November 30, 2023
Common Scam Prevention Tips
EmailsStart by checking the sender’s email address; legitimate organizations use official domain names, so be cautious if it appears unusual or contains misspellings. Pay attention to the email’s tone and grammar; scammers often use urgency, fear, or overly formal language to exploit recipients. Be careful with unexpected attachments as they may contain malware. Never send personal or financial information in an email and keep your anti-virus software and operating system up to date.
November 28, 2023
Red Flags of Holiday Scams
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.
September 8, 2023
by: Jean Chatzky @ SavvyMoney
by: Jean Chatzky @ SavvyMoney
6 Tips For Teaching Your Kids to Save
September 4, 2023
by: ChatGPT
by: ChatGPT
Budgeting Blitz - Tackling Financial Goals One Minute at a Time
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:
August 11, 2023
by: Banzai
by: Banzai
When You Can't Afford Your Minimum Payments
It’s scary to find yourself in a situation where you can’t afford your monthly debt payments. Whether that’s due to a sudden life change, like a job loss or illness, or if you’ve simply found yourself unable to keep up, there are steps you can take.
July 28, 2023
by: Banzai
by: Banzai
Portfolio Building
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.
July 20, 2023
by: Banzai
by: Banzai
To Buy or Not to Buy?
They say there’s no place like home, but does that mean you have to purchase one to get the benefits? Just like everything else, buying a home has its pros and cons.
July 7, 2023
by: banzai
by: banzai
8 Internet Safety Rules for Kids
Cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and internet scams are on the rise—how can we help kids navigate the internet safely?
June 29, 2023
by: Banzai
by: Banzai
What a Car Loan Costs
June 22, 2023
by: Banzai
by: Banzai
Reasons to Refinance
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.
June 15, 2023
by: Banzai
by: Banzai
Transitioning to Retirement
Transitioning to retirement takes planning and preparation. But if you're wise, you can set yourself up for success.
June 8, 2023
by: Banzai
by: Banzai
Talking to Your Partner About Money
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.
June 5, 2023
by: Banzai
by: Banzai
Making and Spending Money
May 25, 2023
by: banzai
by: banzai
Selling Your Home
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.
April 24, 2023
by: banzai
by: banzai
Insuring Your Home
Home Insurance is absolutely essential to protect what is likely your largest investment: your home.
April 17, 2023
by: banzai
by: banzai
Learning to Budget
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).
April 10, 2023
by: banzai
by: banzai
Working with a Mortgage Lender
Applying for a mortgage is a big endeavor. Most lenders require you to complete a mortgage application—a comprehensive financial statement.
March 20, 2023
by: banzai
by: banzai
Is the Money in My Account Safe?
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.
March 10, 2023
by: Banzai
by: Banzai
4 Tips for Using Peer-to-Peer Payment Apps
Whether you’re splitting the bill at a restaurant with friends, paying back your parents, or buying snacks at a sports event, it’s hard to beat the convenience of peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo, Zelle, Google Pay, Cash App, and PayPal.
March 2, 2023
by: banzai
by: banzai
50 Internet Safety Tips for 2023
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.
February 28, 2023
by: banzai
by: banzai
3 Jar Allowance for Kids
The sooner you teach your children the basics about budgeting, the better, and the 3-jar money system is a great way to get started.
February 9, 2023
by: banzai
by: banzai
Completing a Return
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.
February 3, 2023
by: banzai
by: banzai
Scams Targeting Seniors
Scammers target seniors more aggressively than any other group. Recognizing the most common scams helps prevent your money and personal information from getting stolen.
January 23, 2023
by: banzai
by: banzai
Paying Taxes
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.
January 19, 2023
by: banzai
by: banzai
Tax Brackets and Statuses
How much you owe in federal income taxes is determined by many factors, but your tax bracket and status will likely have the biggest impact.
January 11, 2023
by: banzai
by: banzai
Meet Your 401(k)
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.
January 6, 2023
by: banzai
by: banzai
Tracking Your Joint Expenses
It’s hard enough keeping track of your own expenses. So you shouldn’t be surprised that managing money as a team effort can test your patience, especially if your partner has a different method of keeping financial records—or worse, no method at all.
December 21, 2022
by: banzai
by: banzai
Picking the Right Credit Card for You
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.
December 21, 2022
by: banzai
by: banzai
How To Manage Your Debt: Strategies & Tools
Even if you're financially responsible, life's unpredictable nature can sometimes catch you off guard, at times making it dangerously easy to fall into debt. Discover how to start managing your debt with these tips and tools.
December 15, 2022
by: banzai
by: banzai
Mobile Banking
Mobile banking provides a convenient, safe way to access your funds when you're unable to visit a branch.
