The holiday season is here, and with it comes a wonderful mix of joy, celebration, and time spent with friends and family. But between the excitement and the busy schedules, it's also a time when costs rise quickly - sometimes more quickly than we expect. To help you enjoy the season without the stress, we’ve gathered 12 practical holiday tips.
The holiday season is here, and that means sales, deals, and shopping sprees galore. From Black Friday through Cyber Monday, millions of shoppers head online in search of the perfect gifts at unbeatable prices. But while you’re checking names off your list, cybercriminals are checking theirs too.
Between Black Friday sales, Cyber Monday deals, and those can’t-miss “doorbusters,” it’s easy to get swept up in the thrill of saving. Retailers know how to turn excitement into spending, often leading shoppers to go beyond their budgets. The key is understanding the psychology behind holiday shopping - and using a few smart strategies to stay in control.
The table’s been cleared, the football game is on, and the fridge is packed with leftovers. Thanksgiving may be over, but tomorrow’s turkey sandwiches are something to look forward to. But while Thanksgiving leftovers are something to savor, financial leftovers like high-interest debt aren’t nearly as satisfying.
If you have loans or credit cards, you’re already familiar with interest - it’s the price you pay for borrowing money. While interest is a normal part of almost every loan, it’s only natural to want to minimize how much you pay. Fortunately, you have more control over how much interest you pay than you might think.
Life has a way of throwing financial curveballs when you least expect them. A car repair or medical bill can strain your budget, but when the challenge comes from something beyond your control - like the government shutdown - it can feel even more unsettling. Fortunately, there are steps you can take right now to protect your finances during this uncertain time.
When the plates are cleared and the house starts to quiet down, Thanksgiving tends to leave us with a deep sense of gratitude. It’s the kind that makes you stop and think about the people who fill your life - and how much they truly mean to you. It’s also when you realize just how much you’d do to keep them safe and their futures secure.
Thanksgiving should be a time to celebrate the people and traditions that matter most. With a thoughtful plan, a little creativity, and the right financial tools, you can host a gathering that’s both heartwarming and affordable. These same habits can also help you manage the rest of the holiday season with confidence and peace of mind.
You may be doing everything right to protect yourself from online threats - creating strong passwords, avoiding suspicious links, and monitoring your accounts regularly. But what about your children? From school tablets to gaming consoles and social media apps, kids are growing up in a fully connected world. While technology offers incredible learning opportunities, it also opens doors to risks they may not recognize.
When most people think about IRAs, they picture market-based accounts. While those can be excellent tools for long-term growth, don't overlook the value of Savings and Certificate IRAs at the credit union. With guaranteed returns and predictable growth, they are perfect to offset other market-based retirement accounts and they provide ultimate peace of mind.
