Part 2
 

• Holiday Tip: It’s easy to get carried away during Black Friday. If you’re afraid the crowds & displays will cause you to overspend, shop online. Make your list & stick to it – without the extra distractions.
• Many are facing financial challenges as a result of the pandemic. This holiday season suggest foregoing gifts with family or friends entirely or set up a gift exchange where you buy one gift.
• The holidays are a great time to redeem any credit or debit card reward points you have saved. These points can often be redeemed for gift cards, which will help reduce your overall holiday expenses.
• Many people are struggling financially this year as a result of the pandemic. With the holidays approaching, now is the perfect time to donate to a local food bank or volunteer your time to help those in need.
• Prevent overspending this holiday season by tracking all your expenses. Make a list or use an app to organize money spent on gifts, decorations, food, and travel.
• If you’re traveling this holiday season, save money by packing food for the road trip. Store sandwiches, chips, and drinks in a cooler and save money on expensive restaurants and fast food.
• If your kids or grandkids receive money over the holidays, now is a great time to open a Youth Account. Help teach them how to manage their money responsibly and encourage them to save.
• Due to lower sales throughout the year, many retailers are offering storewide savings this holiday season. This could be a great time to save on home appliances and other large expenses.
• Gift cards are a great option with the holidays being a little different this year. They’re easy to purchase, help you stay within your holiday budget, and are great for people of all ages.
• Before setting out to shop for your Thanksgiving supplies, do a quick run through of what you already have on hand. Oftentimes, we forget we have many items at home and end up spending extra buying multiples.
• Before you begin your holiday shopping, review retailers’ price-matching policies. Many stores offer to price-match competitors, allowing you to minimize your shopping time, and save more money.
• Start the year off right by consolidating high-interest debt. By combining multiple high-interest credit cards into a single, lower-rate Signature Loan from the credit union, you’ll save more and pay off your debts quicker.
• Ready to save more in the new year? Start with a budget. Creating and following a budget is one of the most powerful ways to eliminate debt quicker and boost your savings continuously.
• Avoid holiday debt next year by saving for the holidays now! Open a Holiday Savings Account and make small deposits regularly throughout the year. Your money will be available to use just in time for the holidays.
• Summer is a great time to start saving for the holidays. Open a holiday account today and make regular deposits throughout the year. Once the holidays roll around, you can avoid relying on credit cards for gifts & travel.
• Want to avoid relying on credit cards over the holidays? Begin creating your holiday list now. Then, spread out your purchases over the next few months to prevent your finances from taking a big hit in December.
• When setting New Year’s Resolutions, don’t overdo it. Trying to make too many drastic changes at once will likely cause burnout. Instead, choose one goal important to you and give it your all.
• While the holidays are a joyful time of the year, they can also be expensive. Before the holidays arrive, consolidate all high-interest credit cards into a lower-rate credit union card. Balance transfers are quick & easy!
• Before turning to credit cards for your holiday shopping, consider a personal loan. With a set dollar amount, it’s easier to budget and manage your expenses. And with set repayment terms, you can avoid long-term debt.
• There are plenty of sales around the holidays, including Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But be weary of buying something just because it’s on sale. Ask yourself, “Is this something I would buy if it wasn’t on sale?”
• Be proactive this holiday season. With supply chain shortages hitting most industries, starting your holiday shopping extra early is a wise move. If you wait too long, supplies may dwindle and prices will rise.
• The holidays are right around the corner – and that unfortunately means an increase in fraud and identify theft. Make it a habit to review your accounts daily for any suspicious transactions or activity.
• Looking to boost your holiday budget? Try pausing some of your monthly subscriptions. Many companies allow you to pause the service for a month or two – freeing up extra cash for holiday fun.
• Holiday shopping with a credit card? Choose your credit card with the lowest interest rate if you cannot repay the balance in full each month. Rewards are fun, but not when you pay high interest to earn them.
• If your goal is to save more in the new year, start by researching opportunities available from your employer. Make sure you’re taking advantage of retirement plans and any matching programs offered.
• Do you have unused credit card reward points? The holidays are a great time to cash in your points for gifts for friends and family. Review your rewards program as many offer gift cards and cash back options.
