Hopewell Credit Union

Boomer calendar: July 17-24

Antique Car Show - Locust Grove, the Samuel Morse Historic Site, 2683 South Road (Route 9) , Poughkeepsie. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. July 17. Car show on the lawns of the historic estate. All show cars will be on the field by noon. Judging will begin at 1 p.m., and the award ceremony will begin at 3. Awards to the top cars from each of the decades represented in the show. $6; children under 12 are free. 845-454-4500. www.lgny.org .

Dinner in the Garden - Locust Grove, the Samuel Morse Historic Site, 2683 South Road (Route 9) , Poughkeepsie. 5:30 p.m. July 22. Dinner and informal garden talk and tour with Locust Grove's Director of Horticulture, Timothy Steinhoff. $35 per person includes wine and a light supper by Chef Bruce Kazan of Main Course. Reservations required by July 18. 845-454-4500. Social Security seminar - Hampton Inn, 2361 South Road, Poughkeepsie. 6:30-8 p.m. July 21. HVFCU Financial Services at Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union will conduct seminars on understanding and maximizing Social Security benefits. Attendees will learn key facts about Social Security and how to navigate the decisions surrounding the program. Free. Registration required. 845-463-3366. www.hvfcu.org . Geology walk - Dover Stone Church, Route 22, Dover Plains. 4-6 p.m. July 21, Dutchess Land Conservancy will sponsor Vassar College Earth Science Professor Jeff Walker as he leads a geological exploration of the historic Dover Stone Church. Walk will meet in the Dover Elementary School parking lot on Route 22. Free. For more information, contact Julie Hart, 845-677-3002 or julieh@dutchessland.org . Spirituality and the Environment talk: Christian and Jewish perspective - Center for Environmental Innovation and Education, Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries CEIE, 199 Dennings Ave, Beacon. 7-9 p.m. July 21. Panel discussion with spiritual leaders to examine the role of spirituality in protecting the environment. The first of two discussions will explore the similarities and differences between Christian and Jewish sacred texts and traditions as they relate to environmental challenges within the context of today's world. Free. 845-765-2721. www.bire.org Third Annual Wine Tasting - Under the tent, The Fountains At Millbrook, 79 Flint Road, Millbrook. 2:30-5:30 p.m. July 24.

Top Ways Americans Are Slashing Spending - Hopewell Federal Credit ...

Between the beginning of the recession in 2007 up until May 2011, Americans have cut spending by nearly $7,300 compared to what they would’ve otherwise spent if the recession didn’t occur. Looks like the recession had a lingering silver lining. Reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the report shows that the average consumer spent about $175 less each month than before the recession.

Hats off to all you consumers out there for pinching pennies at the grocery store, clipping coupons, skipping morning lattes, trimming vacations, and whatever small yet significant ways your own household tightened its belt to cope with the recession. It’s healthy to trim the fat from your finances, and imagine what $175 saved each month can go towards—to pad a savings account, build an emergency fund, or hack away at debt.

Consumer spending is inching up since the start of 2011, which is necessary for a recovering economy. However, look for ways to keep up your  smart saving and budgeting; slipping back into pre-recession spending habits could lead to the same over-borrowing on credit that pushed Americans to the brink of recession.

Need motivation to keep up money-saving habits?

Try following the crowd! A recent Harris poll found the top 10 ways Americans are cutting back on spending, which can definitely help keep you on the right track for smart spending.

67% of Americans started purchasing more generic brand goods at the grocery store.  Almost half of us, at 46%, are brown-bagging lunch from home instead of buying.  43% are skipping appointments and going to the hairdresser or barber less often. 39% switched from purchasing bottled water to using a refillable water bottle (a wallet and environment friendly move). 31% cancelled one or more magazine subscriptions (also environmentally friendly). About a quarter of us, at 24%, are cutting down on dry cleaning. 22% cancelled or downgraded television cable. 21% are skipping buying coffee in the morning (and maybe making it at home instead). Following #5, 18% cancelled a newspaper subscription. 16% cancelled landline phones and are relying on cell phone instead.

Which of these strategies are you already doing, and which new ones can you pick up to add more money-savvy moves to your daily routine?

Justine Rivero is the Credit Advisor and resident Credit Rockstar for Credit Karma, the pro-consumer credit advocate that helps more than 2.6 million consumers realize the everyday cost savings of having great credit health.