Webinar: Financially Savvy Seniors Join us for a free, informational webinar. Retirement can be a great time for seniors if they are prepared financially. Attendees will learn about specific retirement concerns such as managing money, Medicare, Social Security, improving cash flow, insurance, investing, estate planning, and more. REGISTER: Session 1: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 Time: [...]
At what age should you start teaching your child about credit? Financial education starts much earlier than age 18, when you can open your first card. Children begin to form their lifelong money habits as early as preschool. Behavioral researchers from Cambridge University encourage parents to start teaching their kids about money as young as [...]
Webinar: RAISING A MONEY-SMART KID Earning money, spending and saving are important lessons children learn very early on in life. This session will help guide parents on effective ways to educate children about financial responsibility that can last a lifetime. Session 1: Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Time: 12:30 p.m. CST Sign Up Session 2: Thursday, [...]
Free Financial Education Webinar: Using Credit Cards Wisely A credit card can be a valuable financial tool. However, before racking up big charges on multiple cards, participants should learn smart ways to handle their credit cards and take a disciplined approach. Session 1: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 Time: 12:30 p.m. Sign Up Session 2: Thursday, [...]
Don’t hit your own debt ceiling - What a maxed-out card does to your credit score The news today is filled with the U.S. government reaching its debt ceiling, which could freeze benefits for millions of American households and send the economy into a recession if not resolved. On a personal level, you can do the [...]
Keeping Track Of Bills And Payments Knowing how to keep track of bills and payments is an important part of managing your finances. It ensures that you make your payments on time, which impacts other aspects of your finances. Take advantage of these tips on how to keep track of bills and payments. Create a [...]
Webinar: Basics of Personal Finance Free, Financial Education Webinars Join us for our first free webinar of 2023: Personal Finance Basics! We'll kick off Financial Wellness month with the basics, everything from managing daily expenses to investing for retirement. This session helps participants set personal finance goals, learn the basics of smart money management, and [...]
Four ways debt sneaks up on you—and what to do about it Unless you track your overall spending with every little purchase, debt can ambush you. Fortunately, you can prevent it from piling up; you just need to be aware of the ways in which you spend money. Here are four common causes of debt [...]
Spend your money more mindfully—and meaningfully—during the holidays. Regardless of your budget or your particular financial stressors, being more intentional with your money can help you use it in a more meaningful way so you don’t end up filled with guilt or regret (because that’s not the holiday spirit). Here are five tips to prevent overspending and [...]
Nine Ways to Master Your Money 1. Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals Saving tends to be easier when you have a certain purpose in mind: Saving for your first house, your retirement at a certain age, a child’s college education, or even a trip around the world. The important thing is for your goals to be specific, [...]
Free, Financial Education Webinars Join us for free webinars in 2023! Whether you’re an employee, member, family, or friend, our webinars are packed with useful info and are open to everyone. Just make sure to reserve your virtual seat. Select Sign Up at the links below to register. When prompted please enter ‘Green Country FCU’ as your [...]
BREEZING THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS It may be called “the most wonderful time of the year” but December can also be filled with unwanted debt with holiday spending. Learn budgeting strategies and tactics to avoid that year-end credit card crunch and sidestep debt traps in the future. REGISTER: https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/2559794329983624976 Session 1: Tuesday, October 11, 2022 [...]
We’re very excited to announce our free webinars for the second half of the year! Whether you’re an employee, member, family, or friend, our webinars are packed with useful info and are open to everyone. Just make sure to reserve your virtual seat. Select Sign Up at the links below to register. When prompted please enter [...]
10 ways to spend less when shopping online Get what you need without overpaying—or being tricked into overbuying. Key takeaways Retail sites have features that entice you to buy more than you need, but savvy shopping can help you stick to a budget. These tips and habits—including staying focused, carefully timing purchases, and factoring in [...]
Reposted from Money Under 30 If the usual budgeting methods and apps aren't working for you, try some of these lesser-known options — like the Kakeibo method, the expense-income approach, or the "no budget" budget. As a personal finance writer, I write about budgeting daily. That’s why it was a hard truth to face when [...]
How to cut your grocery bill by 90%: is it possible? Wondering how to save money on groceries? There are several ways you can slash your grocery bill by up to 90% — whether it’s by shopping at discount stores, planning your meals around sales, using coupons, or buying in bulk. ✋ Raise your hand [...]
How To Go From Living Paycheck to Paycheck to Retiring Early Let’s take a look at a chat with Dr. Lakisha Simmons, a financial freedom coach who went from living paycheck to paycheck to saving $750,000 in four years and becoming financially independent. What steps did you take to become financially independent and able to [...]
