There are still inexpensive ways you can put on and enjoy some haunted Halloween fun! Decorations and costume expenses can add up quickly, but here are some candy-pinching ideas while still getting a taste of that dark chocolate for some spook-tacular fun.

Stay local while shopping for decorations, accessories, and costumes. Check out stores such as Fun Services Arizona, Phase II, or Easley’s Costumes and Fun Shop. You may even consider digging through Grandma’s closet for some truly hidden treasures! 

Putting together a unique Halloween costume can be easier than you think. Do some hunting at consignment stores such as Buffalo Exchange or Plato’s Closet. Usually during October, they invite their customers to bring in their old costume(s) and accessories to use toward the purchase of a new one for this year! 

Need costume ideas? Late celebrities, news anchors, movies, music, and TV spark some very popular trends for this year. Spirit Halloween, the seasonal Halloween retail chain, has predicted the following will be best sellers this year:

• Michael Jackson
• Jon and Kate Gosselin
• Sarah Palin
• Bernie Madoff
• Robert Pattinson (from Twilight)
• G.I. Joe
• Pop stars including Britney Spears & Rihanna
• Transformers
• High School Musical 3
• Star Wars and Star Trek

Do you know of any other stores or websites for your one-stop Halloween needs?  Feel free to leave a comment and let us know! 

Stephanie Nishioka is the Marketing Coordinator for Arizona Central Credit Union, where she has worked since March 2008. She is an Arizona native and currently resides in Surprise with her fiancé and Shiba Inu.

During this economic downturn, it can be a challenge to find fun activities to do that don’t require a lot of money. The newest trend, that doesn’t cost a lot, is taking your pet out on a date!

There are groups you join that have weekly or monthly “group dates” for your pet to get some playtime in with other animals. It’s also a great way for you to meet other pet owners. There is usually little or no cost to join these groups.

Where can I sign up for a pet date?

• Find My Dog a Date – If you are located in the Phoenix area, a local man named Michael D’Elena started a group called “Find My Dog a Date.” Visit the website and get connected to other dog owners and sign up for the emails, so you know when the next meeting will be held. Owners can find dog dates by zip code as well as type of dog by using age, weight, breed, temperament and preferred activities.
• Meet Up – Another website to try is called “Meet-Up.” This website offers you an array of groups that “meet up” in your city. You can choose from many different types of pet groups, including ones exclusively for a certain breed of animal, small or large animal, and much more.

Do you know of other great websites for pet dates? Let us know!

Karen Myers is the Marketing Specialist for Arizona Central Credit Union, where she has worked since July 2008. She moved to Phoenix from Boulder, Colorado last year.

If you are in the market for new household appliances, you may want to hold out for the latest $300 million dollar stimulus package, “Cash for Refrigerators.” This federal program is giving consumers rebates for the purchase of high-efficiency appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, etc.

Cash for Refrigerators is part of the broader $700 billion economic stimulus bill passed earlier this year. It’s similar to the recent popular “Cash for Clunkers” federal program, the only difference is this program does not require you to trade in your old appliances.

Cash for Refrigerators should be taking effect later this year and authorizes rebates of $50 to $200 with the purchase of high-efficiency household appliances. The Arizona Energy Office has been designated to administer the program, and will be in charge of giving away $6.2 million to Arizona consumers.

Only appliances covered by the Energy Star seal and meet energy-efficiency standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy will qualify. Details on how the rebates will be paid out and exactly what appliances will be eligible have not yet been decided.

The home appliance industry has had a significant decline in sales that began when the housing market also started its downward trend in 2006. Leading appliance companies have seen huge drops in sales, as much as 40% this year. Many have had to lay off hundreds of workers, so they welcome the program, hoping it will revive the struggling home appliance industry while saving energy at the same time. Experts say that $300 million in rebates could generate 5 to 10 times that amount in sales, which could make a significant impact.

The Cash for Refrigerators program will vary from state to state and details are still being worked out. The federal government has given state governments a due date of Oct. 15 to send their plans to Washington.

Karen Myers is the Marketing Specialist for Arizona Central Credit Union, where she has worked since July 2008. She moved to Phoenix from Boulder, Colorado last year.

