Consumer Tips

Emergency Savings

At a minimum, you should have enough money available (and easily accessible) to cover three months’ worth of expenses. Six months’ worth is better, but three is a solid beginning. How do you arrive at that figure?

Start with living expenses. Add up three months’ worth of rent or mortgage payments. Look at your utility bills and add three months’ worth of each to the total. For more variable bills, like electricity and heating, use numbers from the more expensive months in your calculations. Use receipts and bank statements to find out what a typical month of groceries and dining out costs you (keep in mind, if your income does suddenly stop, you’re very likely to start spending significantly less than you currently do).

Keep in mind that thanks to inflation, those figures will always be going up. So once you’ve put together an adequate amount of emergency savings, you should ideally review that amount once a year to make sure it’s still sufficient to cover your needs.

Finally, emergencies can happen at any time, so make sure you can access your emergency savings at any time – and hopefully with little to no penalty.

College

By the time a child born today is ready for college, four years at an in-state public university is going to cost around $100,000. So it’s pretty reasonable to want to get a head start on savings.

Saving for college, however, should probably be on the lower end of your priorities, well behind building up an emergency savings account and saving for retirement. Thanks to the ready availability of financial assistance and tuition loans, it isn’t a necessity to have funds saved up in advance.

Your best option may be to open up a 529 plan, which include helpful tax breaks, can receive contributions from anyone (making them a nice gift-giving option), don’t expire, and can even be cashed out without penalty if your child gets a full scholarship.

House

You could theoretically purchase a home with no money down, but that’s far from ideal. Without getting too bogged down into the science of mortgage rates, the more you can bring to the table as a down payment, the better off you’ll be. A sizable down payment means more initial equity for you and less risk for the lender, which can help you get more favorable terms.

In that sense, the more you can save for a down payment, the better. But if you’re looking for a number, you should really try to make a 20 percent down payment your goal. Why 20 percent? The answer is Private

Mortgage Insurance, or PMI.

Lenders require PMI on any mortgage that represents 80 percent or more of the home’s value. This insurance is to help protect lenders against a potential foreclosure and it can be costly – it may run as high as 1.5 percent of the loan value per year, depending on your credit score and other factors. It’s a cost you can avoid by saving enough for a 20 percent down payment. You can use listing sites like Zillow.com to see what the median sales price is for homes in your target area and determine how much you need to save in order to get your 20 percent.

Retirement

Most retirees require between 70 to 90 percent of their pre-retirement annual earnings in order to live comfortably during their retirement years. So if your income were around $100,000, you would need – at minimum – around $70,000 (per year) in savings. That “per year” bit is a little hard to quantify, because (not to be grim or anything) you don’t necessarily know how long you’re going to live.

In the United States right now, the average age of retirement is 63. Life expectancy is currently 78.8 years. For the example above, a retiree would want a nest egg of at least $1,120,000. Which is a lot. It’s also completely achievable if you start early and make a concerted effort to save regularly throughout your adult life.

You can use the figures above to help you get a sense of what you’ll need to build up, but keep in mind that inflation will impact both your future earnings and the future cost of goods and services. If you haven’t already, it may be a good idea to work with a financial advisor to help you sort out a plan to get you ready for retirement.

Union Plus Credit Counseling

Union members can get a no-obligation money and credit assessment from certified, experienced consumer credit counselors though Union Plus Credit Counseling. Powered by the non-profit Money Management International (MMI), your free session will cover a complete financial review, assistance in budgeting, advice for working with creditors, and more.

