Budgeting can seem like an overwhelming process if you're unsure of the basics to get started. Questions such as "What do I track?" - "How long should I budget for?" - "What happens if I don't balance?" might come to mind. You can reduce the stress of getting started on your budget by checking out our newest Video Clip on budgeting and the M & M activity from the video. It's a fun and simple way to learn from your own home on your own time.  Make sure to stop by one of our offices for the M & M's and pick up your worksheets or click here for a copy of the worksheet.

Angie Pidde, Training Coordinator

Many of you are familiar with using the mouse wheel to scroll up and down webpages. But did you know that the wheel is also the third button on the mouse? Did you also know that it has a very useful function inside today's modern browsers? Well both of those are true and it makes opening links on pages into new tabs easy as a click. 

For those of you that use the tabbed browsing for all your internet browsing. There is an easy way to open a link on a webpage in a new tab. Normally you would have to right-click and select the Open in New Tab option. But with the scroll wheel button or the "middle click" you can open that link without the extra steps of the right click menu. So when you have a link that you want in a new tab use that third button on your mouse to send it to a new tab.

Chris Felton - IT Specialist

Are you having trouble keeping up with your mortgage payments?  Has your lender sent notices regarding your past due loan status? Do you think you have no other options but to lose your home? 

If you have answered "YES" to any of those questions, you need to look at all of your options.

• If you are a SouthPoint Member, contact your loan officer or other representative right now 877-794-6712. We want to work with you!
• First off, DON'T ignore the letters from your lender.
  • The further you fall behind on your home, that harder it becomes to reinstate or modify your loan.
  • The first notices you receive will provide the necessary information to prevent foreclosure
  • Later notices include important notices of pending legal action.
    • These notices spell out your rights - read them over carefully.
    • Ignoring or pretending you didn't receive these notices will not count as an excuse in foreclosure court.
• Contact your lenders as soon as you realize that you have a problem
  • Lenders DO NOT want your property back.
  • There may be options to help your through these times and get back on your feet.
• Contact a HUD-approved housing counselor - http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD
  • HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are available to provide you with the information and assistance you need to avoid foreclosure. You may be eligible for a special Making Home Affordable loan modification or refinance, to reduce your monthly payments and help you keep your home.
  • If you need help understanding the Making Home Affordable programs, you can use this search tool to find a counseling agency in your area that will provide you with free foreclosure prevention services. If you are eligible for the loan modification or refinance program, the counselor will work with you to compile an intake package for your servicer.
  • Foreclosure prevention counseling services are provided free of charge by nonprofit housing counseling agencies working in partnership with the Federal Government. There is no need to pay a private company for these services.
• Look into Government assistance programs - http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/pages/default.aspx
• Prioritize your spending
  • Look at your finances and prioritize what expenses you need to live on.
  • Optional expenses such as cable, memberships, and entertainment can be eliminated.
  • Mortgage should take precedence over credit card debt.
• Avoid foreclosure prevention companies and scams
  • Many private companies are preying on people looking for help.
  • Use your free resources through Government help or help from you lender.

There is help available in these trying times. By handling the situation properly, you should be able to climb out from under your debt.

Mark Newman - Collections & Business Service Representative

Have you ever thought about starting your own business or buying an existing business and didn't know who to turn to for help? Maybe you are an existing business that has questions as well. One of the top resource tools offered through the Small Business Administration, is on the web and the address is www.sba.gov

Here you can find answers to your questions and other information covering such topics as:

Thinking about starting a business
Find a mentor or counselor
Writing a business plan
Establishing a business
Preparing your finances
Loan, grants & funding
Business Law & regulations
Marketing a new business
Licenses & permits

You can find resources to help manage your business such as:

Leading your company
Growing your business
Exporting and Importing
Running a business
Business Law & Regulations
Getting out
Local resources
Forms

Also on the home page you have the opportunity to join the "Open for Business blog" whereby you can keep up with SBA's top business leaders and hear the latest news.

SouthPoint Federal Credit Union is a SBA lender and is here to help with your business needs, whether it be financing or deposit accounts. This year we updated our Business Checking Account Package to provide you with many of the products and services you need to run your business and become more efficient. We are excited to offer you many of these services and hope to build member relationships. 

Randy Reinarts - Commercial Loan Officer