Remedy your winter chills with some summer excitement. Take advantage of your afca member savings on fabulous hotel stays, resort vacations, and theme park admissions.

Sleep Well

Find your home away from home with Resort Vacation Certificates® and enjoy 7 nights in a luxury condominium for just $250 USD. Or, enjoy a relaxing stay with Endless Vacation Rentals® and get 35% off. And if you prefer a nice hotel, take advantage of 20% off your stay at Holiday Inn. Either way, you’ll sleep like a baby.

A Dose of Fun

Celebrate summer with a fun vacation. A visit to SeaWorld® may be just what the doctor ordered with up to 20% off single-day tickets online. Or, get in the summer spirit with a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood, where you can enjoy 3 days worth of fun for just $69.

After being cooped up this winter, get out and enjoy Six Flags at up to $30 off park tickets. Visit a land made of your favorite toys and get up to $29 off LEGOLAND California tickets online. Or, enjoy the warm weather at Disneyland® while saving up to $29 on resort tickets.

Winter is over and it’s time to start planning fantastic trips and vacations. Get your summer rolling by logging in to the afca member savings program through your association’s website and start saving.

What Are Your Memorial Day Weekend Plans?

Memorial Day is just around the corner, which means a nice long weekend for most of us. This holiday was originally intended as a day to remember those who’ve died serving our country. It was officially declared on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first celebrated May 30 in the same year.

Now, a lot of people use Memorial Day as part of a long weekend to get together with family and friends, catch up on errands, or engage in recreational activities. It’s also become a traditional signal that summer has started.

We have some ideas for your big weekend that also include some big savings.

• To ring in the summer blockbuster season, visit Fandango for movie times near you and get a $25 gift certificate for $21. Cool off by going to watch the movie you’ve been dying to see!
• With all the extra time you’ll have, it might also be the perfect opportunity for shopping! Save 15% on orders over $100 at Kohl’s. And for the fashion conscious, it’s finally time to buy all the white your heart and wardrobe desire.
• Or, take a mini vacation and book a weekend getaway at Best Western with 10% off the best available rate.

However you choose to spend your Memorial Day weekend, make sure you save while doing it. Happy Holiday!

Set Smart Savings Goals

Be honest, have you saved as much money as you resolved to when the New Year started? I thought so. Well the bad news is that you aren’t alone, most of us haven’t but the good news is that it’s never too late to dust off that dusty resolution and start saving today.

Keep in mind that saving isn’t just for the big things, like home, college or retirement. A consistent, deliberate savings plan allows you to provide for life’s smaller purchases without adding to credit card debt or taking out a loan.

Building Your Savings Habit in Less than a Month

In fact, Mary Caraccioli, host of We Owe What? from the Live Well Network advocates a take-it-slow approach to your personal finances. Her 4 step process for building savings and reducing debts starts with

1. Week 1: Gather and Organize. Commit to 15 minutes a day for a week to get organized. Gather and sort your bills and other financial documents into piles. 
2. Week 2: Get Clarity. Take the pulse of your financial health. Look up your credit score. Check your bank, savings and retirement account balances.
3. Week 3: Set your Goals. Keep it short term – if your goals are too big for you or too far in the future then you’re going to have a hard time sticking to them. It doesn’t mean that you don’t have big goals. It just means that you need to develop the habit of saving first and it’s best to do so by setting smaller, more short term and attainable goals to begin with in order to ingrain the habit.

Insuring Savings Success

Okay, you’ve organized your finances, assessed your financial strength and set some financial goals. Now it’s time to get started. But first, a question. If you need to lose 20 pounds are you more likely to think it doable if you reframe your goal to My goal is to lose 2 lbs. a week for the next 2 months? 

From my own experience, it’s very difficult to lose 20 lbs. but much easier to lose two. Apply this principle to your savings goal. Take the Financial Goals  you set in Week 3 and break them into easier to attain chunks. You want a new car, to go back to school, remodel your bathroom? Do your research, find out the cost and then break this cost down into paycheck sized savings goals. I don’t need to save $xx,xxx, I only need to save $xxx this paycheck.

