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Hi there,

And the winners are…

Congratulations to our Bucks for Break winners!

$500 winners Ashley Boyce from the University of Maine-Orono and Whitney Cecil from the University of Southern Maine will be able to help fund their Spring Break vacation. And $250 Bonus Bucks Battle winner Bryce Smith of the University of Maine-Orono is not only well-educated about Maine’s Credit Unions, but has a boost to his Spring Break budget.

I’m ready for a Staycation!

You may have seen my blog on this topic already, but vlogs are more fun, right!? Expenses like rent, utilities, student loan payments and cell phone bills add up, making it difficult to justify spending too much money on a vacation. Instead, opting for a staycation can lower your costs.

There's an app for that!

With the Bucks for Break winners announced this week and spring break just days away, now is the perfect time to look at ways to save money on your next getaway. The good news: you don’t have to look very far when looking for ways to save. Smartphone apps are helping take some cost and stress out of traveling. I’ve put together a list of five of my favorite travel apps that could help you for your next trip!

It’s Fair Season!

Financial Fitness Fair season is in full swing once again around the state! There are six fairs scheduled at high schools this month, with one at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School already in the books. Credit union staff and volunteers will also be making their way to Hall Dale, Yarmouth, Mountain Valley, Lewiston and Falmouth High Schools to engage students in a simulation event. High school juniors and seniors are given a career and a monthly income, and then have to visit booths associated with various expenses that the average adult is faced with each month. Costs, such as transportation, housing, clothing, food, student loans, insurance and several other everyday expenses, are filled in on a monthly budget form by each student.  At the end of the event, the goal is for students to have monthly budget that does not exceed their monthly income. It’s fun and educational, and it’s wonderful to know that over 8,000 students will participate in the coming year.

Shared Branching on Spring Break

No matter where spring break takes you, there’s a credit union branch near you. Shared Branch locations are a convenient way to access your credit union accounts from anywhere in the country. With nearly 175 branches in Maine and over 5,400 across all 50 states, you can be sure that wherever your travels take you, a credit union will be waiting to help. You can transfer funds, withdraw money, make deposits, cash checks, make loan payments and more! You can find a Shared Branch right here in Maine by clicking here.

Video: Organizing Your Finances

In this It's a Money Thing video, Jen plays “Keep or Toss” and learns how long to keep important financial documents.

What’s your favorite travel app? I’d love to know!

Take care,

Jake Holmes
Young & Free Maine Spokester