December 9, 2022
by: banzai
by: banzai
A Practical Guide to Bitcoin
Over the past decade, cryptocurrency has grown in popularity, yet it’s still “cryptic” to many. As the foundational and most popular cryptocurrency, understanding the basics of Bitcoin can help you unravel the riddle of crypto.
December 2, 2022
by: Banzai
by: Banzai
Renting Rulebook
If you want the best renting experience possible, there are a few rules you should follow.
November 28, 2022
by: Banzai
by: Banzai
Trusts
A trust, similar to a will, is a way to designate what happens to a person’s belongings after they pass away.
November 18, 2022
by: banzai
by: banzai
14 Ways to Cut Household Expenses
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.
November 11, 2022
by: Banzai
by: Banzai
Leaving a Job with a 401(K)
When you leave a job with a 401(k), you’ll generally have four options for what to do with the money. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks, so deciding what’s right for you will depend on your situation and preferences.
October 27, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
The Upside of Frugality
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?
October 21, 2022
by: Banzai
by: Banzai
Certificate of Deposit
If you're willing to wait, a CD can be a great way to earn a high interest rate on the money you deposit.
October 17, 2022
by: banzai
by: banzai
Savings Accounts
If you're building an emergency fund, saving for a big purchase, or getting money together to invest, using an insured savings account can put you on the right road.
October 7, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
Use Psychology to Build a Budget You’ll Stick With
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.
September 30, 2022
by: Banzai
by: Banzai
What a Car Loan Costs
September 26, 2022
by: banzai
by: banzai
Opening Your First Account
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.
September 16, 2022
by: banzai
by: banzai
7 Internet Safety Rules
Follow these 7 internet safety rules to help keep yourself and others safe online.
September 9, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
How to Overcome ‘Credit Card Shyness’
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.
September 2, 2022
by: banzai
by: banzai
Improve Your Cybersecurity
It’s likely you use a phone, computer, or some other device every day (you’re even using one right now!). But just because you use it often doesn’t mean you can let your guard down.
August 26, 2022
by: Banzai
by: Banzai
Getting a Car
When looking for a new car, you have three main options: buy used, buy new, or lease.
August 11, 2022
Check It Out
Still stashing money under beds, in ceiling tiles, or under floorboards? You may even use a safe to protect your cash. Yes, these are fun, creative ways to secure money, but they aren't great for all your income. Instead, it’s time to take safe-guarding your money a little more seriously. Checking accounts—they’re serious—and safe.
August 3, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
College Budget Breakdown
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.
August 1, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
Auto Insurance
Auto insurance is not only often a legal requirement, it's also absolutely vital to your financial health.
July 19, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
What is a HELOC?
A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is a line of credit that allows you to tap into your home’s equity.
July 8, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
When’s the best time to write a business plan?
Writing a business plan is an essential part of building a successful business. At its core, a business plan is a road map for your project: it establishes your purpose, it sets goals and expectations, and it forecasts the relationship between cost and revenue. Business plans exist in many forms: some formal and some informal.
June 30, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
The Effect of Time on Investing
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?
June 22, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
Where You Seek Financial Advice Says a Lot About You
How did you decide where to open your first bank account? Where did you learn to budget or pay bills? If you have a money question now, what do you do? Who do you turn to?
June 16, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
How to Stop Lifestyle Creep in its Tracks
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.
June 10, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
Why Is It Called A Credit Union?
While bank and banking are universally understood and accepted terms, the term credit union is still largely misunderstood and unknown to many. Credit union is an unusual term, isn’t it? Is it just another name for a bank? Is it a credit card company? Do I have to be in a union to join?
June 2, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
It Pays To Start Saving Now
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!
May 27, 2022
The Dos and Don’ts of Debt Repayment
Consumer debt is an extremely contradictory part of our personal finances: it’s at once common and incredibly personal. According to numerous sources, the majority of US adults owe money in some way, shape or form—and yet what this consumer debt represents can vary drastically from person to person. To some, a debt might signify a major accomplishment or progress toward a large goal. To others, it might be a constant reminder of a time of crisis or hardship. The decisions that lead us to consumer debt can be thoughtful and deliberate, or rushed and misguided. It is perhaps these differences that make it challenging to talk openly about debt for fear of judgment.
May 18, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
Living On Your Own And “Bill Time”
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.
May 17, 2022
by: SavvyMoney
by: SavvyMoney
College Planning
While the price tag for a college education has edged down slightly during the pandemic, it’s important to plan ahead to determine how to fun – or partially fun – tuition, fees, room, board and everything else for four (or more) years of undergraduate studies.
May 12, 2022
by: banzai
by: banzai
Romance & Dating Scams
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.
May 5, 2022
by: banzai
by: banzai
Scams Targeting Seniors
Scammers target seniors more aggressively than any other group. Recognizing the most common scams helps prevent your money and personal information from getting stolen.
