By building financial knowledge and using our essential tools you are able to better understand the basics of saving and investing. Let ITCU’s helpful tools and links usher in your arrival.
Are you paying more for services than you need to? While fees for services cannot completely be avoided, particularly in the financial world where extremely low loan and deposit interest rates no longer cover a financial institution’s operational expenses, there are still things you can do to stretch your banking dollar as far as it can go. Learn now how to make the most of your money before paying unnecessary fees becomes a habit.
Stress is a fact of life, especially when first getting out on your own in the real world, often going into a new job. Even finding a job can be as stressful (or more) as having a job. While some stress is normal (even good for you), too much stress can cause anxiety, depression and other emotional problems. De-stressing is more than just learning yoga; here are some tips to help you de-stress your summer.
I am not ashamed to admit I recently moved out of my parents’ home… for the third time. Particularly in a difficult economy, the chances of you having to move back in with your parents, for even a short period after college, are very high.
It’s that time of year again and whether you have plethora of college and high school age distant cousins walking across the stage or just a couple of close relatives, graduation gifts can be expensive. And while it is easy to rely upon the simple gift of cash or a gift card, where is the memory created in that?
Many store brand items sit on store shelves right beside their name brand counterparts after being made in the very same factories; this can include all sorts of items ranging from electronics to groceries. While there are some cases when it may seem worth the extra cost to buy the household name, often there is no real difference with generic items, other than the price, of course.
As you venture out on your own two feet for the first time, it can be easy to get sucked into easy money offered through credit cards and payday loans but think before you get in so far over your head in debt that you can’t get out.
As graduation looms now in the not so distant future for current college seniors, many are filled with excitement at the prospect of joining the “real world;” while others face it with dread, particularly as they listen to tales from under- and unemployed friends who graduated in recent past semesters.
Frequently, to encourage shoppers to finance through a dealer’s financing company, auto dealers will offer a choice between a manufacturer’s cash rebate or an incredibly low, even zero percent promotional interest rate. An interest rate at or near zero is obviously quite alluring to new car buyers, but which is the best deal?
Spring cleaning for our generation is about more than just increasing your closet space. Digital spring cleaning is a must if you want your technology to run optimally and also so your information will remain secure.
Recently you may have heard the phrase “Lean In” just about everywhere on TV, news and social media.... Whether or not you agree with Ms. Sandberg’s views on women in the workplace, her talk brings up a subject that should very important to both men and women alike, work-life balance.
With so many deals and foreclosures on the market, you may be thinking that now is the time to jump in and purchase your first home. Before you dive in head first, let’s talk the very basics of your upcoming first home mortgage loan.
February 25 launches the beginning of the U.S. Department of Treasury’s America Saves Week, a campaign to encourage Americans to put away money for their futures.
Haven’t booked your spring vacation yet? Looking to save some money this spring break? Cruise plans unexpectedly cancelled? Or maybe you are still thawing out after Winter Storm Nemo?
Looking to save a little money around your house in 2013? Check out these three ideas.
Here at The Arrival Guide, we have previously discussed the importance of protecting your identity from cyber attack and identity theft. But as Data Privacy Day approaches on January 28, we wanted to discuss a few more things to consider when keeping you, your money and your identity safe.
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You may have read this week about the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s recent warning about possible internet security threats to your computer due to utilizing Java’s internet browser plug-in, something many internet security experts have been warning of for some time. And, while Oracle (the creator of Java) has since released a supposed fix for the security flaws, both Homeland Security and internet security experts
still recommend keeping it disabled.
The Internal Revenue Service has just announced that it will be delayed in processing 2012 tax returns due to the changes made during the last minute “fiscal cliff” deal. With tax filings now not being accepted by the IRS until January 30, many who typically receive their refund in February every year could be affected.
As we settle into the New Year there often comes new opportunities as well as new goals for growth and change throughout the coming year. For many young adults, home ownership was once an impending goal for their future. However, after the recent economic down turn and the bursting of housing bubbles across the country, many of these adults have since become disenchanted at the idea of owning a home.
Recently we discussed the importance of taking the time to review your free annual credit report, today we will take some time to discuss the different ways you can affect or even hurt your credit score, often without realizing.
You may have heard of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) during benefits enrollment at your current place of employment. The Flexible Spending Account is a wonderful benefit at certain companies which offer it. However, if your employer does not offer a FSA, a Health Savings Account (HSA) at your local credit union can serve as a great alternative.
Did you know that you are entitled by law to a free credit report from all three credit bureaus once per 12 months? The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act) requires that the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) provide this information through a centralized service, known as AnnualCreditReport.com.
This year many are calling Black Friday, Grey Thursday as Thanksgiving Day and evening sales have now gone from being the exception to the rule. While some retailers are even feeling the threat of employee strikes, others are already seeing shoppers lining up days ahead of time. In order to get the best deals, there are a couple things you can do to reduce your headache this Friday.
Thursday, Nov. 15 is National Philanthropy Day. A day on which I think we should not only recognize our global philanthropic leaders, but also the worldwide impact of contributions of money and time of any amount.
George Washington was unanimously elected as the first President of the United States in 1789 and while politics has gotten just a bit more divisive since then, the importance of this process should not be lost on young Americans now.
A 2012 Online Consumer Poll found that 69 percent of people never balance their checkbook. In a time of Online and Mobile banking, it is easy to be lulled into a false sense of security. In reality the only way to ensure a balanced budget is to start with keeping an accurate checkbook. This is particularly important with the fast approaching holiday season, when unplanned purchases, extra spending and restaurant trips are sure to increase.
