We all grow up hearing the same financial advice: Spend less, save more and invest early. While most of these words of wisdom ring true, there are lots of widespread money management tips that are actually false. Read on for 7 money myths that might be causing you more financial stress than benefit. Myth #1: Debit is always better …
If you’re hiring a contractor to make improvements on your home, be alert! Home improvement scams are more common than you may think, and they can cost you a lot. Read on for 8 ways to spot a home improvement scam. 1. The contractor insists on being paid upfront Be wary of any contractor demanding that you pay most of …
As spring deepens and flowers blossom everywhere, you might be dreaming about gardening. But shopping for your garden-to-be can be daunting. There’s so much to buy—and it’s all so expensive! Can you really afford to have the garden of your dreams? Yes, you can! Save on gardening costs this year with these six creative hacks: 1.) Share equipment Instead of …
If you’re thinking of putting your house on the market, think spring. That’s because the season of blossoming flowers and gentle breezes has traditionally held the designation as the best time of year to sell a home. Before you start prepping your home for a photoshoot that shows it off in the best light, take a moment to consider your …
If you’re planning a camping trip for the summer and would love to keep the trip as low-cost as possible – we can help! Read on for seven ways to save on camping costs. 1. Save on location Nightly rates for camping sites can cost a pretty penny during peak camping season. But why pay the fee when you can …
You probably have life insurance, but what about credit life insurance? It’s not for everyone, and the premiums are higher than regular insurance. But, if you’re carrying a lot of debt it can prevent your family from having to pay off your debts after you pass away. Some lenders will require it, but depending on where you live, the insurance …
It can be overwhelming with endless reports of data breaches, cyber-attacks, and fraud. Here at Directions, we want to help you understand these data breaches as much as possible! First and foremost, data breaches happen at the merchant/business level – not at your financial institution. Directions Credit Union has never experienced a data breach. How data breaches occur Businesses that …
College students, take note! If keeping up with your coursework, acing your exams and scrambling to hand in every term paper before the deadline wasn’t enough, you now have something else to worry about: Student loan scams are on the rise! Scammers know you hate owing tens of thousands of dollars, so they’re quick to offer you an easy — …
Crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe, Kickstarter and IndieGoGo are packed with eager entrepreneurs and needy individuals. Unfortunately, they’re also packed with scammers. In another example, a company called Triton claimed to have created a device enabling people to breathe underwater. Their IndieGoGo page pulled in $850,000 in just a few days—for a nonexistent invention. And, in yet another incident, a couple …
The annual tax code changes can be confusing. No worries, though; we’ll walk you through everything you need to know for 2019. Though most changes won’t take effect until April 2019, some of them can impact the financial choices you’ll make this year. For that reason, here’s the details on the most important tax changes. 1.) Changes to the amounts …