Take I should save more to I want to save more because I have a goal I want to reach and do it in such away that your savings success is insured! Good luck and good savings.

Shop Macy’s!

Macy’s is offering a onetime deal of 15% off in-store, good only for the month of April. At Macy’s, you can shop bed & bath, clothes for the whole family, beauty supplies, shoes, jewelry, home décor, and more. This is one deal that will keep buyer’s remorse from knocking at your door!

Shop Til You Drop

If you’re looking for a sophisticated look, enjoy $25 off a purchase of $75 or more at New York & Company. And if you need something a little more casual, shop at Aéropostale® with $10 off purchases of $50 or more in-store.

Get down to basics with your wardrobe from dressbarn and take advantage of 20% off any single, regular priced item. Or try Coldwater Creek and save 10% on your next eligible purchase in-store and online.

Tommy Hilfiger is offering 10% off your entire purchase, so if you’re a fan of this brand start shopping! And if you still don’t have enough shopping bags to carry, try Van Heusen with $10 off your purchase of $60 or more.

Shop for Shoes

Every fabulous outfit needs the perfect pair of shoes. Pick out the shoes you’ve been dreaming about at Bass Shoes, Apparel, & Accessories with $10 off your $60 purchase. Or try Shoes.com and get 10% off online and free shipping. Whether you’re looking for casual, dressy or athletic, we’ve got you covered in the shoe department.

Spruce up your wardrobe for spring and summer using your member savings. Log in to the member savings program through your association’s website to get great fashion deals.

Savings to Help You Be Stress Free

Have you been feeling stressed lately? April is National Stress Awareness month, encouraging people to relax and take care of themselves. It’s been said that 75% of the general population experiences at least some stress every two weeks. Most people report having stress symptoms like trouble sleeping, irritability, fatigue, headaches, depression, and more.

Don’t stress about being stressed! We have the perfect remedy that will make the anxiety float away, so de-stress with a good spa day. Here are some great spa savings we think will leave you refreshed and rejuvenated.

• Spa Week® helps you find the right spa that offers an assortment of soothing treatments and services—all for 12% off any order over $50.
• Find tranquility with 5% off plus free shipping from SpaFinder Wellness. Here you’ll find great spa and salon treatments as well as calming yoga and Pilates classes.
• If you’re looking for revitalizing skin treatments, natural body care products or some gentle fragrances, SpaLook.com is the place to shop with new specials everyday!

We want our members to be stress free, so make sure to keep your world serene with de-stressing activities using your member savings.

There May Be More in Your Wallet Than You Know

I was recently organizing my office, a never ending task, and I noticed a document in my Bank Debit Card folder labeled, Worldwide Automatic Travel Accident & Baggage Delay Insurance. To summarize, this flyer informed me that if I paid for travel with this card and suffered loss of life, limb, sight, or baggage that I or my survivors could be eligible to collect up to $250,000.

Now I’d been an American Express card holder for years so I was well aware of benefits that accrue with membership. I was a bit surprised to find that even a relatively, lowly debit card can provide substantial and kind of hidden benefits.

What Other, Hidden Benefits Do Credit Cards Offer

Here’s a quick run down on other benefits that your credit and debit cards may offer:

1. Buyer Protection

Many cards offer purchase protection that replaces items purchased with them if stolen, broken, or lost within the first month or 2 after purchase.

Smart Credit Card Strategy: Even if you have the cash to pay for an item, particularly high priced purchases, you might want to put it on your card in order to gain this protection and use the cash to pay off the card at the end of the month.

2. Check No to Pricey Theft and Accident Coverage When Renting Vehicles

This, for me, is a no-brainer. Assuming you’re carrying the right card, you should know that many cards protect you against accidents and even auto theft when renting a car using a credit card. If you travel a lot for business or otherwise, it pays to have a card with this benefit attached.

3. Damn, I Dunked My Smart Phone in the Toilet Again.

Okay, I didn’t but my wife has, twice, both times after the warranty expired! No problem if I was as smart as the phone and purchased the phone with a card that carries an extended warranty benefit. With this benefit that one year or less warranty may automatically be doubled, for free!

