How to Save Money on Your Daughter's Quinceañera

Your daughter's coming of age birthday party might seem like it is going to cost you a pretty penny as you begin to plan and prepare. Some people can go overboard and spend a small fortune on their daughter's quinceañera, but with these money-saving tips, you can afford to throw your girl the birthday party of her dreams!

Skip the Salon

Your daughter and her friends want to look perfect for the big day, but a lot of hair, makeup, and nail treatments can be done less expensively than at a salon. One idea is to go to a local cosmetology school to get discounted services. Otherwise, enlist a particularly talented friend or relative to help with hair or makeup for getting ready, saving you hundreds in salon costs.

DIY Decorations

Instead of flowers, choose balloons or photographs to decorate the party. The dollar store offers many creative and inexpensive decorations and you can search on Pinterest.com for easy DIY crafts to make with them. Enlist relatives to help create custom quinceañera decorations and even put together favors for your guests.

Frugal Food

Make handmade food choices instead of catering. Traditional dishes will go over better with your guests, anyway! You can also choose to have multiple smaller cakes or cupcakes instead of just one big one to save a little money. Another popular choice is to serve multiple appetizers instead of a sit-down dinner. Plated meals will oftentimes blow the budget so simpler food choices can reduce the cost of your daughter's quinceañera dramatically.


As your daughter celebrates her very special fifteenth birthday, it can be tempting to spend a lot to have her every wish granted. To save money on her quinceañera, heed these tips to save tons of money.

First Choice Credit Union is here to help you make smart financial decisions in all aspects of your life. We offer a special quinceañera loan just for your little girl. Stop in today and ask about how we can help make her birthday the best yet!

Preparing for Bad Weather: Hurricane Matthew

For anyone that lives along the coastline, the threat of hurricanes and tropical storms is very real and a continued cause of concern. Even with the advancements of science and detection tools, we can only give estimates of a storm’s arrival and ferocity.

Hurricane Matthew was the strongest hurricane to hit Haiti in 50 years and is expected to land on Florida’s shores Late Thursday. Florida Governor Rick Scott wants people to leave while they can. He has already declared a state of emergency in every Florida county. In an interview Monday morning, he was quoted to say, "Right now, the projected path is a little off the coast, but it can change at a moment's notice. When that happens, we're not going to have a lot of time to get ready."

Below are some tips to prepare for Hurricane Matthew:

Before the Storm Arrives

It seems likely that many Florida (as well as other states) will be asked to leave their homes. As Bill Karins, meteorologist for NBC News Tweeted Monday that Hurricane Floyd evacuated millions, but remained 100 miles offshore. Matthew is expected to be around 50 miles offshore, so evacuations are sure to follow. You can find updated evacuation zones here. Before you leave:

• Fill your car’s gas tank
• Protect windows with plywood boards or storm shutters
• Secure outdoor objects like grills or furniture—anything that can be moved by high winds
• Learn the evacuation routes—where will you be going and how will you get there. If you  find yourself in an evacuation zone, don’t wait, evacuate immediately!
• Plan for your cash needs. Access to cash could be limited in the period leading up to and after a storm.
• Check local weather reports often; either on radio, television, or the internet. If possible, download an app for your smartphone or device.

If You Get Caught in the Storm

If you have nowhere else to go, cannot evacuate in time, or for any reason find yourself within the storm, follow the following precautions where possible:

• Stay in a secure room away from windows
• Don’t use a landline phone, candles, or electronics that need to be plugged in
• Remain indoors, even when the eye passes over—the storm isn’t over, and you don’t want to be caught outside.
• Prepare the proper supplies such as:
• Fresh water and nonperishable food for three days
• A first aid kit
• A flashlight and spare batteries
• A battery powered TV or Radio and spare batteries
• Any needed medications, as well as pain relievers  and personal hygiene products
• A fully-charged cell phone with extra battery or external charger

After the Storm has Passed

• Report any downed power lines in your area and stay away from them
• Use stored food and water
• Be patient - it may take awhile for things to go back to normal
• Help your friends and neighbors where possible. Not everyone may have had time to prepare

It is not yet determined when and where Matthew will strike. At First Choice Credit Union, we encourage our Members to prepare early. If necessary, we will make every attempt to provide emergency announcements regarding our hours through following TV and radio stations as well as our Facebook Page:

• WPTV Channel 5
• WPBF 25
• WPEC 12
• La Ley and Fiesta
• WRMF
• WIRK

We wish everyone safety during the storm.

