10 Ways to Improve Your Finances

To celebrate National Financial Awareness Day, we’re bringing you 10 ways to improve your finances. Take these steps to protect your financial health through 2022 and beyond!  Address your tendency to overspend. Sticking to a budget is the key to success. Overspending can cause stress and anxiety around money, so addressing it is important for healthy financial fitness.  Consider starting your own business. If you find yourself in need of another source of income during challenging times, consider turning one of your unique skills into a side gig. This year might be your year!  Prepare for major life events. Make sure…

August 15, 2022Future Planning, Wallet Wins No Comments

To celebrate National Financial Awareness Day, we’re bringing you 10 ways to improve your finances. Take these steps to protect your financial health through 2022 and beyond!  Address your tendency to overspend. Sticking to a budget is the key to success. Overspending can cause stress and anxiety around money, so addressing it is important for healthy financial fitness.  Consider starting your own business. If you find yourself in need of another source of income during challenging times, consider turning one of your unique skills into a side gig. This year might be your year!  Prepare for major life events. Make sure…

Smart Money Moves for Members Under 30 

Life in your twenties can be exciting and full of new opportunities. There are many milestones you might check off your lists during this period: graduating college, starting your career, getting married, and even starting your family.   While long-term financial goals might seem a lifetime away, the decisions you make today can significantly impact your future fiscal success. When it comes to building wealth, time is your best friend. The sooner you begin laying the foundation for the future, the better your position will be when you approach your next financial milestone.   Here are several wise money moves you can…

August 1, 2022Future Planning, Wallet Wins No Comments

Life in your twenties can be exciting and full of new opportunities. There are many milestones you might check off your lists during this period: graduating college, starting your career, getting married, and even starting your family.   While long-term financial goals might seem a lifetime away, the decisions you make today can significantly impact your future fiscal success. When it comes to building wealth, time is your best friend. The sooner you begin laying the foundation for the future, the better your position will be when you approach your next financial milestone.   Here are several wise money moves you can…

How to Travel Safely This Summer 

Summer is here! Now is your chance to explore new places and make special memories with your family. Preparing yourself for a safe summer ahead of time makes for a more relaxing trip for everyone. Here are a few measures you can take now for a safe and fun adventure away from home. Keep your wallet safe and secure while traveling with these simple tips:  Alert PEFCU About Travel Plans Do you plan to make a purchase with your PEFCU Visa® Debit or Credit Card while traveling? Though your cards are open for international transactions, it’s still good practice to let…

July 11, 2022Wallet Wins No Comments

Summer is here! Now is your chance to explore new places and make special memories with your family. Preparing yourself for a safe summer ahead of time makes for a more relaxing trip for everyone. Here are a few measures you can take now for a safe and fun adventure away from home. Keep your wallet safe and secure while traveling with these simple tips:  Alert PEFCU About Travel Plans Do you plan to make a purchase with your PEFCU Visa® Debit or Credit Card while traveling? Though your cards are open for international transactions, it’s still good practice to let…

When Should I Start Saving for College?

According to the Pew Research Center, 34% of adults ages 18 to 29 say they have outstanding student loans from their education expenses. About six out of ten college seniors ages 18 to 24 took out loans for their education in the 2015-2016 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.   The sooner you begin putting money away for your child’s college education, the better. As college tuition and fees continue to climb, getting ahead of the curve sets your child up for success and reduces the student debt they might accumulate in the future.  The less burden…

June 30, 2022Wallet Wins No Comments

According to the Pew Research Center, 34% of adults ages 18 to 29 say they have outstanding student loans from their education expenses. About six out of ten college seniors ages 18 to 24 took out loans for their education in the 2015-2016 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.   The sooner you begin putting money away for your child’s college education, the better. As college tuition and fees continue to climb, getting ahead of the curve sets your child up for success and reduces the student debt they might accumulate in the future.  The less burden…

5 Ways To Save $$ And Have Fun This Summer

Summer is a great time to take it easy, connect with your loved ones, and slow down to make lasting memories for years to come. Summer trips are fun, but they can be difficult to plan, and costs can add up quickly. With the rising price of gas, what better way to spend some quality time with your family than with a staycation right in your own backyard?  Saving money now on summer vacations can help you reach the financial goals you have for later this year or can help you put more money towards your big summer getaway next…

April 27, 2022Wallet Wins No Comments

Summer is a great time to take it easy, connect with your loved ones, and slow down to make lasting memories for years to come. Summer trips are fun, but they can be difficult to plan, and costs can add up quickly. With the rising price of gas, what better way to spend some quality time with your family than with a staycation right in your own backyard?  Saving money now on summer vacations can help you reach the financial goals you have for later this year or can help you put more money towards your big summer getaway next…

