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Spring Clean Your Finances

5/4/2023

Are you ready to make your finances sparkle? Here are six ways to spring clean your money matters:

 

spring clean your finances

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Getting the Most Out of Youth Accounts

3/24/2023

Managing money is a foundational life skill. There are so many factors involved and so many open-ended questions at play. How much should you be saving When is it worth spending more? How do you keep spare change from burning a hole in your pocket? It takes years of discipline and training to perfect this skill, and ongoing self-control to maintain it.

That’s why it’s best to give your kids a head start on money management and saving. As a parent or guardian, remember that the lessons you plant today will take root and blossom, enriching your child’s life for years to come.

family of three looking at laptop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here at Service One Credit Union, we understand the enormity and difficulty of this task. In honor of National Credit Union Youth Month, we’re focusing on ways to help make this process as smooth and as simple as possible.

Service One is proud to offer specialized savings accounts that are designed just for kids.

We know that different ages and stages have different needs. That’s why we offer Youth Savings Accounts for children aged 0-12, as well as Teen Checking and Savings Accounts for teens aged 13-17.

Our youth savings accounts offer no annual fees, competitive interest rates, and monthly dividends to help you teach your child that saving money always pays.


We’re more than just a place for your kid to keep their money, though. We also want to help your young ones learn all about money management. To do that, we go out of our way to make banking fun and kid-friendly.

When adolescence overtakes childhood, kids need a sense of independence and autonomy. We get this. That’s why the holders of our Teen Accounts are eligible for a debit card with maximum daily limits that can be set by parents/guardians. Learning responsible saving habits at an early age will prepare your kids for a sound financial future.

Ready to open an account for your child? Does your child already have one? Read on for three steps to take for ensuring your child gets the most out of a new or existing account:

Set a goal

Now that your child’s money will be sitting in an account instead of a piggy bank, let them use this opportunity to save up for something big. Sit down with them and discuss what they’d like to save for. You can create a long-term goal, like saving up for college or for a first car. Also establish a short-term goal, like a new gaming console or a hoverboard.

Set a date for your goals, and then set up a savings calendar to illustrate how much money needs to be saved each month to reach the intended target by the designated date. Discuss ways to add to the savings, being sure to include money from birthday gifts, summer jobs, allowances, and chores. 

Another easy way to help your child save is to set up automatic deposits from Round-Up Savings. This is where your debit card transactions are rounded up to the nearest dollar and that amount is deposited into a savings account daily whenever you use your debit card.

Bank together

Whether your child is a first-grader or a teenager, if this is their first time owning an account, they’ll need you to show them the ropes.

Always bring your children along with you when you stop by Service One Credit Union to deposit their savings. Show them how it works and let them see the account balance growing. If your child asks you to withdraw money from their account, make sure they see how this translates into a dip into their savings.

For teens, you’ll need to walk them through that first deposit and withdrawal. When they’ve probably got the hang of it, it’s time to take a step back and let them be on their own. They’ll feel like a million dollars managing their account independently.

However, share with your teen that every swipe of their debit card also means a dent in their account balance. Also, be sure to warn kids of all ages about security. They should know to never share their account information with anyone and to keep their debit card in a safe place.

Monitor your child’s activity

Don’t aim to be a helicopter parent but do keep an eye on your child’s account. If he’s depositing a lot less than planned, ask him where his money is going. If your teen is maximizing his daily ATM allowance, speak to him about money management and impulse purchases.

Your teen’s daily withdrawal limit may need occasional adjustment, so keep a careful watch on spending to see if any modifications are needed.

Remember: Every financial lesson you teach your child today equips them with money management skills for a lifetime.

Your Turn: How do you maximize the benefits of having a youth account for your child? Share your best tips and techniques with us in the comments!


6 Financial Lessons You Can Learn From Basketball

3/3/2023

With college hoops March Madness coming up, let’s take a moment to review some surprising financial lessons we can learn from the iconic sport and its players.

Lesson 1: Passion breeds success

As any wannabe professional athlete can tell you, it takes more than muscle and talent to be a star. You need to be completely passionate about the sport to really succeed; otherwise, you’ll find it challenging to summon up the single-mindedness and commitment necessary for building your skills and strength.

In much the same way, you’ll see the most success while working at a job you feel passionate about. Your interest in the field will drive you to push yourself harder, set increasingly larger goals and achieve true success on a personal and financial level.

Lesson 2: Discipline is key 

From grueling training sessions to early-morning workouts, basketball requires an endless amount of self-discipline. Athletes must learn to ignore distractions and to devote themselves completely to the game to reach the top. This can mean missing out on social events, pulling all-nighters to keep their grades up and, of course, spending hours upon hours on training sessions and muscle building.