Back-to-school season is here. You know the time has come when Staples airs their commercial depicting a gleeful dad jumping for joy with his depressed children slowly following behind him, to the tune of Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”  This time around, many parents are monitoring their budget more closely, so we probably won’t see them happily tossing random glitter pens or a high-end stapler into their shopping cart.  Better yet, taking your child(ren) back-to-school shopping can still be a fun adventure while staying within budget as well.

• Stores such as TJ Maxx or Ross have name brand backpacks, shoes, and clothing for prices lower than retail.  For the college bound, they also carry kitchen utensils, wall décor, bedding, cookbooks, coffee, etcetera.
• Visit locally-owned clothing consignment stores such as Buffalo Exchange to put together trendy outfits for the new school year.  If your teenager has clothing that is still in good condition you may be able to trade them in for cash or store credit.  To find a local consignment store near you, check out Local First Arizona.
• For the tech-savvy who may be looking to upgrade their iPod, try Bookman’s Entertainment Exchange. Bookman’s base each of their store’s inventory solely on what their customers turn in. College-bound students may be able to find all their needed textbooks in one location and maybe even have some cash leftover to purchase a few CDs or find an old issue of Fangoria featuring one of their all-time favorite movies!

Do you have any other ideas for saving money during the back-to-school shopping season? Share your thoughts by commenting on this article.

Stephanie Nishioka is the Marketing Coordinator for Arizona Central Credit Union, where she has worked since March 2008. She is an Arizona native and currently resides in Surprise with her fiancé and Shiba Inu.

As car manufacturers struggle to sell vehicles in today’s economy, buyers are benefiting from some of the most aggressive pricing and incentives in recent memory. Now the federal government is jumping into the fray with its so-called “Cash for Clunkers” program.

Officially known as the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), the Cash for Clunkers program was created to help remove inefficient, higher-polluting vehicles from the roadways while providing an economic stimulus for consumers and auto manufacturers.

Here’s a quick rundown of the program:

• Your trade-in cannot be more than 25 years old and must be in drivable condition. In the case of very large pickups and vans (8,500 to 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight), they must have been made since 2001.
• You must have owned your clunker for at least one year and it must be registered and insured for the last 12 months.
• Your clunker must get 18 miles per gallon (MPG) combined fuel economy or less.
• The new vehicle you’re purchasing must have a combined fuel economy of at least 22 MPG for passenger vehicles. For small trucks and SUVs, the new vehicle must have a combined fuel economy of at least 18 MPG.
• If your new vehicle achieves 4 to 9 MPG better fuel economy than your trade-in, the credit is $3,500.
• If the new vehicle has a combined fuel economy value that is at least 10 MPG higher than the traded-in vehicle, the credit is $4,500.
• Your clunker credit is subtracted from the price of the vehicle, and the dealership is reimbursed by the federal government.
• The program doesn’t require a voucher or additional paperwork on your part.

To see if your vehicle might qualify, try out one of the many online “clunker calculators,” like the one at the Kelley Blue Book website.

Keep in mind, the “Cash for Clunkers” credit you receive is in place of your vehicle’s trade-in-value; you don’t receive both. So, if your clunker is worth more than the credit, you’re better off taking the trade-in value as opposed to the clunker credit.

You can use your clunker credit to purchase or lease a new vehicle; used vehicles do not qualify. That’s an important consideration. Depending on your budget, it might make more sense to purchase a quality pre-owned vehicle. Don’t forget, in addition to that new car smell, you’ll also be facing higher monthly payments, increased insurance rates, higher registration fees and greater depreciation expense when your purchase new over used.

The Cash for Clunkers program officially started July 1, so if you just purchased and traded in vehicles that would have qualified under the program, you may still be eligible for the rebate. Check with the dealership where you purchased your vehicle.

CARS is scheduled to end Nov. 1 or whenever the $1 billion set aside for this program is depleted, so you need to act fairly quickly. For more information, visit www.cars.gov, the federal government’s official “Cash for Clunkers” website.

David Kexel is the Vice President of Marketing & Business Development for Arizona Central Credit Union, where he has worked since 1999. He has 12 years of experience in financial services marketing and has lived in Arizona for 21 years.

It’s July in Arizona! Besides being hot, it’s clear that this year everyone is trying to spend money wisely. GetAZmoving and Homeminders are pleased to provide a free subscription to Homeminders (a $58 value) along with these four tips to save money and make your home safer for your family.

