It's a Great Time for a Midyear Financial Checkup As we reach the halfway point of the year, it’s a perfect time to pause and reflect on your financial goals. Are you staying on budget? Have unexpected expenses impacted your plans? A midyear financial checkup can help you course-correct, build momentum, and head into the [...]
Green Country FCU Launches New Personalized Financial Education Platform: Enrich June 2025 — Green Country Federal Credit Union is proud to introduce Enrich, a powerful and personalized financial education platform now available free to all members. Whether you're looking to pay down debt, boost your savings, or simply make smarter money choices, Enrich is your [...]
Webinar: Financially Savvy Seniors Join us for a free, informational webinar. Retirement can be a great time for seniors if they are prepared financially. Attendees will learn about specific retirement concerns such as managing money, Medicare, Social Security, improving cash flow, insurance, investing, estate planning, and more. REGISTER: Session 1: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 Time: [...]
Keeping Track Of Bills And Payments Knowing how to keep track of bills and payments is an important part of managing your finances. It ensures that you make your payments on time, which impacts other aspects of your finances. Take advantage of these tips on how to keep track of bills and payments. Create a [...]
Webinar: Basics of Personal Finance Free, Financial Education Webinars Join us for our first free webinar of 2023: Personal Finance Basics! We'll kick off Financial Wellness month with the basics, everything from managing daily expenses to investing for retirement. This session helps participants set personal finance goals, learn the basics of smart money management, and [...]
Four ways debt sneaks up on you—and what to do about it Unless you track your overall spending with every little purchase, debt can ambush you. Fortunately, you can prevent it from piling up; you just need to be aware of the ways in which you spend money. Here are four common causes of debt [...]
Nine Ways to Master Your Money 1. Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals Saving tends to be easier when you have a certain purpose in mind: Saving for your first house, your retirement at a certain age, a child’s college education, or even a trip around the world. The important thing is for your goals to be specific, [...]
Free, Financial Education Webinars Join us for free webinars in 2023! Whether you’re an employee, member, family, or friend, our webinars are packed with useful info and are open to everyone. Just make sure to reserve your virtual seat. Select Sign Up at the links below to register. When prompted please enter ‘Green Country FCU’ as your [...]
BREEZING THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS It may be called “the most wonderful time of the year” but December can also be filled with unwanted debt with holiday spending. Learn budgeting strategies and tactics to avoid that year-end credit card crunch and sidestep debt traps in the future. REGISTER: https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/2559794329983624976 Session 1: Tuesday, October 11, 2022 [...]
We’re very excited to announce our free webinars for the second half of the year! Whether you’re an employee, member, family, or friend, our webinars are packed with useful info and are open to everyone. Just make sure to reserve your virtual seat. Select Sign Up at the links below to register. When prompted please enter [...]
10 ways to spend less when shopping online Get what you need without overpaying—or being tricked into overbuying. Key takeaways Retail sites have features that entice you to buy more than you need, but savvy shopping can help you stick to a budget. These tips and habits—including staying focused, carefully timing purchases, and factoring in [...]
Reposted from Money Under 30 If the usual budgeting methods and apps aren't working for you, try some of these lesser-known options — like the Kakeibo method, the expense-income approach, or the "no budget" budget. As a personal finance writer, I write about budgeting daily. That’s why it was a hard truth to face when [...]
How to cut your grocery bill by 90%: is it possible? Wondering how to save money on groceries? There are several ways you can slash your grocery bill by up to 90% — whether it’s by shopping at discount stores, planning your meals around sales, using coupons, or buying in bulk. ✋ Raise your hand [...]
Saying “I Do” to Homeownership: How to Prepare for This Big Commitment Buying a home is a major commitment. It’s a bit like, well, getting married: you’ve got to be ready and you have to find the right “one.” And, like a marriage, homeownership is a dynamic experience that requires a tremendous amount of care [...]
How To Go From Living Paycheck to Paycheck to Retiring Early Let’s take a look at a chat with Dr. Lakisha Simmons, a financial freedom coach who went from living paycheck to paycheck to saving $750,000 in four years and becoming financially independent. What steps did you take to become financially independent and able to [...]
We’re very excited to announce our free webinars for the second quarter 2022! Whether you’re an employee, member, family or friend, our webinars are packed with useful info, and are open to everyone. Just make sure to reserve your virtual seat. Select Sign Up to register and click Show in My Time Zone to view the session time [...]
What is the 30-day savings rule? The 30-day savings rule is simple: the next time you find yourself considering an impulse buy, stop yourself and think about it for 30 days. If you still want to make that purchase after those 30 days, go for it. This rule works because by forcing yourself to wait [...]
RX for Financial Health Talking about physical health and going to the doctor for regular check-ups is socially acceptable for many. So why is talking about financial health considered a taboo subject? Especially when, according to the Financial Health Network, only 34% of U.S. households are financially healthy. Imagine if financial health check-ups became the [...]