Smart Credit Card Strategy: Use a card with an extended warranty feature when purchasing high value electronic and other items where replacement is both an inconvenience and expensive!

4. Save Money with Credit Cards

Many cards want to encourage their use by teaming up with local and national retailers to offer sometimes significant discounts when used at partner locations. You’ll often get notification of these savings in your monthly bills and can find additional information on card websites.

Smart Credit Card Strategy: When offered a discount, be smart. Ask yourself, 1.) do I need this and 2.) do the research to see if you can get a better deal elsewhere. If I save 5% on a $100 printer at Staples that I could have bought for $89 at Office Depot then I didn’t really score too great of a deal, did I?

Get Smart About Credit Card Usage

Understand what benefits accrue to what cards and devise a credit card strategy that assigns different types of purchases to the best card for that purchase. E.g., use a card with great travel benefits to purchase airline, car rental and other travel related items and use a card with an extended warranty feature to purchase your personal electronics, particularly those that are easy to steal or damage.

And keep in mind that the best time to use a credit card is when you don’t need to and you are able to pay off the card balance at the end of the month. Following this strategy will help you realize all of the benefits of using a card with none of the negatives (interest, anyone?)!

1. Better Living through (Natural) Chemistry. You can use everyday kitchen ingredients to make effective, natural cleaning products. Think vinegar, salt, baking soda and lemon juice. AllYou.com has a number of recipes for the living cleaner with cleaning products.
2. What’s that smell? Delicious! Forget those air fresheners that use chemicals and electricity to mask odors, throw a few cloves and some cinnamon into a pan of boiling water for the best kind of aroma-therapy!
3. One Man’s Trash = Your Treasure (and vice versa) – upcycling is the latest trend in repurposing old items to new purpose. Check out sites like freecycle.org to find upcycling treasures or offer your own to fuel the imagination of someone else.
4. Wash with Wisdom – save water and money by only running your washing machine – and your dishwasher – when you have full loads.
5. Recycle Your Dish & Bathwater – again, save money, by using your ‘brown’ water to water plants, gardens and your lawn. Easy to do when you’re using eco-friendly cleaning products!
6. Learn to Cook, Eat Well, Get Healthy – fresh produce and organics may seem more expensive but by eating a healthier diet and cutting down on the fats, sugars and salts that commercial food processors load into their products you will reap huge dividends in lower health costs and trimmer waistlines as well!
7. The Road to Riches is Paved with Rags – hyperbole? Yeah, just a little bit but why use expensive, paper tools when you can take that ratty, holey t-shirt, those hem-frayed towels, and your other worn out cloth items and turn them into dirt seeking cleaning implements!
8. Blowin’ in the Wind – bring the great smelling outdoors inside when you line-dry your clothes. You’ll save electricity and feel virtuous to boot!
9. The Future’s So Bright… – with savings when you swap your old incandescent light bulbs with long lasting (7-10 times the life) compact fluorescent bulbs and other new lighting technologies. Energy.gov estimates that “…upgrading 15 of the inefficient incandescent lightbulbs in your home could save you about $50 per year.”
10. Compost Yourself! Have you priced compost recently at your local gardening center? Well you won’t have to when you compost your table scraps and other biodegradable products. The latest trend in home composting turbo charges the process by using worms. Here’s a link to a worm-composting how-to!

I hope you enjoy, use, and profit from these eco-friendly, planet saving, wallet padding tips!

What is a 401(k)?

According to the Wall Street Journal’s How to Guide to Retirement

A 401(k) is a retirement savings plan sponsored by an employer. It lets workers save and invest a piece of their paycheck before taxes are taken out. Taxes aren’t paid until the money is withdrawn from the account.

Benefits of a 401(k) Plan

The benefits of a 401(k) are many, chief among these are:

• You save on taxes. Money is invested in the plan before payroll and other taxes are withheld.
• The investment grows faster since while your money is in the plan taxes are deferred and your money compounds more quickly.
• Many employers will match your contribution up to 6% of your yearly salary. And you can invest up to $23,000 annually in your plan when you’re over 50 and up to $17,500 otherwise. The typical employer match is around $0.50 on the dollar so a maximum investment for the above categories could net you as much as $11,500 in free, tax-deferred money annually. Not a bad deal!

