Payday Loans Blog

Thousands of students are missing school to save their town of Fargo, North Dakota from the rising Red River. In many other places throughout the nation filling and placing sandbags to protect homes would be done by emergency volunteers or parents.

However, in Fargo the students can get the day off of school to help with the sandbags with their parents permission. The students view the task of filling one million sandbags as a race against the river and a fun opportunity to be with their friends and help others.

One of the 62-year-old volunteers, David Stark, expressed appreciation for the young who had volunteered. He said, "They pretty much have saved our community."

Michael Russell, who is 14 years old, said he knew he was helping his friends and neighbors save their homes. He thought the sandbags would probably even save his own home.

The operation of filling these sandbags is taking place in a utility building that normally shelters 25 garbage trucks.  Under the new operation and with the new man-power of the students the building can produce 100,000 sandbags per 12 hours.

This is equivalent to 1,000 sandbags per fifty volunteers per hour. The students have been signing up for three or four hour shifts for twelve hours every day.

The younger students who are helping to save the town are only in elementary school. Some children are smaller than the sandbags they are filling. The support from the students has continued into their spring break.

Governor John Hoeven said the sandbagging depended on the student volunteers. He said, "They're moving those bags like crazy…They are taking pride in helping their community and we are grateful."

The impact that these students have had on their community is incredible. This is an experience that they students will remember the rest of their lives.

You can make a difference in the life of a friend or a loved one as well. There are many who have faced economic struggles and setbacks.

You can send support and love to them no matter where they are located in the world through a Western Union money transfer. Check City makes the process easy and convenient for your loved ones to receive your help. All you need is a photo ID and the money you would like to send them. Visit Check City’s website to find out more about our quick and easy Western Union money transfers.

To read more about these amazing students visit:
http://www.wpri.com/dpps/news/us_news/midwest/students-pitch-in-to-help-save-town-from-flood-jgr_3278364

Western Union, in partnership with Check City offers cheap, affordable and reliable Money Transfers to anyone, anywhere in the world.  It is a great way to send money to a college student that needs a little extra help or a birthday present to your cousin Polly's 50th when you don't know what else to get for her. You can even send Money Transfers to our troops so if your husband, or even your wife, is out of the country, serving in the armed forces, you can send them money as well.  The process is simple and can be done through both Check City and Western Union.

Here are just a few of the countries that we can send your money to.

• Bermuda
• Kuwait
• Tunisia

Any country with a U.S. Military base has an option for sending it straight to the military base and there are 4 different ways to have the money distributed to the receiver.  You can have it delivered to their home (within the continental U.S. only), do a money in minutes transfer, do an economy transfer, or have it deposited directly into the recipient's bank account.

1. Money in Minutes: When you choose the money in minutes option the recipient can literally have the money in minutes.  It is a little more expensive to do, because the transfer occurs so fast, but if money is needed now, it is a great way to go.  You can also have someone send money to you with money in minutes when you are needing a financial boost and get that money immediately by going into a Check City or Western Union Location and picking it up.  All you need to send the money is, of course the money and the country and city where the money will be received and the recipient can walk into the Western Union and pick it up within minutes.
2. Home Delivery: Home delivery is an overnight service, available only in the continental United States.  The money is transferred to the recipient via a Western Union Money Wise Prepaid Visa Card via Fed Ex. You will need the receivers address, name and phone number in order to send money this way.
3. An Economy Transfer: An economy transfer is a little cheaper way to send the Money Transfer but still get it there quick. With an economy transfer they usually get it within 72 hours. You will need to know the country and city name of where you are sending the money for this transfer service as well.
4. Direct Deposit to Bank Account: With a direct deposit to the recipient's bank, it will take about three business days, the same amount of time that the majority of direct deposits take.  The catch to this one is that your recipient must have a qualifying bank account and the policies and information you will need to know in order to send the money will vary by country.

Visit our Check City website to start sending money today via our Western Union Money Transfers. The only thing our prices can't beat is our service. Visit us today to get started.

The last few posts about services have been just quick overviews of some of the services Check City offers to you.  Today I will add three more to the list, gold buying, money transfers and insurance. Our Gold Buying services are still fairly new and are still in the learning phases.  If you have any comments questions or suggestions for us please let us know in our comments and questions section. We like to make things as easy and carefree for you as possible, but we can only do it with your help. When we know what you want, we can better understand how to give you what you want.  Also, Check City offers money transfers, an easy way to get money from one side of the country to another without ever writing a check.  You can actually pick up or send a money transfer anywhere worldwide that offers this Wester Union service.  You can transfer money to yourself, to family or to a friend, it's simple and all they need to pick it up is a photo I.D.  Of course most of you know about our insurance options at Check City as well. We make it easy for you to get affordable insurance with people you trust.  Visit us today to get started and read on for more in depth details about our three spotlight services.

