conveniently located across the street from the post office at 703 N Larch. Residents in Sisters will have access to a full-service Mid Oregon Credit Union branch that offers many conveniences including a drive-up ATM, free online and mobile banking and a full range of products and services. The Sisters branch is open with hours Monday-Thursday 9-5 p.m. and Friday 9-6 p.m.
“We are excited with this opportunity to offer Mid Oregon Credit Union services to new friends and existing members in Sisters,” said Bill Anderson President/CEO of Mid Oregon Credit Union. “We look forward to serving the residents of Sisters and offering them a friendly place to manage their finances with the products and services they want.”
We have a long history of providing our members with great service, personal banking relationships and many products including Simply Free Checking, debit card with CardNavSM security, auto, truck, and RV loans, Visa, commercial services, business loans and business checking, home loans, savings, insurance, investment and retirement services. Mid Oregon is part of the CO-OP Network and their members have access to more than 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationally and over 800,000 worldwide.
We invite the public to come meet the new Sisters staff and open an account. The branch staff includes branch manager Marc Madron and his team Christina Schulz and Madison Gibney. You can visit our website at www.midoregon.com and discover the benefits of being a credit union member.
SISTERS BRANCH
703 N Larch Street, Sisters OR 97759
Telephone: (541) 382-1795
24 Hour Drive-Up ATM
Monday-Thursday: 9am-5pm
Friday: 9am-6pm
Buying Used Wheels
Savings and Benefits of Buying Used Wheels
Why consider buying a used car?
Ever wonder why the used-car industry is such a big hit? The price tag attached to a used vehicle is usually several thousand dollars less than for new cars. If you buy a new car, it typically depreciates about 20% in value the minute you drive it off the lot. Consider the savings and benefits of buying used wheels.
Start looking for the right used car by doing some research. Check out websites such as Carfax.com, Edmunds.com, and kbb.com. These sites help you find exactly what you are looking for, including safety rating, vehicle condition, and a vehicle history report.
Other Used Car Benefits
When you’re selecting a used vehicle, keep in mind that insurance companies base insurance premiums on your age, year of the car, make, and how likely you are to get in an accident. In general, the cost of insurance on a used car is lower because the comprehensive and collision costs are usually lower.
Many dealerships offer certification programs that can protect you if any mechanical problems arise after you purchase your vehicle. Be sure to read the fine print of the certification to see what it covers.
Buying a certified used car can add on a significant chunk of money to the price tag but can be money well spent. On the other hand, if you plan to buy a noncertified used car, make sure to have a qualified mechanic inspect it first.
Financing Is Part of the Cost
To find the best deal on financing your used vehicle, make Mid Oregon Credit Union your first stop. Apply online, email, Call us at (541) 382-1795 or stop in today to learn more about our low auto-loan rates.
Get AutoSmart!
If you need help searching for vehicles locally, one great resource is AutoSmart. AutoSmart is owned by CUDL, the leading provider of indirect lending and point-of-sale services for the credit union industry and creator of the Credit Union Direct Lending (CUDL) program. As a credit union-owned service organization, they develop custom applications, training and marketing programs to help participating credit unions serve their members’ auto buying needs.
A wealth of resources are available to help users find used cars through the AutoSmart website, including:
Used Car Search
Central Oregon Dealer Search
Vehicle Research
Get pre-approved in one of our branches, and the CUDL affiliated dealer can access the pre-approval electronically, and save you time, too.