3 Ways to Live More Sustainably

Earth Day is a great day to start thinking about how you can reduce your carbon footprint. Here are three things you can start doing right away!  Save Water. According to the EPA, the average American family typically uses over 300 gallons of water every day. With climate change causing droughts across the nation and around the world, it’s critical to saving water whenever you can.  Green Your Closet. Americans buy a lot of clothing, and it’s quickly filling landfills. In addition, donated clothing often winds up being sent to developing countries, where it’s overwhelming local economies. The prescription for…

April 18, 2022Wallet Wins, We Are PEFCU No Comments

Earth Day is a great day to start thinking about how you can reduce your carbon footprint. Here are three things you can start doing right away!  Save Water. According to the EPA, the average American family typically uses over 300 gallons of water every day. With climate change causing droughts across the nation and around the world, it’s critical to saving water whenever you can.  Green Your Closet. Americans buy a lot of clothing, and it’s quickly filling landfills. In addition, donated clothing often winds up being sent to developing countries, where it’s overwhelming local economies. The prescription for…

Tax Scams You Need To Know About

Each year, the IRS releases a list of tax scams that most affect people at the time.. With fraudsters becoming more proficient in their targeting methods, the number of scams seems to steadily increase with every annual list, . Now, there is more for taxpayers to be mindful of with COVID-19 and economic impact payments setting the stage for tax scams.    As your credit union, our goal is to prepare you for these potential scams so you can wisely avoid them. Here is a list of the most popular tax scams with advice on how not to fall for…

April 1, 2022Wallet Wins No Comments

Each year, the IRS releases a list of tax scams that most affect people at the time.. With fraudsters becoming more proficient in their targeting methods, the number of scams seems to steadily increase with every annual list, . Now, there is more for taxpayers to be mindful of with COVID-19 and economic impact payments setting the stage for tax scams.    As your credit union, our goal is to prepare you for these potential scams so you can wisely avoid them. Here is a list of the most popular tax scams with advice on how not to fall for…

Smart Ways to Use Your Tax Refund   

It’s that time of year again. While some people are biting their nails over how much they’ll have to pay, others are eagerly anticipating their refunds from Uncle Sam. Below are a few smart ways you can put your tax refund to work for you.  Make a Down Payment on a New Car  If you’ve been thinking of trading up or buying a new car outright, your tax refund can help you bolster your down payment, so you pay less for the vehicle over time. The larger your down payment is, the more you save on interest.  Use It to…

April 1, 2022Wallet Wins No Comments

It’s that time of year again. While some people are biting their nails over how much they’ll have to pay, others are eagerly anticipating their refunds from Uncle Sam. Below are a few smart ways you can put your tax refund to work for you.  Make a Down Payment on a New Car  If you’ve been thinking of trading up or buying a new car outright, your tax refund can help you bolster your down payment, so you pay less for the vehicle over time. The larger your down payment is, the more you save on interest.  Use It to…

Spring Cleaning Your Finances

Spring cleaning your home is probably not new to you. You declutter the garage, clean windows, wipe down baseboards, clear out your basement, and more. But, what about your finances? It pays to spend some time spring cleaning your finances too. Below are seven ways to get your finances in order.  1. Organize Your Financial Records One of the first things to do when you organize your finances is to gather together all your information in one place. Certain things you’ll want to consider in this financial inventory include:  Financial accounts  Credit reports  Monthly statements  Debit and credit card details  HSA…

March 14, 2022Security Center, Wallet Wins 2 Comments

Spring cleaning your home is probably not new to you. You declutter the garage, clean windows, wipe down baseboards, clear out your basement, and more. But, what about your finances? It pays to spend some time spring cleaning your finances too. Below are seven ways to get your finances in order.  1. Organize Your Financial Records One of the first things to do when you organize your finances is to gather together all your information in one place. Certain things you’ll want to consider in this financial inventory include:  Financial accounts  Credit reports  Monthly statements  Debit and credit card details  HSA…

8 Ways to Fight Rising Prices on Groceries

If you’re like most Americans, you’ve probably noticed your grocery bills climb to crazy heights during the coronavirus pandemic. Over the past twelve months, all of the six major grocery store food group prices increased, according to the November 2021 Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Prices for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 12.8 percent in 2021, with beef prices jumping the most with a 20.9 percent increase. Dairy product prices rose 1.6 percent. Other prices rose too, ranging from a 4.0 percent increase on fruits and vegetables to 5.7 percent for other…

February 14, 2022Wallet Wins 1 Comment

If you’re like most Americans, you’ve probably noticed your grocery bills climb to crazy heights during the coronavirus pandemic. Over the past twelve months, all of the six major grocery store food group prices increased, according to the November 2021 Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Prices for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 12.8 percent in 2021, with beef prices jumping the most with a 20.9 percent increase. Dairy product prices rose 1.6 percent. Other prices rose too, ranging from a 4.0 percent increase on fruits and vegetables to 5.7 percent for other…