Local Events providing back-to-school supplies: Sand Springs Community Service’s Backpack Supply Giveaway Where: Sand Springs Community Services Gym (114 W. 4th, Sand Springs) or call (918) 245-5183 When: August 9th, 10th, 11th What: Pick up a backpack of school supplies & a $25 Wal-Mart clothing voucher Who Qualifies: Any student preK-12th who qualifies for Free [...]
Build your child’s money skills while you read Amazing reading resource from the CFPB It's important to you to get the most out of reading time with your child. Money as You Grow Bookshelf lets you build on the time you may already be spending on reading together, and helps you bring money topics to [...]
Stay in the Know - WEBINARS Below are educational webinars (all FREE) for Green Country members. In August we focus on the Sandwich Generation - those of us taking care of both kids and parents and various financial-related issues that come up. We'll also share several webinars for back-to-school topics like FASFA applications, student [...]
5 Tips For Keeping Your Children Safe Online The Internet is an incredible tool to expand knowledge and information exchange for adults and children alike. but there are pitfalls This short paper will provide you with tips to help your children safely use the internet, benefitting from the positives and helping to avoid the negatives. [...]
Read this article at KOCO online and watch video Expert provides answers for Oklahomans curious about upcoming child tax credit payment Perris Jones Long-awaited payments will hit Oklahoma parents' bank accounts this week as the IRS's child tax credit payment will go out Thursday. Things will look a little different this year for Oklahomans who [...]
Children and credit reports: why parents should start checking Turning 16 years old marks many milestones for a child: learning to drive, preparing for college, and yes, his or her first credit check. While it may seem counterintuitive (after all, most teens don’t have a credit history), the reality is that identity theft can happen [...]
Seven Steps to Protecting Your Child From Identity Theft It’s a shocking experience thousands of parents have endured: finding out someone else has been using their child’s identity. It’s heartbreaking to think of a young person trying to start out in life with an unjustly tarnished credit history. To guard against a future of frustration [...]
FREE WEBINAR: Advanced Child Tax Credit We invite you to join a free webinar about the upcoming Advanced Child Tax Credit (CTC) monthly payments from the IRS that will start in July. This webinar will be held on Monday, July 19 from 3:00 - 4:00 Central. This webinar will provide you with information on CTC [...]
Automatic Payments for the Child Tax Credit Start on July 15th - Here's What You Need To Know So what is the child tax credit and how is it changing? Traditionally, the child tax credit provides parents a credit on their taxes for each child under 17. If your tax credit exceeds the amount of [...]
Swipe Up: Social Media Spending Social Media Day is Jun 30th - let's take a look at one of the biggest ways we spend money. “Swipe up to shop my look!” “Use my code for a great discount!” Click… the items are in my cart… purchase complete… and I received my confirmation email. Real talk: [...]
SAFEGUARDING KIDS’ IDENTITY Free Financial Education Webinar Today’s youth generation is tech-savvy and connected online. However, parents still play an important role in helping them avoid online hazards such as identity theft, privacy, and cyber-bullying. This workshop covers important issues including online privacy tips, managing computer settings, smartphone apps, and positive online behavior. Session 1: [...]
Millions of Americans Are About to Get $3,600 in New Stimulus — Are You One of Them? While a fourth stimulus check might not be in the cards, a new $3,600 benefit for millions of Americans will now be on its way come July. New direct monthly payments will be disbursed as part of an expanded [...]
If You Get This Message From the IRS, Don't Open It New Tax Credit has scammers clamoring to take advantage of you. Scam callers claiming to be from the IRS are a dime a dozen. While tax season has come to an end, you might be gearing up to receive the IRS' child tax credit [...]
Skip-a-Pay Season is Here! It's almost July which means we're in Skip-a-Pay season! Skip-a-Pay is one of the best perks of being a Green Country member. Here are some frequently asked questions we get about Skip-a-Pay and how it works. What is Skip-a-Pay? Skip-a-Pay is a consumer loan deferral. A loan deferral allows you to [...]
Cheap Summer Fun Want to have fun this summer but your budget's not quite where it needs to be for a big vacation? We have a couple of budget-friendly summer bucket list ideas just for you! Check Groupon and LivingSocial.This time of year, local recreational businesses post stunning deals on family activities. You can find [...]
18 Ways To Save Money This Week Finding creative ways to save money can make all the difference when it comes to your personal finances. Saving money whenever possible can help build your emergency fund, save for a vacation, or even free up money so you can start investing. For example, saving $10 a week from [...]