LEARN MORE

Hyacinth

The hyacinth flower is well-known among gardeners and flower enthusiasts for its sweet, earthy and robust scent. The plant’s fragrance is so sweet, in fact, that it acts as a natural deterrent from animals and pests that may otherwise find its bright bulbs quite enticing. These blossoms make stunning additions to bouquets, as exemplified by Teleflora’s Spring Equinox and Spring Favorites arrangements.​

Freesia

For a fruity scent delivered in a colorful package, look no further than the freesia. According to Balcony Garden Web, these blossoms are popular among European florists, who favor the flower for its wine-like aroma. Freesias can be grown in a variety of colors, including white, like in Teleflora’s Spring Rhapsody bouquet, and hot pink, like in the Roman Holiday arrangement.​

Rose

Who among us doesn’t love to stop and smell the roses? There’s a reason these flowers have become synonymous with rich, luxurious fragrance – they’re truly nature’s perfume. Roses are just as versatile as they are sweet-smelling, and can be incorporated into bouquets for any occasion. For a sunset color palette, check out the Blossoms in Vogue arrangement. Evoke classic romance and old Hollywood glamor with the Always on My Mind Long Stemmed Red Roses bouquet.​

Peony

When peony season rolls around, be sure to pick yours up right away! This blossom is only in bloom for a fleeting amount of time, typically between April and June. The wait is worth it, however – these colorful buds are packed with sweet fragrance. Get your peony fix with Teleflora’s Perfect Peonies and Teleflora’s Pretty in Peony arrangements.​

Sweet Pea

Often used as a fragrance in perfume, lotion and other bath products, sweet pea flowers deliver a light yet wholesome aroma. Fresh sweet peas provide a smell that mixes nicely with other florals and classic buds that fit neatly into any arrangement. Show your friends and family you love them by gifting this delicious fragrance, available in Teleflora’s Isn’t It Romantic and Kensington Gardens by Teleflora arrangements.​

Lily

Lilies have long been a go-to fragrant floral. These dramatic, open buds fill any space with their yummy, enticing perfume. Lilies are grown in many colors, and are perfect for all occasions. One of the most popular arrangements among Teleflora’s lily lovers is the Always a Lady bouquet, which features stunning pink blossoms. For a touch of whimsy, check out the enchanting Yellow Fellow arrangement.​

Summer is full of amazing scents, and these are just a few flowers that will bring the season inside. Tell us below what flowers are your favorite!

Make a Plan

Before heading to the grocery store, do some preparation in advance. Have a selection of different recipes and meals that your family enjoys, and make sure you know all of the ingredients needed. Cut out coupons in magazines and newspapers for items your family uses, and check the grocery sale papers before you head out to make sure you know exactly what is on sale.

Manage Your Urges

Time your shopping trip to occur right after you eat, so that you aren’t hungry and more prone to impulse buying. If your children are inclined to pull cookies and sugary items off the shelves, you may want to leave them at home.

Hunt for Sales

When shopping, instead of purchasing items related to your menu and recipes for the week, you can also plan your menu around what’s on sale that week. While fresh fruits and vegetables can often be expensive and rarely have coupons, in-season produce is generally cheaper. Look for discounts and good deals – just be sure to steer towards foods your family will actually eat. Local farm stands or farmers’ markets are another way to get reasonably priced fresh produce.

Use Bulk Wisely

Also take advantage of “buy one, get one free” sales and bulk discounts. Having a good storage system in place will make food less likely to go to waste. When freezing meat products, write the date of purchase on the package so you know when you’ll need to eat it. Cleaning out your freezer frequently can help you know exactly what food you have available. Soups, pastas, and canned goods are great to purchase in large quantities when they are on sale.

Also, if you have a warehouse club near you, compare prices and consider sharing purchases with a nearby friend or relative. Make sure you have willpower though, or else you’ll come out with a basketful of bulky items you didn’t plan to purchase.

Dried, Canned, and Frozen

Dried items such as beans can be a great, healthy alternative to meat, and are generally reasonably priced. Beans can be added to salads, rice, and soups to add more protein. Also, consider purchasing canned (with no added salt) or frozen vegetables and fruit, which usually contain the same nutrients as fresh food.

Union Plus Credit Counseling

Union members can get a no-obligation money and credit assessment from certified, experienced consumer credit counselors though Union Plus Credit Counseling. Powered by the non-profit Money Management International (MMI), your free session will cover a complete financial review, assistance in budgeting, advice for working with creditors, and more.