Gold Buying

Do you have any scrap gold in the form of earrings, necklaces, rings or other broken, unwanted or old jewelry? Do you want to sell silver, platinum, or diamonds?* Then stop by one of our 15 participating Check City location where you can now sell gold and other precious metals or you can request a refiner's pack and return your unwanted scrap jewelry in the prepaid envelope!

We accept just about anything that contains 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, or 24K gold. We also accept silver and platinum. Some examples of items we are interested in include:

The process is simple. Simply bring your gold, silver, or platinum in to any Check City store. Your material will be weighed on a jeweler's scale. It is then tested for precious metal content so that we can determine its cash value. You then get paid cash right on the spot for your scrap gold!

Selling jewelry could never be easier. All Check City stores are conveniently located and open for extended hours, making it simple to sell your scrap gold whenever you are able. Plus, we pay up to four times as much as refiners online! The best part is you receive your cash instantly, so no more waiting weeks for a check to come in the mail.

The precious metals markets are the highest they have been in years right now. There couldn't be a better time to sell your dental gold, jewelry, or platinum. The price we pay you is based on daily NYMEX market value of the day you bring in your material. So bring in your unwanted rings, charms, bracelets and other jewelry now while you can get top dollar!

*We accept gold jewelry set with gemstones, but they are not considered in determining the cash value of your gold. Diamonds require special consideration.

Money Transfers:

Check City--working with Western Union--makes it easy and convenient to send money anywhere in the world. Just visit any Check City location with a photo ID and the money you want to send (you can either use cash or your debit card). We can either transfer the funds directly to the recipient's bank account or send the money to any Western Union agent location around the world.

And of course, if someone transfers money to you, you can pick up the funds at any Check City store. All you need is a valid photo ID.

Insurance:

At Check City Insurance, we're standing by to do that busywork for you. We'll provide you with quotes from a wide selection of insurance companies to make sure you get the best plan for the best price. You can stop by Check City any time for a free quote-and even purchase your policy at the same time. Or you can call us for a quote, take as much time as you need to choose a plan, and then pick up your policy the next time you stop by one of our stores. It's that easy.

We offer a complete range of options-including auto, motorcycle, boat, RV, life, homeowners, and commercial insurance-at very competitive prices. Pick up the red phone at any participating Check City-and see how much money you can save today.

Visit us online or in one of our stores to learn about our other great deals and services and don't forget to leave your comments and questions on our website. 

With the snowy weather rolling in all across the country this year, I figured I should give a little reminder on safe snow driving and some good things to have in your car regardless of where you live.

This year the winter snow has spared almost no one.  From California to Washington, D.C. and from New Hampshire almost all the way to Florida, snow can be found on the streets, on the housetops and on the ground.  Even Texas and Arkansas didn’t escape the snow this year.  This is why now is a great time to remind people of what they should keep in their cars in case of emergency, especially if you live in a state gets more snow than others.

ALWAYS keep a blanket, extra pair of gloves, or at least some kind of coat in your car.  You never know when a storm could hit or you could have car problems.  It is important to have something warm in your car so that if one of these things does happen you are prepared and don’t freeze trying to get help.  A pair of boots could be suggested as well.

Secondly, make sure you have enough gas in your car to get where you are going.   It is not always the best idea to let you car get below 1/4^th of a tank during the winter season in case an emergency does arise.  If you want, you can even keep an empty gas can in your trunk, which is a good idea anyway in case you do have to run and get some extra gas from the gas station.

Third, if you don’t know how to drive in the snow, either don’t drive or have someone help you. When you are an inexperienced snow driver, you are putting others at risk as well. 

Here are a few simple trips to help when driving in the snow.  Never slam on the breaks unless absolutely necessary, especially when the roads are icy.  Instead you should pump or tap the breaks lightly and early, until you come to a stop, this should help to avoid sliding. Also, don’t overcorrect if you do hit a patch of ice. Sometimes people panic when they hit a patch of ice and go to the right or to the left, usually when they panic they overcorrect by jerking the wheel back towards the road in a quick motion. This usually causes the vehicle to spin and may make the slide worse. Instead, pump your breaks slightly and ease the car back onto the road or lane.

Don’t forget about jumper cables either.  Car batteries always seem to have slightly more problems during the winter months.  They get cold and sometimes have a harder time starting. Jumper cables are almost a necessity when traveling because you never know when you will need a jump or even when you could help someone else out with a jump.

Check City offers services to keep you from being caught in a winter financial storm.  Western Union has partnered with us to bring you a few different services including FREE money orders!  These money orders are accepted by most government agencies, businesses and banks, making it easy to save you money and of course, they are free.