Welcome to Money Manager! All Green Country members have access to a host of money management tools for free - inside online banking. It's called Money Manager and it can help you track your money, set savings goals, work with a budget and monitor your cash flow. Dashboard See [...]
Daily Money Management Programs for Seniors Green Country offers a money manager and tracking program inside online banking to help you keep track of your money and see where you’re spending your hard-earned dollars. But for some seniors, that may be too technical, or even just too much to keep up with. There’s another solution [...]
How to shield your family from financial elder abuse While it’s not always the most pleasant topic, discussing finances with aging family members is crucial. They may be fine now, but it’s possible that as the years pass, they’ll need help managing their money to keep up with expenses and bills. Plus, the unfortunate reality [...]
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Commemorated June 15th every year, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is an opportunity to take action to protect older people by raising awareness about elder abuse, why it occurs, and what we can do to stop it. What Is Elder Abuse? Elder abuse refers to intentional or negligent acts by [...]
5 habits that can ruin your budget How did you ruin your budget last month? It was perfect on paper. You established different spending categories and set what seems like reasonable limits. Yet somehow it just didn't work out. And it keeps happening month after month. Sound familiar? The first thing to do is double-check [...]
Webinar: 30 WAYS TO TRIM A BUDGET REGISTER NOW - Watch on your schedule. Stretching your budget is a necessary step to achieving your financial goals. Learn smart ways to save on the things that impact your finances most, such as food, health care, insurance and more. Please join us for a free, informational webinar [...]
Stimulus Perk Helps Pay for Your WiFi and Laptop The Federal Communications Commission recently introduced the Emergency Broadband Benefit program for families who meet certain income criteria. Through the program, families may receive up to $50 per month toward their broadband service and associated equipment rentals. Households on qualifying tribal lands may receive as much [...]
Why is it so hard to buy a house right now? Thinking of buying a house? So is everyone else. Why are homes so hot? Mortgage rates have risen slightly in the past few months, but are still near record lows, driving high demand for homes. Some people hope to capitalize on these low rates, while [...]
How to buy a house in 2021 Your guide to getting a mortgage and buying a home. Set a budget Get mortgage preapproval Find a house and make an offer Secure your mortgage loan Wait for underwriting to complete Set up a home inspection Sign paperwork and close Buying a home is much [...]
Child Tax Credit Calculator Shows How Much You'll Get in Monthly Payments from IRS Yesterday was tax day, so hopefully, you managed to get your taxes in on time so that the IRS knows how many dependents you have, what your income was last year, or if you missed a stimulus payment so you can take [...]
Financial Stress: The Physical and Mental Effects Money may not buy you happiness, but studies show that your relationship with it impacts your health. Did you know money is tied to our basic, hard-wired drive to survive? When that drive can’t be attained, it compounds into stress. Maybe it’s why the age-old saying, “health is [...]
Top 5 Expenses When Building a House To build the house of your dreams, it helps to understand the cost breakdown and some of the most expensive parts of building a home. The key to staying within your budget (while still having everything you want) lies in making wise decisions. Keep in mind these top [...]
Are You in Credit Card Crisis? Get a cold, clammy feeling when you think of your credit card bills? If so, you are not alone. 40% of Americans carry credit card debt and the average balance is $5,700. If we exclude people who pay their balances in full every month, the average debt is $9,333. [...]
Rebuilding After a Financial Crisis There are many things in life that can derail even the best money management plans. When a crisis happens, most people take things day by day just hoping to get by. When the dust settles, they’re often left with a financial situation that is less than rosy. There are no [...]
While we're preparing for a financial disaster, it's worth taking a look at how an unexpected disaster hits. Oklahomans have seen their fair share of tornados, floods, grass fires, and ice storms. Here's an article about a house fire. Read through and think about what you would grab if you had less than 2 minutes [...]
We have had reports of members receiving calls using Green Country's name and/or number on the caller ID but turning out to be a scam call for the IRS. A reminder: Green Country will NOT call you and ask you to verify your personal financial information. Unfortunately it's fairly easy for someone to use a [...]
Free Online Educational Webinars All webinars are free and open to everyone - even if you're not currently a Green Country FCU member! Register for the webinar of your preferred time (there’s two each month) but don’t worry if you can’t be there right at 12:30 or 7:30. As long as you’ve registered in advance, [...]
