Category: Blog

How to Get a Great Price on Your Next Car

Are you thinking of buying a car, but want to make sure you get the best price? Here are a few tips to help you find the right car at the best price. Buy “off-season.” Peak demand for cars is in the spring and fall, but if you want to find a bargain, shop for […]

Elder Financial Exploitation

Advice for members to protect themselves and their loved ones over 65 from financial abuse. To con artists, down-on-their-luck relatives, or opportunistic acquaintances, they are gold mines. Individuals over the age of 50 control 70 percent of the country’s wealth, and seniors between the ages of 65 and 74, with an average net worth of […]

Train Your Kids to Save

Getting financially fit isn’t easy. But teach children how to save and they’ll have one of the most difficult aspects of finance mastered by the time they’re teens—being consistent savers. Here are a few ideas to help your kids get money fit: As your kids reach high-school age, clarify what you will pay for and […]

3 Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Return

If you’re expecting a tax refund this year, it’s smart to have a plan for your money. Don’t end up spending your refund money like it’s a bonus check from the government—treat it like any other paycheck. Think about your financial situation and figure out the most beneficial way to use that money. Here are […]

4 Questions to Answer Before Buying a Home

If you’re making major life moves—getting married or having kids—and starting to get the homebuying itch, consider asking yourself these four questions. 1. How healthy is my credit score? A mortgage can be one of the biggest financial obligations you’ll ever take on. Don’t add to that burden by paying a high interest rate.  It’s […]

Financial Warning Signs You Can’t Ignore

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could wave a magic wand and make money troubles just disappear? Regretfully, real life doesn’t work that way. However, we do have the power to take steps to correct it—and the first step is to recognize that there is a problem. For example, if you find yourself dealing with […]

Why Pay to Borrow Your Own Money?

Many people look at tax refund time as a second Christmas—the time when the government returns to you a chunk of money that had been withheld from your paycheck. Some people are so anxious to spend the money that they apply for a tax refund anticipation loan (RAL) so they can get the money as […]

Are You Spending Too Much on Groceries?

How many times have you checked out at the grocery and were surprised by the total? It’s easy to let our grocery bill get too big if we’re not careful. Yes, food prices have gone up for certain items lately, and we’re making more meals at home now than eating at restaurants, but there are […]

5 Resolutions to Trim Spending and Reduce Stress

With the new year approaching, now is the perfect time to make a resolution to save more money. These five tips will help you trim spending, beef up savings and reduce stress. 1. Pay it off.Pay off your credit cards to save money. Let’s say you have a $2,000 balance at 18% interest. If your minimum […]

Don’t Fall for Gift Card Scams

Gift cards are extremely popular to give as well as to get. They’re a convenient way to treat someone to a meal at their favorite restaurant, purchase an item of their own choosing at a favorite store, or simply to give them cash to use anywhere the card is accepted. Unfortunately, scammers also love gift cards […]