The CommunityAmerica Online Magazine It’s fall. Jump in and join the fun. Volume 12 + September 2010
Kick the season off right. It’s cool, crisp air and colorful foliage that can take your breath away. It’s the anticipation of a new school year and the excitement of homecoming. It’s caramel apples, pumpkin patches and end zone dances. It’s fall—and it’s back in a big way. So dive in and let us help you make this fall the coolest one ever.
Finding your way around. [ Savings tip ] cheap treats With Halloween right around the corner, start planning now to purchase your trick-or-treat goodies. Here are some easy ways to save money to ensure your budget doesn’t get tricked while still providing a fun experience for the ghouls and goblins that visit your house: • Buy in bulk • Give alternative treats (like safe, age-appropriate toys from the local Dollar Store) • Take advantage of the many candy coupons available • Pass out less candy to each guest. Trick or Tweet! Follow us on Twitter @savinmavens.
Wish you could stay in touch more with friends and family? Ever wonder what happened to an old college classmate? Want to make new friends that have similar interests as you? Then it’s time for you to tap into a little social phenomenon called Facebook. And what about you social media old-timers? Still searching for that killer app, or need help figuring out just exactly who can see your personal information? Whether you’ve been on Facebook since day one or are just getting started, here are some things you’ve got to know to make the most of this popular Web site.
win one of ten $50 amc gift cards! Like us on Facebook anytime between now and October 1, 2010, for your chance to win. Plus, get savings tips, event updates and more. Check out the CommunityAmerica Facebook page for all the details.
glossary of terms Comment
Getting Started
You can leave comments on a friend’s
Wall, photos, videos and more.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Fortunately, it’s even easier to get started. Just head to Facebook.com and fill out the simple form on the main page. Then follow the steps to connect with any friends who might already be on Facebook and you’re well on your way.
Friend Request
Now you’re ready for the fun to really begin:
Messages
Upload a picture of yourself so your friends will recognize you. Fill out your profile so friends can find you based on your schools or interests.
A way for friends to link their accounts together so that they can follow each other.
Like
A way to show that you like a comment, post,
Status Update or picture and more. Private messages can be sent between
you and any number of your friends.
News Feed A live timeline of updates from the friends and organizations you follow.
Post your first Status Update, or comment on a friend’s Wall. Create a photo album of your summer pictures to share with friends. Until you take steps to customize your security (see sidebar), anyone can see your profile, so play it safe. If you wouldn’t want your boss, your mom, your neighbor or your therapist to find out about it, don’t put it on Facebook.
Photos and Videos Prove to the world that you have the cutest kids, take the best vacations or really do live in a sitcom. Upload pictures and videos, and then tag yourself and your friends so they can look at what you’ve uploaded. You can even leave comments on individual pictures or an entire album. Having a bad hair day? Don’t worry, you can always untag yourself.
Friend Lists Now that you’ve gotten so popular on Facebook, your News Feed is constantly cluttered with friends vying for your attention. What can you do? It’s time for you to organize your friends into lists. Each list of friends is completely customizable, so you can create one list of work friends, another for family members and third for your book club. Now you’ll never feel the need to “unfriend” a friend!
Apps Apps let you do all kinds of things. You can play games, listen to music, send someone a special greeting or even sell your old couch. And there are thousands of apps made just for Facebook. So how do you sort through them all to find the ones that you’ll like? Start by checking out what your friends have added. Click on the “boxes” tab on their profile page. Or simply do a keyword search for terms that interest you. There’s bound to be a Facebook app made for you.
Profile
Includes your profile picture, your Wall
and personal info that you can customize.
Status Update A place within your profile to share your thoughts and let others know what you’re doing, which then appears on your friends’ News Feeds. Tag
A way of identifying who is in a photo or video.
Wall
Part of your profile that displays your most
recent Status Updates and activity. You and your friends can post pictures, videos and comments on the Wall.
Privacy Do you have an annoying cousin that you want to hide stuff from? Take better control over who gets to see what. Click on the “Account” link in your profile and choose one of the preset privacy settings, or create customized privacy rules for specific friends.
everyone Allows all of the information you share on Facebook to be visible to anyone else using Facebook, regardless of whether or not you’re friends. friends of friends
Allows your friends and
their friends to see your status, photos, posts, bio and favorite quotes, family and relationships, and photos and videos you’re tagged in. However, only your friends can see your birthday, email and IM addresses, or your phone numbers and addresses.
friends only
Restricts all of your information to viewing by your friends only.
custom Allows you to hide certain sections of your profile from certain people.