Now with all the great benefits of a 401(k) plan there are also some pretty stringent rules and regulations that apply to when you can use the money. For example, if you withdraw the money before 59 1/2 you’ll have to pay income tax and a 10% penalty. It’s to your advantage to educate yourself on all of the nuances of a 401(k) savings plan prior to making your investment. Your employer probably has resources available for this purpose and a good, basic guide to understanding the ins and outs of these plans is CNN’s Money 101 Guide to Your 401(k).

Save small to Save BIG

It’s amazing how the small expenditures we make every day add up to big expenses when calculated on an annual basis.

Here’s 3 easy ways to saving more now by exercising small acts of frugality on a daily basis:

1. Do you have a coffee table worth of unread magazines? Cancel them. Instead invest $0 in the Pulse application for your smart phone or tablet and get all the news you need delivered free to your favorite portable device.
2. A $4 latte every day translates to $1,000 annual caffeine investment. Invest in good coffee at home or even pick up a personal latte maker to enjoy ‘grande’ savings. Oh, and while you’re at it, pack your lunch. The $8 you save from not eating at Subway every day adds up to a cool $2K in your lunch pail at the end of the year.
3. Score big with points. Don’t carry expensive credit card debt but do carry the rewards cards that best fit your lifestyle. Pay off your balance every month and save big on the free travel and other lifestyle rewards that come with these cards.

The key to saving is awareness. Track your expenses and question a.) their necessity and b.) any better alternatives. You, and your bank account, will be glad you did.

A Great Gift

Search through a wide selection of presents at Office Depot this holiday season and get up to 50% off. If you’re looking to stock up on gifts, join Costco and receive coupons for free products and other great savings. And if you don’t feel like going out in the holiday traffic, shop online at Sears.com and save $5 on your $50 purchase.

A Winter Wardrobe

It’s time to shop for some new clothes to keep you warm this winter. Stay toasty with $10 off Stock up on mittens, scarves, and sweaters from New York & Company and get $25 off your $75 purchase, in-store or online. And with 10% off at Tommy Hilfiger, you can wrap up in amazing outerwear that’s both functional and stylish.

A Holiday Feast

Need some delicious treats for stocking stuffers? Choose from chocolate, sour, chewy, hard, and crunchy candy plus more with 15% off at Sweet Factory. Or prepare a nice dinner for family and friends with up to 62% off at Omaha Steaks.

You’ll save more than ever this holiday season with these great discounts. To start shopping and saving, make sure you’re enrolled in our exclusive afca member savings program.

‘Tis the Season for Toys

The holiday season has a way of spreading joy, bringing people together, and inspiring us to reach out and help others. We hope to work together using our member savings to help your charitable dollar go further during the giving season.

Toys always seem to be a hot commodity during the holidays, which is why we think Toys For Tots is a great charity to support this time of year. Toys For Tots first started in 1947 and quickly became one of the nation’s most lovable causes. It strives to provide new toys to less fortunate children around the U.S. in an effort to give joy and hope during the holidays. Toys For Tots believes it is important to play an active role in the development of children, and considers them to be one of the nation’s most valuable resources.

Here are just a few of our merchants that will give you great ideas for toys while helping you save at the same time.

Kmart.com has everything from Barbies and puzzles to games and trains for your holiday donations, and will earn you an extra $5 off orders of $45 or more. And Mattel Shop is offering free shipping when you shop for action figures, hot wheels, electronics, and more online.

If you’re looking for a more specific children’s gift, Crayola.com is great for crayons, markers, sidewalk chalk, paint, coloring books, and crafts. You’ll enjoy giving a great gift and free shipping on all orders over $75.

We always encourage our members to come together in order to make a difference in the lives of others. Get in the holiday spirit and enjoy more freedom to give.

Spend Less, Get More

How’d you like to spend less money on the holidays and get more? This isn’t about getting up at 2AM to hit the latest door buster specials at the mall. It’s also not a strategy for those who insist on shiny and new although that’s possible too!

