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.
Planning Ahead For Your Vehicle Purchase
Don’t Forget About the Other Expenses
You are planning ahead for your vehicle purchase. Instead of starting your buying journey at the dealer (or with online ad shopping), you decide to figure out how much you can afford. You don’t have enough saved up to pay cash, but have a down payment. You’ve figured out how much of a monthly payment you can afford. You’ve even given yourself a little breathing room. Is that all you need to consider?
License and Registration Please
Not really. Don’t forget about other expenses, such as license, registration, gasoline, maintenance and repair. Some costs, such as fuel, you can build in to your monthly spending plan. But others take more planning.
According to the Oregon DMV, the fee for two-year passenger vehicle registration is $248- for the standard passenger plates. For renewals, or used vehicles, it is $112 for the two years. The cost is higher for any kind of special plates, and there could be other additional fees. See the ODOT License Plate page for details. The regular Title fee is $93.
Auto Insurance Will Vary
How about insurance? If you are replacing another vehicle, you might think the cost will be about the same. It will vary based on a variety of factors. The only way to know for sure is to get a quote on the vehicle you are considering. Don’t forget major upgrades or add-ons. Our local insurance partner, Cascade Insurance Center, can get these for you at no charge; you can email Lauren for details.
Fuel costs may change significantly over time. It wasn’t long ago gas averaged over $4.50 a gallon. Use www.gasbuddy.com to see current prices in Central Oregon, or by your zip code. As of this writing, the average price for a gallon of regular gas in Oregon was $3.29, with a range in Bend of $3.03 to $3.44.
Repair & Maintenance Can Be Expensive
Don’t forget about maintenance and repair. Many months these will not be in your budget, but when they are, maintenance and repair can cost a significant amount. Newer vehicles would have less repair expense, but might be expensive for routine maintenance. In a recent Consumer Reports Survey, a 3-year-old Subaru averaged $180 annually in maintenance and repair costs, while a 10-year-old model averaged $695. Vehicle brand costs annually ranged for $0 to $390 for the 3-year costs, to $315 to $1,125 for the 10 year old models. Plan ahead!
Factor In All Expenses
The key is to know these costs when choosing the type of vehicle you want and factor in the additional expenses before you start looking. If you find that perfect vehicle first, you might be tempted to overlook the costs that come later.
Mid Oregon Credit Union can be your partner on your vehicle buying journey. As a member, we want you to come out ahead. Visit our Vehicle Pre-Approval page to help figure out where to go next.
Checking Built to Travel
Great Checking Accounts
In February of 2017, Mid Oregon Credit Union undertook some significant changes to our checking accounts. While we continued to offer Free Checking, we added additional features and benefits. We launched “Simply Free Checking”, which offered the same no monthly service fees and no minimum balance requirement as before, but included more. One was buying back debit cards and unused checks from another financial institution.
The other three new accounts started there and added benefits: 50+ Interest Checking, Direct Interest Checking and Premium Interest Checking. to learn more about all of Mid Oregon’s personal checking accounts, visit our checking web page.
But the biggest change involved giving members the chance to win prizes just by opening their new checking account.
We’re counting the reasons our 60th might be our best year yet. We’ll be sharing some key milestones, fun events—and, hopefully—a few inspiring member stories. Watch the Mid Oregon View, our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram to stay up to date. And look for the #60for60 sea and hashtag on our photos, stories, and posts to see some of the things that made the cut.
One Mid Oregon Member to Win Alaska Airlines Gift Certificate
Every six or seven weeks, we have randomly drawn a lucky winner from each of our seven branches. Winners in Redmond, La Pine, Sisters, Bend, Prineville and Madras (and other communities) have nabbed gift cards from the Old Mill, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Visa, Chevron/Circle K, Bi-Mart, Mt. Bachelor and Sun Country Tours. We’ve awarded TVs and Airline Tickets.
But right now, we are combining all branch entries for one tremendous prize: One Mid Oregon Member will win a $2,400 Alaska Airlines Gift Certificate!
Beginning on May 29th and running through July 8, each Mid Oregon new checking account member will automatically be entered to win∗. Our branch teams have uniquely decorated their facility to show the excitement of travel and the potential to win.