Air Conditioning – Change your filters!
Your A/C system can’t run efficiently if it doesn’t have proper air flow. An old, dirty filter reduces the effectiveness of your system – air-flow is reduced and stress is placed on your system, which will shorten its life. With cooling costs over $200 per month for the average Phoenix home and a new HVAC system running over $5,000, you can really save money with this simple task. In Arizona, you should change your filters every 30 days during the hot season.

Bonus: a clean air filter (especially the HEPA filters) can improve the air quality for you and your family – which should make you breathe easier!

Air Conditioning – Programmable thermostats
Thermostat technology has improved – both in the accuracy of the temperature reading and the introduction of scheduled timers that let you automatically raise the temperature if you’re going to be away for more than eight hours. You can even alter the temperature during the night – as your body temperature cools while you sleep, you may not need to cool the house to the same temperature – and still feel comfortable. Check the EnergyStar® website and your local hardware store. Installation is easy and for less than $50, you may save over $100 this year.

Water heater – Flush away the sediment at the bottom of your system!
Arizona is infamous for the hard water that flows through our pipes. Many homeowners opt for a water softener to reduce mineral buildup, but even if you have a water treatment system, you should drain your water heater at least once per year (two times per year is better). The elements that heat your water can become caked (or even submerged) in sediment. Draining the water on a periodic basis will improve the efficiency of your heater and extend its useful life. Don’t forget to look for leaks or corrosion (early signs that a leak may be imminent) while you’re flushing the system.

Homeminders experts weigh in on the benefits of draining your water heater.

Roof – Check yours before (and after) the Monsoons hit
While our homes don’t go through the extreme cold temperatures other areas of the country experience, our sun and monsoon winds can wreak havoc and loosen or blow away shingles and tiles. Before and after each storm, survey your home (from the ground – use binoculars) to see if any damage has occurred. Only if you have the proper equipment and physical capabilities should you climb on your roof. If anything seems amiss, be sure to have repairs completed immediately. With the heavy rain our monsoons can bring, even a small leak can cause significant internal damage and even ruin your personal belongings. While insurance may cover repairs, your deductible may still drain thousands of dollars from your wallet, and you don’t need the frustration of going through major repairs.

Sign-up now for Homeminders and save even more time and money with getAZmoving’s FREE offer.
Homeminders is a web-service that helps you save time and money while making your home a safer place. Ethix Media, LLC., makers of Homeminders (a Scottsdale based company) is excited to partner with getAZmoving.org to offer a FREE two-year subscription to all getAZmoving readers (a $58 value). No credit card is required and it only takes two minutes to register. This offer can be redeemed through September 7, 2009 using promo code: getazmoving at www.homeminders.com/getazmoving.

Jack Cleeves launched Homeminders in 2005. He also has vast experience in residential and commercial construction and home maintenance industries.

After kissing far too many frogs, you’ve finally met your Prince Charming and can’t wait to share your wedding day with family and friends. The only problem now could be paying for the wedding!

It’s easy to want to purchase an expensive designer couture gown, a five-course steak and lobster dinner and thousands of roses, but in these tough economic times it might be better to give yourself a budget that fits within your financial comfort zone and yet still have your dream wedding.

There are many ways to save money for your wedding, but one of the best money saving tips is to put a little elbow grease into it and do it yourself!

Flowers – Pick flowers that are in season and have friends and family help you put together the bouquets and boutonnieres.

Hair & makeup – A great way to cut back is to do your own hair and makeup. Also, ask around. Your friends and family may know someone who is good at styling hair and applying makeup.

Address your own envelopes – Get your wedding party together to help address envelopes. The more people you have to help, the faster the process will go.

Coordinate the alcohol – Alcohol can be one of the biggest expenses on your wedding day. If the facility you are having your reception will allow, try to coordinate your own alcohol. It will save you tons of money. If they won’t allow off-site vendors, then you may want to consider only serving beer and wine.

Make the favors – Ask family and friends to help, but you can decorate the favors yourself. Have a nice photo of the two of you or make your own CD filled with your favorite tunes. These are great, inexpensive items that everyone will love!

If you would like to find more information and tips to planning a wedding on a budget, visit The Knot or the Wedding Channel. Both of these websites are filled with great tips and suggestions for planning your wedding.

