School Spotlight: Grand River Academy Students Learn Interviewing Skills

Community Financial is excited for our first year in partnership with Grand River Academy in Livonia! Partnering with Grand River Academy marked Community Financial’s 50th Student-Run Credit Union! Our Student-Run Credit Union program provides students with a fun way to learn real-life skills. Each student who would like to volunteer to work at the Student-Run Credit Union will go through an interviewing process similar to what adults experience. Grand River Academy’s fifth and seventh grade students recently learned how the interviewing process works.

Our Education Partnership Coordinators first teach students the importance of filling out an application in their best handwriting, dressing well for an interview, smiling and making eye contact. First impressions are incredibly important, and students are given the opportunity to practice these skills at a young age! Here are Grand River Academy’s very first potential “hires!”


Education Partnership Coordinator, Amy Pashukewich, instructs potential
student hires on how to conduct themselves in an interview setting.

Best-Fit Interviews 
Students who apply to volunteer at the Student-Run Credit Union go through a “best fit” interview. Students are then hired as branch managers, tellers, accountants, computer operators, and marketing representatives.

On their application, students must choose three jobs that they believe they are the most qualified for. During the interview, Community Financial team members ask questions to help determine which job best fits the student’s skills and interests. Check out these pictures of students participating in the interview process for the Student-Run Credit Union.

Taking the Stress Out of the Interviewing Process! 
Most students are very nervous coming into the interview. However, the most common feedback we hear from students after the interview is: “It wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be!” This is the precise reason we want to give students the opportunity to practice interviewing skills. When you break it down, an interview is just a conversation with another person.

Before an interview, students are encouraged to practice conversing with others about why they think they would be the best fit for the job they’re applying for. Practicing interviewing skills is incredibly important to alleviating stress during an interview.

Your Turn: How do you prepare for an interview? Share your tips and tricks for success!

9 Ways to Break Up With Your Phone

Are you ready to break up with the love of your life? We’re not talking about your significant other, but your cellphone!

You may not think you’re addicted to your phone, but phones are created to keep us completely absorbed and captivated. In fact, the average American adult checks their phone every 12 minutes and spends more than 4 hours on their phone daily. Prepare to regain some control over your life with these tips to help you disconnect.

1. Use apps to track the time you spend on your phone 
Download the Checky or Moment app to see how much time you actually spend on your phone. Moment will even let you track the time you spend on each particular app. Use this newfound information to set restrictions on how you spend your time on your phone.

2. Socialize without it 
Being busy with your phone when you’re out with friends is like frankly telling them you’d rather be somewhere else. Seriously – how rude can you get? Keep your phone out of sight when you’re spending time with family or friends. You might discover that socializing IRL totally kicks what you can do on-screen.

3. Ban it from your bedroom 
Co-sleeping with your phone can kill the quality of your shut-eye. The bright screen messes with your melatonin production and the endless distraction your phone provides can keep you up for hours. Kick your phone out of bed and leave it charging overnight in another room. You’ll perform better on every level when you can get a full night’s sleep.

4. Delete a social media app – or all of them! 
Cut down on the hours you spend on social media by limiting it to when you’re sitting in front of a computer.

5. Spend your meals apart 
Yes, you can actually enjoy a good meal without sharing it with your crowd of fawning Instagram followers. Stop snapping and focus on your food!

6. Give it the cold shoulder
Be brave and turn off all notifications on your phone except for phone and text messages. Every notification compels you to engage with your phone.

7. Prepare for withdrawal symptoms
Be prepared for feelings of anxiety and restlessness for the first few days after you break up with your phone. Don’t worry; you’ll get over it soon.

8. Take email off your phone
Most of us only skim through incoming emails on our phones, not responding until we’re sitting at a computer. The emails, then, only serve to distract us. Keep your virtual mail on your computer for more freedom from your phone.

9. Leave it at home
Start by going out without your phone. You’ll experience the true freedom of being able to live and breathe in the moment with no distractions.

Your Turn: Have you broken up with your phone? What tips did you find helpful?

#ThankfulThursdays are Back! What are You Thankful For?

Did you know that November is “National Gratitude Month?” With Thanksgiving almost here, it’s the perfect time of year to practice being grateful and appreciative for what we have.

At Community Financial, we are so grateful for our members and the communities we serve. To help spread our gratitude this November, we are bringing back our #ThankfulThursdays program. Every Thursday through November 29th, we will make a donation to local food initiatives in Michigan. In total, we will donate $60,000 to help feed our communities! Here’s a list of the organizations we will be donating to this November:

November 1 

• Open Door Ministry of Canton
• Community Sharing of Lewiston 

November 8

• Salvation Army of Westland
• Salvation Army of Plymouth 

November 15

• Salvation Army of Alpena 
• New Beginnings Hillman 
• Caring Place Atlanta 
• Otsego Food Pantry 

November 22 

• Forgotten Harvest 
• Food Bank of Eastern MI Backpack lunch program
• Hospitality House Food Pantry
• Novi Feed the Need 

November 29

• Northville Civic Concern
• Blessings in a Backpack- Livonia 

Be sure to check out our social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) every Thursday, for updates on the program and photos/videos from the selected organizations. #ThankfulThursdays is just one way we can show our appreciation. What are you doing this November to show gratitude?