Budgeting for Spring Break

As the old saying goes, spring is just around the corner, and that also means Spring Break! Every college student dreams of going on some elaborate trip with their friends and having the time of their lives. Unfortunately, many students wake up from that dream and remember that they are college students who can’t quite afford an elaborate trip. Maybe you’re not planning on heading out of the country this March, but here are a few tips to help you save for your trip:

Set Your Budget

To a college student, the word “budget” brings visions of ramen noodles and bus passes, but if you are going to save for your trip, you need to set a budget. Start by getting a rough figure of how much your trip will cost. Then, you can begin to build a savings plan. There are many apps that you can download to help you track your savings. (First Choice Credit Union, for example,  offers online banking and apps for Android and iPhone users.) Mobile banking is a great way to  keep track of your spending and savings so you can reach your goal.

Purge Your Closet

If you need some more cash, try selling some old textbooks or go through your closet and sell your unused clothes for cash. Also, keep your eye out for any easy job offers. Some colleges may request help running large events on campus or in the mail room. These jobs are typically only for a few weeks, but are great if you are only looking to get a little extra income. You can even recycle cans and bottles for extra money!

Tighten Your Belt

This one may seem obvious, but stop spending your money on unnecessary things. Weekends are the worst time for college students - spending can get out of hand. Dine out less, wait to see the latest movies, don’t buy clothing items you really don’t need - you know the drill. If this trip is important to you, look into free ways to spend your weekend. See what’s going on around campus or try to get ahead on school work. If you simply must go out, don’t spend money. It may seem tough at first, but trust us, it will pay off in the long run!

Flash Your Student ID

One last way to try and save some money is by using your student ID. Many companies offer a student discount which can help you save just a bit more towards your trip - just ask!

Even if you don’t have the money right away, just yet get creative about saving and you’ll be on your dream trip in no time. If you have any questions about other ways to save or setting up a savings plan, give us a call at (561) 641-0100 or check out our website.

New Year New You? Building Savings After Holiday Spending

Some say the January is the worst. Christmas is over, your summer tan is long gone, and you bank account has been sufficiently depleted. Weeks into the New Year, there is still time to make (or keep) your resolution to save money. Spending less and saving more was one of the top three New Year’s Resolutions of 2015. However, trying to save money after spending so much on the Holidays can seem daunting.

Here are a few quick tips to help you start 2016 off right.

1)      Take Stock of Your Spending

Before you start to make a savings plan, examine your expenses from the holidays. Take a look at how much you spent and charged to credit cards. Be sure to categorize the areas in which  you spent money, such as entertainment, gifts, and food/drink. Not only will this give you a better idea of what you spent money on, but it also reacquaints you with your accounts and gives you a great starting point for rebuilding your savings.

2)      Make a Game Plan to Tackle Debt

You are not the only one who is dealing with the New Year debt blues. However, if you want to eliminate debt quickly, you’ll need a plan. You should aim to pay off the debt on your credit cards within a few months. There are a few strategies that you can use to motivate yourself: First, pay off the card with the lowest balance on it or pay off the card with the highest interest rate. Try using our financial calculator to help you come up with a plan or contact a consultant for help. First Choice CU has a skilled staff that can assist you in digging yourself out of the Holiday Hole.

3)      Make a Budget and Stick to it

Categorize your needs and tighten your purse strings if you are serious about getting out of holiday debt fast. Make a budget that works for you factoring in how much of your debt you should be paying and stick to it. If you are finding that it’s hard to stay within your budget, set yourself a dollar amount and use cash. Once the cash is gone, then you have reached your spending limit.

Just like with any New Year’s resolution, there is no “one size fits all” solution. If you have any questions about saving or how to get out of debt it is usually best to ask a professional. Our representatives are available to assist you with all your financial needs. Although trying to save after the holidays can seem hard, we can help point you in the right direction to get your 2016 off to a great start.