IN SIDER GEt nEat | GEt clEan | GEt GREEn

The CommunityAmerica Magazine

VolumE 5 + aPRIl 2008

Welcome to the Spring edition of the InSider. in this issue, we want to talk about how you can get the most from your spring cleaning. Whether it’s sorting through the clutter in your home or in your financial records, we can help you get organized – and make a little money while you’re at it. Sound like fun? then come on in to the insider.

Now you can get the cash you need no matter where life takes you.

We take pride in the fact that we have over a hundred ATMs in the Kansas City metro area, because they make getting the cash you need a lot more convenient. But when you have so many cash machines all over town, sometimes it’s hard to remember where to find one.

That’s why we’ve created the ATM Locator. This bad boy has a map of all our CommunityAmerica branches and a list of every local CO-OP Network ATM. That way you can find a CommunityAmerica cash machine no matter where you are. And, when folded up, this little guy is small enough to keep in your purse, your wallet, your glovebox or wherever you hide away all your useful stuff.

We’re giving the ATM Locator to every new CommunityAmerican, but if you’re a current member and want to get your hands on one, just stop by a branch and ask. We’d be glad to hand one over.

For the more tech-savvy CommunityAmericans, we’ve got a digital version, too. Sign on to cacu.com to check it out.

thE atm locatoR: Just another real advantage from CommunityAmerica.

Leaves doN’t have to be the oNLy greeN you see thIs summer.Sure, summer usually means no school and lots of fun. But with just a little effort, any kid can make some extra cash during the warm months. Whether it’s a lemonade stand, selling some old toys at the family garage sale or mowing a neighbor’s lawn, there are a variety of jobs that can help you spend, save or share more than you thought possible this summer. Read below for some of our favorites.

SwEEt PRoDuct, SwEEtER PRofIt.Ahhhhhhhhh – there’s nothing better than a cold glass of lemonade on a hot day. So how better to make some bucks than by selling pitchers of your own? Just have mom or dad help you mix up a few batches and set up a simple stand on the corner of your street. Or, for a boost in sales, set up your stand near a local park or playground. You’ll be surprised how much the right location can increase your profits.

Sun, fun, anD fREE lIckS, too.There’s no question that dogs LOVE to go on walks. They also usually love the person who walks them. So why not contract to walk the neighbors’ dogs? It’s a great way to make friends with lots

[ SockY SaVESalot ]

reaL advaNtagesCommunityAmeriCAn

of cool pets and make some money at the same time. And the best part of all – all you need to get started are two legs and a love for man’s best friend.

lIkE babYSIttInG wIthout thE back-talk.During the summer, lots of families head out on the one-week excursion known as summer vacation. But who waters the plants and collects the newspapers while they’re gone? That’s where you come in. Most times, house sitting is as easy as doing a couple simple chores like feeding pets and turning the lights on and off. Now if that’s not easy money, we’re not sure what is.

WIN THE WAR AGAINST SCAMMERSHey troops – Sarge here. So, you’ve finally gotten your act together and cleaned out that war zone you call an attic, and now you want to sell the old gear online. Before you get started, be warned: there are a lot of creeps out there waiting to take you for a virtual ride. Not to worry, though. Below you can find the training you need to keep your bank account safe when you buy and sell online.

it all StartS With Security.Accepting cash, checks or money orders online is the quickest way to a big SNAFU. In fact, payment fraud is the number one way sellers get scammed online. Lucky for you, Sarge knows the biggest, baddest way to a secure transaction outside of a team of Navy SEALS: PayPal.com. It’s the best way to make sure you always receive payment in full before you ship your product. And since PayPal is an official partner of some of the big auction sites like eBay, it’s so easy even a private could use it. Go to PayPal.com to sign up on the double!

get to knoW your felloW SoldierS.Want to find out who you’re REALLY doing business with online? Then try checking out buyer or seller feedback before you do business. With the feedback system, you can look at a potential buyer or seller’s transaction history as written by other folks who’ve done business with them. If a user has more than

one or two negative comments or ratings, it’s best to steer clear. Instead, just look for people with impeccable ratings who you know will treat you right.

keep your friendS cloSe, and your Stuff cloSer.

Sure, you may be anxious to get that old junk out the door once you sell it online,

but hold on one second, soldier. Before you mail that merch to a buyer, make sure you have the agreed-upon payment amount in your hand (or bank account). Even if a buyer swears on his mother to pay you later, don’t be fooled. He’s likely just a scammer out to take your stuff without paying up. So be cautious, because once you send that package out the door, there’s

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the INsIde sCooP oN yard saLesat communityamerica we always try to help you clean up your finances. now we want to help you clean up your home, too. that’s why this year we’re helping you pull off the perfect sell-a-ton-and-make-a-little-while-you’re-at-it yard sale.

the PrICe Is rIght

That coconut tiki head from college may be priceless to you, but to somebody else, it’s just a lamp. And it’s not worth 25 bucks to ANYBODY. When you price your merchandise, don’t look at things in terms of what value they have to you. Look at them in terms of what value they might hold for Joe Yard Sale. For more pricing tips, go to: http://www.garagesalesource.com/articles/garage_sale_pricing

