Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/472801
LastMaywhengas prices were at their high- est in Los Angeles, I paid $4.26 a gal- lon — $102 to fill my Chevy Sil- verado. As I write, at just $2.29 a gallon, the cost for a full tank of regular-grade gasoline for my truck has plummeted by half — to $55. Regardless where you live, it's likely that you're experiencing and enjoying the same thing — cheap gas. You're saving a ton off the peak prices of last summer. It's so easy to ignore it though and let that "saved" money stay in your checking account, where it will inevitably be spent on something useless. Or just evaporate unnoticed the way money in a check- ing account has a way of doing. However, the truth re- mains: Because fuel prices have dropped dramati- cally, all of us are spend- ing a lot less on gasoline compared to what we were spending a few months ago. Now is the time, before you get too comfortable with the cheap prices, to create an automatic trans- fer of the money you're not spending on gas, into a special account to protect you when the prices go higher. You cannot predict what prices will do, but you can get prepared. Call it your hedge fund — a term that describes an investment position in- tended to offset potential losses/gains in the future. That's what big shot inves- tors do; they hedge against future losses. So can you. Here's a painless way to do it: 1. Set up an online sav- ings account at Smart- yPig (my favorite) or Cap- ital One 360 Savings. You want an online account that has no fees, no min- imums, is FDIC insured and allows you to set up automatic transfers. 2. Figure out how much you are saving each week on gasoline, over the high- est price you experienced in your area. If you're lazy, just go with my $2 a gal- lon. 3. Create an automatic transfer from your regu- lar checking account into your new Hedge Fund for the amount you deter- mined in Step No. 2 that you are not spending each week on gas. Do this by locating the "transfer money" option in your online account. You will see a place to fill in the exact amount you want transferred, the fre- quency that you want this to happen (weekly) and when to start (how about today?). 4. Set a reminder on your smartphone or other calendar to re-evaluate in three months. If gaso- line prices have changed — up or down — adjust your hedge fund automatic transfer amount accord- ingly. You can apply this tac- tic to anything you buy that fluctuates in price. There's a lot you can do with this tip. Just add subaccounts or new "goals" to your online sav- ings account at SmartyPig or CapitalOne360. That's what makes these ac- counts especially useful. Fun, too. Wouldyouliketosend a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@eve- rydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheap- skate, P.O. Box 2099, Cy- press, CA 90630. EVERYDAYCHEAPSKATE Your very own hedge fund Mary Hunt Six local Democratic leaders will be honored this year at the Tehama County Democratic Dinner March 28 at the Red Bluff Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. Those honored will be in Business, Dennis Al- bright; in Community Ser- vice, Linda Durrer; in Ed- ucation, Joe Harrop; in Labor, Andrew Meredith; in Public Office, Danielle Jackson and for Democrat of the Year, Sue Gallagher. The featured dinner speaker will be Attorney Sergio Garcia of Chico, who passed the California State Bar Exam as an un- documented person and challenged the California Supreme Court to establish his law practice. He made history in doing so, and has lived the United States for 20 years, although born in Mexico. He now has a law practice in Chico. Dinner tickets will be $30 per person, with the dinner being catered by Linda Durrer and family. Tickets can be obtained by calling James Bryant at 527-4907 or by sending an email to bluffcoff@sbc- global.net. Tables can be sponsored by calling John Elshere at 529-1238 or emailing him at theelsheres@att.net. The evening will start with social hour at 5 p.m. Dinner and program will begin at 6 p.m. Prime items offered for auction will include an Es- tate Planning Will by At- torney Dennis Albright and five nights in a re- sort condominium in Sun Peaks, British Columbia. Other items for auction or raffle will include art, jewelry, local services and practical