The Secret to Christmas Plenty on a Budget

There are several ways to get great value on near new and sometimes new items. Here are a few:

• Pawn Shops – that’s right, Pawn Shops. If you’re looking for tools, musical instruments, jewelry, sporting goods (particularly golf clubs) and electronics, pawn shops can represent an amazing saving’s source. I’ve found good condition contractor grade ladders, generators and other tools for 1/2 or better off of retail pricing.
• Thrift Stores – my local Goodwill store is packed to the gills during the holiday season and with good reason. You can great deals on clothing, household items and other collectibles at your local pawn shop. Why spend $45+ on a pair of designer jeans when you can get a slightly distressed pair for under $10?
• Consignment Stores – the upscale version of the thrift store. If you don’t mind gently worn goods and you’re partial to designer labels then give the local consignment stores a look. Clothing, furnishing and other high end items can be had for pennies on their original retail dollar.
• Craigslist (craigslist.org) – craigslist is the digital age’s answer to the for sale ads of yesterday’s newspapers. You can find almost anything on craigslist if you’re patient and persistent. A couple of examples. My wife found a replacement for her flushed smart phone for 1/3 of retail and her new phone was still in its original box. I was fortunate to find a high end sports watch and heart monitor for $45 which retailed new for $275 and it had never been used.
• Sample Sales – I used to be a manufacturer’s rep for a menswear company. At any given time I might have several dozen articles of brand new clothing that I needed to dispose of to make room for the new season’s offerings. Keep an eye online, on craigslist and in the newspapers for local sample sales. Any metropolitan region of any size has its share of manufacturers reps who are willing to unload their out of season samples for a fraction of the retail rack price. And since they’re selling a season or 2 in advance, you can often get the latest fashions at below last season’s price.

Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas

So now that you know how to enjoy a bountiful holiday season and keep more money in the bank how about taking your savings and investing in something truly worthwhile like your retirement account, family vacation or planned for home improvement project?!

Well afca members, it’s the holiday season again, which means you probably have lots of travel, trips, and vacations coming your way. We want to make sure you get everywhere you need to be so that your holidays are happier than ever.

Keep Your Car Merry with Savings

Make sure your car is ready to go with $10 off an oil change, 10% off services/tires, or a free flat tire repair compliments of the Tire Kingdom. And if you need to replace or update anything in your car, enjoy the AdvanceAutoParts.com offer of 15% off.

Don’t forget to check the air in your tires before going anywhere. With up to 10% off Bridgestone and Firestone branded tires and 15% off all services every time you visit, Firestone Complete Auto Care will keep your car in good shape.

Rent-A-Car for the Holidays

Renting a car is a great option to get where you want to be and visit with loved ones. You’ll be at your holiday celebration in no time with Hertz Car Rental, offering up to 15% off daily member benefit rates. And, holiday travel gets even better with $25 off a weekly rental from Budget Rent A Car.

With all of these member savings, your car will be of good cheer. To take advantage of all these great auto discounts simply log in to your member savings program through your association’s website.

Happy Black Friday

It’s almost that time of year again…early morning, long lines, large crowds, big discounts, and lots of shopping. You guessed it—Black Friday.

The significance of the term “Black Friday” originated in the 1960s as the start of the Holiday shopping season. At the time in retail, when red ink showed up on the accounting records it meant a loss and black ink indicated a profit. Retailers eventually realized that by offering large one-time discounts, they could pull in big crowds and make big profits (which meant black ink on their next accounting record).

Black Friday can be a bit intimidating, but not to worry we have the scoop on some great discounts that will help you prepare.

No need to stand in long lines to save money when you shop for this holiday season. Save $7 off $70 plus free shipping at Target.com. And for all of your technology needs, shop at F.Y.E. and receive $3 off any regular priced CD or DVD and $5 off any regular priced Video Game.

Now all that’s left to do is SHOP and SAVE when you use your afca member savings benefits! If you haven’t signed up yet for your exclusive member’s only savings, click here and do it now!