Did Thanksgiving seem a bit late this year? Surprise—it’s already December! Traditionally, some families start decorating for the Christmas holiday the day after Thanksgiving. Other families trim the tree and hang the lights in early December. Whatever your family holiday traditions are, here are 6 tips for easy, economical holiday decorating to get you started:
If you invest in an artificial tree, you’ll save money over buying a new, freshly cut tree each year. You’ll also be saving a tree from being cut each year, and saving the waste from hitting our landfills and dumps. Fake trees range from simple and inexpensive to lifelike, full, and even pre-lit! You can likely find one that will be the perfect fit for your style and budget. If you miss the fresh tree smell, try lighting pine scented candles or diffusing holiday essential oils. Artificial trees can also be less messy (no needles all over the floor), less of a fire hazard, and may be safer around your pets.
Are you tired of seeing the same old garland, ornaments, tablecloth or other holiday decorations in your home each year? Instead of running out to buy new ones, consider swapping with a friend or two. Each of you will have new colors/styles to enjoy this year without spending any money!
Want to know a thrifty secret about creating a gorgeous holiday table runner? Try wrapping paper! Simply roll it across the length of your table and tape it under each end to hold it firmly. If your paper is wider than you’d like for a runner, just fold each edge under a bit and it will add some stability, too.
For a simple table centerpiece, try using a large clear glass bowl filled with something pretty to look at, such as blown glass ball ornaments, pinecones, candycanes or peppermint rounds, cinnamon sticks, or even candles. Another idea is to put festive items in clear mason jars, wine glasses, or tall glass cups to display as a grouping in the center of your holiday table.
Are there simple ways you can add some holiday cheer to your home, using what’s already there? Maybe you could tie ribbons and bows around candles, potted plants, even your trashcan! How about simply changing your kitchen towels to a festive color, like solid red or green? If you have throw blankets in your livingroom, you could also easily swap those out for a solid red or green.
If you have children in your life, how could you get them involved with decorating for Christmas? Depending on their ages, children could string popcorn garlands, make paper chain garlands, decorate pinecones, and come up with their own ornament ideas from paper, paint, glitter, glue and whatever crafting do-dads you have available!
Keep an eye on your budget this holiday season by using the Budgeting tools in online and mobile banking.
Category: Budgeting & Debt Reduction
According to a recent study, the average American household spends $64 per month on internet service. If you’re looking to reduce that cost, here are some ways to do that.
Guess what? You’re not the only one with debt. Most people are juggling several different payment responsibilities each month: credit cards, car loans, store charge cards, gas credit cards, personal loans and even student loans.
Do you feel like just when you catch up…something hits your budget out of the blue? Like when you suddenly need new tires… or your refrigerator dies and you definitely need to replace it? Just when you think you’re on top of everything, new expenses seem to pop up.
Credit Card Theft can happen even when the card is still in your possession – the thief has obtained your number and security information and has created a new card with the same information. And it may just be the first step in obtaining other parts of your identity.
One of the biggest factors impacting your credit score is the credit utilization ratio. This is your total credit used divided by the total credit available to you. Your best strategy when dealing with this ratio is to keep it below 30 percent. If it goes above that number, you could be in trouble.
Will there be a sweet tax refund check coming your way? Even though you may be excited about this lump sum of cash hitting your banking accounts, consider your options before going on a shopping spree. If you use this money to your advantage, you could improve your finances for long-term benefits. Here are some smart ways to spend your tax refund:
Did you know the average family of 4 spends $800-$1000 on food each month? Food is one of those sneaky budget items because it covers not only your weekly groceries, but any restaurant food, coffee or drinks on-the-go that don’t seem expensive until you add up the total at the end of the month.
Setting a financial goal is easy. Attaining that goal is the hard part. Here are some ways to make the road to your financial goal as smooth as possible.
According to a study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, groceries are going to get more expensive. The report suggested prices will likely increase between 1.5 percent and 2.5 percent during the next year. One way to save on groceries is to buy things in bulk. Here are some items that are usually worth buying in bulk:
Did you know the average US adult spends over $700 a year on gifts? In addition, we often can’t help ourselves while we’re shopping for others, and we end up also spending money on ourselves while out shopping. And that’s not even including the hundreds of dollars we spend on wrapping, cards, groceries, decorations, clothes and hairstyling for parties, and the gas, mileage, babysitting, and restaurant expenses it takes to get out and go shopping.
Did Thanksgiving seem a bit late this year? Surprise—it’s already December! Traditionally, some families start decorating for the Christmas holiday the day after Thanksgiving. Other families trim the tree and hang the lights in early December. Whatever your family holiday traditions are, here are 6 tips for easy, economical holiday decorating to get you started:
There’s a growing community of people who are strategically planning to retire much earlier than 65, 60, or even 50 years old. These people are making radical changes to their lifestyles and financial plans. They are looking to achieve “financial independence” and to “retire early.” Shortened to an acronym, that becomes F-I-R-E, and the FIRE movement is gaining popularity with millennials.