LEARN MORE

What’s Under Your Policy’s Hood?

So your homeowner’s policy is very likely to cover a bit more than just your home. Therefore, it’s important to understand exactly what’s covered and for how much. Most policies typically offer the following types of coverage:

• Dwelling
• Other structures
• Personal possessions
• Loss of use
• Personal liability
• Medical payments

Dwelling – More than Just Your Mortgage

One common mistake homeowners often make is to only get enough insurance coverage to cover the cost of their mortgage. Your mortgage, however, does not represent the actual value of your home, or the cost to replace the home as is. Ultimately, what you want is enough insurance to completely rebuild your home in a worst case scenario. Your best bet would be to hire a builder to assess your house and provide an estimate for current replacement costs. Insurance agencies also sell “guaranteed replacement cost” insurance, which – as the title implies – guarantees that you’d be covered for the full cost of replacement, but those policies are costly and hard to come by.

Alternately, you can get “extended replacement coverage”, which in most cases means the insurer will pay out up to 125 percent of your policy limit towards rebuilding your home. Some insurers offer an “inflation guarantee”, which increases to cover changing costs over time. Otherwise, you’d be wise to routinely review your dwelling coverage against the actual cost to replace – materials and services are likely to increase in cost over time, meaning total replacement may require a higher policy limit.

Special Circumstances

Depending on where you live and what hazards your house faces, you may need to purchase additional types of coverage. The most common type of supplemental insurance is flood insurance. In many locations, flood insurance may actually be required by your lender before closing on a mortgage.

Unfortunately, the reason flood insurance exists is because most regular homeowner’s policies don’t cover damages related to flooding. If you’re unsure about whether or not you need flood insurance, you can visit FloodSmart.gov, which is the National Flood Insurance Program’s website.

Other Structures and Personal Possessions

Coverage for “other structures” generally refers to unattached buildings (like a shed) or fences on your property. As with dwelling coverage, ideally you should have a policy limit high enough to fully replace these structures should they be destroyed.

Personal possessions, as a category, can be a little trickier. A popular rule of thumb is to insure your possessions for about 50 to 75 percent of your dwelling coverage, and then purchase additional coverage for any possessions of exceptional value (like expensive pieces of jewelry). If you’d like to be a little more accurate, you can use an app or a program like KnowYourStuff to create a complete catalog of all of your possessions.

Loss of Use, Personal Liability, and Medical Payments

Loss of use coverage represents money that would be available to you if you were temporarily displaced from your home and needed to stay somewhere else. It’s a bit like the rental car coverage you may have included in your car insurance.

Personal liability and medical payment coverage are there to protect you in the event someone is hurt or injured on your property. Medical payment coverage specifically covers medical bills for you or anyone else who suffers an injury on your property, while personal liability kicks in if you’re sued for injuries or damages occurring on your property.

Without adequate personal liability coverage, your savings and other accumulated assets could be at risk if an incident occurs. It’s hard to know exactly how much personal liability coverage is the right amount, but you should definitely consider the relative risk factors (Do you have a swimming pool? Is your home more than one floor? Etc.) when deciding on an amount.

Your Deductible

Finally, while homeowner’s insurance is expensive to have, it’s also expensive to use. Like most forms of insurance, if the cost of a repair is low enough to handle out-of-pocket, it’s usually in your best interests to do so. That’s why it’s often preferable to choose a policy with a high deductible, since a higher deductible usually means a lower premium, which can represent a significant savings over time. It’s a good idea to earmark a portion of your savings for out-of-pocket repairs or covering your deductible so you’ll be prepared if something goes wrong.

Need a little more help? MMI offers homebuyer education courses for anyone looking to buy a new home. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer looking to learn the basics or current owner in need of an education certificate for a specialized loan program, these online courses are thorough, informative, and easy-to-use.