How to Prepare Your Home for Winter

Need to prepare your home for the upcoming cold weather, but don’t know where to start? As soon as you see the seasonal aisles at your favorite superstores filling with Halloween paraphernalia, you know “Old Man Winter” will be creeping up before you can say “Boo!” This year, be prepared. Keep your home warm and safe this winter by following our comprehensive to-do list before the real cold sets in.

1. Seal your home 
Give your home a quick run-through, checking for drafts. You can do this by holding a lit candle near the following areas: windows, doors, vents, plumbing areas, air conditioners, mail chutes, and electric and gas lines. If the candle flickers, you’ve got a draft. Seal up all holes and reinforce existing points of entry with weather stripping. You can also caulk windows and doors to make sure they’re truly sealed against the cold.

2. Clean your gutters 
If your gutters are clogged with sodden leaves, they can freeze up and block the drainage, allowing melting ice and snow to slowly seep into your roof and cause excessive damage. 

3. Invest in a roof rake 
If you live in an area that sees lots of snow each winter, your roof can be sitting under several feet of snow for weeks at a time. All of that snow can cause your roof to collapse. Invest in a roof rake that will help you clear the snow off your roof when it really starts piling up.

4. Reverse your ceiling fans 
Flick the reverse switch on your ceiling fans to make the blades spin in a clockwise direction instead of counterclockwise. This way, the fans will produce an updraft to push the rising hot air downward.

5. Prune your trees 
Check all trees near your home’s façade for low-hanging or loose branches. Prune them so they don’t end up cracking from heavy snow or wind and causing damage to your home.

6. Take inventory of your emergency supplies 
Stock up on water, canned food, batteries, flashlights and storm lanterns. You may also want to invest in an external charger for some juice when the lights go out.

7. Turn off external faucets 
Unscrew your garden hose from the spigot and drain your sprinkler system to prevent any freezing. You may need to call in a professional in order to do this properly.

8. Protect your pipes from freezing 
Prevent burst pipes, and avoid costly repairs, with these simple steps:

• Keep your heat on even when you’re not home so that your pipes don’t freeze and burst. 
• Allow your faucets to drip during severe cold snaps.
• Wrap any exposed piping and hose bibs to prevent freezing. 

9. Check your heating system 
Crank up the heat before the cold blows in to ensure everything is in working order. If anything needs repairs, tend to it now while it’s still warm out.

Your Turn: What’s on your checklist this fall as you prepare your home for winter? Share it with us in the comments!

All You Need to Know When Buying a Used Car

Scared to buy a used car? If you’re shopping for an amazing deal on wheels during the October car-shopping season, you want to be that buyer who walks away thrilled with their new purchase. Follow the 8 steps below for a smoother ride!

Step 1: Crunch the numbers 
How are you paying for your new car? If you’re paying cash, you already have a car budget in place. If you’re taking out an auto loan, your lender will determine how much you can afford. Also consider getting pre-approved for your loan before visiting the dealer’s lot. A great place to shop for a car loan is at your local credit union. For instance, Community Financial auto loans offer competitive rates, no application fees, and flexible terms.

Step 2: Create a target list 
What make and model car do you want to buy? Check out Consumer Reports for reliability ratings on vehicles from the most recent model years. Aim to narrow your choices to three or four model cars.

Step 3: Research 
Start researching prices and listings for your vehicles of choice. Visit our Auto Resource Center to get started. You can find used cars for sale in any of these locations:

• The used-car section of new-car dealerships 
• Used-car dealerships 
• Used-car retailers like CarMax.com 
• Websites like Craigslist where car owners privately sell their vehicles 

Determine the average asking price for each car. Next, find out all you can about each vehicle with a vehicle history report from Carfax.com.

Step 4: Call the seller 
Contact the seller to verify the information you’ve learned about each car. If you’re using a private-party seller, ask about any possible mechanical issues. If you’re working with a dealership, ask if the car is still in stock and for any information you couldn’t find on your own. If everything checks out, set up an appointment for a test drive.

Step 5: Test drive 
Pay attention to these details during your test-drive:

• Is there sufficient legroom? 
• Is the ride smooth? 
• How is the acceleration? 
• Does the “check engine” light stay on? 
• Do you have full visibility? 
• Are the brakes working well? 
• Do all the lights work? 

Next, ask for the vehicle’s service records to determine if it’s current on scheduled maintenance.

Step 6: Have it inspected 
Having your car inspected by a mechanic can save you loads of aggravation and lots of money down the line.

Step 7: Negotiate 
Make an opening offer based on the average price for your car and use all the information you’ve learned about your vehicle as bargaining chips. Be firm and you will end up with a fairly priced vehicle.

Step 8: Make it official 
If you’re buying the car from a private-party seller, make sure the title and registration are officially transferred to you. Finally, read the contract carefully and make sure you have insurance before you drive off the lot. Now, you’re all set to take your new car for its first spin!

Your Turn: Have you recently bought a used car? Share your best tips with us in the comments!