Managing your finances successfully requires a tremendous amount of discipline as well. Will you stick to your budget for groceries this month or blow it all on an expensive product that catches your eye? Will you have the self-control to decline an invitation to join your friends at a pricey restaurant when you already used up your allotted monthly budget for dining out? Will you remember to pay yourself first each month and set aside money for savings when there are so many things you’d love to buy today?

Training yourself to be disciplined with money is the key to a lifetime of financial wellness.

Lesson 3: Set small goals

Young athletes aspiring to compete on a professional level have a long road ahead of them. To bring their long-term goal within reach, they set smaller, trackable goals along the way. For example, they might work on increasing their muscle mass one season and then focus on bringing up their speed the next year.

Setting small goals is equally important when managing your finances. Sure, it’s nice to dream of acquiring your first million or buying a private island, but how realistic are these goals right now? How many years will it take to achieve them? It’s better to set smaller, manageable goals for your money, such as saving up a targeted amount of money, putting away a specific percentage of your monthly income for the future or bringing your monthly discretionary spending down by 10 percent. Just like a professional basketball player, your goals can be progressive, with another, larger goal taking the place of a smaller one you’ve already achieved.

Lesson 4: Diversify, diversify, diversify 

A basketball team cannot be made up of star centers. The team needs every player, each of whom is an expert in their own skill area. The team players then work in perfect coordination, using their talents to compensate for their teammates’ weaknesses and, ultimately, to win the game.

Similarly, the best investors will diversify their investments across different classes to maximize their chance of success. This way, the loss of any investments that don’t work out as planned will be offset by those that do.

Lesson 5: Research, review, revise

Athletes prepare for games beyond training sessions and practice runs. Before a scheduled game with an opponent, coaches will show their players videos of previous games they’ve played against that particular team. This way, the players can get an understanding of what they’re up against, learn the other team’s strengths and weaknesses and develop the best strategy to help defeat them.

In smart  money management, there’s no end to the ways you can build your knowledge. You can check out online financial resources, read the latest in personal finance literature and listen to podcasts on money topics that interest you. You can also stop by Service One Credit Union to speak to an [MSRP] about the financial resources we offer members. Use the knowledge you acquire to make smart decisions about general money management, your investment strategy and your long-term financial goals.

Lesson 6: There’s no such thing as the easy way out

Players learn quickly that there are no shortcuts to building their skills, stamina and strength. Those who try to take the easy way out by turning to steroids or other illicit sources to help them reach their goals end up ruining their own careers.

Short of winning the lottery, there are no shortcuts to financial wealth, either. Don’t fall prey to get-rich schemes or miracle investments promising astronomical rewards. Instead, follow the timeless rules of money management to maintain true financial wellness throughout your life: Always pay yourself first, invest early to take advantage of compound interest, spend less than you earn and increase your earning potential by investing in your own skills and knowledge.


How Can I Save on Super Bowl Sunday?

1/5/2023

Q: I’m looking forward to hosting a big party on Super Bowl Sunday and possibly watching my favorite team celebrate their major victory,  but I don’t want to blow my budget on this party. How can I save on hosting a Super Bowl party?

A: Super Bowl parties are always great fun to host, but they can cost a pretty penny. To help cut the costs, we’ve compiled some hosting hacks so you can pull off the party of a lifetime without breaking your budget. 

 

Super Bowl Party

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The Post-Holiday Budget Recovery Guide

12/27/2022

The holidays are in the rearview, but if you’ve gone over budget with your spending, it’s time to deal with the aftermath, which is coming head-on. Here’s how you can get your budget back on track for the new year.

 

Post Holiday Recovery Guide

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Data Privacy Day

12/27/2022

International Data Privacy Day, on Jan. 28, is a worldwide initiative to promote awareness of the importance of privacy online as well as protecting personal information. It also is an effort to remind companies that safeguarding consumers’ privacy is a good business practice.

 

Data Privacy Day

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Online Holiday Shopping - Buyer Beware!

9/22/2022

The rise of online shopping during the pandemic has led to a proportional increase in online fraud and scams. As the Holiday season approaches, we want to make sure you are armed with the knowledge and the skills to protect yourself. With a little awareness, you can avoid online shopping fraud as the busiest time of the year for retail shopping is shifting into high gear.