When making a new car purchase, sometimes we get so focused on hitting that all important number for our monthly payment that we forget about other essential components related to our new car purchase. With some new auto loans now going for as long as seven years, unexpected bumps in the road can easily happen during your vehicle’s lifetime.
Back when I was gearing up to apply for college, I didn’t have the first clue of how to qualify or even apply for financial aid. I spoke with my advisors and found out that I had to go online and fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) through the federal government.
Year after year, it seems every holiday season starts earlier and earlier. As early as August, Halloween costumes begin appearing next to fall school supplies and soon after Christmas décor starts popping up on the shelves right beside them.
As of late, everyone seems to have their own advice on best practices for you to know for your next job interview: what questions to anticipate, what not to say, what questions to ask and other things like that.
Hi, I’m Liz and I am the newest blogger with The Arrival Guide. Don’t worry, Meg hasn’t gone anywhere, I am just helping her out by taking over as lead blogger here. =)
Preparing for high school graduation coupled with the planning for college was one of the most exciting times in my life and surely yours too. And whether you’re getting ready to graduate from college or have just graduated, the prospect of going to graduate school can be just as thrilling.
College is a great investment. You can take out federal loans to pay for college just like you’d take out a private loan to buy a car or house. However, unlike a car or most home loans, federal college loans can come in multiple forms (Subsidized Stafford, PLUS Loan, Perkins, etc). This can make payments a little tricky, especially if the loans are on the larger side. An option to consider when you’re in this situation is loan consolidation. Here are some points to consider:
Everything’s great when you get your first job… right? You’ve got more income than you’ve ever had, you’re filling your days with productive work, and your parents are finally leaving you alone about getting a job. However, in all of those pros, you probably forgot (or just didn’t think much) about the con: taxes.
It wasn’t more than a few years ago that I was getting ready to graduate and looking for jobs, but even in that short time span the social media landscape has grown exponentially. So much so that potential employers will search for and look through your social network profiles to see if you’re the kind of person that would fit well with their company.
I went to college at the University of North Texas in Denton, and then I got a job at ITCU here in Plano, so for me, I haven’t had to move out of state as an adult. However, many people either choose to go to college outside of their home state or move out of state after graduation.
There are a number of decisions to be made when it comes to managing your household and your finances, but where do you go for information and resources when faced with all of those decisions? You’re “in” at ITCU!
As much as we may not like to think about it, identity theft is something that happens to people every day. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Here are some steps you can take to help protect you and your family.
I remember the first time my parents told me to open a bank account. I was in high school, didn’t think much about it, and complied (the usual process with most things my parents said at the time).
If you’re looking for a way to be productive and contribute to your future professional goals, an internship could be the perfect way to go. If you’re not sure how to proceed with finding an internship, here are some helpful tips.
When I went to buy my first car without any parental help I realized something: there are certain perks to becoming that post-grad adult I had been working towards my whole life, but there are also a handful of real (and kind of scary) responsibilities no one told me about.
Identity theft isn’t a new concept—but with technology advancing constantly, the methods used to steal identities is becoming increasingly advanced, also. And, if you are like me, and still establishing your credit, it is especially important to protect it.
Speaking from experience—the process is complicated enough when you know what you want. My suggestion is that you try to arm yourself with knowledge, and answer most of the questions you might have for yourself before you go shopping for a new or new-to-you vehicle.
So how do 20-somethings compete in a job market where people with more experience are willing to take significant pay-cuts? I believe the answer is: By knowing how to sell themselves, and to whom. Here are four quick tips I’ve picked up from personal experience, the experiences of my friends and some reading along the way.
The scariest part of the job-hunt is the interview. I know when I have interviewed for any job, whether as a high school student hoping to be a cashier at the grocery store, or the job I have now, my nerves were running high and my palms were sweating. But being prepared for my interviews was the one thing that gave me a confidence boost and helped calm my nerves. Here are some things you can do to make sure you are ready.
Some of the best advice I ever received was from a faculty advisor when I was applying for an internship my junior year of college. I had created a resume for myself before – for scholarships and college applications– but when applying for my first ‘big girl’ job, the stakes felt higher. My advisor told me I should always have a resume ready, and that “simplicity is key,” when crafting it. This seems like really good advice considering you never know what opportunity is waiting around the next corner, and having a resume ready could give you an advantage.
Whether you are saving for college, paying for college, about to start college, or up to your ears in student loan debt—there are things you can do to make the process of paying for your education a little lighter on your wallet. I earned an academic scholarship to help me pay for school, but it wasn’t until after I graduated that I learned that there are many other options I could have taken advantage of to save money on tuition...
I got my first credit card when I was 18. My parents thought it was a bad idea, and they were afraid I would wind up with a mountain of debt. But when I got my credit card, I didn’t start spending more money, I just started putting gas and food purchases on my credit card and then paid the balance in full each month. I used my card as a tool to establish good credit.
It’s tax time, and this year the deadline is April 17. If you are a recent college graduate, this could be your first time filing your own taxes. I’ve been filing my taxes independently for a few years now, and to be honest it can be a bit confusing. But fear not! I’ve put together a list of tips to help get you started.
An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) can be a valuable retirement planning tool because it gives you the opportunity to save for retirement and receive special tax privileges. Even if you participate in an 401(k) plan, you may be able to benefit from contributing to an IRA, too.* ...
After college, I didn’t realize just how much I was spending until I started keeping a budget. When I did, I knew I could be saving more, so I looked for ways to cut back in every area of my monthly spending. Here are five simple habits I took up that helped me begin to save a little more each month.