WOMEN AND MONEY: Take Control Over Your Financial Life Ladies, let’s talk about a financial topic that’s taboo for many of us to even think about discussing with another person… money. No, not how to spend money–that’s the easy part–how to save and invest it, like stocks, bonds, and other investments. What is it about [...]
Solving the Mystery of Credit Reports MARCH FINANCIAL EDUCATION WEBINAR Credit report scores hold a lot of power—they can help buy that first home but can also take away financial opportunities. This informative webinar provides an overview of credit bureaus, credit scoring, guidance to dispute inaccuracies, improving credit scores, and dealing with identity theft and [...]
What is the 30-day savings rule? The 30-day savings rule is simple: the next time you find yourself considering an impulse buy, stop yourself and think about it for 30 days. If you still want to make that purchase after those 30 days, go for it. This rule works because by forcing yourself to wait [...]
RX for Financial Health Talking about physical health and going to the doctor for regular check-ups is socially acceptable for many. So why is talking about financial health considered a taboo subject? Especially when, according to the Financial Health Network, only 34% of U.S. households are financially healthy. Imagine if financial health check-ups became the [...]
How COVID-19 Has Changed People's Money Habits: The Significance of an Emergency Fund An emergency fund is a specific amount of money that you set aside for periods of uncertainty or suffering - such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people don't have (or even know about) an emergency fund until the pandemic struck and they [...]
Financial Education Webinars All webinars are free and open to everyone - even if you're not currently a Green Country FCU member! Register for the webinar of your preferred time (there’s two each month) but don’t worry if you can’t be there right at 12:30 or 7:30. As long as you’ve registered in advance, you’ll [...]
8 Ways to Avoid a Holiday Debt Hangover Imagine it’s January. You’re taking down holiday decorations, wondering what the new year will bring, and then it hits you, an overwhelming sense of dread as you think about the looming credit card debt from your holiday spending. If this is an all-too-real scenario for you, here [...]
5 Creative Ways to Control Your Holiday Budget This Year The holiday season is almost here, and now is the perfect time to get started. But before you head out to the mall with your credit card in hand, it is essential to set a plan and create a realistic budget. It is easy to [...]
10 STEPS TO FINANCIAL SUCCESS December Webinar We all measure financial success differently, but all paths to get there require discipline and goals. This session teaches participants ways to financial control— including developing a spending plan, creating objectives, weighing insurance needs, and other tools that will help get on the road to personal financial success. [...]
Have you ever unexpectedly found out you’re going to have less income? It’s enough to throw you into a panic! The best way to get through hard times is to take a few deep breaths and put a plan together. Check out these common targets for quick and effective expense cuts. Food You might find [...]
How to Teach Your Kids About Money and Credit In this article: When Should Kids Start Building Credit? How to Help Your Child Build Good Credit Habits How to Teach Your Kids to Be Smart With Money Getting Your Kids Started With Credit Cards Can a Child Have a Credit Report and Score? How to [...]
5 Tips to Build (and Maintain) a Good Credit Score Like building a house, constructing a financially stable life requires laying a solid foundation. In difficult economic times like these, though, building that foundation can be a challenge. Good credit remains a core part of any financial foundation. Having good credit can make it easier [...]
Yes, credit cards can be dangerous. But credit cards are also a powerful tool if you know how to use them responsibly. How credit cards work A credit card is a revolving line of credit that allows you to make charges at any time up to the amount of a specific credit limit. When [...]
USING CREDIT CARDS WISELY Join us for a free educational webinar focusing on credit cards! A credit card can be a valuable financial tool. However, before racking up big charges on multiple cards, participants should learn smart ways to handle their credit cards and take a disciplined approach. Register to attend in advance to be [...]
UPDATE Sept. 17, 2021 As long as you've pre-registered for the Savvy Senior webinar, you'll have access to the recording until Sept. 24th - you should have a link emailed to you. Here are the key takeaways we noted from the event: Get started now! It's hard to catch up Setting aside a little bit [...]
Back-to-school season comes around the same time every year, but like the holidays, it has a tendency to sneak up on us — and our bank accounts. Last year, the National Retail Federation estimated that parents would spend a record average of $789.49 doing back-to-school shopping for children in elementary, middle, or high school and [...]
FREE WEBINAR: Advanced Child Tax Credit We invite you to join a free webinar about the upcoming Advanced Child Tax Credit (CTC) monthly payments from the IRS that will start in July. This webinar will be held on Monday, July 19 from 3:00 - 4:00 Central. This webinar will provide you with information on CTC [...]
