It’s amazing how little percentages of everyday monetary transactions can add up.
A few cents here, a dollar there, and suddenly we’re talking real money that can fund a scholarship, buy a piece of school equipment or even whittle down your own property tax bill.
You have these cards in your wallet, probably bought in a fundraiser for a Scout, school or sports group. When you buy a pizza or sandwich, collect your dry cleaning or have you car’s oil changed, you flash the card to receive a discount off the bill.
And, if you use your credit card to complete the transaction, you gain even a few more cents on the dollar for yourself … or to chip in to a organization to convert incremental contributions into significant gifts for clubs, teams or troops.
Last week the Hillsborough Township Committee gave $8,720 to township senior citizen, Scout and sports organizations (and, in an eyebrow-raiser, even a church, albeit to buy tables and chairs for a recreation room).
The extravaganza the municipal meeting room was packed had each group pose with the same ceremonial check. The program receives a small percentage of profits from each purchase made with the designated Affinity Federal Credit Union credit card. The money is turned into soccer goals, camping equipment, microphone systems and the like more than $23,000 in giveaways in the last few years.
The show at the Township Committee meeting came a night after a company called propertytaxcard.com explained how a “Shop Hillsborough” card could help businesses who subscribe for its own card of little goodies to loyal customers. The business gains marketing information and advertising, and the small discount can help a participant accumulate a little nest egg to nibble down a property tax bill.
A representative of the company said she thought she might save up to $500 this year, just by changing where she got her hair done and bought her takeout food, in her hometown of Marlboro. Not bad. It’s like aggressive couponing on steroids.
Choosing where you shop, and how you pay, is turning into a choice of which community group to boost. Just another example how you can help your community, your school or yourself your choice in this 21st century.
