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.

In an economic downturn, the need for social services increases. In tandem, the non-profit organizations that provide these services often struggle with their own budgets and program cuts. This is why it is so important to remain philanthropic even in the toughest of times. A recently unemployed woman gave a $500 check to a local non-profit. She was quoted in The Chronicle of Philanthropy as stating, “I can afford to ride this out, but some of the people who were laid off with me can’t.”

Americans are among the most generous people in the world. Why do we give? We like to feel a part of something larger than ourselves. We want our contribution to make a difference. We are somehow emotionally attached to a specific cause. According to the Arizona Grantmaking Forum’s 2008 Arizona Giving Report, individuals as a group give more in total than private and public foundations and corporations.

It is also important for us to patronize locally-owned businesses that give back to our community. They recognize that they are investing in the future…OUR future, the future of the community, and the future workforce. They realize that dollars spent in prevention today can mean less spent on remediation later. Do you know that more tax dollars are spent annually for one person in prison than are spent to support, guide, help, and mentor one child in foster care?

Be philanthropic. Invest in Arizona’s future…YOUR future.

Judy Myers is a community volunteer, a mother of two intelligent and poised daughters and “Grammy” to Kaylie and Thomas. She has been a volunteer member of Angel Charity for Children, Inc. since 2004.

Among the various opportunities to support your local economy, the simplest and most effective could prove to be buying local. As consumers in a buyer’s market, we have the choice to make key decisions on where we make our purchases. Initiating a transaction at your selected retailer symbolizes your support of the establishment. The ball is always in your court; you have the power to toss this ball to businesses you support, and as a result, the more local businesses you support, the more you are helping to better your community!

Buying local is easier than you think. If you find a nearby reputable business, make a point to patronize it, and tell your friends and family about why you visit this business, rather than the franchise across the street. 

• Start with where you shop for groceries. Many communities have weekend Farmer’s Markets in a nearby shopping center or park, a few weekends per month where you can buy locally grown produce from neighborhood farmers and ranchers. Visit www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com or www.fillyourplate.org to check where you can find one close to you. 
• Consider visiting a local coffeehouse every morning before work. You will most likely find they roast their own beans, making it an even fresher cup o’ joe than Starbucks, and thus, getting better flavor and value for a lesser price! 
• When thinking about where to eat on your lunch hour, seek out locally owned and operated restaurants close by. Truly this will make for a short adventure while you are away from the office! For a few ideas, visit www.localfirstaz.com.
• Seek out local record stores to find that perfect gift for the music or movie lover. You will usually find they have a better selection of independent films and music artists. Some give you the opportunity to trade in your DVD movies and music CDs with the option of store credit or cash (local clothing consignment stores also have this opportunity).
• Shopping online is fast and convenient, but our local economy cannot benefit from it at all.  Check out the Get Connected section of this website for local vendors that may be able to help you with your next purchase and/or project!

From June 29 - July 5, Local First Arizona invites you to take the pledge and shop local during Independents Week. Get 20% off at participating Local First Arizona businesses!

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.