Western Union and Check City also offer money transfers.  These money transfers are easy, all you have to do it take the money you want loaded onto the money transfer, along with a picture ID and we can deposit the funds directly into the bank account of the recipient or transfer the money to any Western Union agent location around the world.  If you receive a money transfer, you can pick them up at any Check City location as well with a picture I.D.

Whether you love Miracle on 34th Street or would prefer something a little more on the wacky side such as Elf or Earnest Saves Christmas there is a classic Christmas movie to please just about everyone.  Here is a list of some classic Christmas movies.  They are listed in no particular order.

Miracle on 34th Street  - The charming tale of a department-store Santa who believes he really is Kris Kringle - and he just may be.

It's a Wonderful Life - A magical tale of a man who's allowed to see what his family, his friends and his community would have been like if he had never been born. 

A Christmas Story - The infamous "leg lamp," the kid who sticks his tongue to a frozen lamppost, the pink bunny pajamas, the terrifying trip to a department store Santa and Ralphie's vivid imagination will make anybody but a true Grinch remember the fun of the holidays.

A Christmas Carol - Whether you prefer one of the older versions, or the new one,  Scrooge has visits from ghosts of Christmases past, present and future and realizes his life must change.

A Charlie Brown Christmas -  A cartoon Christmas story for all ages that reminds us that the true spirit of Christmas is giving remembering the spirit of Christ the ultimate gift giver.

At Check City, not only do we want to give to you, we want to help you give to those who matter most in your life.  Check City offers Western Union money wire transfers to anywhere in the world. Bring in your photo ID and the money you want to send (cash or debit card only), and we can either transfer the funds directly into the recipient's bank account or send the money to any Wester Union location around the world. You can of course receive Western Union money orders at Check City as well. Just bring in your photo ID to any Check City location and we will disperse your funds to you.  Giving is easier this year with Check City!

Maybe money isn't a problem for your family, but you know of people in your community, and even family members, as we all do, who are struggling during the Holidays this year. Check City reminds you that sending money is one of Check City's many financial solutions.  Check City has partnered with Western Union to provide an easy way to help someone out, even if you can't be there with them this Christmas season. 

Don't forget that serving those around you, may be another way to get involved with your community during the Holiday season, make some memories that will last a lifetime, and change someone's life for the better.

Here are a few ideas for how you can help out no matter where in the United States you call home:

1. Toys for Tots : Toys for Tots hosts gift drives in every state in the country, so that no matter where you live, you can help a child in need.
2. Make-a-Wish Foundation: As always the Make-A-Wish Foundation provides hope to children in various different circumstances and walks of life.
3. Angel Tree: This is a group dedicated to providing gifts and hope to children with parents in prison with the hope of making a difference in the lives of not only those children but maybe one day their parents as well.
4. Many towns offer local opportunities to provide service to those in need as well through local soup kitchens, homeless shelters or similar endeavors. Check with your city for more information on local upcoming events to help provide a better Holiday to those in need.
   

Whether you are stuffing stockings of children or adults, there are always bargains to be found and I have them for you so you don't have to search anymore.

Stocking Stuffers for Children:

• Playing cards
• Bubbles and a bubble wand
• Homemade soap in animal shapes
• Coloring crayons
  
• Doll clothes
• Matchbox Cars
• Gum (Depending on Child's Age)

Stocking Stuffers for Adults:

• Cup Coasters
  
• Return Address Labels
  
• Coupons
• Truffles
• Candles
• Chocolate Covered Pretzels or Peanuts
• Christmas Tree Ornament
• Sudoku or Crossword book

If you are still looking for other ways to save money. Try out our netspend Prepaid Debit Card. It is easy to get, and easy to use. No credit check is necessary and it comes with all the conveniences and flexibility offered by Visa and Mastercard.  It is also accepted anywhere Visa and Mastercard are accepted worldwide. We also offer money transfers so that you can send money to your loved ones no matter where they are, or you can receive money from them.

Partnering with Western Union, Check City offers money transfers for anyone needing to send or receive money. With this service you can send your money anywhere in the world. As long as the recipient has a bank account or is near a Western Union then he or she can get that money from you.

All you have to do is walk into any Check City location with a valid photo ID and your money, in cash or debit form, and we can send it off for you. This service is secure because the money is immediately sent to the account or agent waiting for the recipient to come pick it up. Because of this it cannot be intercepted on its way out so you can feel comfortable and confident in sending your hard-earned money.

If someone wants to send you money you can have them send it to any Check City location. You just have to come in with a valid photo ID and the money is yours.

We understand that sending money through the mail can cause unnecessary anxiety and stress. Because of this we have provided a solution. Come to any Check City during our conveniently extended hours and you can transfer your money anywhere in the world.