Hidden Holiday Costs & How To Beat Them
You already know about the gifts and decorations. Here are some holiday expenses you may have not included in your budget this year, along with creative ways to beat them #1: Wrapping paper It all ends up in the garbage, but did you know that wrapping paper for your...
5 Ways to Boost Your Credit Score
Credit scores... that three-digit number may not always be top-of-mind, but chances are, you've given some thought to boosting your score. Here are 5 tips to get you started. 1. Pay your bills on time. If you find this to be a challenge, consider signing up for...
9 Hobbies That Don’t Cost A Lot of Money
No matter the season, it's always the perfect time to save money and find ways to have fun without breaking the bank (or credit union). Here are nine hobbies that don't cost a lot of money and just might add a little value to your day. Hobbies don't need to be...
Safety First: Preparing for Hurricane Season
Living close to the ocean is usually a wonderful thing. The views are breathtaking and recreation opportunities are never far away. But there’s a danger associated with coastal living: hurricanes. And, if you're living in or near a coastal state, don't make the...
Mutilated Money: Is the end really the end?
Ever wonder what happens to bills that have been burned, damaged by liquids or ruined by.... other methods? Most might think it's the end of the line for these bills, never to grace your account or piggy bank again, but maybe not. Did you know there's an actual...
Home Buyers and the 20% Down Myth
Hey, home-buyers (and anyone else needing the down-low on down payments), this is for you! Let's take a moment to bust the 20% down payment myth. Are you desperate to own a home of your own but don't quite have the down payment you think you need? Home ownership.......
Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
Identity theft is one of the most nefarious crimes out there. Here are seven ways to help protect yourself: Secure Your Hard Copies Every sensitive document should be kept in a safe or scanned and saved in a secure folder. Credit cards and debit cards should be...
Beware of Tech Support Scams
Tech support scams are growing at a rapid pace. It seems you’re always putting yourself out on a limb when you call tech support. You dial the number the company gives you, and perhaps after a while of waiting, you’re connected to someone who may be working on the...
7 WAYS TO SPRING CLEAN FOR SUMMERTIME CASH
Spring has been around a while and you still need two things: cash and a clean house. When that first delightful spring breeze started blowing, you knew it was time to get your house in shape. And now, with summer just around the corner, you know it's time to get...
5 Cringe-Worthy Credit Mistakes
You don’t need a special news alert to know... …we’re all human and we're gonna make mistakes. Being human means we’re all bound to make a mistake or two when it comes to making credit decisions. Here are 5 of the most common credit card mistakes. See how many you've...
5 Car Finance Gimmicks and Tricks to Beware Of
Auto Loans — the offers are everywhere. How do you know which great deal is really, well…a great deal?
Here’s what to look for.
We are Relocating Our Decatur Office
If you live in the city of Decatur or in DeKalb County, you may have heard the news that North DeKalb Mall will be redeveloped sometime in the near future. We are using this opportunity to relocate our main office to a larger, more convenient, free standing location...
Equifax® Data Breach: How to Protect Your Financial Identity
By now, it’s safe to assume most of us have heard about what Equifax is referring to as a ‘cybersecurity incident’. For those of us who haven’t, here’s a quick recap and ways to secure your financial identity.
Clean Up Your Finances for the New Year
After a year of spending, saving, paying off bills and racking up rewards points, your financial life can get a little messy. And now that the holiday season is over, it is a great time to regain control of your finances. When you de-clutter your accounts, paperwork...
Stretching Your Money Further
Tip: Never go to the grocery store hungry. It’s a simple rule to keep from over-buying and one sure to keep you from blowing the week’s budget on cravings at your local grocer. But, aside from controlling your appetite as you peruse the baked goods aisle,...
CU Cents: CHECK YOURSELF – Arm yourself against check fraud
Your personal and financial safety is very important to us. In the past few posts, we’ve covered multiple topics related to protecting your identity and your money. This time, we want to remind you of ways to protect yourself against a more “traditional” form of...
Don’t Neglect Financial Health When Making Resolutions This Year
Think back on each New Year. Notice anything in common with years past? Maybe you’ve resolved each year to make better nutritional decisions. I will not eat the WHOLE plate of cookies. Or, maybe you’ll take it a step further and throw in a promise to yourself to take...
Budgeting Basics: Not just for beginners anymore.
We talk a lot about credit and great ways to access and spend your funds, but there's one very important step we should take when it comes to our money... ...budgeting. Does that word sounds scary or boring? It must as budgeting seems to have such a negative...
Brainy Browsing and Purchasing Tactics
It seems every time you turn around there's another item you need—and you needed it, like, yesterday. A replacement water filter for the fridge, new carpet, an extra garage door opener… So, what do you do? If you can't visit your favorite retail shop, you'll...
Staying Financially Sound During A Job Loss
Planning. It’s singlehandedly the best thing you can do for your budget. But does your financial outlook include a plan for an unexpected job loss?