NoW that’s What We CaLL Curb aPPeaL

Even though your treadmill only looks like failed fitness dreams to you, it has major stopping power for any passer-by who’s been thinking about how to drop that extra ten pounds lately. Display that baby (or any other cool item) at the front of your sale, and you’ll attract a lot of customers who would otherwise do nothing more than drive on by.

team uP For a bIgger saLe (aNd ProFIt)

Don’t have quite enough stuff to justify throwing a full-blown sale? Well, chances are Sally down the street feels the same way. The perfect solution: team up to make a big, bad, bodacious sale. Splitting up all the set-up, take-down and change-making responsibilities can save you a ton of time and effort. Or, if you really want to up your customer count, get together with your local homeowners association and organize a neighborhood sale. You’ll be surprised how much an organized effort can increase your business.

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Pre-oWNed merChaNdIse vs. oLd JuNK

What’s the only difference between the two? In most cases, it’s as little as 30 seconds of wiping, scrubbing, rinsing or polishing. So if you want to maximize your profits (and why on earth wouldn’t you?) then make sure everything you sell is looking its best, or at the very least respectable.

doN’t brINg that stuFF baCK IN thIs house, youNg Lady!

Sure, it’d be nice if you sold every last coffee mug and old cassette at your yard sale, but it isn’t exactly likely. So what do you do with all the leftovers? Taking them to the curb for the next trash day is the easiest solution, but if you’d rather take a more environmentally friendly approach, just drive them over to the nearest thrift store. That way your old stuff finds its way into the hands of someone who really needs it.

Put...the bLaNKIe...doWN

We know, we know. Little Billy’s toddler toys hold some sentimental value, but now that your boy has graduated from his tricycle – and high school – it’s time for most of the old stuff to go. When you’re deciding what stays and what goes, here’s a good rule of thumb: if you haven’t used something in the last six months, then there’s probably no reason to hold on to it.

sIgNage, sIgNage everyWhere

Want to really move some merchandise? Then you’d better make sure a lot of people know that you’re trying to sell it. Classifieds, flyers at the local grocery store and signs placed around the neighborhood are great ways to advertise. And if you’re feeling particularly tech-savvy, try posting a few ads online: CraigsList.com and YardSalePortal.com are great places to start.

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tax REcoRDSw2s oR 1099s – keep for seven years.

REtIREmEnt (401(k), IRa)QuaRtERlY StatEmEntS – keep until you receive annual summary.annual StatEmEntS – keep three years.

InVEStmEntSmonthlY anD QuaRtERlY StatEmEntS – keep for one year, discard when you receive annual summary.tRaDE confIRmatIonS (purchase or sale of mutual funds and stocks) – keep three years.

CLeaN uP your FINaNCes

the KeeP It/toss It Cheat sheetbank StatEmEntSQuaRtERlY anD monthlY StatEmEntS – keep until year’s end.YEaRlY StatEmEntS – keep for one year, until you receive the following year’s.Sign up for e-statement for an easy digital backup.

bIllSmonthlY bIll StatEmEntS – discard as soon as the check clears. moRtGaGE/auto StatEmEntS – do not discard until you no longer own the item.

cREDIt caRD InfoRmatIonREcEIPtS – keep until the end of each month.StatEmEntS – keep monthly until you receive the next month’s.tax-RElatED tRanSactIonS – keep with your tax documents for seven years.

PaY StubSPaY StubS – hold until you get your end-of-year tax statement.

#

1. traSh What you canWhile it’s commendable that you save all those receipts, bills and miscellaneous papers, do you think you really need all of them? You’d be surprised how much financial clutter comes from old records that you just don’t need anymore. I mean, we know the good old days hold some fond memories, but is there any reason to keep that bank statement from August of ’88? Probably not – so shred it up and get it out.

“But what financial stuff do I need to hold onto?” you ask. Don’t worry, we’re one step ahead of you.

2. keep What you muStWhen it comes to financial records, sometimes all the rules and regulations are hard to remember. That’s why we’ve created a handy list of common documents and how long you should keep them around. Cut out the list below and put it near your financial records. That way you’ll always have a cheat sheet of what you need to keep and what you can afford to get rid of.

3. organize eVerythingWhether it’s in a file cabinet, a bunch of labeled shoeboxes or a stack of manila folders, make sure you have a place for everything. And while you’re at it, cut out the handy-dandy list below and slap it on the front of your financial storage space. It’ll help things stay organized and let you know when you can place them neatly in File 13. Just make sure to shred first, because the right information in the wrong hands can lead to big (and we mean BIG) trouble.

noW that you’Ve got your home all cleaned up thiS Spring, Why not try and get your financeS all cleaned up too? it’S not aS hard aS you might think. in fact, We’Ve broken it doWn into three eaSy StepS.