Food is a necessary cost – you can’t avoid feeding yourself and your family! Here are our Top 10 ways to cut some of the cost and put some of the money back into your pocket every week:
Are you expecting a tax refund this year? While it can be exciting to have an unexpected chunk of cash suddenly available, consider your options before going on a shopping spree. You could use this money to your advantage and improve your finances for long-term benefits. Here are some smart ways to spend your tax refund:
Now that the holiday season is over, are you dreading the arrival of your credit card bills? Many people do most of their holiday shopping with credit cards—and the totals sure add up quickly! Here are 5 strategies to deal with the financial aftermath from Christmas shopping and prepare a plan for this year’s holidays.
What makes up your FICO credit score? Where does it come from? What actions make it better or worse, and what does this mean to you? Anthony Marino, Merrimack Valley Credit Union’s Senior Vice President of Organizational Development, answers these questions and more in this informative recorded seminar.
Using debt consolidation as a tool to lower your monthly payments and interest If you’re like most Americans, you may be juggling several different payment responsibilities each month: credit cards, car loans, store credit cards, gas credit cards and even student loans. It can be overwhelming!
It is officially summertime, you’ve put in the request for some time off at work and you’re ready for some much needed R&R! You finally start to plan out your vacation getaway, and then… you see that the expenses are adding up quickly. The last thing you want is to arrive at your destination and realize you’re out of money. So how do you plan a vacation without overspending, that also fits your budget?!
Spring is finally upon us! While most people are thinking about spring cleaning their homes, it is equally as important to think about cleaning your finances. Yes, just like that one crinkled shirt hidden in the depths of your closet that you promise “you will wear one day” – your finances need some reevaluating, too! So, where do we even start? Here are a few tips and tricks to start spring cleaning your finances:
Before we start, I already know what you’re thinking, “Olivia, you’re not good at saving money. Is this going to be a huge flop like the ’No Spend November‘ challenge?” And my answer: potentially. I always do my best to be transparent when it comes to money… and I am a work in progress! I cannot guarantee this spending plan is going to be my “a-ha moment” where I get my life and finances together, but it is worth a shot!
Is anyone else confused at how it is already 2022?! Growing up, I always felt that the years were so much longer. However, the older I get the more I realize how quickly each day goes by. I began my career at the credit union when I was young and fresh out of college. Now, I am in my late 20’s and my back pops when I bend over!
If you’ve been a regular reader of the ThinkPink blog series, you should be well-versed on the importance of a budget. When it comes to saving money and having a plan, a budget is one of the best ways to take control of your finances and reach your financial goals. However, I’ve found that following through with a plan can be cumbersome and while there may be momentum in the beginning, eventually it fizzles out before a goal is even reached. Why is that?
For some readers, the No Spend Challenge could be done with ease and that is awesome! For me, a No Spend Challenge is difficult. It is especially hard when participating during the month of November. Let’s cue the smallest violin here, again. For starters, every store is now fully stocked with their transitional fall into winter pieces, which is arguably the best season for creating outfits.
This is a great time of year to get organized and back on track. Something about the return of regular schedules after a nice summer break leaves many people feeling ready to take on the world. Still, going into the end of the calendar (and tax) year can also leave us a bit anxious about our financial situations.
One of the easiest mistakes to make with money is overspending. It happens to all of us occasionally. Yet if overspending becomes a habit, that’s when you know you have a real problem on your hands. What can help is a two-pronged effort: Understanding why you overspend and then making practical changes to stop the behavior.
Companies know we like our phones so they’re ready and willing to make them costly to use. Thankfully, there are some ways to save on your next (and future) phone bills.
Using a credit card is one of the fastest and easiest ways to build credit or improve your credit score. Responsibly using credit cards allows you to demonstrate to lenders that you can manage payments. The earlier you begin, the better.
Building a strong credit score takes time. If you’ve pulled your credit score lately and you’re not satisfied with the number you received, there are several things you can do to raise your credit.
Checking your credit score is an easy way to tell if you’re making smart financial moves with your credit cards and loans. It’s a representation of how well you’re paying your bills, keeping your overall debt under control, and a few other signs of personal responsibility. But even if you feel like you’re doing everything right, you might be making some mistakes that could cause a drop in your score since the last time you checked. Here’s a look at what they are and how to get back on the right track.
Knowing how credit inquiries affect you is a big part of being financially healthy. When you apply for a credit card or loan the creditor will “pull” your credit. This is known as a hard inquiry – but there are also soft inquiries, too. Here is what makes them different:
Paying your bills on time is key to improving your credit score, and managing credit card debt effectively is equally important. Setting up autopay for your credit card payments is a practical solution to achieve both objectives. Here’s everything you need to know.