Do you have any other tips? Share your thoughts by commenting on this article.

Karen Myers is the Marketing Specialist for Arizona Central Credit Union, where she has worked since July 2008. She moved to Phoenix from Boulder, Colorado last year.

One of the simplest things to do is to change your lights to Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs. Not only will they use about 25% of the energy that a typical bulb does, but they also won’t put out the heat that incandescent bulbs do. What’s more, CFLs will last you about 10 times longer meaning lower replacement costs. In fact, with each bulb you replace you’ll be saving well over $30 in energy and replacement costs over the life of the bulb.

It’s no surprise that the largest source of energy usage for a typical customer in the Arizona deserts is keeping your home cool. And the key to lowering your energy cost is simply keeping the heat out. The largest source of heat gain is through your windows. You can replace them with high efficiency models, but that can be expensive. Some less expensive options that will help are installing shade screens, window tinting or awnings. Even landscaping that provides shade can make a big difference.

If you do decide to replace your windows, look for ones that have a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of .35 or lower. And make sure they have an ENERGY STAR® designation which shows they have been tested for efficiency.

One of the most important things you can do is to have your duct work tested and repaired. It’s not uncommon for 15% of your cooling energy to be wasted due to duct leakage. APS offers its customers up to $250 in rebates to help cover the cost (you can call the APS Energy Line at (602) 371-3636 for a referral to an APS qualified contractor).

If it is time for a new air conditioner keep in mind that new electric heat pumps and AC units are about 40% to 50% more efficient than units installed just 15 years ago. It may seem like a big investment, but you’ll notice lower bills right away. APS also offers rebates of up to $525 to help defray some of the cost.

Once you’ve made those efficiency changes, consider installing solar energy. A solar water heater can save up to 15% on your utility bill, and with APS rebates and federal and state tax credits, you can save up to 80% of the cost. A system that costs $5,000 may end up costing around $1,000 after incentives and pay for itself in just a few short years.

You can also take advantage of our 300 days of sunshine by installing solar panels to create a portion of your own energy. For residential customers, APS offers a rebate of up to $3 per installed watt. And, when you combine that with federal and state tax credits, well over 50% of the cost can be covered for you.

So even though the summer heat is here, high utility bills don’t have to be. You can find information on all of the APS incentives as well as other energy saving tips at www.aps.com/greenchoice.

Rex Stepp is the Program Rep for the APS Renewable Energy Incentive Program working with customers to help promote the use of renewable resources.

What can you do, with budgets so tight, to entertain the kids? Well keep in mind a traditional resource, your public library.

Your local public library offers a variety of FREE summer programs for all ages. From sing-a-long/interactive sessions for you and your toddler to collaborative reading programs for your older kids. Your public library is a great destination to beat the summer heat and get your kids away from the TV and video games. Reading programs, FREE DVD rentals, internet access and arts and crafts projects are all available and will assist you in keeping your youngsters busy,while helping them develop a love for reading! 

Find information online by visiting your local library’s website:

• Flagstaff Public Library
• Glendale Public Library
• Mesa Library 
• Phoenix Public Library
• Tucson Public Library

Subscribing to local magazines, or looking them up online, will also provide direction and information on a number of topics to help your family. Phoenix Magazine offers tips on the best hikes, “Top Docs” and weekend getaways all within driving distance to help stretch your vacation dollars. Find out about all the new restaurants, exhibits coming to the Art & Science Museums, and read about all the places in Arizona you and your family have not yet visited. You can beat the heat by driving just a few hours!

Remember to check the websites of our local TV stations and newspapers. They’ll not only keep you up to date on what’s happening locally, across Arizona and the world, but will also let you know where to find the best deals for groceries, home improvement, car repair and even deals to feed and care for your family pets! Look for merchant’s offering online, printable coupons.

Summer vacation sounds relaxing, doesn’t it? Well, it can be if you keep your family entertained without breaking the bank by doing a little advanced planning and with just a few clicks of your mouse!

What are your ideas for saving money on summer entertainment? Please share your thoughts by adding a comment so we can all save a little green this summer.

Janet Moodie is the Vice President of Operations for Arizona Central Credit Union, where she has worked since 1995. She has 25 years of credit union experience and has lived in Arizona since 1983.