Tips for Saving Money Post-Pandemic

Try writing down some of your savings goals to help you get on track.

The pandemic changed the lives of everyone one way or another. Financially, many people took hits: some either lost their job or took pay cuts. However—with the pandemic nearing its end—we should begin to prepare for a life of normalcy once again. Let us first look at how to save money. Below are some helpful tips for saving money post-pandemic.

Open a Savings Account

A savings account is a great option if you are looking to save money. The credit union has various saving accounts that cater to your different needs and assist you with life changes such as retirement or health costs. Additionally, we have special savings accounts as well. Our best recommendation for those that view saving as a challenge, is our Dollar Up Account. This account allows you to easily save a little bit of money each time you use your debit card. Click here to find out more about this savings account and others.

Plan Ahead for Having Fun

Many people have been confined to working from home and are slowly readjusting to what their lives were like before the pandemic. As businesses begin to open at full capacity again, it can be easy to get carried away with spending sprees at stores and eating out at restaurants. Some may also want to purchase cars, clothing, or travel the world. This is totally okay as long as you are aware of your spending. Don’t go crazy by having a good time.

Shop Small

Go in person and shop small! By purchasing small and in person, you can limit the amount of money you spend. This also helps support local businesses that may have taken a financial hit during the pandemic. If accepted, trying using cash instead of your debit card and only bring so much so you don’t overspend. With online shopping, it is easy to get carried away with purchasing more than you need or budgeted for.

Review Your Pandemic Habits

The pandemic caused many people to grow accustomed to using services such as using delivery food apps or signing up for various subscriptions that grew popular during these times. However, we need to remember that these cost money. Take some time to identify which ones are meaningful and useful to you and which ones you can do without. This can help to reduce some of the reoccurring monthly expenses that you may not necessarily need but use only out of convenience.

Continue to stay safe as we navigate through this post-pandemic phase and remember to keep saving!

Six Things You Need to Teach Your Teen About Money

How old were you when you opened your first checking account? In today’s world of technology, contactless payments, and mobile wallets, the average age of first-time debit card users is getting younger and younger.

Back in my day (which doesn’t feel that long ago), your parents helped you open a checking account and get a debit card when you got your first job. Before that, you paid for everything with cash, and there wasn’t a need for anything else. There was no Apple Pay or Venmo. I couldn’t even press the internet button on my flip phone without being worried I would bankrupt my parents.

That was then, this is now. Thanks to modern technology advancements, a worldwide pandemic, and a coin shortage, physical cash has become a thing of the past. So what does this mean for future generations?

Simply put, it means we (parents of young impressionable teens) have to start teaching our kids how to handle money at a younger age. We have to do more than just give them a piggy bank and hope for the best. It is our job as parents to give our teenagers the tools they need in order to one day become financially stable adults in an electronic-driven world.

If you, too, are a parent of a teen or pre-teen, these are some suggestions to help you along the way.

1. Open a Student Checking Account

If your kid is 6 or older, they are eligible to have their own Student Checking account. Include them in the process, whether you are opening their account online or in person. Since they are under 18, you will be a joint owner on their account and can monitor their saving and spending as well. They will also receive their own debit card that they can use anywhere that accepts VISA.

2. Set up their Online Banking & Download the Mobile App

Help them create a login for online banking and teach them how to navigate all the different features available. If they have a phone or tablet, have them download the GCEFCU mobile app for free from the Apple or Google Play store. Practice depositing a check into their account electronically by using the Deposit Check (RDC) feature in the mobile app.

3. Teach Them How to Use Their Debit Card Safely

Contrary to what many children believe, a debit card is not a magical piece of plastic that lets you buy anything for free. Explain to your teen that they should only use their debit card at places that they trust, and only if they have enough in their checking account to cover the cost. After they use their debit card a few times, have them log into their online banking to see their transactions.

4. Create a Habit of Saving Money

Good savings habits start early and last a lifetime. If you instill the importance of saving money at a young age, chances are it will grow with them into adulthood. Teach them to pay themselves first by putting a certain percentage of any money they get into their savings account. As an extra perk, you can even transfer them an allowance for chores completed.

Another great way to teach savings is with a Dollar Up account. Every time your teen uses their debit card, the transaction amount will be rounded up to the nearest dollar, and the change deposited into a savings account. It is an easy way to show how saving just a little bit of money can go a long way.

5. Practice Safe Spending

If your teen is going to be using their debit card for online purchases it is essential that you go over safety precautions. Fraudsters steal from young people just as easily as they steal from the elderly. Make sure they know to only make purchases from secure websites, which have https at the beginning. In addition, explain that they should never give out their PIN or online banking login and password to anyone.

6. Don’t Forget to Teach the Basics

As common as debit cards are, it is still important to teach your kid the basics of managing money. Teach them how to write a check, what a routing number is, and how to fill out a deposit slip. Most importantly, educate them on the value of a creating & abiding by a budget.

Some Tips for the Parents

If you are thinking, “my kid isn’t responsible enough to have their own debit card,” you are not alone. But most people, teenagers included, are ignorant in certain areas until they have experience to help them improve. With a Student Checking account, you have full access to their account and can monitor their saving, spending, and even choose their daily limits. Plus, you can see exactly how much they spent on something (and if they owe you any change).

As always, if you ever have any financial related questions, don’t hesitate to give the credit union a call.

From one parent to another – Good luck!

Post author: Caylee Smith, CUCME

The opinions expressed on this page are for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal or financial advice. The views expressed are those of the author of the article and may not reflect the views of the credit union.

The 7 Basics of Budgeting

Do you want to get control of your finances but don’t know how or where to start? Are there financial goals that you have but can’t seem to reach? Do you ever ask yourself “Where does all of my money go?” You aren’t alone.