items. Donations for the auc- tion and raffle will be ap- preciated. If you would like to donate a service or item, call Orle Jackson at 529- 5357 and arrangements will be made for pickup. ANNUAL DINNER SixlocalDemocratstobehonoredateventthismonth CHIC0 A free immigra- tion clinic will be pre- sented by the Northern California Immigrant Re- source Center, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 7 at St. John the Baptist Cath- olic Church, 416 Chestnut St., Chico. The clinic will start at 9 a.m. with an hour pre- sentation about the recent changes to laws affect- ing immigrants, including California driver's licenses for undocumented immi- grants, the new program for undocumented parents of US Citizens (DAPA), the expansion of "Dreamers" (DACA), and pathways to citizenship. Also in attendance will be representatives from the Chico DMV office, Catalyst Domestic Violence Ser- vices, Calfresh Outreach, Chico Social Security of- fice, California Rural Le- gal Aid, Butte County 211 and Northern Valley Cath- olic Social Services. All services will be avail- able in Spanish. For more information or to learn how you can help, call Andrew Holley at (530) 231-7733, go to www. norcalirc.org or email an- drew@norcalirc.org. RESOURCE CENTER Free immigration clinic set at church in Chico Mercy High School is holding a monthlong 30Thirty Scholarship Chal- lenge, which kicked off this week with an exciting rally on campus. During the month of March, students will be asking for help funding the school's scholarship pro- gram in the form of $30 do- nation requests. The school strives hard to work with families needing financial assistance, and hopes to be able to accept all students wanting the Mercy expe- rience. Friends of Mercy High School may make do- nations at the school, 233 Riverside Way, by contact- ing your favorite Mercy student, outside selected masses this month at Sa- cred Heart Church, or by visiting mercyhsejoinme. org/30-30scholarship. The school is available to answer any questions at 527-8313. Donations are 100 per- cent tax deductible and all funds raised directly bene- fit students. MERCY HIGH Sc ho ol k ic ks o ff fu nd ra is er COURTESYPHOTO Gillie Coelho accepts a $30scholarship donation from Stacey Frase, as Mercy High School's monthlong 30Thirty Scholarship Challenge kicked off this week with an exciting rally on campus. AnIndependentlyownedandoperatedMemberof Coldwell Banker Residential Affiliates. 741 Main Street, Suite #2 Red Bluff, CA 96080 1-800-287-2187 (530) 527-2187 FOR24/7PROPERTYINFOCALL1-888-902-7253 TEHAMA COUNTY REAL ESTATE TEAM • OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK www.redbluffcoldwellbanker.com See All Tehama County Listings at Our knowledgeable and professional staff of Realtors are here to assist you with all your Real Estate needs. *18Monthsto3YearsforShortSales/4–7YearsforForeclosures. Ifyouwereinvolved in a Foreclosure or Short Sale between 2007 – 2012 YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR HOME OWNERSHIP AGAIN. Depending upon the time frame* you may be eligible to purchase a home. Stop by or call and make an appointment today! Smog Check (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St. starting at $ 29 95 + $ 8 25 certificate SERVICESATLOWERPRICES All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K MembersWelcome CANNED FOOD DRIVE *Validonly at H & R Block 1315 Solano St, Corning Call 530-824-7999 for a appointment Bring in 4 cans of food when you come in to get your taxes done, and get $15.00 off your tax preparation fees.* Allcannedfoodswillbedonatedto CorningChristianAssistanceFoodBank. ResidentialDirect Care Staff neededtoworkwith adults with disabilities in residential facility. $9.92 per hour with benefit package. Must be (25 yrs. old+) must be insurable, pass drug screening/negative TB test, DOJ background check and health screen. Apply at North Valley Services, 1040 Washington St. Red Bluff RUNNINGS ROOFING SheetMetalRoofing ResidentialCommercial • Composition • Shingle • Single Ply Membrane Ownerisonsiteoneveryjob ServingTehamaCounty 530-527-5789 530-209-5367 No Money Down! "NoJobTooSteep" " No Job Too Flat" FREE ESTIMATES CA. LIC#829089 LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Wednesday, March 4, 2015 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B5