940 North Superior Avenue PO Box 940 Tomah, WI 54660

Phone: 608.372.4736 Fax: 608.372.4394

www.tacuonline.com

T A C U C r e d i t U n i o n l N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 I s s u e

NOVEMBER EMPLOYEE ANNIVERSARY

John Laufenberg

President & CEO

38 years

EXPRESS B e c a u s e t i m e i s m o n e y

SHOPPING TIP

When getting ready for Christmas, shop from a list

to avoid impulse purchases that could leave you in debt

at the end of the season.

TACU Holiday Schedule

TACU will be closed on the following dates.

Monday, December 26 (in observance of Christmas)

Closed all day

Monday, January 2 (in observance of New Year’s Day)

Closed all day

TACU WILL be open on Christmas Eve (Saturday, Dec. 24) until 12:30 pm.

KEEP COLLECTING!

TACU is collecting hats, mittens, and scarves

through Dec 15.

Donations will benefit needy children in the area.

It’s the “gift” that keeps on giving!

The familiar paper U.S. Savings Bond will soon be a thing of the past. The

bonds will become paperless after December 31, 2011, available only online

through the U.S. Department of the Treasury secure website at

www.treasurydirect.gov.

Existing paper bonds are still valid, and will earn interest for 30 years from the

issue date, or until redeemed. You can continue to cash your savings bonds

here at TACU.

Reminder about Paper Savings Bonds!

Federally Insured by NCUA up to $250,000

Equal Housing Lender

www.tacuonline.com

T A C U C r e d i t U n i o n l N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 I s s u e

Christmas Club Accounts Spread Cheer to Santa’s Savers

Do the holidays leave you wincing from the credit card bill long after the

holiday euphoria has worn off? If so, we're here to help.

A Christmas Club account lets you save for holiday spending in advance

rather than relying on credit cards at the last minute. You even can arrange

to have the money deducted directly from your paycheck, making saving as

painless as possible. Plus, you get a free glass ornament for opening your

account each year.

Knowing that you'll have the money to pay for the holidays will put the cheer

back into this year's gift giving.

Open your Christmas Club account today!

Smart Holiday Shopping Takes Planning and Control

You say it every year after the holidays: "Next year I'm going to spend less money." It's easy

to get carried away. It can be just as easy to stay financially fit, even during the busiest

shopping season of the year.

The Credit Union National Association, the trade association for credit unions, and the

Consumer Federation of America, Washington, D.C., suggest these holiday spending tips:

1. Budget your spending and set goals: Start with a realistic idea of how much you can spend

on holiday gifts, food, travel, and so on. Add it up and really give some thought to what you

can afford. Think about where you might cut back and stick to your budget.

2. Make a list: Shop from a list to avoid impulse purchases that could leave you snowed

under in debt at the end of the season.

3. Comparison shop: Take the time to find the best deal. Fight the urge to get your shopping

over with as quickly as possible, and, for the procrastinator: Don't wait until the last minute!

4. Trim your interest payments: If you must pay with a credit card instead of using cash, use a card with a

low-interest rate. Now is a good time to look for a lower-rate card--like TACU’s MasterCard (9% APR interest)!

5. Open a Christmas Club account: Put some money in the account

each each month based on how much you spent this year; arrange to have that

amount automatically deducted from your paycheck. This way, next year

you'll have all the money you need. Plus, you'll earn interest rather than

making big interest payments to finance next year's Christmas shopping.

Need some dough for t

he

Holidays? Kwik Cash Loans allow you to make holiday purchases even if you don’t have the cash on hand. These loans give you needed funds up front in

the form of cash, check, or direct deposit.

The interest rate is as low as 9% APR and the process is easy. Apply today!