Setting a savings goal or getting out of debt are challenges that can be achieved with a little planning and discipline. Understanding the flow of your money, developing a plan, and committing to your budget are the keys toward financial stability and achieving your financial goals.

1. Ensure that all household parties are involved and determine goals

Building a successful budget depends on the participation of your entire household. When your partner and/or children set goals and are in agreement with the budget it assists in minimizing potential conflicts. If your goal is to save for a family vacation in 2 years, that is something that everyone can work toward! Goals can be as simple as reducing debt or as complex as purchasing a home in cash. For some individuals it may be surprising or uncomfortable to delve into spending habits, but objectively focusing on goals and building a secure financial future is a positive building block.

2. Review your recent account statements

The first step to building a budget is to determine where your money is being spent. A good starting point is to review at least two months worth of statements to average your transactions and view trends. As you review your statements, it is necessary to create a tally of expenses based on categories. Be sure to categorize every transaction listed on your statement – leaving out transactions can exclude important information on where your money is being spent. Some example categories include income, housing expenses, loan payments, transportation expenses, groceries, etc.

3. Compare your income and expenses to determine if there is a deficit

One of the biggest pitfalls of personal finance is overspending. When your expenses exceed your income you may be on a slippery slope towards increasing your debt. If you review your statements and see a deficit between your income and your expenses, you will need to evaluate your expenses to see what areas you can cut back on spending. Although easy solutions for reducing spending include not eating out or purchasing coffee, there are many more areas that can make a difference in saving. Here are some areas that may benefit you in reducing monthly costs:

• Household expenses: The Department of Energy states that you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting. Being conscious of turning off appliances and electricity use can also help save money on your monthly bills.
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• Insurance: If you pay high premiums for your auto or home insurance you may be inflating your monthly expenses. It is always a good idea to review your insurance policies on a yearly basis to ensure that you are receiving an affordable rate. Be sure to review your policy details as well to remove add-ons like rental or roadside insurance if these are not services that you need. GCEFCU is proud to offers in-house insurance services for auto, home, and more! Click here for more information or to receive a quote.
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• Reviewing pay stubs: Your pay stub can provide a good indication of how much income you receive or could potentially receive. If you have recently experienced a life event such as a new child, marriage, divorce, or other qualifying event you should consider reviewing your tax filing status. Changing your filing status or dependents with your employer can potentially change the amount of your take home pay or tax refund. Although it may seem nice to receive a larger refund check annually, it may be more beneficial to receive more money per paycheck. If your essential expenses are exceeding your income, you may also want to adjust your employer-sponsored retirement plan contributions. It is extremely important to save for retirement, but it is also important to be financially stable in order to not carry excessive debt into retirement.
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• Subscriptions: As subscription based entertainment is becoming more popular, many people find themselves enrolled in more subscriptions than they need. Removing extra subscriptions for similar products such as tv shows, gyms, fashion items, etc. can save money over the course of a month.
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• Transportation: Although the convenience of a vehicle is important to most individuals, transportation costs can become excessive. In some cases carpooling, utilizing public transportation, or taking a bicycle could save on monthly expenses. You can also reduce transportation expenses by avoiding tollways or extensive road trips unless necessary.

4. Review and organize current debt obligations

To accurately assess your current debt, you should review any balances owed, interest rates, payment amounts, and payment frequencies. Once this information has been obtained, you can then organize your debt by interest rate. Debts with the highest interest rates are often the best option to start repaying first. The more interest you pay on a debt over time the more expensive that debt will become. It may also be helpful to combine unsecured debts to the lowest interest rate option available. For example, if you have multiple credit cards it may be advantageous for you to consolidate your balances to the card with the lowest interest rate. GCEFCU offers free balance transfers for our members who wish to consolidate their credit card debt.

5. Create a spending plan

A spending plan breaks down your expenses into essential bills, analyzes your income, and designates how you will allocate your remaining funds. Every dollar must be accounted for within your spending plan. If you receive a bonus or other unexpected income, this should be included in your spending plan as well. One of the most important aspects of a spending plan is to create set-aside savings. Set-aside savings prevents you from creating additional debt by instead saving ahead for recurring or unexpected expenses that may not come in the form of a monthly bill. These expenses can include annual insurance premiums, property or income tax, vehicle registration fees, or vehicle maintenance fees. If you are a homeowner, these unexpected expenses could include appliance replacement, hurricane preparation, and emergency repairs. If you have children these expenses could include sports fees, new clothes, doctor visits, school supplies, etc.

6. Create a debt repayment schedule

Within your spending plan you will also need to allocate funds for debt repayment. Once you start to repay your debt, you will begin to see a snowball effect. The snowball effect begins when you set aside a certain amount each month on top of your required minimum payment that goes towards the principal amount of your debt. Once one debt is paid off, you will be able to include the extra amount you set aside and the minimum payment amount of the debt you paid off towards another debt. For example, if you pay $100 in addition to your $50 regular payment for a credit card, once your credit card is paid off you will have $150 to put towards another debt. Seeing a timeline of when your debts will be paid off begins to provide you a true sense of relief and accomplishment that your financial goals are attainable. Click here for a free resource to develop a personalized debt elimination plan.

7. Maintain financial health

Congratulations! Once you have created a budget, spending plan, and debt repayment strategy you are ready to focus on maintaining your financial health. Maintaining your financial health includes avoiding excessive debt, maintaining savings habits, planning for retirement, and investing your funds in accounts that provide you a high rate of return. To view what options GCEFCU has for maintaining your financial health, please click here.

Post author: Elizabeth Thornton, CCUFC

The opinions expressed on this page are for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal or financial advice. The views expressed are those of the author of the article and may not reflect the views of the credit union.