Checking Built to Travel
As a credit union, we strive to give our members the tools to better manage their money. Central to that are checking accounts. While our checking solutions are top notch for everyone year-around, they are particularly helpful during the summer, or travel seasons.
Besides no monthly service charges and no need to keep any minimum balance, our checking offers Free Mobile Banking online or with our Free Mobile App, including mobile deposit; Free eBillPay, Free eStatements with online check images; Available CardNav, with the capability to control your debit cards, set limits and get alerts for almost any need, while managing your card in real time.
Staying out of town when you need to deposit a check? Use Mobile Deposit on your smart phone or tablet. Pay a bill with eBillPay wherever you can get internet access. Away from home to see your mailed statement? View your balances and transactions using your phone, computer or tablet.
Oh yes, and over 30,000 ATMs in the U.S. where you won’t have to pay surcharge fees to access cash from your checking account, using the Co-Op network.
Don’t Wait to Change Any Longer
There is no time better than now to get going with a new Mid Oregon checking account. Start the summer, with the checking built to travel!
To open an account or get information, visit midoregon.com, email an account representative, call us at (541) 382-1795, or stop in to one of our seven Central Oregon branches.
Sixty Reasons: #60for60Mid Oregon #60for60 seal
We’re counting the reasons our 60th might be our best year yet. We’ll be sharing some key milestones, fun events—and, hopefully—a few inspiring member stories. Watch the Mid Oregon View, our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram to stay up to date. And look for the #60for60 seal and hashtag on our photos, stories, and posts to see some of the things that made the cut.
∗ Entries accepted through July 8, 2018. Winning prize is one $2,400 Alaska Airlines gift certificate. No cash equivalent, substitution or transfer of prize permitted. Winner of the prize will be issued a 1099-Int or 1099-MISC. No purchase necessary to win and will not increase your chances of winning. Entrants must be 18 year of age or older to win. Limit one entry per person. Mid Oregon Credit Union employees and their immediate families are not eligible to win.
How to Save When You’re Invited
How to Save When You’re Invited to Everyone’s Wedding
Invited to a wedding at Aspen Hall in Shevlin Park this year? Or maybe at Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards? Or Sunriver? With so many people moving to Central Oregon from the valley or out of state, maybe you’re invited to a wedding on the Coast, or in the wine country, Lake Tahoe, or Seattle. Or several of the above? How can you save when you’re invited to everyone’s wedding?
Wedding Season is Upon Us
Ready or not, wedding season is upon us and soon you may see a few wedding invitations in your mailbox. What do you do when it looks like ALL your friends are getting married this year? Can you afford to get gifts for everyone, as well as pay for clothing and traveling expenses for each event?
If you find yourself invited to multiple weddings this year, first create a budget and estimate how much you can afford for these expenses. It’s better to have a picture of what you can realistically manage rather than spending wildly. Spending without a plan may leave you struggling to pay your own living expenses at the end of each month.
Traveling Expenses Are a Big Part
Next, determine how much travelling you’ll need to do to get to the wedding. Is it an hour’s drive away, across the country, or even in another country? Traveling expenses can take a huge chunk out of your budget, so it’s important to get a good estimate of what you’ll need to pay before you accept the invitation. If the event is within driving distance and your friends are going, consider carpooling.
If the wedding requires an overnight stay, you’ll need to factor in lodging expenses. Check out vacation lodging sites like Airbnb or VRBO. Again, if friends are also going to the wedding, consider sharing a place with them.
Dressing for the Occasion?
Will you need a new outfit? Instead of buying a new dress or suit, check out consignment shops for good deals on formal attire and accessories.
Are you artistically inclined? If so, you may want to make a personal gift instead of buying something, particularly if the couple already has enough plates and toasters. Creating something that shows how well you know the couple can be especially meaningful to them.
Not Busting Your Budget
Lastly, if going to every wedding is going to wreck you financially, or require you to scrimp on all of them, then think about your relationship to each couple – how close are you to them? If you rarely see or talk to them, don’t feel obligated to accept the invitation. Instead, select which weddings you really want to attend and decline the others.
You may not be paying for a wedding, but through proper planning and good decisions, you can keep this year’s wedding season from busting your budget!