Monday, February 14, 2011

Winter Fun!

Running out of fun things to do while you wait for the snow to melt? Well here are some fun local events and activities to keep you busy until Spring!

A Raisin in the Sun
"The Massasoit Theater Company presents a Celebration of African-American History"
When :Friday, February 18th and Saturday, February 19th at 8:00 PM; Sunday, February 20th at 3:00 PM
Where: The Buckley Performing Arts Center at Massasoit Community College
Price: Tickets are $16 general public, $14 students and senior citizens


Bubble Show for Kids
A fun interactive show for kids ages 3 to 8.
When: Fridays 11:30am- 12:30pm
Where: 2nd floor lobby of Showcase Cinema de Lux at Patriot Place, Foxborough
Price: Free!

February Vacation Programs in Easton
When: Feb. 22nd, 23rd, and 24th
Where: Sheep Pasture in Easton
Price: $7-$10 per day
For more information, contact the NRT office at (508) 238-6049

Adult Enrichment & Recreation
Brockton Community Schools, in honor of its 40th Anniversary, is offering all Spring 2011, 8 & 10 week Adult Enrichment & Recreation Classes at only $40 each!
Call (508) 580-7595 for more information
Or, you can always find a local rink to test your skating skills. Most facilities have open hours every day.  If you just can't wait for that first taste of spring, check out Wheaton's Winter Market for fresh produce and great information.

Leave any other ideas you have for winter fun in the comments section!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

International Credit Union Day!

Each year when October comes around, credit unions get excited to celebrate. No, I'm not talking about Halloween; I'm talking about International Credit Union Day (ICUD)! This annual event is a time to celebrate the credit union difference. This year's theme is: "Local. Trusted. Serving you."


The event, sponsored by World Council of Credit Unions and Credit Union National Association, will be celebrated around the world on October 21st. Here at Crescent, we will have cider and donuts in our branches on the 21st, as well as a coloring contest for kids up to age 12. You can see the rules for the coloring contest and download the coloring pages here. Crescent will also kick off our annual coat drive on Monday the 18th (more info. here). If you have new or gently used winter coats, they would be greatly appreciated.

Did you know that there are more than 186 million credit union members in 97 countries worldwide? Credit unions around the world seek to provide a safe place for members to save money and feel at home. So, when Thursday comes around, don't forget to stop by your local credit union! And if you're near Crescent, come on in for donuts and cider to celebrate with us!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Summer Fun!

As summer winds down, schedules can get crazy. I know we've been busy here finishing up our Round the Bases  program and hosting  Campello Appreciation Day. But with everything going on, don't forget to go out and have some fun! Here are some of the local things you can do with friends and family before summer ends. Click on any of the event names for more information!

Mayor’s Traveling Summer Concert at the Caffrey Towers High Rise
Date: Tomorrow! Tuesday, August 10th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Price: Free
Enjoy a free concert by George Cataldo

Summer BBQ and Carnival
Date: Thursday, August 12th
Price: Donate one non-perishable item
Sounds like there will be fun activities for all ages!

Dog Days of Summer II at the Children's Museum in Easton
Date: Thursday, August 12th at 10 a.m.
Price: Free with Museum admission, which is $6 per person
This is part of the Museum's Summer Drop-In Days series. The Museum is great for kids 1-8 years old. Stop by for this event, or any day, for a great time!

Hello Dolly! in Taunton
Date: Shows start Friday the 13th and run through the 22nd
Price: $25 for adults; $22 for seniors or students; $20 for children
For those who like to see shows!
Paper Puppets at The Fuller Craft Museum
Date: Saturday, August 21st from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Price: $8 for members; $10 for non-members
This is part of their Saturday Family Workshops so this is aimed mostly for families with younger kids. The Museum offers other programs great for kids or adults! You can also take a free guided tour of the Museum every Saturday at 2 p.m. or Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Summer Sunday in the Park 2010
Date: Sunday, August 22nd
Price: Free
Bring family and friends to relax at D.W. Field Park.

First Annual Lantern Walk
Date: Saturday, August 28th at 6:30 p.m.
Price: Free
You can go to the Children's Museum Saturday, August 21 1:00-4:00pm or Wednesday, August 25 12:30-3:30 pm to make a lantern to carry in the walk. Fun for all ages!