Swipe Up: Social Media Spending Social Media Day is Jun 30th - let's take a look at one of the biggest ways we spend money. “Swipe up to shop my look!” “Use my code for a great discount!” Click… the items are in my cart… purchase complete… and I received my confirmation email. Real talk: [...]
18 Ways To Save Money This Week Finding creative ways to save money can make all the difference when it comes to your personal finances. Saving money whenever possible can help build your emergency fund, save for a vacation, or even free up money so you can start investing. For example, saving $10 a week from [...]
Welcome to Money Manager! All Green Country members have access to a host of money management tools for free - inside online banking. It's called Money Manager and it can help you track your money, set savings goals, work with a budget and monitor your cash flow. Dashboard See [...]
Daily Money Management Programs for Seniors Green Country offers a money manager and tracking program inside online banking to help you keep track of your money and see where you’re spending your hard-earned dollars. But for some seniors, that may be too technical, or even just too much to keep up with. There’s another solution [...]
5 habits that can ruin your budget How did you ruin your budget last month? It was perfect on paper. You established different spending categories and set what seems like reasonable limits. Yet somehow it just didn't work out. And it keeps happening month after month. Sound familiar? The first thing to do is double-check [...]
Webinar: 30 WAYS TO TRIM A BUDGET REGISTER NOW - Watch on your schedule. Stretching your budget is a necessary step to achieving your financial goals. Learn smart ways to save on the things that impact your finances most, such as food, health care, insurance and more. Please join us for a free, informational webinar [...]
Financial Stress: The Physical and Mental Effects Money may not buy you happiness, but studies show that your relationship with it impacts your health. Did you know money is tied to our basic, hard-wired drive to survive? When that drive can’t be attained, it compounds into stress. Maybe it’s why the age-old saying, “health is [...]
Rebuilding After a Financial Crisis There are many things in life that can derail even the best money management plans. When a crisis happens, most people take things day by day just hoping to get by. When the dust settles, they’re often left with a financial situation that is less than rosy. There are no [...]
A financial crisis can throw even the best money management plan into chaos. This session focuses on ways to gain control of a crisis. Participants will learn about financial assessments, expense prioritization, and effective negotiation with creditors. Join us for one of two free, educational webinars. Anyone can attend and the recordings will be available [...]
5 key financial basics for teens One of the most powerful things for your teen to be able to do is to track where their money goes, and that starts with budgeting. Before your teen leaves home, they should know how to create a budget how to track spending, and how to save for the [...]
3 Ways to Teach Kids Good Money Habits Spend, Save and Share Jars Many parents teach their kids the value of hard work by paying them for chores. You can take this a step further by talking about what they can do with their hard-earned cash. Get three jars and add the label spend, save [...]
Teen checking account – 4 tips to keep in mind A checking account can help teach your teen important money basics. Get them started in high school to help them learn money management at an early age. You may have opened a savings account for your children as a way to sock away money [...]
Teens and Money: Checking and Savings Account One of the first steps toward real freedom (and adulthood) is having a checking and savings account in your own name. These accounts allow you to save money, make purchases, and pay bills efficiently. Both, however, require you to take an active management role, so that you can [...]
Money Missteps - A Great Thing to Happen to a Kid? You Spent Your Money on What?! Any parent with a child old enough to have control over money has probably at least thought that, if not shouted it across a dinner table. While the outrage at a teenager spending an entire pile of birthday [...]
Teens & Money Podcast Do you have 10 minutes? Listen to our quick podcast: teens and money. We're covering things like making a budget, setting goals, buying a car, and credit cards. Can't listen today? Download the transcript here.
If you missed it last week, don't worry, you can still register for the 2nd broadcast of this highly informational teaching tool. Session 2: Thursday, April 22, 2021 Time: 5:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. ET Sign Up If you can't view it live at 7:30 p.m. (CST) you will still have access to the [...]
Free Educational Webinar: Women & Money Whether it’s having children, career advancement, divorcing, or becoming a widow, there are certain pivotal times in women’s lives that can occur. This special educational session addresses considerations for budgeting, credit, and insurance. Let's celebrate International Women's Day. Session 1: Tuesday, March 9, 2021 @ 11:30 a.m. (CST) [...]
A step-by-step guide to making a holiday budget Ah, the holidays. It’s a time for seasonal cheer, catching up with family, and for some—financial panic! If you recently looked at the calendar and realized gift-buying season is closer than you thought, don’t worry. We are here to help you organize your finances by making an [...]
Bubbles burst, the economy falters, companies downsize, and personal disasters happen which can result in a reduced paycheck. Perpetual salary growth or even maintenance is simply not guaranteed. However, by adopting the right tools and attitude, you can make the most of a reduced paycheck and not just survive, but thrive. Determine whether your situation [...]
