Home Banking Login
A special benefits package for our members, 55 years of age or better.
Horizons Club members receive:
- Free Checking with no monthly service charge and no minimum balance
- Free Basic Style checks
- Free Travelers Checks
- Free Notary Services
- Free Cashier's Checks
- Special Cruise Travel Program
- Penalty free withdrawals on your Christmas Club account
- Free paper copies of checks (limit of 5 per year)
- Other benefits may be offered to Horizons Club members throughout the year on a periodic basis. Check back here for the most up-to-date benefits.
Over 55? Budgeting Tips Just for You!
Making smart choices with your money is a lifelong process. The good news: you don’t have to follow a traditional budget to develop better spending habits, and you can start at any age.
Start saving now: browse the ten tips below and find the ones that work for you.
1. Use Bargains and Benefits
Of course you don’t feel like a senior, don’t look like a senior, and certainly don’t act like a senior. Don’t let that deter you from using age to your, and your pocketbook’s, advantage. Check out the extensive list of senior discounts at seniorliving.about.com/od/bargainsseniordiscou/Senior_Discounts_Bargains_Benefits.htm.
2. Make it Fun and Generational
Instead of a budget, challenge yourself to a game. The goal: to find new ways to spend less on your everyday purchases. Turning this process into a game puts your subconscious to work, so there will always be a part of you on the lookout for ways to save. Encourage family members to join your new way of thinking. This budgeting game could be a perfect opportunity to teach grandchildren better spending habits of their own.
3. Allow Choices
The rebel in us makes it hard to stick with a budget that feels like a diet. Instead, frame your spending habits in terms of choices. For example: you can have both the Starbucks coffee and an expensive glass of wine, but perhaps not both on the same day.
4. Use Systematic Withdrawals
Don’t give yourself unlimited access to investment funds. Instead, set up direct deposits from your investments into your checking account. This provides a consistent paycheck and helps prevent overspending.
5. Use Government and Non-Profit Organizations
Benefit programs, such as the one offered by Angel Food Ministries, allow you to get quality food for half the price. This is not a need based program, so you don’t have to go through any qualification process to use the benefit.
6. Consider Housing Alternatives
Roommates offer companionship and help you both save money. You can find retired roommates and travel partners online. You can also lower costs by trading in the high maintenance house/yard for a condo, or flat, in an active living community; somewhere where you can walk to shopping and entertainment.
7. Use Public Transportation
With gas prices on the rise, look for ways to use public transportation when available. Talk to neighbors to see if there are opportunities to carpool. Even better: find local markets within walking or biking distance.
8. Vacation for Less
www.seniorhomeexchange.com allows you to look at creative ways to take vacations by swapping homes with people all over the world. You can even swap motor homes.
9. Stay Healthy
A gym membership and healthy cooking lessons may be the best investment you’ll ever make. To keep your medical expenses down spend time learning how to stay healthy and fit.
10. Manage Debt
Use debt wisely. A reverse mortgage, for example, may be the right use of debt. If you get too much of the wrong kind of debt, such as high credit card balances, talk to a credit counseling agency.
Source: http://moneyover55.about.com/od/budgetingsaving/tp/Budgeting-for-Seniors.htm
Our newsletters require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view and print. If you do not already have it, click here to download a free copy.
Note: Special Offers and advertised rates are subject to change.
The golden times Newsletter:
Winter/Spring 2009
Unforgettable Birthdays
If you use your New Horizons Visa Classic or Visa Gold to book your travel, the $14.95 service fee and $35 per person in house cancellation fee will be waived! (Any cruise line fee will always apply.) Click here for more information.