Uncle Dougie’s Downhome Chili
Can’t-miss fun in your favorite cowtown
• 2 lbs ground beef • 3 cups tomato juice • 3 cups beef broth • 3 cans black beans • 1 1/2 large white onions, diced • 6 cloves garlic • 4 cups frozen sweet corn • 3 jalapeños, seeded and diced • ¼ cup chili powder
Kansas City Renaissance Festival • September 4 - October 17 (weekends only) • Adults: $18.95 (save $3 if you order online!) • Kids 9-12: $9.95 (save $1.50 if you order online!) • KCRenFest.com
Plaza Art Fair • September 25-27 • FREE • CountryClubPlaza.com/Events/Plaza-Art-Fair
• 4 tbsp black pepper
American Royal Barbecue
• 3 tbsp salt
• September 30 - October 3 • $12.00 • AmericanRoyal.com
• 2 tbsp cumin • 1 tsp cayenne pepper • 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Weston Irish Festival
• 1 tbsp Tabasco sauce
• October 8-10 • Adults: $10 • Kids under 14: Free • WestonIrish.com
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon • 1 bag corn chips • 1 cup sour cream • 1 cup cheddar cheese Over medium-high heat, brown ground beef with the onions and half of the chili powder in a large stock pot. Once beef is browned, drain out excess fat and add in tomato juice, beef broth, beans, corn, jalapeños, remaining chili powder and all spices. Reduce heat to medium-low, cook uncovered for approximately 1.5 hours or until mixture reaches desired thickness.
Spooktacular at Powell Gardens • October 15-16 • Adults: $9.50 • Kids under 12: $4.00 • PowellGardens.org
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Serve piping hot, topped with corn chips, sour cream and cheddar cheese.
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NOTE: For a milder chili, use only 2 jalapeños, ½ tsp cayenne pepper, ½ tsp red pepper flakes and ½ tbsp Tabasco sauce.
Say what you want about spring, summer and wi autumn. The air is crisp, the leaves are falling, th out in full force having fun before winter sets i with great food, festivals, fun and one of ou
How to create a spooktacular house-o-lantern What you’ll need: A few pieces of corrugated cardboard Markers Box cutters Glue stick Orange tissue paper Masking tape Lamp
The Tailgate Checklist: Don’t head to the stadium without it Grill Burgers Hot Dogs Buns Cheese slices Condiments Chips Dip
Instructions: 1. Measure the inside of an appropriate window and cut corrugated cardboard to fit tightly. 2. Draw a face on the cardboard, then cut out the pieces with a craft knife (a parent’s job). 3. On the interior side of the cardboard, use a glue stick to cover the openings with orange tissue paper. 4. Set the cardboard in the window and use painter’s or masking tape to hold it in place. 5. Place a lamp near the window to light your house-o-lantern. 6. Watch as the neighbors cower in fear at the sight of your creation.
inter—Kansas City is absolutely at its best during he football season has begun and KC natives are in. Here are a few ways you can join the party ur personal favorite fall activities—football.
Side dishes Cooler Ice Beverages Plates Napkins Forks/spoons/knives Trash bags Folding table Camping chairs Portable stereo Tailgate games* Football (no tailgate is complete without a game of catch) * Want to build your own ladder golf set for your next tailgate? See our how-to in the July 2008 issue of the INsider for instructions. You can find it at http://cacu.com/aboutus/INSiderMag.aspx.
e right balanc e th g in ik tr s nts, ce. ollege stude c d n a l ing experien o n r o a h c le s l a h e ig r h a e ay For can find a w d work can b s n a id l k o r o u h o c y s , u n yo t betwee uidance from ve time to ge a g h le ll tt ti li s a d t n s a ts— lp. But with ju their accoun in y e s that can he n p o ti m e e m th o s p u e r d ea to buil ssroom. Her la c e th in e n the job do
IN S I D ER + S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 0
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Get a great deal on your new used car
Whether you’re looking to buy some wheels for your kid or just want to save some money over the price of a new car for yourself, buying a used car can be a good option—especially if you’re smart about it. Here are five tips to help you get a great deal without breaking your budget or driving home with a lemon.
Do a reality check. Shopping for a car is exciting, but don’t forget that used or not, this is a major purchase. If you’ve already got one car payment in your household, it might be wise to wait until that’s closer to being paid off.
Figure out your financing. Apply for a loan before you ever set foot on the lot. Your friends here at CommunityAmerica Credit Union will be glad to help. You’ll not only know exactly how much car you can afford, you’ll have more negotiating power.
The best deal might not be at a dealership. Check the classifieds. A private seller that doesn’t have a sales job at stake or the overhead of running a dealership might be willing to give you a better price than you’d find on a used car lot.
What’s under the hood? For around $100, you can find out if the car you want is really as good as it looks. Have the car checked out by an independent mechanic. If the person or business that’s selling the car won’t allow it, that should really tell you something.
Don’t forget, you’re in the driver’s seat. At the end of the day, you want to be happy with the car you’re buying. Be prepared to walk away if you don’t like the deal that’s being offered, or if something seems fishy. Then when you find the car that’s right for you, you’ll be a lot more satisfied.
STOP IGNORING THE ELEPHANT + TAME YOUR FINANCES + WIN UP TO $10,000
! G N I N R A W THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM MAY BE IN YOUR WALLET.
It’s time to stop ignoring your finances. Visit cacu.com/financialmakeover2011 starting October 1 to get your application for Financial Makeover 2011.
800.892.7957
cacu.com/financialmakeover2011