credit union getting greedy

[dmccarty]

We use credit cards for everything, pay them off every month. Trying to get on online pay for everything I can.

I hear I need to Buy Local Buy Local Buy Local. Last week I ordered some stuff from Amazon that I doubt I could find locally. The only place that might have had ONE of the items is an hour round trip. It certainly does not pay to drive out there even if they had the product. We have Amazon Prime and that is one of the best dollars I spend since we get free streaming and free two day shipping. The cost of Prime is paid for after the XMAS holidays.

For the last two weeks, I have been looking for a canning funnel and jar lifters. You would think in a rural area they would be available but they are not in the two grocery stores or two dollar stores. The grocery store has jars and other canning supplies but not the funnels or lifter. The wifey went to Target and they were not being carried either. I should have just ordered them on Amazon and I would have had the items last week but I thought for sure I could find these simple things locally.

After the items were not at Target, I ordered them on Amazon and they will be delivered on Monday. Frankly, the stuff I found on Amazon is MUCH better than what I would have found locally.

Shopping online saves me such much time and effort it is unreal. Then there is savings of gas and wear and tear on the vehicles...

Later,
Dan

 

[Bird]

Bird, since I have my pension and 457K plan withdrawals electronically deposited to my credit union accounts near the end of the month, I just drive thru and take $400-500 out of the ATM once a month, that's my spending cash and the CU is right next door to my regular grocery stop. I have never used a credit card for cash withdrawals, EVER since there is usually a fee for those. Interesting that you can use a Discover card for that purpose and not pay a fee. Is there any limit on the amount you can withdraw? (assumes you don't mind sharing that info, thanks)

JD, there's some considerable fees if I use an ATM; it's been so long I've about forgotten, but I think it was $1.00 for the Credit Union and $1.50 or $2.00 for the owner of the ATM, so when we were traveling, I would draw $200 at a time; carry $100 and give the other $100 to my wife. Of course if I used my own credit union's ATM, I wouldn't have those fees, but my credit union has 9 locations in 3 counties; the closest one being 20 miles from my house. With my Discover Card, the machine you slide it through asks if you want cash back. If you touch "Yes", it displays $20, $40, and $60 so you touch the one you want, and it will then ask if that's right. I never do anything but the $60 at a time, but I have done that more than once in the same day, so I'm not sure what the limit would be. And of course, since I pay in full each month, there's no interest or other fees. But my wife and I usually each carry $100 to $150; never more than that; no need to.

Of course my pension and my wife's social security are direct deposited into that checking account. If my credit union had an office as close as the grocery stores, I probably wouldn't use the credit card for cash. But you say you get $400-$500 a month; we won't spend $60 in cash in a month; just use plastic. And I'm one of those characters who saves all the receipts, staples them to the monthly bill, and keeps them for years.:laughing:

 

[jinman]

If there's anything this thread shows, it's that the only thing common with all of us is that we all spend money. Everyone has their own habit that works for them. From the number of people living in a household to the number of miles to the nearest store or bank, all of us live in different environments that affect our habits. My nearest bank branch is 48 miles from where I live, yet I keep that bank because everywhere I travel in the USA there are branches in every major city. I also like their online services and carry a debit card that is exactly like an electronic checkbook as previously pointed out. Frankly, the local Walmart is my source for cash. If I pay with a debit card, I can get cash for no fee. It's just a system that works for me, and in no way is that to say it's the best.

We've strayed a bit from the OP's original thesis in this thread. He feels that CUs are becoming greedy. Some of the rest of us feel that all financial institutions are struggling to survive. Sure, the salaries of their execs are bloated, but small branch financial institutions may soon become history. Technology has figured a way to replace the offices and people with money-bots called ATMs. Just like you can't get an actual Social Security check sent to your house, one day there may be nothing but money-bots out there. Good or bad, that's the direction of things it seems. Good ol' greenback legal tender is under attack. If we sometimes feel like we are caught in a whirlpool, just think how the poor teller feels who can't read checks without glasses, but there's an ATM machine out front that can read the amounts on checks better than the tellers.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Use cash avoid all the hassles , Are you so incompetent you can't manage your own cash without help ?

 

[MossRoad]

Use cash avoid all the hassles , Are you so incompetent you can't manage your own cash without help ?

Who are you talking to?

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

FYI......Federal law also protects you if you need to dispute charges on a credit card, but not if you use a debit card or other forms of payment. If you paid cash or used a debit card, the retailer already has your money. So you have a lot less leverage, and there’s no guarantee you’ll get that money back. But if you pay for something with your credit card and aren’t happy with the purchase, your card issuer can legally withhold payment from the retailer until they resolve the dispute, and you won’t be charged.

They also provide more protection if someone steals your card or bank information. If you notice a fraudulent charge on your credit card account, you can call the card issuer, make a dispute claim, and the charge should be removed from your balance. But if thieves steal your debit card information and use it, it may take weeks for the bank to investigate your claim and replace the lost funds. In the meantime, you may have to deal with a dwindling bank balance or bounced checks.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

FYI......Federal law also protects you if you need to dispute charges on a credit card, but not if you use a debit card or other forms of payment. If you paid cash or used a debit card, the retailer already has your money. So you have a lot less leverage, and there’s no guarantee you’ll get that money back. But if you pay for something with your credit card and aren’t happy with the purchase, your card issuer can legally withhold payment from the retailer until they resolve the dispute, and you won’t be charged.

They also provide more protection if someone steals your card or bank information. If you notice a fraudulent charge on your credit card account, you can call the card issuer, make a dispute claim, and the charge should be removed from your balance. But if thieves steal your debit card information and use it, it may take weeks for the bank to investigate your claim and replace the lost funds. In the meantime, you may have to deal with a dwindling bank balance or bounced checks.

Two different schools of thought ,I'm 6'3" and 260 lbs I've never really had to deal with not getting what I want . I buy wholesale and never pay retail for anything ever .that's all the leverage I need .

 

[MossRoad]

Two different schools of thought ,I'm 6'3" and 260 lbs I've never really had to deal with not getting what I want . I buy wholesale and never pay retail for anything ever .that's all the leverage I need .

Buying wholesale is illegal unless you are using a business to purchase. And then if you are using a business to purchase, and using it for personal use, that is illegal too, which goes back to my question about being a tax cheat.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Buying wholesale is illegal unless you are using a business to purchase. And then if you are using a business to purchase, and using it for personal use, that is illegal too, which goes back to my question about being a tax cheat.

Let's see you've called me a tax dodger then a tax cheat whats next ?

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Use cash avoid all the hassles , Are you so incompetent you can't manage your own cash without help ?

I use reward credit cards for EVERY purchase. In 2012 the credit card companies gave me $1,256 in cash back for using the credit card. As with others on TBN I pay off the balance every month. I have not paid a credit card fee, interest etc in 20 plus years.

Cash used to be king before they invented cash reward credit cards. :thumbsup: