This That & Chit Chat

Living on your own for the first time can be empowering. It means having independence and all the things that come with it. Some of those things—like not having to share a bathroom—are wonderful. Others—like killing spiders yourself—are not so fun. And leading the pack in the not-so-fun category: bills.

Read the full post

With the rise in popularity of cryptocurrencies, the world of digital assets has become a breeding ground for scams and fraudulent activities. While the technology behind cryptocurrencies offers numerous benefits, it's essential to be aware of the potential risks involved, to always be cautious, and to protect your personal information. In this article, we will explore five common cryptocurrency scams that you should be aware of.

Read the full post

The average person moves residences about 11 times in their lifetime. That provides a lot of opportunity to confront the following question: is it better to own your home or to rent it? It’s a huge decision that affects your lifestyle as much as it does your finances, and the answer will vary depending on who you ask. There are compelling arguments to be made for both sides and the resulting advice—though well-intentioned—can quickly become confusing and contradictory. So, is paying rent really just a waste of money? Or is it true that you can make more money by renting than by owning a home? Take a closer look at six snippets of common owning-versus-renting advice:

Read the full post

Like going to the gym or eating a healthy diet, saving money is one of those concepts that’s simple to grasp but weirdly challenging to put into practice. We understand its benefits. We agree that it’s essential to our well-being. We know that it’s something we should be doing. But paycheck after paycheck, it’s the same routine: after the bills have been paid and the regular expenses have been looked after, there just isn’t quite enough left over for our savings goals. We blame our lack of financial willpower and promise ourselves we’ll do better next paycheck, but more often than not, the cycle repeats itself. If this scenario seems all too familiar, consider automating your personal finances in order to pay yourself first.

Read the full post

Checks hold an odd place in our personal finances. In many ways, checks seem like relics from a previous era. We maybe write one or two checks a month (usually for rent or similar bill-paying situations where electronic payment simply isn’t an option). This is vastly different from only a few decades ago, when checks represented more than 85% of all non-cash retail payments. (Can you imagine whipping out a checkbook in line at the grocery store? Times have certainly changed!)

Read the full post

Frugal living discussions often talk about pinching pennies or “stretching a dollar.” A penny saved is a penny earned, or so the saying goes, but is that actually the case?

Read the full post

According to the American Pet Products Association, nearly 70% of all US households own a pet. That translates into an estimated $86 billion spent on food, supplies, medical care and pet services in 2018. Although the love and companionship our furry (or feathered, or scaly) friends provide is priceless, it’s impossible to ignore the effect that pet ownership has on our wallet.

Read the full post

 Auto dealers are expected to sell cars that meet certain consumer protection criteria. This may include providing a warranty that will cover the buyer’s costs if a car turns out to be a lemon. Unfortunately, some unethical dealers may attempt to bypass these laws by curbstoning. Curbstoning is when a dealer poses as a private seller to sell a car. By curbstoning, an unethical dealer can avoid having to comply with the regulations that apply to dealers. To a buyer, this could mean buying a car that has a salvaged title (a car that’s been declared a total loss by an insurance company). It could also mean unknowingly buying a car that has been in a flood and suffered severe water damage.

Read the full post

As the holiday season approaches, it’s a time of joy, celebration, and unfortunately, an uptick in various scams aiming to take advantage of your festive spirit. Kohler Credit Union is committed to ensuring you remain safe and secure by sharing valuable insights on how to safeguard yourself from scams.

Read the full post

A Guide to Saving Money Effectively: Budgeting is a powerful tool that empowers you to take control of your finances and save money. When done right, budgeting can help you allocate your income wisely, minimize unnecessary expenses, and work towards achieving your financial goals. Here's a step-by-step guide to budgeting properly and maximizing your savings:

Read the full post

As logical as it might seem to look for the perfect stock, bond, or mutual fund and make it your investment of choice, that’s not the best approach to meeting your financial goals. No single investment, or type of investments, provides a strong return year in and year out.

Read the full post

Cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and internet scams are on the rise—how can we help kids navigate the internet safely?

Read the full post

Refinancing can be beneficial if everything lines up in your favor. What can you get out of it? The list is long and exciting for someone stuck with loan payments that they aren’t happy with.

Read the full post

When it comes to talking with a spouse or partner about money, many people shy away. It can be scary—but it doesn’t have to be. Positive and frequent communication is key.

Read the full post

Whether you need some more space, are ready to downsize into something a bit more manageable, or are relocating to a new place, you should prepare for the emotional and financial impacts of selling your home.

Read the full post

A budget is a plan for how you’ll spend your money. To create one, you divide your income (the money you get) into your expenses (the things you buy).

Read the full post

Your financial institution is one of the safest places to store your hard-earned cash. The best part? All you have to do is open an account.

Read the full post

Cybersecurity risks have grown just as rapidly as technology has and online scam artists are always finding new ways to lower a system’s defenses.

Read the full post

Filing a tax return is a matter of following the line-by-line instructions that come with your tax form. Each form has its own set of instructions and includes a number of charts and worksheets to help you figure out if you're eligible for credits, deductions, and exemptions.

Read the full post

Many major life changes, such as buying a new home, changing jobs, getting promoted, starting a business, having a child, and more, will have tax implications. But that doesn't always mean you'll owe more to the federal government.

Read the full post

Even if you’re just starting your first real job—actually, especially if you’re just starting your first real job—it’s time to start thinking about retirement. That’s not a comment on how motivated or unmotivated you are, or a suggestion that you should wish your life away. It’s just reality.

Read the full post

Finding the right credit card isn’t as easy as filling out the first application you get in the mail—or at least it shouldn’t be. To use credit to your maximum advantage, it’s best to shop around before picking the right card for your needs.

Read the full post

If you want the best renting experience possible, there are a few rules you should follow.

Read the full post

Changes to the economy, your situation, or your goals may prompt you to take a look at your budget for opportunities to save. But where do you start? These lists will help you make changes, both big and small, to your budget.

Read the full post

If you're willing to wait, a CD can be a great way to earn a high interest rate on the money you deposit.

Read the full post

When you start looking for financial advice (or any kind of advice, for that matter), experts will share their take on what’s “good” and what’s “bad.” In personal finance, there are some classifications that we can all agree on: Debt is bad. Emergency funds are good. Overdrawing your account is bad. Earning interest on your savings is good.

Read the full post

Opening an account at a bank or credit union is the first step toward owning your personal finances. Best of all? It’s super easy.

Read the full post

News outlets and credit card companies are quick to label millennials as being credit card-shy. According to a recent survey, millennials apparently fear their credit card debt more than climate change, the threat of war and even death. It may sound like an overreaction, but the underlying trend is substantial: millennials are carrying fewer cards and have lower balances, compared to the previous generation of young adults. 

Read the full post

When looking for a new car, you have three main options: buy used, buy new, or lease.

Read the full post

Most people ask, "How much does college cost?"—that’s the first mistake. It’s not to say this question isn’t answerable, but grouping college into one huge expense can be a little deceiving.

Read the full post

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is a line of credit that allows you to tap into your home’s equity.

Read the full post

Investing can seem like a very risky, complex and fast-moving process. With endless combinations of investment vehicles to choose from, it can be difficult to take your first step as an investor—especially with the knowledge that all investments carry the risk of losing some or all of your money. So why bother?

Read the full post

Have you ever caught yourself daydreaming about all of the amazing lifestyle changes that await you just beyond your next pay raise? Have you ever fantasized about how to spend a work bonus, only to have the money instantly disappear into your monthly spending? If this sounds familiar, you might be prone to lifestyle creep.

Read the full post

In case you haven’t heard, compound interest is the best.You may remember it as an equation you had to memorize for math class, but it’s so much more than that. It’s the concept that powers all sorts of savings and investment products and, over time, allows you to turn your money into, well, more money!

