Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Stay Safe From These Airbnb Scams This Winter
With
Michigan winter in full-swing, going on a vacation to some warm, tropical
location sounds like a dream! Airbnb can make this process super easy and fun. As
a guest of a local, you can get a real sense of the location—and you’ll save
money, too!
However,
because the Airbnb system is based on trust of the individual renting out their
home or rooms, crooks will always try to exploit the system. The Australian
Better Business Bureau reported a six-fold increase in scams related to AirBNB
in recent years. The service recently expanded its offerings, allowing users to
book independently run guided tours or experiences in addition to rooms. This
expansion has been part of the drive behind the increase.
Before
you book at Airbnb for your winter getaway, be aware of these scams.
1.
Fake Websites
An
Airbnb host you were interested in sends you a link to several other properties
they have for rent. These properties come complete with reviews, logos, a live
chat service and other hallmarks of authenticity. So, you think nothing of
wiring a fee to reserve your room.
But
when you try confirming your reservation with Airbnb, they have no record of
your transaction and don’t even have the properties listed. What happened?
A
scammer capitalized on your trust by directing you to a fake booking website
that’s not hosted by Airbnb. These groups go to extreme lengths to create
accurate reproductions of the official site.
There
are two ways to avoid this scam. First, always check the URLs of sites you
visit, making sure the word Airbnb occurs right next to the .com. This tells
you it’s not a phony site. Second, only pay through Airbnb’s official checkout
platform, which uses modern encryption technology.
2.
Phony Excursions
A
new feature of Airbnb is the ability to book “experiences,” or days out on the
town with locals.
This
creates a new opportunity for scammers who can now offer phony tours. While the
company vets the potential tours carefully, it’s difficult for them to monitor
a distributed network of service providers.
Local
experiences appeal to many visitors. However, proceed with caution. Always
check reviews (on a legitimate Airbnb site) before paying for anything!
3.
External Payment
Airbnb
charges a 3% commission on bookings done through their website. This prompts
some landlords to offer a discount in exchange for direct payment through a
third-party processing site. Tightfisted travelers might be tempted to save a
few bucks this way.
Resist
the temptation. Payments outside the website don’t have the conflict resolution
procedures usually covered by Airbnb, so there’s no guarantee you’ll have a
room at all if you use one.
Also,
no legitimate business will have you wire funds directly to their account. With
services like PayPal, even small businesses can now accept credit cards. When
you use a card, you can always stop a payment. After you wire money, it’s gone.
It’s always a good idea to use only secured forms of payment.
Your Turn: Have you ever used Airbnb
or a similar service? What was your experience like? Share safety and savings
tips with us in the comments!
*Community Financial does not endorse the information,
content, presentation or accuracy, nor make any warranty, expressed or implied,
regarding the websites and/or apps mentioned above.
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
How to Prepare Your Home for Winter

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 and fans
- Plumbing areas
- Air conditioners
- Mail chutes
- Electrical 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
Michiganders
see lots of snow each winter, which means 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 facade 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
Because
of Michigan’s tendency to have an annual Snowpocalypse, it’s always a good idea
to take inventory of your emergency supplies before they’re needed. 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.
Your
Turn: What’s
on your checklist this fall as you prepare your home for winter? Share it with
us in the comments!
Friday, December 13, 2019
School Spotlight: Bentley Elementary Students Benefit with the Student-Run Credit Union and Junior Achievement Programs
![]() |
Bentley Elementary Student-Run Credit Union fall volunteers |
Student volunteers are “hired” in September and work in shifts during the year. Volunteers are taught job-related skills, such as professionalism, organization, and money handling.
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
6 Ways to Keep Your Finances Intact This Holiday Season

1. Create a Detailed List of
All Your Expenses
Draw
up a list of every holiday expense you anticipate. Include all gifts, décor,
travel expenses and donations. Try to keep it as trim as possible by cutting
out non-essentials and using stuff you may have in storage from previous years.
2. Determine How Much Money
You Can Spend
Work
on finding a magic number that will cover everything on your list and that you
can realistically afford. Ideally, this money should come from funds you’ve set
aside just for this purpose.
3. Divide and Conquer
Next,
assign specific amounts of money in your budget for each expense category and
for every person on your gift list. Again, make sure your numbers will work
from both a financial and practical perspective.
4. Track as You Shop
As
you shop, keep careful account of exactly how much money you’ve spent for each
person and in each expense category. Review your budget often to make sure
you’re staying on track.
To
make this job easier, use an app, like Santa’s Bag. It allows you to set a
budget for each person on your list and then makes tracking the amount you
spend super simple.
5. Shop Smartly
Keep
your spending to a minimum with these hacks:
·
Use shopping apps or browser
extensions,
like Honey and Shopular, to get your favorite retailers’ best deals and coupons delivered
right to your phone or computer.*
·
Shop online on Tuesday
morning.
Research shows this time of week is when you’ll find the hottest online deals.
·
Shop with a friend. Take advantage of BOGO
sales by splitting the cost of a single item with a friend and each of you
taking one item home.
·
Shop late. Prices actually fall in the
weeks leading up to Christmas as retailers get ready to clear out their holiday
inventory.
6) Let Community Financial Help
Community
Financial can help take financial stress out of the holiday season:
1. Special Rate Holiday Loan: If you can’t come up with
the funds you need for the holidays, consider a Community Financial Holiday
Loan. From now until December 31st, you can apply for a loan up to
$3,000 with rates lower than your average Personal Loan!
2. Holiday Savings Account: Spread the cost of the holidays across the year
with an account created just for that purpose. You’ll set aside a little bit of
money each month, and next year, when the holiday season rolls around, you’ll
have all the funds you need.
Your Turn: How do you get through the
holidays with your finances intact? Share your best tips with us in the
comments.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Warming Hearts & Homes is Back. You Click. We Donate!

During the winter months, cold weather puts extra strain on families, some of whom are forced to choose between paying utilities and putting food on the table. Community Financial remains dedicated to supporting the fight against cold and hunger in Michigan each winter.
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