 

Online Holiday Shoppingf

 

 

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Social Media: Five Scams that Work

9/22/2022

Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and many others can help us connect on a personal and professional level with friends, family, business associates, and causes that allow us to make new connections with others with shared interests. And participation is free to everyone, which has led to an unprecedented use of social media. As of April 2021, 3.96 billion people identified as users of social media, representing half of the 7.7 billion of the world's population, including more than 70% of the population of the United States. Globally, the average person spends more than 2 hours per day on social media. It is not surprising that criminals have focused their attention on these internet platforms to gather personal information, gain trust, and socially engineer their way to fraud that results in billions of dollars of losses annually.

social media scams that work

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Protecting the Older People in Our Lives from Becoming Victims of Scams

9/21/2022

In the last two decades the over-65 population of the world has greatly increased, and so has the average life expectancy. In the same period there have been dramatic advances in technology as well as a surge in the number of technological devices in most homes. A January 2022 Pew Research study found that 75% of adults over 65 in the United States are using the internet regularly. This increased use of technology brings a heightened risk of fraud for all Americans. In this article we will address the most prevalent scams that target our senior citizens and provide simple advice on how to protect yourself and your elderly loved ones.

protect older people from identity theft

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The Rise of Digital Wallets & Contactless Transactions

9/1/2022

You are standing in line at the pharmacy, ready to check out. While fumbling around in your purse for cash or a card, you notice the person in front of you has simply scanned their smartphone across the payment card reader.

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History of The Dollar

8/5/2022

National Dollar Day was established to mark when the monetary system was established in 1786. In 2022, 236 years later, there is about USD 2.10 trillion in circulation today, and it is used as the official currency of 10 countries and 11 territories. 

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Student Loan Scams - What You Need to Know

7/1/2022

This month, we are highlighting five ways to protect yourself from fraudsters pretending to have the power to provide you with student debt relief.

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Device Protection - Is your personal information safe?

6/2/2022

A 2021 study by Deloitte found that the average American internet household owns 23 connected devices, an increase from an average of 11 devices in 2019, and that number is increasing each year.

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College Planning

5/18/2022

Figuring out how to finance a college education can be stressful for many people, but there are ways to ease some of the stress.

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Top 10 Identity Theft Myths

5/10/2022

We assembled the Top 10 Identity Theft Myths that you need to stop believing now. Follow our resolutions for the new year to better protect your identity, both online and offline.

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Youth Month

3/31/2022

Financial literacy is the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing. It is one of life’s most important subjects, yet it is often overlooked and barely touched on in schools, if talked about at all. The month of April is National Credit Union Youth Month! This month not only are we focusing on financial literacy for kids, but we are also giving gifts out to kids when you visit any of our branches!

 

Youth Month

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What to Know About Protecting Yourself During Tax Season

3/25/2022

During last year’s tax season, it seemed unlikely that we would still be dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic when filing again this year. However, as the world continues to react to the virus, scammers are adapting their techniques to steal your money. With the increase in the number of transactions with the IRS this year (including child tax credit pre-payments, economic stimulus payments, and federal unemployment), the door has also become more widely open to thieves attempting to steal your tax benefits and your identity.

 

Taxes

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Budgeting and Saving

3/23/2022

Budgeting and saving are two very important aspects of financial wellbeing, but how many people prioritize them? Studies have shown that one-third of Americans have less than 100% in savings. For the year 2021, 25% of those who participated om the study said they had no emergency savings at all. As for budgeting, only 30% of Americans have a long-term financial plan. It is important to understand how budgeting and saving work so you can make a plan to help you get one step closer to your financial goals.budget

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Triangulation Fraud and How You Can Be an Unwitting Participant

3/1/2022

Most people who frequent online auction sites, like eBay, have probably seen some deals that simply seem too good to be true. While these big discounts can be legitimate, they are occasionally part of a growing trend known as triangulation fraud. Often called a victimless crime, the online buyer becomes a participant in the scam without even knowing it, taking on the role known as the "money mule" and a participant in a scam that could be taking place thousands of miles away.

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Debt Management

2/2/2022

Debt is something most people have and must deal with at some point in their lives. Learning how to properly manage and pay off your debts on time is an important step in improving your finances and financial wellbeing. Continue reading to learn more about debt management.

 

Debt Management

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Everything You Need to Know About Loans

1/28/2022

Making big purchases like homes or cars in cash can be extremely difficult and may even seem impossible for the average person. Luckily, financial institutions can help by giving loans to help make things like home ownership and purchasing a new car more attainable for the average person.

While these loans are available, many people do not understand them. Sure, they know what a loan IS, but it is the HOW that confuses most people, especially if it is their first time getting a loan.