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oPEn SunDaYS

communItYamERIca locatIonS In kc mEtRo64th street 6390 n cosby avekansas city, mo 64151

112th street 11125 ambassador drkansas city, mo 64153

aNtIoCh aNNex5400 ne antioch kansas city, mo 64119

bresette’s suN Fresh7613 nW prairie View rdkansas city, mo 64151

Chouteau CrossINgs inSide feStiVal foodS 4357 ne chouteau trfykansas city, mo 64117

CLayComo8100 ne uS 69 hwypleasant Valley, mo 64068

eNgLeWood hy-vee207 ne englewood rdkansas city, mo 64118

LIberty hy-vee1332 kansas Stliberty, mo 64068

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d North KaNsas CIty hosPItaL2800 clay edwards dr, 4th floor (in “the link”)�north kansas city, mo 64116

North oaK 9310 north oak trfykansas city, mo 64155

shoaL CreeK 8450 ne flintlock rdkansas city, mo 64157

tIFFaNy sPrINgs 9060 n Skyview ave kansas city, mo 64155

WhIte oaK7932 n oak trfy kansas city, mo 64118

bLue vaLLey 6280 W 135th Stoverland park, kS 66223

NaLL hILLs 5601 W 95th Stoverland park, kS 66207

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Ja

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oLathe 13590 S black bob rdolathe, kS 66062

PraIrIe vILLage hy-vee7620 State line rdprairie Village, kS 66208

rIdgevIeW hy-vee18101 W 119th Stolathe, kS 66061

shaWNee statIoN16110 W 65th StShawnee, kS 66217

23rd street hy-vee1525 e 23rd Stindependence, mo 64055

40 hIghWay hy-vee4545 S noland rdindependence, mo 64055

bLue rIdge11501 blue ridge blvd kansas city, mo 64134

bLue sPrINgs hy-vee601 W 40 hwyblue Springs, mo 64014

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bLue sPrINgs outer road1800 S outer rdblue Springs, mo 64015

bLue sPrINgs WaL-mart 600 ne coronado drblue Springs, mo 64014

hIddeN vaLLey3100 S m-291 hwy independence, mo 64058

NoLaNd road3622 S noland rd independence, mo 64055

toPeKa1129 S kansas avetopeka, kS 66612

toPeKa hy-vee2951 SW Wanamaker rdtopeka, kS 66604

traNs aIr10895 lambertinternational blvdbridgeton, mo 63044

Wanna catch a ballgame while you catch up with your credit union? then come on out to our annual member meeting on thursday, June 26 at communityamerica ballpark. last year’s event was a big success, and this year’s will be bigger, better and even more fun. So unless your name is negative nancy, debby downer or grouchy mcSmartypants, mark your calendars now and come check out what promises to be one of the most awesome events of the year.

Family interviews at

cacufinancialmakeover.com.

at communityamerica, we believe that

kids of all ages should know how to

effectively spend, save and share their

money. to help further that focus on

financial education, we’re once again

partnering up with Junior achievement

to help teach kids everything they need

to know about how to best manage

the dollars they have.

if you’d like to help us support

this great organization, come on

out to the communityamerica

Junior achievement bowl-a-

thon on may 5, or go to

www.ja.org/involved/involved_

contrib_give1.shtml. there

you can donate a few

dollars to help us

further the cause.

PREVIouS mucu bRanch comInG Soon

at communityamerica, we love happy endings. that’s why we’re working with four families to help them eliminate debt, build up savings and generally create fairytale financial lives. to find out more about all the progress our families are making:

Weekly TV interview

on FOX4 News.

wednesdays

7am – 9am

Tune in to our radio interviews on Mix 93.3, Star 102,

KFKF and Q104 throughout the day on Mondays.

hEaR thEIR StoRIESSEE thE

famIlIES

between

%aPr*

home eQuItyLINe oF CredIt

3.99

wE’VE Got thE SolutIonto all of YouR aDDItIon PRoblEmS.if you need a little extra cash to cover life’s expenses, check out the 3.99% aPr* home eQuIty LINe oF CredIt from communityamerica. With our great rate, you can use the home you have to get the things you need. because after all, that new kitchen isn’t going to build itself.

800.892.7957 + cacu.com = JOIN IN®

* APR=Annual Percentage Rate. introductory rate of 3.99% APr for the first year of the loan. Following the 1-year intro period, the APr will vary for the remaining life of the loan based on Prime rate published in the the Wall Street Journal money rates table plus a margin. Advertised APr is for “A” and “B” borrowers at a maximum loan to value at 80%. maximum APr is 18%. rate is subject to credit qualifications. Actual rate may vary. Home value is based on County tax assessment when available or Automated Valuation methods (AVm). member may choose to pay for a full appraisal if tax assessment or AVm is disputed. Property must be a single family home and owner occupied. member must carry insurance on the property that secures this loan for an amount equal to or greater than the first and second mortgage amounts. Flood insurance may be required if property located in flood zone. minimum loan amount is $10,000. maximum loan amount is $100,000. offer available to members who do not have existing HeLoC. members with existing HeLoC will not be eligible without qualifying and may be assessed an origination fee of $150 for transferring their existing CommunityAmerica HeLoC to the promotional rate. early loan termination fees may also apply. offer not valid in new york or texas. offer subject to change or expire without notice. Consult a tax advisor concerning tax-deductibility. this credit union federally insured by the national Credit union Administration.