Gum disease is the inflammation of the gums. This can eventually affect the teeth and even bone. More than 75% of adult Americans have some form of gum disease, and many are unaware of it. So how do you recognize gum disease? Look for some of these signs:

• Swollen, red or tender gums
• Gums that bleed when brushing or flossing
• Receding gums
• Loose teeth
• Persistent bad breath or bad taste in your mouth

Catching gum disease early is the key! The early stages of gum disease can often be reversed with good oral hygiene and proper brushing and flossing. This will help prevent the buildup of plaque.

Make sure you’re taking good care of your teeth! Scheduling regular cleanings (we recommend at least 2 each year) can help your dentist catch and treat the early stages of gum disease before it becomes more serious. Union Plus can help you save on your next appointment. Learn more about Union Plus Health Savings to find out how you can save on dental care and much more! These plans are not insurance.

​
For a limited time, buy an LG G5, G6 or L10 smartphone on AT&T Next online, and get a free* LG G Pad X 10.1 tablet with a 2-year agmt w/elig. data service¹.

^{*Limited time offer, while supplies last (ends 5/5/17 in Puerto Rico). Online only. Fees, charges & restr’s apply. See below for full offer details.}

Or, buy a Samsung Galaxy smartphone on AT&T Next® and get a Samsung Gear S2 Classic watch for free** with a 2-year agreement².

^{**Limited time offer, while supplies last (ends 5/5/17 in Puerto Rico). Online only. Fees, charges & restr’s apply. See below for full offer details.}

Not yet with AT&T? Switch now and get up to $650 in bill credits³ when you trade in your current smartphone, and buy a new one on AT&T Next. 

Plus, with AT&T Next, you can get the latest smartphones for $0 down⁴ – including the Samsung Galaxy S8, LG G6 and iPhone 7. 

^{Tax due at sale. Req’s well-qual. credit, elig. installment agmt & svc.  If svc cancelled, device balance due.  Activ./upgrade & other fees, charges & restr’s apply.  See $0 Down details.}

In addition, as a union member, you could:

• Save 15% on the monthly service charge of qualified wireless plans (excludes unlimited plans)<sup>5
  
  Requires valid proof of membership with an AFL-CIO member union in AT&T stores.  Member must be account holder.  Svc. Discount applies only recurring mo. svc. charge of qual. Plan, no overages and may take up to 2 bill cycles.  Addl. rest. apply. See discount details below.</sup>
   
• Save 20% on select accessories<sup>6 
  
  Limits, exclusions and other restr’s apply. See offer details.</sup>
   
• And get the $25 activation fee waived on select devices<sup>7
  
  Requires activation of new line of service. Qualified wireless service required.  See offer req's.</sup>

Not only does AT&T have the nation’s largest network⁸, it also has the nation’s best data network⁹, so your loved ones can stay connected to family and friends while enjoying reliable, fast connection on their devices. 

When you visit an AT&T store, you’ll be helped by a fellow union member. Be sure to reference Discount Code 3508840, even if you choose an unlimited data plan, to ensure you can take advantage of union-member specific benefits such as the 20% accessory discount and the $25 activation fee waiver. Ask your AT&T store rep which plan is best for you. 

Things to Check Around the House

No matter where you live, now is a good time to take inventory of what to take care of at home, to ensure that you’re ready for the months ahead. Be sure to check off the following items:

• Check the batteries in the smoke alarms and flashlights
• Replenish any emergency items like water
• Have your air conditioner inspected by a professional
• Check exterior doors and windows for cracked or broken glass

Review Insurance Needs

It’s important to evaluate homeowners insurance coverage on a regular basis. This will help make sure that coverage keeps pace with the cost to repair or rebuild a home and replace its contents, including any upgrades made over time. While this could lead to higher premiums, it helps to be more adequately insured and less vulnerable to high out-of-pocket expenses.

The following are just a few items that can affect insurance and the premium being paid:

• Home remodeling project
• Installation of a pool or trampoline
• The age of a house and roof—and the materials
• A home-based business

To ensure that you’re properly covered, contact an insurance agent and review coverage every year. In addition:

• Consider combining your policies. Many insurance companies offer discounts for bundling policies.
• Purchase umbrella liability insurance to protect yourself against claims that may exceed your current coverage limits. Umbrella policies generally offer $1 million or more in additional coverage at reasonable rates.

