It seems like there’s a new data leak or identity theft trick to be worried about every week. If you’re not informed, you risk becoming a victim. Sitting back and waiting for news about scams to come to you may not be enough. In an ever-changing security climate, you need to stay on top of new threats in personal information …
Avoiding the ‘Catfish’ And Other Heartless Scams – Financial Safety on Dating Sites
Meeting new people is difficult for many adults. Fortunately, though, there’s the internet. Dating sites like eHarmony and Match.com make it easier than ever to find other people who are looking for the same thing you seek. Unfortunately, that same ease of connection makes online dating sites a haven for scammers. Using the information you provide, they can craft a …
Students Beware: Scammers Prey On Learners of All Ages
As if college wasn’t stressful enough, here’s another thing for students to worry about: being on high alert for scams. For many young people, college is the first taste of financial independence; scammers prey on this naivete. Also, the expense of college gives students financial pressure, which becomes ammunition for scammers. Read on to discover three tricks criminals use to …
ATM Fraud on The Rise: Staying Safe While Getting Cash
Scammers are everywhere in web-based commerce. You might think you’re safe using cash, but scammers wait in one location you can’t avoid: the ATM. ATM fraud is an old concern, but technological advances mean consumers need to be even more aware. Be cautious of the following: 1.) ATMs in weird locations Cash is convenient. While it’s tempting to use whatever …
Saving Bucks on Books: How to Beat Your Campus Bookstore
Everything about college is expensive. In the end, the sacrifices will be worth it, but that’s no comfort to a poor college student staring at a few hundred dollars worth of textbooks every semester. On average, college students spend $1,200 a year on textbooks alone! Luckily, there are a few places you can go to save a few dollars. 1.) …
3 Ways to Build Your Credit History before You Graduate
If you keep up with financial news at all, you know your credit score is one of the most important and widely circulated bits of information about you. It determines the outcome of many of your adult life decisions. The kind of car and house you can afford, the rates you’ll pay for insurance and credit cards, and even the …
College Life: A Study Guide For Your Personal Finances
Some of the most important lessons you’ll learn in college won’t be taught in a classroom. Your ability to master the pressures of the adult world will determine, in large part, how well you live. To help prepare you for those life tests you can start to put these simple habits into your daily routine. Your future self will thank you. …
It Costs How Much To Get Married!?
The average American wedding cost has eclipsed $35,000. That’s more than half the yearly median income! Most of this growth in cost comes from the guest list. Couples are inviting more people and doing more for them. If you’re tying the knot this year, read on for five ways to save on the cost of your big day! 1.) Schedule …
How to Get By In an Emergency: Personal Loan or Credit Card?
If you’re unsure how you’d survive a financial emergency, you’re not alone. A survey found that 47% of Americans would borrow for a $400 emergency. As a credit union member, you have borrowing options. Two popular choices for emergency funding are personal loans and credit cards. Here are several pros and cons to each. 1.) Limits. Credit cards have credit …
Keeping Friends and Finances: How to Deal with Financially Challenging Friendships
Friends are the family we choose for ourselves. But some friends can be a serious drain on your savings. If you recognize these kinds of people in your life, it’s hard to know what to do. Here are several examples of financially dangerous friends and how to handle them. 1.) Party every night It’s great to blow off steam with …