New Year Money Resolutions: 9 Tips to Meet Your Financial Goals Just having a New Year’s resolution can help your bank account, but most of the time, people fail. If you have trouble keeping that overly-broad, year-long goal you thought of while participating in rowdy New Year’s Eve festivities, here’s some advice: Keep it simple. [...]
How COVID-19 Has Changed People's Money Habits: The Significance of an Emergency Fund An emergency fund is a specific amount of money that you set aside for periods of uncertainty or suffering - such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people don't have (or even know about) an emergency fund until the pandemic struck and they [...]
10 STEPS TO FINANCIAL SUCCESS December Webinar We all measure financial success differently, but all paths to get there require discipline and goals. This session teaches participants ways to financial control— including developing a spending plan, creating objectives, weighing insurance needs, and other tools that will help get on the road to personal financial success. [...]
Webinar Recap: Rebuilding After A Financial Crisis Our November financial education webinar focused on the steps you can take to rebuild after a financial crisis. Here are the highlights: BUDGET - Analyze the money coming in and develop a reasonable and goal-oriented plan for what goes out. **TIP: Use a money tracker, like Money Manager inside online [...]
Have you ever unexpectedly found out you’re going to have less income? It’s enough to throw you into a panic! The best way to get through hard times is to take a few deep breaths and put a plan together. Check out these common targets for quick and effective expense cuts. Food You might find [...]
How to Teach Your Kids About Money and Credit In this article: When Should Kids Start Building Credit? How to Help Your Child Build Good Credit Habits How to Teach Your Kids to Be Smart With Money Getting Your Kids Started With Credit Cards Can a Child Have a Credit Report and Score? How to [...]
5 Tips to Build (and Maintain) a Good Credit Score Like building a house, constructing a financially stable life requires laying a solid foundation. In difficult economic times like these, though, building that foundation can be a challenge. Good credit remains a core part of any financial foundation. Having good credit can make it easier [...]
Yes, credit cards can be dangerous. But credit cards are also a powerful tool if you know how to use them responsibly. How credit cards work A credit card is a revolving line of credit that allows you to make charges at any time up to the amount of a specific credit limit. When [...]
USING CREDIT CARDS WISELY Join us for a free educational webinar focusing on credit cards! A credit card can be a valuable financial tool. However, before racking up big charges on multiple cards, participants should learn smart ways to handle their credit cards and take a disciplined approach. Register to attend in advance to be [...]
100 Days until Christmas? Now What?! As of today, you have 100 Days Until Christmas, so let's talk about the "B Word": you need to have a budget for Christmas and it is time to create one. Sit down and take a good hard look at your finances to see if you can get through [...]
UPDATE Sept. 17, 2021 As long as you've pre-registered for the Savvy Senior webinar, you'll have access to the recording until Sept. 24th - you should have a link emailed to you. Here are the key takeaways we noted from the event: Get started now! It's hard to catch up Setting aside a little bit [...]
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 [...]
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: [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
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.
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
National Grandparents Day was this weekend and we know that more older adults have primary responsibility for raising grandchildren or other young relatives. If this describes you or the older adults you work with, here are a few financial tools that can help. Get a clear picture of monthly income and expenses. If you’re raising [...]
Even when rates are low, refinancing your mortgage isn't always the right choice. Here are some points to consider before you refinance. Deciding when to refinance your home loan depends on several factors besides whether you can get a better mortgage rate than you already have. And though there are many reasons people refinance their [...]
No doubt about it—buying a home is a big investment. You’re on the hook for a long-term mortgage, and responsible for repairs and any other unforeseen expenses. But don’t get discouraged just yet. If you have strong money management skills (and cash saved up), you may be ready for homeownership. Here are three signs that [...]
Buying a home is at once an exciting and challenging venture. With commitment and planning, you can become a successful homeowner. This post covers everything you need to know to start the home buying process off right, including: Preparing for Homeownership Understanding Mortgages Getting a Loan Searching for a Home and Making an Offer Closing [...]
Refinancing is the process of paying off an existing loan with the proceeds from a new loan and using the same property as collateral. Usually, the interest rate on the new mortgage will be less than the old, the loan will cost less and you will save money. However, refinancing isn’t appropriate for every homeowner. [...]
Think back to how you formed your financial habits. Did you learn everything you needed in school? From your parents? If you could go back and talk to your younger self, what financial pitfalls would you tell yourself to avoid? If you have children of your own, you may be wondering how and when to [...]
As the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt life and cancel plans across the world, people are finding creative ways to celebrate. From drive-by weddings to birthday car parades to virtual graduation ceremonies, there are so many ways you can celebrate while still maintaining proper social distancing. Let’s take a look at some of the [...]
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced many of us into financial situations that we could never have predicted. Country-wide shelter-in-place orders have left many without work, and businesses without customers. Now more than ever, it’s important to think about the way we spend or save every dollar we make. In some cases, the quarantine orders have [...]