Think About Your Future Home Financing Needs

A regular mortgage check helps you think about whether your mortgage still aligns with your current goals, such as making renovations, buying your next home or a vacation property, refinancing your current mortgage, or helping one of your children buy their first home. Checking in with your home mortgage consultant to evaluate your current situation only takes a few minutes and is a great opportunity to help ensure you’re making the changes necessary to meet your goals. Even making a small adjustment, such as changing your payment schedule, could benefit you in the long run. 

And remember, after closing on a loan through the Union Plus Mortgage Program, you’ll be eligible for special benefits that include receiving a My Mortgage Gift^SM award from Wells Fargo – $500 for buying a home or $300 for refinancing your home, for use at participating retailers – and access to mortgage assistance through Union Plus in times of hardship such as layoff, disability or strike.^1,2 

Keep in mind that parents and children of union members are also eligible for certain benefits.

The best time to think about protecting possessions is when you first buy or receive them. Here are five things to consider after you’re done shopping:

1. Save receipts, warranty cards and instruction manuals, and file them safely. Include copies of receipts with a home inventory list.
2. Be sure to record serial and other identifying numbers, such as vehicle identification numbers, in a log or with your home inventory documentation.
3. Determine whether service contracts, offered frequently by retailers, are worth the cost. For example, electronics (e.g., digital cameras) become out-of-date quickly; it may not be worthwhile to repair them two years from now. On the other hand, a refrigerator, which usually lasts years, might be a good candidate for a service contract, depending on the price.
4. Double-check your insurance coverage. If you doubt whether your policy covers a new possession, contact your insurance company at once. Your homeowners or renters policy likely covers a new TV. However, for certain valuables, such as jewelry, watches and collectibles, policies may have specific “caps.” You should check your limits. Often, you can purchase a scheduled personal property (SPP) endorsement to extend coverage limits for more expensive items.
5. Whenever possible, etch identification numbers onto valuables. This works well with TVs, DVD players and computers. Check with your local police—many lend engraving tools free of charge. You can use the same number on all items—such as your driver’s license number, phone number or birthday—but be sure to record it. Try to etch items in places where number removal would not damage the valuable’s appearance. Of course, etching is not appropriate for all possessions—jewelry, for example. For valuable, etching can’t mark, be sure you have good photo documentation, and an appraisal and receipt, if possible.

Pets Best Has Three Types of Plans

1. BestBenefit Accident and Illness Plan
2. Accident-Only Plan
3. Wellness Routine Care Plan

What Does Each Plan Cover?

1. BestBenefit Accident and Illness Plan
   This is the most popular and comprehensive plan offering coverage for accidents and illnesses. Examples of accidents include a broken bone, laceration, and eating a toy or sock. Examples of illnesses include cancer, allergies, ear infections, and diabetes.


2. Accident-Only Plan
   This budget-friendly plan has coverage for accidents only. It does not cover illnesses.


3. Wellness Routine Care Plan
   Wellness routine care plans cover include coverage for items such as vaccinations, teeth cleaning, and flea & tick prevention. This can be added on to either of the above two plans.

What’s Not Covered?

No pet insurance company covers pre-existing conditions. But, if your pet has a pre-existing condition (for example allergies) there are still thousands of other future health issues that pet insurance covers. Additionally, it’s not liability insurance and it’s not life insurance for pets.

How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?

1. BestBenefit Accident and Illness Plan
   The cost is based on the pet’s age, breed and location. So you have to get a quote to see how much a plan will cost. However, a common monthly price range is $30-$65.


2. Accident-Only Plan
   This is a flat rate plan. It only costs $6 per month for cats and $9 per month for dogs.


3. Wellness Routine Care
   Plan Pets Best offers two routine care plans. The EssentialWellness plan is $16 per month and the BestWellness plan is $26 per month. (The price only varies in Washington state where EssentialWellness is $14 per month and the BestWellness is $30 per month).