Here are some tips to help you better understand the loan process.

How Loans Work

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What You Need to Know About Buying a Car Across State Lines

9/23/2021

The United States of America is one country—one country made up of 50 separate states that are allowed to make rules and regulations that are in each state’s best interest. These rules and regulations affect buying a car. With 109 borders between states, chances are you may find it more convenient, or at a better price, to buy a car on the other side of a state line from where you live. Before you do, here are a fewLady in a car dealership looking for a new car things you should know.

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Find your next vehicle from our website!

9/7/2021

Have you searched for a car online but were not sure if the source was reliable? 

Now we have a platform that you can use to search locally for the car you are interested in buying.

Check by make, model, and year to find the best price and vehicle for your needs.

Estimate your monthly payment with our auto refinance calculator to see if you can save money by refinancing with us. Whatever you're looking for, let us help you find opportunities to save! 
Couple excited to get a new car!

 

 


Is Maxing Out Your 401(k) Contribution a Good Idea?

8/26/2021

If you work for a for-profit company, you can take advantage of a retirement savings vehicle called a 401(k). It is an employer-provided retirement account that you, and possibly your employer, contribute pre-tax dollars to, with rules and annual limits set by the federal government. Your contributions are automatically deducted from your paychecks.

Couple Working on Finances

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Student Life

8/13/2021

College students celebrating being together and starting classes.Managing Money in College

Managing finances can be stressful for anybody, but it can be overwhelming if you are a young adult just starting to learn about real-world responsibilities. Students who practice good money management skills, such as making a budget, tracking their spending, and managing loan debt will be better prepared after graduation. 

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What does it mean to be a smart spender?

7/22/2021

Young ladies with shopping bags

You’ve probably read a lot of articles about saving money and how important it is to save for the future. And that’s true; it is important to save. But you also need to spend money, so it’s also important to know how to do that in a smart way.

Well, several things can help you, but one of the main ones to keep in mind is that just because you have some money, you don’t have to spend it. 

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Giving Back to Our Community

6/11/2021

Service One Credit Union associates take pride in being a part of the community we serve. We are dedicated to making a difference by volunteering our time and talents. It is also a lot of fun, and we enjoy making other people smile.

Barren Metcalfe EMS

The Service One Sharing & Caring Community Outreach program allows us to bring awareness and support to local charities and organizations, who need it most. We are excited to feature the charity or organization on our social media platforms to get them more visibility.

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Get on the Road! RV Traveling Tips

5/19/2021

Large RV for family and friends camping

There's never been a better time to take up the RV life. 

RVing is an exciting and affordable way to spend quality family or friend time and see the country. Firstly, get comfortable with driving it. Take your RV for a test drive before your camping trip.

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Tips on Starting Your Own Business

5/12/2021

If you have a hobby that others would benefit from and pay you, then that’s a great way to start a business!Small business logo with cup of coffee

Consider your interests when choosing a business idea. Are you tech-savvy, people-friendly, an animal-lover, a great cleaner or cook,  or handy around the house?

There are a few questions to ask yourself when considering your own business.

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Sites for Kids, Teens and Young Adults!

4/6/2021

One of the best things a parent or guardian can do for a child is to teach them about finances.

Child with piggy bank

Children can start learning very young about saving money and how to spend wisely. If they really want to purchase something, it is a good idea to help them save for it. The item will mean more to them if they saved and worked to get it. If a teen or young adult has a checking/spending account, they can keep up with their spending and balances with our app. 

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Building Credit and Credit Score

3/26/2021

Learn the steps to take to grow and maintain a strong credit score. Young lady with images of words for a good credit score.  

A credit score tells lenders about your creditworthiness (how likely you are to pay back a loan based on your credit history). It is calculated using the information in your credit reports. FICO Scores are the standard for credit scores used by 90% of top lenders. A credit score helps lenders evaluate a credit report. It is a number that summarizes credit risk, based on a snapshot of a credit report at a particular point in time.

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Putting the Loan Before the Car

2/9/2021

Are you buying your vehicles backward?

Most people seem to. What do we mean? This: most people, when shopping for a new vehicle, go to the dealer, pick out their car, and then figure out financing.

Gray SUV

How is that backward?

You might think they don’t know their budget until they start talking numbers, but the result is almost always spending more than they intended to.

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Tax Season is Here!

1/6/2021

Do you know the updated tax regulations?Clock and sticky note says Tax Time

Tax season is here, even if it feels like last tax season just ended. Like most years, there have been changes to the tax code this year. Here are some of the top ones you should be aware of and what you should do to be ready for them. 

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