Financial preparation before a natural disaster Whether due to fire or flood, earthquake or hurricane, powerful forces of nature can lead to financial devastation if you or your home is in its path. But while you can’t stop a catastrophe from happening, you can take preventative measures. Doing so will cushion the blow that such [...]
A financial crisis can throw even the best money management plan into chaos. This session focuses on ways to gain control of a crisis. Participants will learn about financial assessments, expense prioritization, and effective negotiation with creditors. Join us for one of two free, educational webinars. Anyone can attend and the recordings will be available [...]
5 key financial basics for teens One of the most powerful things for your teen to be able to do is to track where their money goes, and that starts with budgeting. Before your teen leaves home, they should know how to create a budget how to track spending, and how to save for the [...]
Mobile Device Security Everywhere you look you see people of all ages utilizing smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other devices to thrive in an online, connected world. Utilizing these devices for work and for pleasure can be extremely convenient and entertaining, but these benefits can come at a very high price if leveraged by a cyber-criminal [...]
A Guide to Successful Cyber Hygiene Admittedly, when you hear the term cyber hygiene for the first time you probably have one of two reactions: 1) You have a sudden urge to disinfect your keyboard and mouse, or 2) personal hygiene habits come to mind. In truth, it's closer to the latter. Cyber hygiene generally [...]
If you’ve seen someone wave their phone at a gas pump or tap their smartwatch on the credit card terminal to buy a latte, you’ve seen a mobile wallet in action. You may have even used PayPal to buy something online or Zelle to send money to a friend without realizing you were using a [...]
Classic warning signs of possible fraud and scams There are several signs that indicate you might be dealing with a scammer. They include contact from someone: Calling or emailing you, claiming to be from the government and asking you to pay money. Asking you to pay money or taxes upfront to receive a prize or [...]
Fraud & Scam Resources Losing money or property to scams and fraud can be devastating. But there are many resources to help you prevent, recognize, and report scams and fraud. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a U.S. government agency that makes sure banks, lenders, and other financial companies treat you fairly. [...]
Fraud and Scams Glossary Want to learn more? Visit the CFPB online. Elder financial exploitation Elder financial exploitation is the illegal or improper use of an older adult’s funds, property, or assets. It is the most common form of elder abuse, but only a small fraction of incidents are reported.The perpetrators can be strangers who [...]
Tips to Prevent Identity Theft There are many ways to protect your private information from fraud. Though some tasks take a bit of effort, be aware that cleaning up the mess identity thieves leave behind is far more difficult and time-consuming. Credit reports Periodically check your credit report from each of the three major credit [...]
Consumer Rights & Responsibilities Since thieves prey on those who have not taken preventative measures, it is up to you to be careful with all of your identification and financial information. For maximum security, make safety a family affair. Limit and monitor children’s access to the Internet and online transactions, have a designated person collect [...]
Identity Theft Resources If you are a victim of identity theft, understand that minimizing damage will take patience and a systematic approach. However, the sooner and more aggressively you deal with the problem, the faster you will see results. To start, commit yourself to becoming and remaining organized. Since you will be communicating with a [...]
Online Banking Server Issues April 26, 2021 |10:45 a.m. Online Banking is back up for all members. We are aware of a few issues that are continuing to be worked with our software provider. The security catchphrase is not showing. Members are prompted to enter their username and then on the second screen enter username [...]
Webinar: Score a better future | credit basics with FICO Friday, April 23 @ 11:00 a.m. (CST) We all have financial goals but knowing how to get there can be a challenge. Don’t understand how credit scores impact your financial health, or know your FICO® Score? We want to help! In celebration of Financial Literacy [...]
3 Ways to Teach Kids Good Money Habits Spend, Save and Share Jars Many parents teach their kids the value of hard work by paying them for chores. You can take this a step further by talking about what they can do with their hard-earned cash. Get three jars and add the label spend, save [...]
Links to Forgiveness Applications FORM 3508S FORM 3508-EZ FORM 3508 Forgiveness conditions of the Paycheck Protection Program The funds from your PPP loan can be used for the following purposes: Payroll—salary, wage, vacation, parental, family, medical, or sick leave, health benefits Mortgage interest—as long as the mortgage was signed [...]
Am I eligible for the new round of PPP? Companies with 300 or fewer employees who suffered a 25% drop in any quarter’s revenue from 2019 to 2020 are eligible for the second round of PPP. This means a 25% or more reduction in gross income from any quarter in 2020 relative to that same [...]
