<p>
[quote]
Dave Ramsey, anyone?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Just finished his book on audio. Wish to hell I'd read it YEARS ago! :mad:</p>
<p>He has seriously made me reassess what I'm doing even now, when I'm light-years ahead of where I was just two years ago.</p>
<p>ATM reimbursement is like, TOTALLY COOL, dude! :D</p>
<p>
[quote]
couldn't rent a hotel room with cash
[/quote]
What the heck has the world come to? :confused:</p>
<p>USAA rules. I used to work for them.</p>
<p>(opps- meant USAA!) Thanks for clarifying! </p>
<p>As for the Mids- if they get their checks directly deposited- is it easier (in terms of access) for them if they use the NFCU or USAA? Can they use their debit card at any NICE machine? Appreciate the feedback!</p>
<p>Well, there used to be an NFCU branch in the basement of 5th wing back in the day. While it may not be THERE anymore, I cannot imagine they didn't put it SOMEWHERE.</p>
<p>Now, since Direct Deposit is near mandatory (if not actually so), the location of the branches becomes a matter of convenience for non-deposit transactions. I deal with USAA all the time, either by phone or via their website. I've done car loans, mortgages, new accounts, bill payments, and everything else just over the phone and with ZERO problems. As for deposits, it's already been posted that you can mail the deposits postage-free.</p>
<p>Finally, I have never once had an ATM reject my USAA debit card. Not once.</p>
<p>Direct deposit is mandatory, the military stopped issuing "pay checks" 3-4 years ago. And there are no atm's that are "normal" that would reject a USAA debit card. It is so hard to find random atms nowadays that everything accepts everything.</p>
<p>That's what I figured about DD. We were pretty much sat down and told to fill out the paperwork, and when you're a plebe or M/C, you do as you're told.</p>
<p>Works for me. Receiving a check is SO 1800's. :D</p>
<p>Well the really nice thing is that now you can get your LES on the internet and you don't have to keep 6000 paper copies of everything. It is definitely a nice advantage to be able to look up stuff like pay on your own at home.</p>
<p>Every ATM I have ever encountered accepted my USAA debit card and I like the ATM fee reimbursement.</p>
<p>I'm with nurseypoo; I love having the ATM fees reimbursed. We still have accounts at NFCU and USAA, but use USAA for most everything. DD has a USAA pre-paid spending card; we are setting up her own USAA account. You can't beat them for service. She has been and NFCU member for years, but we will have her direct deposit go to USAA.</p>
<p>One caution about the NFCU sharechek card: they will approve transactions even if there are insufficient funds in the account, then charge a bounced check fee. The USAA card doesn't allow debit transations unless there are funds in the account. Our older daughter learned a very expensive lesson about keeping her debit register up to date. Of course, if you are writing checks and using the card, you may be in for some trouble unless you keep very accurate records.</p>
<p>I know, I know. You won't have these problems if you keep track of your spending, so please don't attack me on this one (I have been blasted for this in another forum). Since teenagers (and a lot of adults I know) seem to have difficulty keeping their check register current, I am just providing a cautionary tale. Don't beat me!</p>
<p>Beachmom-</p>
<p>I sound like a USAA advertisement. But for those of us who STILL have problems tracking and thus have to do it all of the time (I am reaaallly bad at this) they have that site where you can track ALL of your debit transactions (pending and processed) that save people like me (the trying to reform bouncers) the overdraft fees. </p>
<p>I sure wish that dang money tree would bloom!</p>
<p>Nursey-</p>
<p>I love that site! And since my older daughter (the Marine) and I are joint holders of her account, it pops up on my account list. I can access her account and let her know when the balance is getting dangerously low. Helpful, since she is miles from the nearest computer and can't check it regularly. </p>
<p>Guess we never quite stop hovering, do we? I am working hard to get her to keep a debit register. So far, she keeps it updated about 1/2 the time. </p>
<p>Now, if I could only get hubby to let me know when he uses his debit card...sigh....</p>
<p>another question: the paperwork sent home included an application and direct deposit forms for NFCU, but there was nothing about USAA- how to join, how to arrange direct deposit, etc.</p>
<p>Is it too late to change this, and if not, how does one go about joining USAA with direct deposit?</p>
<p>Pick up the phone and call 1-800-531-2265.</p>
<p>I recommend you set up the DD with NFCU (just to avoid the hassle), then transfer it to USAA (if you so choose) after Plebe Summer.</p>
<p>IIRC, you can open a USAA account with $5.</p>
<p>Zaphod: You've been a goldmine of help! I slyly asked my dad, "Hey, I filled out the application for NFCU, but some guy online said something about USAA. I was thinking of---" At that point he cut me off and started talking about how my uncle says USAA is amazing, how some lady here loves it, and how I should open an account with USAA as soon as possible.</p>
<p>Oye! So many things in the "adult world" to figure out that I was never taught. Taxes, bills, finance, investing, taxes, credit, taxes, bills, saving...dois mio! It's a big step up from keeping all my money in a jar under my bed. ;)</p>
<p>Del carajo, eh? ;)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Zaphod: You've been a goldmine of help!
[/quote]
Thanks. It's all I try to be. :o</p>
<p>Well, occaisionally a clown, too! :D</p>
<p>Zaphod: took your advice (again) and called the number for USAA. Basically, they said the new mids are requrired to sign up with the NFCU for direct deposit, but that they can transfer money freely between accounts if they open one at USAA (he also suggested checking with the academy about direct deposts to USAA after the summer).</p>
<p>As for insurance, the mids can obtain renters insurance for minimum $$ once they "take the oath"...covers everything from computers and I-pods (if they are ever allowed those!) to class rings (God willing!).... the mids have to call themselves after they "officially" enter the military (which occurs with their oath of office).</p>
<p>Thanks again for the help! :)</p>
<p>Just got off the phone with USAA. I set up a joint account for DD and myself. Passed on the credit card for her, but she will have a debit card with overdraft protection. The rep told me she can arrange her direct deposit right into her USAA account and bypass NFCU. This probably only works if your mid is already eligible to be a USAA member. He is not sure why NFCU seems to have such a stranglehold on the incoming plebe classes.</p>
<p>"He is not sure why NFCU seems to have such a stranglehold on the incoming plebe classes."</p>
<p>stranglehold?? probably because navy federal has a branch in bancroft hall, they are helpful and easy to work with. usaa's not on the yard, so why give a mid a bank account with a bank they can't access except for 10 hours on saturday their plebe year? (and maybe online) in my experience, usaa has been who my family gets their insurance from, and loans from, but they have always kept accounts open with navy federal, and as a mid navy federal's the most convenient. and it's never been my experience that these two are competing by any means. it's wise to have accounts with both, but navy federal's what they're gonna use during the ac year.</p>
<p>Well, not to sound like a USAA ad, but you can do anything with USAA that you can do with NFCU, despite USAA not being in the Hall.</p>
<p>Bottom line, folks, is that you can't go wrong with either.</p>
<p>Since Im a former dependent of a military officer, Ive had USAA auto/homeowners insurance all of my adult life. Originally USAA only covered military officers and its subsidiary, USAA-CIC, covered dependents/former dependents. That has changed and now USAA is also available to enlisted personnel. USAA is a preferred-risk insurer and they really are the best insurance company. However, I believe NFCU offers competitive rates for basic financial matters, which would apply to midshipmen. Other financial institutions, including some credit unions, offer better rates than USAA. I would keep it simple for plebesgo with NFCU because they are on the Yard and naval bases too.</p>