• Shopping for electronics this holiday season? Save money by choosing refurbished options. Many top manufacturers offer certified refurbished products that include a warranty for much cheaper than new products.
• If saving more money is one of your New Year’s resolutions, start now. Create a budget for the upcoming year and look for areas to cut back. Make sure to cancel subscriptions now so you aren’t billed in the new year.
• Traveling this holiday season? Use Online Bill Pay and set up your bills to pay automatically while you’re away. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you won’t miss a payment while enjoying yourself on vacation.
• You can be romantic this Valentine’s Day without spending a bunch of money. Cook dinner together, plan a movie night, visit a museum, take a class together, or spend the day volunteering at a non-profit.
• Planning a beach vacation this Spring Break? Consider the eastern seaboard beaches instead of Florida, Texas, or Mexico. You’ll typically find these areas less crowded and will be able to spend less on your trip.
• Planning to travel over Spring Break? Consider a location that you can drive to instead of flying. With airline prices on the rise and flights routinely being canceled, you’ll be able to save money and lessen stress.
• Start the New Year off by reviewing all the interest rates on your credit cards and loans. List all the interest rates you’re currently paying and contact the credit union. You could save significantly by refinancing loans.
• Traveling during spring break? Plan ahead of time to avoid the high ATM fees at airports and hotels. Stop by any branch location or credit union ATM before you leave on vacation.
• Piggy banks aren’t just for kids. Collect loose change during the year in a piggy bank or jar. At the end of the year, use the money to buy something for yourself as a reward or to help with holiday shopping!
• Planning to make a New Year’s resolution in January? Take your resolution for a test drive before New Year’s Day. This will help you discover challenges you’ll face and learn how to avoid them before the big day.
• When setting financial New Year’s resolutions, start by assessing where you currently stand. Review your spending and savings habits. Start small and look for little tweaks that could lead to bigger changes down the road.
• Planning a vacation over Spring Break? With gas prices on the rise, you may want to avoid renting a car at your destination. Instead, use ridesharing apps or public transportation to make your budget go further.
• Between higher prices and the upcoming holiday season, it’s tempting to dip into your emergency fund to cover expenses. Try to keep this money strictly for emergencies – you never know when you’ll need it.
• It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and overspend during the holidays. Consider setting up balance alerts on your credit cards to notify you when you hit a specific amount. It’s a great way to keep spending in check.
• If you typically host parties or events over the holidays, you know how costly it can be. Instead, consider asking everyone to bring a dish or supplies. Most people are happy to pitch in, and your wallet will thank you.
• Fraud always picks up during the holiday season. Consider using a card management app to lock your debit and credit cards. When locked, no purchases can be made on your cards – protecting you from fraudulent transactions.
• As prices continue to rise, now is the perfect time to redeem your credit card rewards. Points can often be cashed in for gift cards, which are great gifts or be used to buy presents for family and friends.
• If you’re planning to travel this holiday season, consider booking flights early in the morning. Earlier flights tend to cost less due to airlines trying to fill seats. Plus, you’ll experience less airport traffic.
• The holiday season is one of the most popular times to make charity donations. If you’re planning to donate, consider paying by check or with a credit card. Doing so will create a paper trail in case of fraud.
• Teach your children the importance of giving this year by donating old toys. Have them select several toys they no longer play with and gift them to those in need. This also helps make room for their new holiday toys.
• When shopping this holiday season, just say no to store credit cards. While many retailers will offer steep discounts to entice you to sign up, these credit cards typically have extremely high interest rates & costly fees.
• Fraud and scams are at their peak during the holidays. Before starting your online shopping this year, ensure your virus and malware protection is up to date and active on all devices – computers, tablets, & smartphones.
• Holiday Tip: Avoid carrying large amounts of cash when shopping. You don’t want to attract any unwanted attention. If you prefer to use cash for budgeting, consider putting the money onto a pre-paid debit card instead.
• Holiday Tip: Be sure you understand the return policy before making a large purchase. While large retailers offer flexible (and often free) returns, many businesses still charge for return shipping and restocking fees.

11/22/24