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.
High Desert Museum Access Programs Sponsored by Mid Oregon
You may miss Mid Oregon Credit Union’s Free Family Saturday at the High Desert Museum. We certainly do! With Oregon’s COVID-19 regulations, the Museum cannot offer these events. Mid Oregon wanted to continue supporting community access to the Museum. So, we are sponsoring the High Desert Museum Access Programs. These programs provide free and reduced admission to ensure educational experiences are accessible.
Wonder Wednesdays
Wonder Wednesdays offer engaging activities for students, parents and/or caregivers visiting with pre-kindergarten to 12th-grade children from Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Lake, and Klamath counties. So, these visitors receive a reduced admission price of $5 per person.
Museum and Me
Museum and Me is an after-hours Museum time for children and adults with physical, intellectual, and/or social disabilities. To note, this program is held one evening per quarter and free to individuals, friends, and family.
Discovery Passes
Discovery Passes provide free Museum admission to targeted youth and adult social service organizations in the community.
Blue Star Museums
Blue Star Museums is for active-duty military, National Guard, and Reserve military personnel and their families. So, they may visit the Museum at no charge year-round.
Little Wonders
Little Wonders is a partnership with NeighborImpact. This program provides free annual membership to Head Start kids and their families in the community.
Museums for All
Museums for All is for families with Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. So, they may visit the Museum at a reduced admission price of $2 per person. Just present an EBT card and photo ID for access. This rate is offered for up to six individuals (up to two adults and four children) per EBT card and valid during regular business hours.
In addition, the Museum offers free admission for mothers on Mother’s Day and fathers on Father’s Day. To learn more about the High Desert Museum Access Programs, visit highdesertmuseum.org/access-programs. Please note: due to limited Museum capacity, visitors should reserve timed-tickets online prior to visiting.
Last but not least, the High Desert Museum recently reopened its interior exhibits with the Deschutes County’s change in COVID-19 status. Quite exciting news, indeed! We encourage you to explore all the High Desert Museum has to offer.
How to Start Looking for a Used Car
Getting a good deal on a used car involves both negotiating a good price and taking steps to make sure the car is reliable. Although buying a used car is often a smart financial decision, it’s also a transaction full of potential for disaster. Many of us know someone who paid too much for a used car that fell apart soon after. In order to get that good deal, you have to know what you want first. Here are some better ways to start looking for a used car.
Before you start looking
It is a good idea to write down what you want in a used car so that you will not waste time. Otherwise, you could end up with a car you did not want at all. If you shop at a dealer, the salesperson will want to know your preferences anyway; this saves him or her valuable time. Write down requirements such as these:
- The price range you want to spend
- Type of vehicle (sedan, SUV, minivan, etc.)
- Make
- Model
- Features you want
- Mileage range
- Age range
- How much you can afford to spend each month, if you finance
- Any other preference, such as color, engine size, luxury options
Keep this list handy when you go shopping.
Where to research
A simple Google search for a phrase like “used car sites” will bring up a plethora of Websites that list used cars being sold around the country, usually at dealerships. Sites like autotrader.com and truecar.com are common. A search on our local Central Oregon Craigslist will bring up used cars from both dealerships and individuals.
There are also sites that provide more useful information than just listings. Edmunds.com and Consumer Reports are among the most popular.
Mid Oregon’s CUDL Autosmart, although featuring new vehicles, provides multiple tools to help you pick out what you want. It allows you to search for and build your preferred vehicle.
Compare prices
Compare prices of cars you are interested in. The Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com) lists both wholesale and retail prices for used cars. This book will give you a sense of what a particular make and model is worth, on average, so that you can assess what dealers or sellers are asking. You can also go to Kelley’s Website and search for cars and get information, reviews, and car value information.
You may have heard of Carfax, a Web-based service that provides vehicle history reports on used vehicles. Many dealers now offer Carfax reports for their vehicles. You can also get them online by providing some basic information about the vehicle in question. Some services are free, and others must be purchased.
Other places to look
Oftentimes, auto mechanics will buy a used car that the previous owner decided was too expensive to fix, and offer it for sale on the lot. Many new car dealers will also sell used cars on their lots. And it doesn’t hurt to ask family or friends if they are interested in selling a vehicle. Some of them are, and they can give you a good deal (and possibly interest-free financing).
If you have a particular make in mind, check out used car dealers who do not specialize in that brand. For example, a Chrysler dealer may have some Chevys or Fords for sale. Dealers sometimes find that they can get good deals on other brands at auctions, and so they buy them for resale, often providing extra incentives to move them off their lots.
Financing
When you’ve settled on your car, check with Mid Oregon Credit Union to line up your financing and get the best rate and terms for your purchase. Visit one of our 7 Central Oregon branches, or email a loan officer to get started.
Simple Tax Tips to Get You Started
Yes, it seems like we just finished filing our taxes. With the April 15 deadline coming right on the heels of last year’s pandemic-delayed deadline, it might be difficult to get motivated to work on your taxes. Here are some simple tax tips to get started. Plan now to get as much back as possible.
Consider itemizing
The standard deduction is $12,400, so it’s tempting to claim it rather than tracking down receipts and tax forms so you can itemize your deductions. But it might be worth it if you are a homeowner with a sizeable mortgage, gave money and “stuff” to charity (remember all that quarantine cleaning?), or paid points when you took out your mortgage. Tax tip for educators: Don’t forget to deduct up to $250 of school supplies even if you don’t itemize.
Claim credit for your “full house”
If your adult children, their significant others, and friends have come to live with you, here’s a helpful tax tip. You may be eligible to claim a $500 tax credit for non-child dependents you support if their income is less than $4,300. You can claim the credit for parents you support, even if they don’t live with you.
Update your information with the IRS
Many of us learned this lesson the hard way with the federal stimulus payments. A simple tax tip is to ensure the account information you have with the IRS is current—and all tax filers on your return are joint owners on the account where you want your tax refund deposited. If the information isn’t consistent, your tax refund can be returned or delayed.
File early
You can’t get a refund until you file. Even if you don’t need to file because your income is low, file anyway to claim a refund for taxes withheld and any credits you might be entitled to. Plus, it prevents any potential identity thieves from filing fraudulently in your name.
Get digital tax statements
Most financial institutions offer digital tax statements. Mid Oregon Credit Union members can login to our Digital Banking and to set up E-Statements. Once you’re inside the widget, you can click the dropdown menu to find tax statements for all your accounts.
Last among our tax tips, when it’s time to file your taxes, consider TurboTax®. From simple to complicated taxes, getting your biggest possible tax refund has never been easier. Mid Oregon Credit Union members can save up to $15 on their federal return using TurboTax—and don’t have pay until they file. Visit midoregon.com/turbotax to get started!
The information in this article for general educational purposes and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations. Please discuss your particular circumstances with an appropriate professional before taking action.