Need pandemic assistance for your small business? Here's a rundown of several economic relief programs that are available. Despite the improved numbers for new cases and deaths compared to the peak of the pandemic, COVID-19 continues to have an outsized impact on small businesses. The passage and signing of the American Rescue Plan Act in [...]
Teen checking account – 4 tips to keep in mind A checking account can help teach your teen important money basics. Get them started in high school to help them learn money management at an early age. You may have opened a savings account for your children as a way to sock away money [...]
Teens and Money: Checking and Savings Account One of the first steps toward real freedom (and adulthood) is having a checking and savings account in your own name. These accounts allow you to save money, make purchases, and pay bills efficiently. Both, however, require you to take an active management role, so that you can [...]
Money Missteps - A Great Thing to Happen to a Kid? You Spent Your Money on What?! Any parent with a child old enough to have control over money has probably at least thought that, if not shouted it across a dinner table. While the outrage at a teenager spending an entire pile of birthday [...]
Teens & Money Podcast Do you have 10 minutes? Listen to our quick podcast: teens and money. We're covering things like making a budget, setting goals, buying a car, and credit cards. Can't listen today? Download the transcript here.
HOW TO: Fold Bunny Money This is a wonderful idea for an Easter basket, or to give older kids who feel they are too old for Easter baskets. Materials. Crisp, New Dollar Bill (or any other denomination) Wiggly Eyes (Optional – but it looks more bunny-like with them) Small Pink Circle (Card [...]
If you missed it last week, don't worry, you can still register for the 2nd broadcast of this highly informational teaching tool. Session 2: Thursday, April 22, 2021 Time: 5:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. ET Sign Up If you can't view it live at 7:30 p.m. (CST) you will still have access to the [...]
Spring Webinars Upcoming Online Educational Webinars: APRIL – BUILDING YOUR FIRST BUDGET A smart budget helps you cover your expenses and still buy some of the things you want. Find out how to make—and maintain—a budget based on your needs. This session is specifically geared toward teens and pre-teens as part of Youth Financial Literacy [...]
Homeless Americans who don’t have a fixed address or bank accounts will have to jump through an array of hoops to claim their payment If you are homeless, you can go to a tax return office where they will file something called EIP return. They will put the money on a debit card after, What [...]
6 Things to do with your Stimulus Check (if you've already paid your bills) Pay off (or Pay Down) High-Interest Debt Interest rates are low for student loans, mortgages, and savings accounts, but if you're carrying credit card debt, you're probably paying upwards of 15%. You can free up a lot of cash by paying [...]
Stimulus Checks Round 3 Arriving Soon: Key Things To Know The IRS and Treasury will begin processing and sending the $1,400 stimulus checks as soon as this weekend. But not everyone will get their money at once. The $1,400 stimulus checks are officially arriving this weekend -- that is, for some of the people qualified to receive [...]
Annual Business Meeting - Online Recapping 2020 Green Country FCU Statement of Condition Re-nomination for two expiring terms on the Green Country FCU Board of Directors There are two (2) terms expiring on the Board of Directors. The following Directors have been re-nominated for election by the Nominating Committee: Marcia Haley (Incumbent) Running for a [...]
Free Educational Webinar: Women & Money Whether it’s having children, career advancement, divorcing, or becoming a widow, there are certain pivotal times in women’s lives that can occur. This special educational session addresses considerations for budgeting, credit, and insurance. Let's celebrate International Women's Day. Session 1: Tuesday, March 9, 2021 @ 11:30 a.m. (CST) [...]
No Longer Accepting PPP Applications UPDATE May 5, 2021 | Green Country FCU is no longer accepting PPP applications as the SBA-backed program has run out of funds. Any applications approved but not yet funded will still be processed. This does not affect PPP loans funded. Here’s a rundown of several economic relief programs [...]
Self-employed and gig workers could get bigger loans under new PPP rules. It just got easier for businesses with less than 20 employees to obtain a PPP loan. The Government changed how the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program calculates forgivable loans for the smallest firms and sole proprietors. The updated formula — which will likely [...]
Six Factors That Could Hurt Your Credit Score It's no secret that maintaining a good credit score is essential to strong financial health. It is a must if you ever wish to take out a substantial loan or need to apply for rental properties. Most people know the basics of what may hurt and what [...]
What to do if you see something wrong on your credit report Under the FCRA, both the credit reporting company and the information provider (that is, the person, company, or organization that provides information about you to a credit reporting company) are responsible for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report. To take advantage [...]
