If you're approaching retirement, you've likely spent some time comparing your retirement savings to how much you'll need to maintain your desired lifestyle. The result could leave you either confident or concerned. In either case, many Americans look forward to supplementing their retirement income with Social Security retirement benefits. Here's what you should know as you consider how Social...

When you're ready to say goodbye to steady rent increases and hello to a stable housing payment, you may think applying for a mortgage should top your to-do list. But to qualify for the lowest interest rate and most favorable repayment terms, there are at least three actions you should take before you apply for a home loan. 1. Check Your Credit Mortgage lenders require assurance that you'll repay...

When it comes to choosing a payment method for everyday transactions, many people still prefer cash. Whether the goal is to reign in credit card use or stick to a budget, cash payments could help reduce overspending and put you back in charge of your finances. However, carrying around paper bills and coins instead of plastic could cost you in other ways. Here are five reasons to choose a debit...

Congratulations on receiving your college degree! Before you enter the workforce or enroll in an advanced degree program, there’s one more subject you still need to master – personal finance. By establishing smart money habits early in life, you might be able to avoid financial heartache down the road. Thankfully, you won’t need to sit through another lecture to gain the knowledge necessary to ace...

Trying to keep track of multiple bills and pop-up expenses while saving for the future can get complicated fast. Manually recording payment due dates on a notepad or using a physical calendar might work at first, but a busy lifestyle may interfere. It's easy to forget to pay bills on time or recall your account balance before making your next debit card purchase. Fortunately, Credit Union of...

Money habits naturally change over time. Young twenty-somethings are unlikely to spend their paychecks in the same way as mid-life earners planning on early retirement. Whether you're like the nearly 40% of millennials whom a Credit Karma/Qualtrics study found have fallen victim to FOMO spending , or you classify yourself as an intermittent saver, almost every income earner hopes to avoid a life...

Canceling streaming subscriptions and embracing low-cost entertainment alternatives can give you a quick win with your finances. Trimming these or other discretionary expenses might result in a monthly savings of $50 or more. But during uncertain economic times, many people are looking to knock savings out of the park. This often requires reassessing non-discretionary spending and focusing on your...

While most people know that saving money is key to a comfortable financial future, many fail to do it regularly. Whether because of a lack of discipline, a recent bout of unemployment, or another money emergency, growing a hefty savings balance is often necessary to weather a financial storm without using credit cards or loans. Regardless of your circumstances, now is an excellent time to kick...

If you and your special someone are getting serious, you might be discussing the next steps of your relationship. For some, this means exchanging vows. For others, it means a wedding of finances. Either way, merging money can be a delicate topic that one or both partners hope to avoid. But having a heart-to-heart about finances is necessary for the long-term happiness of the relationship. Here are...

On the heels of record-breaking inflation and rising interest rates, economists predict a recession will hit the U.S. in 2023. Higher prices for goods and services, along with a possible loss in income due to unemployment, could leave a gaping hole in the middle of your finances. But households that shield their finances now will be in a better position to face the inevitable downturn. Even if the...