Read the full post

They love me, they love me not. Here’s how you can prevent yourself from falling victim to some of the sneakiest crimes out there—romance scams.

Read the full post

For most people, spending comes naturally. Saving up for something special is harder. And setting money aside for giving is really hard.

Read the full post

Borrowing money comes at a cost. This extra cost is called interest. If borrowing money costs more, why do people still do it? Here are three reasons why:

Read the full post

You make many choices every day. You choose how to spend your time. You choose how to spend your energy. You also choose how to spend your money.

Read the full post

Asking the right questions is an important part of every financial decision you make, and home ownership is no exception. If you’ve been thinking about buying a place, preliminary research will turn up a long checklist of questions for you to ask at every part of the process. There are questions for your financial institution, questions for your mortgage broker and questions for your real estate agent. But what about the questions you should be asking yourself?

Read the full post

Frugal February

Read the full post

Every year, it’s nice to do a bit of “financial spring cleaning” and declutter your filing cabinet, your desk drawers, and the various hiding places where miscellaneous scraps of paper tend to accumulate and multiply. Read on to find out what you should be saving, and what’s OK to shred.

Read the full post

Imagine this: you are out for a walk and you find a stack of shiny gold bars. Where do you put your treasure to keep it safe?

Read the full post

Prepare your tax documents – One third of Americans file their taxes at the last minute. Filing late could cost you additional penalties, interest, or fees. Most common tax forms include:Wage information
Photo identification
Personal information for all filers
Previous year(s) tax returns
Charitable donations
Childcare or education expenses
Itemized medical expenses

Read the full post

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an application for financial aid made up of scholarships and grants that the government awards to students based on their needs.

Read the full post

This blog post is geared to younger kids in 1st – 5th grade. It’s a great starting for when children begin talking about what they want to be when they grow up! After reviewing the comic, some great questions to ask kids include:

Read the full post

If you use a cellphone or have an email account, you’ve almost certainly been exposed to an attempt at mass marketing fraud. Common examples include being interrupted by an annoying robocall just as you start eating lunch, or waking up to a suspicious message in your email inbox that somehow slipped through the spam filter. Sometimes, the attempted fraud is kind of funny—the wording is so strange or the premise is so ridiculous (“An exiled prince needs my help transferring a million dollars? Really?”) that we’re left wondering how anyone could possibly fall for such an obvious money grab.

Read the full post

Budgeting is a skill that helps you make smart decisions with your money. It ensures that you’re spending less than you earn, it prepares you for life’s curveballs, and it funds your goals and your dreams. Unfortunately, budgeting is often seen as restrictive and overwhelming. Financial priorities are deeply personal, so it can be challenging to find the right combination of strategies and tools that work for you.

Read the full post

Loans help finance some of our biggest goals in life. They can provide access to possibilities that we can’t afford upfront—possibilities like going to school, buying a home or starting a business (to name just a few).

Read the full post

Think back to your most recent savings goal. How long did you have to save in order to reach it? Was it a concert ticket or some new shoes that took a few weeks of budgeting? Was it a big-ticket item like a new computer or a summer vacation that took a year or two of planning in advance? Perhaps you’re currently saving for an even more ambitious goal: a car, a wedding, a down payment on a home? Although savings goals vary from person to person and range in size and scope, it’s likely that your longest-term savings goal will be your retirement.

Read the full post

A credit score is a number that potential lenders will use to determine whether they should lend you money, how much, and at what interest rate.

Read the full post

Are you looking at purchasing a new or used vehicle? Here are three reasons why a credit union is the best choice for your next loan:

Read the full post

We are in the midst of tax season, which means a tax refund could be coming your way! You may be wondering how to use your refund if you receive one. Should you pay off debt? What about saving for a big expense? Should you put it towards retirement? Here are a few suggestions of what to do with your tax refund this year*:

Read the full post