13 Interesting Facts about Credit Reports According to a study from the Federal Reserve, the larger the gap between your credit score and your spouse’s score, the greater you are at risk for divorce. Speaking of spouses and credit scores, you can now find a date based on credit score at CreditScoreDating.com. After all, they [...]
How do I get a copy of my credit reports? You are entitled to a free credit report every 12 months from each of the three major consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). You can request a copy from AnnualCreditReport.com. You can request and review your free report through one of the following ways: [...]
Dear Green Country family, I wanted to give everyone an update on the continuing online banking outage we’re experiencing and hopefully explain a little as to why this is such a big incident. This unprecedented winter weather event is affecting everyone across the U.S., and Oklahoma and Texas are getting hit especially hard. We utilize [...]
Green Country Moves to Winter Hours Due to Severe Weather and Road Conditions February 17, 2021 We are still operating under winter weather hours - our drive thru's are open 8:00 - 5:00. We also made the decision to close our Coweta branch today. February 15, 2021 In anticipation of hazardous road conditions continuing into [...]
Remote Services Offline February 18, 2021 8:00 a.m. | Online and mobile banking are back up but there are still intermittent issues. Fiserv is continuing to work toward a complete and full restoration or services and we expect more updates as the morning progresses. February 17, 2021 4:00 p.m. | Our latest update from Fiserv is [...]
Winter Weather Hours in Effect Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021 | 1:30 p.m. Green Country FCU is moving to winter weather hours for the remainder of the week. Our drive-thru's in Sand Springs will open at 8:00 a.m. and close early at 5:00. Saturday our drive-thru's will be open for normal hours: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 [...]
Lobbies Now OPEN! As of Monday, March 1, 2021, all Green Country FCU lobbies are re-opened for in-person banking services. We are a community credit union, and the health and well-being of our communities continues to be our top priority - including making the decision to close our lobbies back in January. By limiting access [...]
Free Webinar SOLVING THE MYSTERY OF CREDIT REPORTS Credit report scores hold a lot of power—they can help buy that first home but can also take away financial opportunities. This session provides an overview of credit bureaus, credit scoring, guidance to dispute inaccuracies, improving credit scores, and dealing with identity theft and fraud. Join us [...]
As the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out continues, it’s important to be on the lookout for scams. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN) recently issued a new warning about vaccine scams: Beware of scams offering early access to vaccines for a fee. Keep an eye out for phishing scams where scammers email or text you with phony [...]
Farmers gain greater access to small business support as PPP reopens Farmers who run their operations as sole proprietors, independent contractors, or otherwise self-employed individuals will have newly expanded access to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under changes made in the COVID stimulus package Congress approved last month. Producers who were denied PPP loans or [...]
Notice: Paycheck Protection Program resumed January 11, 2021 at 9am ET SBA, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, reopened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for First Draw PPP Loans the week of January 11, 2021. SBA will begin accepting applications for Second Draw PPP Loans on January 13, 2021. I'd like more information about PPP [...]
Update January 14, 2021 Paycheck Protection Program applications are open again There are two applications available: First Time Borrower Application - You did not receive a PPP loan in 2020 APPLY NOW - PPP First Time Borrower Second Time Application - You received a PPP loan in 2020 2nd Time Borrower Application [...]
Green Country FCU will be closed the following federal holidays in 2021: 2021 New Year's Day Friday, January 1 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, January 18 President's Day Monday, February 15 Memorial Day Monday, May 31 Independence Day Monday, July 5 Labor Day Monday, September 6 Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day Monday, October 11 [...]
Credit Card Makeover A look at our first financial education webinar of the year. Quick - without looking it up, do you know how much you owe on all your credit cards? If you're not sure, it could be a sign that you're getting into credit card trouble. Not knowing how much you owe, or [...]
New stimulus package makes it easier to qualify for food stamps. Here’s what you need to know Millions of Americans report not having enough money to pay for food during the pandemic. The latest Covid relief package expands food benefits, giving further aid to millions of Americans who are facing financial difficulty because of the [...]
People can check the status of both their first and second payments by using the Internal Revenue Service's Get My Payment online tool. When will you get your stimulus payment and how? A second round of stimulus payments are on the way and many eligible families are expected to receive the money this month. The first payments started [...]