You can always go to a Brockton Rox game! Tickets start at $5.00. Or, go to your local library and read a new book! Don't forget, many libraries offer  free passes for great museums! You can find some place new to eat at  yelp.com!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Farmers Markets

I've posted before about banking locally, but I somehow haven't posted yet about buying locally.

When you buy local food, you can know exactly where your food came from and how it was produced. You are also helping out the local economy and ensuring that your money stays close by. I've been to the market in North Easton several times and never been disappointed. The farmers are friendly and knowledgeable about their delicious products. 

The Brockton Enterprise has a great list of local farmers markets. If you aren't from this area, you can use websites like Local Harvest to find places near you.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Joining a Credit Union

Credit Union. It can be an intimidating word to those who don't know what it means. This alone sometimes keeps people from thinking about becoming a member. Hopefully this post will help clarify for everyone who is curious.

Credit unions have members, not customers. All of the members are united by some common bond. In our case, the common bond is location. If you live or work in Plymouth, Bristol, Norfolk, or Barnstable counties, you can become a member at Crescent Credit Union. Members can open accounts, take out loans, and more.

As a not-for-profit financial cooperative, a credit union can usually offer lower interest rates on loans and higher interest on savings accounts than banks. Unlike big banks, a credit union's main focus is on providing great service to members, not increasing profits.

Credit unions also usually place a strong emphasis on community involvement. This can come in many forms. Credit unions may offer loans to local small businesses that cannot get them from big banks. Being a member at a credit union ensures that your money stays local. Credit unions may sponsor local events or youth sports teams. They may also host collection drives for the community. For example, we have our annual book drive and annual food drive here at Crescent Credit Union.

Now that you know the differences between credit unions and banks, shouldn't your bank be a credit union?

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

The College Student

I've been reading several articles lately that focused on the particular financial issues that college students often face. Some of these issues are the rising cost of college, student loan debt, lack of income, the high cost of books, banking fees, and struggling to contain spending.

Often, college students are targeted for credit card offers because companies believe the students will spend irresponsibly or only be able to make the minimum payments, creating revenue for the companies in the form of interst. Before the CARD Act of 2009, credit card companies could offer freebies to students (like pizza or t-shirts) for signing up for a card. The CARD Act took steps to help protect college students, but they are still targeted and often wind up having financial issues.

Here are some simple tips for saving money while in school:

1. Find a credit union or local bank with a free checking account. Monthly fees add up quickly and required minimum balances can trap you.

2. Look for a part-time job. Many studies show that students who worked between 1 and 20 hours a week have a higher G.P.A. than those who did not. Just don't over do it.

3. Beware of credit card promotions at school. Having one or two credit cards can help your credit score if they are used responsibly. Do your research first to see which cards have the lowest interest rates or best rewards program for you.

4. Rent textbooks or share them. By renting, you can save lots of money each semester and you don't have to worry about your school bookstore not buying them back. For some classes, you may be able to share with a friend and split the cost of renting the book.

5. Create a budget. You can start off by keeping track of where and when you spend money. Then you can see where most of your money goes and think of how to cut back on unnecessary expenses.

6. Apply for scholarships. This may seem like a no-brainer, but there are plenty of free websites that list thousands of scholarships. Apply for any that pertain to you; every little bit helps!

Have more tips that I forgot? Feel free to leave them in the comments section!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Community Involvement

On Friday Crescent Credit Union kicked off our Round the Bases program with the Brockton Rox. The program gives 100 local youths safe and free entertainment one night a week for five weeks. Last week the kids met Rox players and then watched a game with their parents. We got great feedback on Friday's game and can't wait for this week's event.

It was my first time as an intern being involved with one of CCU's community events. Community involvement is an important aspect for CCU, and most other credit unions. While big banks focus on profit, credit unions want to help members and the surrounding community. Since I've been at CCU, it seems as though there is always at least two or three community initiatives going on.

I personally love that credit unions focus on helping the community simply to help the community. Credit unions can become an important part in the community. They help members on an individual basis by providing safe and affordable banking. Credit unions then also help the community by donating time or money to various events or projects.