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The SmartyPig Blog
September 30, 2010 • Posted by Sarah FossComing Your Way: More Ideas, More Information, More Services
Hello, everyone. I’m Shawn O’Brien here at BBVA Compass. My role is to be a conduit for ideas between SmartyPig and us. For those of you who don’t know BBVA Compass, we’re one of the leading banks in the U.S. with operations primarily in the Sunbelt region. While we rank as the 15th largest commercial bank in the U.S., we prefer to focus on our mission rather than our size: Building a better future for people – which is one of the many reasons that attracted us to our new friends at SmartyPig. The team at SmartyPig is all about helping each of you build a better future by assisting you in achieving your savings goals and rewarding you like never before for doing so.
Since we began our journey with SmartyPig, we’ve grown increasingly excited about our collective ideas and how we can provide even more information and services to help you manage your money as smartly as possible. With that in mind, I asked if I could write a guest blog in hopes of starting a dialogue so that we may share the resources we have available at BBVA Compass and eventually build additional solutions to meet your needs.
Initially, I’m hoping you’ll help me out by visiting our website at www.bbvacompass.com. It offers many tools to assist you with your savings goals. In the smart money choices section of the BBVA Compass Website, you’ll find expense worksheets, payoff calculators, savings calculators and even budget worksheets with suggested percentage allocations. We’d appreciate it if you would give the tools a try and let us know what’s useful, what’s not, and give us your thoughts on how we can make these tools better for you. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best of luck with your goals!
Shawn O’Brien
Senior Vice President, BBVA Compass
Shawn.O’Brien@bbvacompass.com
“Race Out of Debt” Winner Announcement
The SmartyPig team would like to thank each and every one of you for not only taking the time to create your new “Race Out of Debt” goal, but most importantly putting an effort towards paying down your current or expected personal debts. New and existing SmartyPig customers created thousands of “Race Out of Debt” goals during the contest, and we commend you all.
So without further adieu we bring you the Pig Race….
Put Your Cards Away, Use Layaway
You want a new laptop, fancy road bike, maybe even an engagement ring. You know you don’t have the scratch to pay for it, so you pull out plan B, the credit card. Queue frightening music. But, wait… Why not ask about, ummm, Layaway? This debt-free concept is making a huge comeback and with good reason. Just because you can’t afford that expensive item today and don’t want to use your credit card, doesn’t mean it’s out of reach. It just requires careful money management and a little planning.
Jessica Dickler from CNNMoney.com writes: “There are no interest charges or fees for the service, and the number of payments can be customized.” Remind you of anything? You eye a new item that exceeds your current cash position, you start putting money towards the item with intentions to pay in entirety, and your credit card stays put safely in your wallet? You got it! SmartyPig! Only difference is that while stores are moving toward having you save up for the things they sell while they hold your money, at SmartyPig you get paid a high interest rate while you save and cash back of up to 14% when you go to shop.
SmartyPig – Simple, Smart… Layaway.
Wishing you successful saving!
Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Media Mad Woman
SFoss@SmartyPig.com
Date a Saver
What qualities interest you in a significant other? Do you prefer tall, dark, and handsome? Witty and intelligent? What about Frugal? While many associate frugal with “stingy” more than “sexy,” this term is making its way into many first-date conversations. Money is one of the biggest areas of conflict in most relationships, and the reason many relationships fail. This begs the question: Should we focus on one’s financial mentality first and attractiveness second?
ING recently polled 1,000 people on the words that come to mind when describing a potential blind date as “frugal.” 42% chose “boring” and “stingy,” while only 3.7% selected “sexy.” In a recent article on the topic, NY Times columnist Ron Lieber asks: “If your frugality has the potential to turn off nearly half of the mating pool, it raises a question: How best to broadcast your financial values and seek significant others who share your approach without coming off as a tightwad or a gold digger?” Lieber further suggests spinning your frugality: “I love a great bargain” and “I enjoy finding new, tasty, cheap eats.” These statements show a love of quality and a great deal.
And although a first date might not be the best place to discuss your financial portfolio, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t move toward discussing money, as things get serious. When the time does come to get into finances, keep in mind the fantastic addition SmartyPig goals are to any financial plan. While frugality might not top everyone’s list of attractive traits, saving for an exotic vacation, a new car, or a down payment on a home, are exciting aspirations – and dreams that can be shared. Add to it 1.75% APY and cash back of up to 14% from many popular merchants, and you’re displaying a level of common sense absolutely worth lusting after.
Wishing you successful saving!
Sarah Foss, SmartyPig’s Media Mad Woman
SFoss@SmartyPig.com
“Race Out of Debt” – Win Thousands! Contest Update
Over the past seven days, our contest has helped thousands of current and new SmartyPig customers create goals, as they look to reverse the credit-card mindset of “buy now, pay later.” We are hearing stories of remorse and optimism. We are seeing the SmartyPig story spread far and wide. And everyone (us included) is anxiously awaiting the live Iowa pig race to take place on September 28, 2010, as one lucky contestant will “Race Out of Debt” with nearly $5,000!
There’s still plenty of time to enter! See full entrance details and rules here:
http://blog.smartypig.com/read/race-out-of-debt-win-thousands