UPDATE 2/15/2021 - Lobbies will ReOpen March 1st Now that staffing levels are back to almost normal and we're seeing a decline in community-wide COVID-19 cases, we will reopen our lobbies for in-person services on Monday, March 1st. UPDATE 1/28/2021 - LOBBIES CLOSED After reviewing staffing levels and community case levels, we have decided to [...]
WEBINAR Credit Card Makeover: Getting Out of Debt Please join us for a free educational webinar. Credit Card Makeover: Getting Out of Debt Credit cards can be a great financial tool, but for some, can lead to debt and financial trouble. This session provides an overview of credit card usage, warning signs of credit issues, [...]
Will you get a stimulus check? And when? Check your payment status here: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment The $600 stimulus checks from the latest Covid relief bill are officially on their way to bank accounts. The IRS also confirmed that initial direct deposits began December 30th and will continue through next week. “Some Americans may see the direct [...]
Online Shopping Safety In today's electronic world, it is extremely easy to shop and purchase goods or services on your computer, without ever leaving your home. Certainly, there are many benefits — cyber storefronts are always open and bargains are abundant. It is simple to comparison shop with the click of your mouse, and sellers [...]
Get Creative! Ways to Lower Holiday Spending Holiday spending is often a spending plan-buster. The expenses can be numerous: presents, wrapping paper, cards, decorations, food, and travel, to name a few. Yet very few people have an unlimited holiday budget. If you do not have the funds to buy everything you want, there is no [...]
Cyber Monday: 7 tips for safer online shopping Are you one of the many shoppers planning to click for holiday gifts this year? Don’t let the numerous Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals and distractions cloud your judgment. It’s always important to pay attention to signs that your online shopping transactions are secure. The holiday [...]
Updated - Friday, November 27, 2020 Sand Springs City Ordinance Now Requires Masks in All Local Businesses In accordance with the recently passed City Ordinance No. 1359, face masks or coverings are now required in all Sand Springs businesses. We ask that you please help us comply with this new regulation by wearing a face-covering [...]
Tips for safe Cyber Monday shopping (or really any day) Are you one of the many shoppers planning to click for holiday gifts this year? Don’t let the numerous Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals and distractions cloud your judgment. It’s always important to pay attention to signs that your online shopping transactions are secure. [...]
A step-by-step guide to making a holiday budget Ah, the holidays. It’s a time for seasonal cheer, catching up with family, and for some—financial panic! If you recently looked at the calendar and realized gift-buying season is closer than you thought, don’t worry. We are here to help you organize your finances by making an [...]
Bubbles burst, the economy falters, companies downsize, and personal disasters happen which can result in a reduced paycheck. Perpetual salary growth or even maintenance is simply not guaranteed. However, by adopting the right tools and attitude, you can make the most of a reduced paycheck and not just survive, but thrive. Determine whether your situation [...]
If you are like me, you are completely blindsided by the end of the year. Wasn’t it just the 4th of July? Why is it so cold all of a sudden!? December is here, and it’s human nature to get stressed out by the holidays, the shopping, the parties, the travel… and put thinking about [...]
Ever notice how your monthly expenses always seem to equal whatever salary you’re making, even after you get raises? The phenomenon is called “lifestyle creep” and it can keep you from reaching all kinds of financial goals, from paying down debt to saving for retirement. One way to get lifestyle creep under control is to [...]
3 Ways to Refinance to a VA Loan A VA refinance is brand new loan, not just an adjustment of a current one. A VA refinance will require a new loan application, a new title report and depending upon the type of VA refinance, more paperwork. Today, there are three different VA refinance loans. The [...]
VA Loan Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for a VA loan, you or your spouse must meet the basic service requirements set by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), have a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE), and satisfy credit and income requirements. You may be eligible for a VA loan by meeting one or more of the [...]
When Veterans Should Use a VA Loan VA loans are federally backed loans available to eligible military service members who are looking to buy a house. In many cases, it will be your best option thanks to the perks like no down payment, competitive rates, limited closing costs, and no private mortgage insurance premium (PMI). [...]
The Application The 3508S is a one-page application, with a second page for demographic information. Instead of having to show your forgiveness amount calculation as you do on the 3508EZ, you simply certify seven things: The dollar amount for which forgiveness is requested does not exceed the principal amount of the PPP loan and: a) [...]
If you lost your source of income or had reduced income because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, making payments on your federal student loans may be nearly impossible. With the extension of The CARES Act, those borrowers have relief from paying through December 31st. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says if you have qualifying student [...]
