5 Ways to Save on Wedding Costs

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If you’re currently planning a wedding, you may be experiencing sticker shock at how much it costs to say “I do.” According to a recent study conducted by online wedding planner The Knot, the average wedding cost is $35,329. And that cost doesn’t even include the cost of a honeymoon, which could add several thousand dollars to that total.

According to a recent article by Buzzfeed, here are 5 smart ways to save on the cost of a wedding:

1. Don’t get married on a Saturday. Most venues charge much less for weddings on Friday night or Sunday, and even less for mid-week ceremonies.

2. Rent a home for the wedding and lodging. A fun new trend includes couples renting a huge vacation home for a few days and throwing a wedding house party. Bring in a caterer for a festive touch, so nobody is stuck on dish duty.

3. Get hitched on campus. Even if you and your fiancé didn’t attend the same alma mater, many universities have beautiful facilities you can rent for a fraction of the price of private venues. They also make excellent settings for photos!

4. Don’t serve a sit-down dinner. Hors d’oeuvres and/or cake and champagne are plenty, especially if you have a night wedding. And honestly, probably no one will miss the chicken or the fish.

5. Get married in December. Most places are beautifully decorated for the holidays, which means you will save on flowers and other decor. *This is true! First Financial’s VP of Marketing got married in December and the couple only needed to provide minimal decorations at the reception, being that it was already beautifully decorated for the season with Christmas trees, wreaths, poinsettias, and the like.

Article Source: Heather Anderson for Financialfeed

4 Simple Ways to Stick to Your Budget

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When you’re adjusting to keeping a budget, it can be tempting to give up. If you’re having trouble staying with your budget, here are a few things that could help.

Keep it real: Maybe you didn’t allot enough money in certain areas of your budget. If this is the case, try and find a happy medium that is more realistic so you can still cut back a little bit.

Automate when you can: Having trouble saving? We’ve all been there. If you have direct deposit at work, figure out how much you want to put aside every month, and have that amount automatically put into your savings account. This way, you can set it and forget it.

Be flexible: When you’re originally planning a budget, you may think you know exactly how much you plan on spending. While that sounds great in theory, you’ll probably have to reassess things a few times. Make sure your budget includes some flexible money that you can use in different areas when needed.

Be patient: Don’t spend it all in one place. If you drain your budget in the first week, the rest of the month is going to be a lot less fun. Do your best to make your money last each month, and it’ll be a lot more pleasant.

Need help with your budget? Check out our budgeting guide!

Article Source: John Pettit for CUInsight.com

Easy Personal Finance Tips Everyone Can Use

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For the Average Joe, even if you feel you’re doing well with your finances, you could probably stand to make a few changes to your financial habits. If you’d like to spend less and save more, here are a few things to think about.

Be smart with credit cards: A credit card can be a valuable tool, but if used incorrectly, it can create debt that can be tough to manage. Only use your credit card for purchases you can pay off each month. This is a great way to build a good credit score, but always make sure you’re being careful when paying with plastic.

Find savings as often as you can:  It doesn’t matter how big or small the purchase, you can probably find it cheaper somewhere else. Have you checked the competitor’s prices? Looked online? More times than not, you’ll find just what you’re looking for on the internet, and usually for a lot less.

Use automatic bill pay: Have you mapped out your monthly bills and their due dates? If you haven’t, now would be a good time to start. Look at the due dates and design an auto pay schedule that will keep you from missing any payments. Paying your bills on time is a must if you want to keep your credit score up.

Be cheap: No matter how much money you make, you should always try to live below your means. The less you spend, the more you can save for your future, and you’ll be glad you planned ahead when retirement time comes around.

Article Source: John Pettit for CUInsight.com

5 Ways to Throw Away Your Money

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1. Paying credit card interest.
Make a plan to pay off your credit cards as quickly as possible, then set up reminders to pay them in full each month.

2. Utility Waste.
There is a really good chance you are wasting your utilities, such as water and electricity. Here are some energy and water wasters to keep in mind:

  • Leaving devices plugged in. Even if a device is switched off it can sometimes still draw power.
  • Poor insulation will cost you more money to cool and heat your home.
  • Using old and outdated appliances.

3. Paying for things that are free.
Making coffee at home is a great way to save money. Here are some other things you can get for free:

  • Water. Carrying a reusable water bottle is way more cost effective than paying for bottled water. (Plus drinking more water is good for your health).
  • Borrowing books, movies, and magazines from the library.
  • Free meals – sign up for birthday coupons. What a great way to treat yourself on your birthday!
  • Entertainment. Many cities embrace farmer’s markets, free museum days, and community sports games.
  • Perks and benefits through your workplace. Find out from HR if there are various discounts available through the company or your selected health insurance plan (i.e.: gym membership reimbursement).

4. Living above your means.
This is easy. Live by this motto: Spend less than you make (or a lot less than you make).

5. Paying for a gym membership you rarely use.
Do you spend money each month to have a tag on your keys with the name of the gym you send money to? Exactly.

Here are some more affordable options:

  • Ditch the gym entirely and workout at home. There are a ton of home workouts for free on YouTube.
  • Go on hikes! If you can, this is a free and scenic option.
  • Find a drop in gym where you can pay by the day.

Article Source: Robbie Young for CUInsight.com

 

Financial Quick Fixes Can Come at a High Cost

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Prohibited in 18 states, payday loan companies still manage to offer more than 20,000 locations across the United States, making them more common than McDonald’s restaurants. Banking on consumer desperation, these programs market their services to financially vulnerable customers. When potential borrowers encounter an unexpected money crunch, the appeal of getting instant cash with minimal qualifications seems too good to pass up. If the borrower is employed and receiving regular paychecks, that’s usually all it takes to get a loan. However, these loans traditionally charge rates of 300% annual interest (APR) or higher, saddling the already-struggling borrower with an even heavier financial burden.

Even though a payday loan is designed to be paid off when the customer receives their next paycheck, the outrageous interest charges often make it incredibly difficult to pay off the full amount. Since the average payday loan payment consumes 25-50% of a borrower’s income, the threat of default is extremely high. To avoid defaulting on the loan, many customers elect to pay only the interest charges and roll over the loan for another pay period. According to recent CFPB research, almost 4 out of 5 payday loan customers re-borrow within a month. What started as a temporary fix becomes an ongoing cycle of debt.

High-interest consumer loans: overspending over time

While payday lending companies are traditionally limited to loans of $1,000 or less, there is no shortage of consumer lending companies willing to offer similarly unfavorable terms on higher loan amounts. Like payday lenders, these lenders commonly target individuals with less-than-perfect credit or little to no collateral. But rather than charging outrageous interest rates for short periods, they make their money by charging slightly-less-outrageous rates (59% instead of 300%) over longer periods of time, often 2-3 years.

Consider this example: borrowing $2,100 at an interest rate of 59.39% for 36 months would result in a total payment of $4,644, more than double the original amount borrowed. You don’t need a financial advisor to explain why that’s a bad deal. Fortunately, these lenders aren’t the only game in town.

Credit unions offer a convenient, cost-effective alternative

Because they’re structured as not-for-profit, member-owned financial collectives, credit unions (like First Financial!) are able to reinvest their earnings into programs that benefit their members—instead of paying dividends to shareholders like traditional banks. This distinction allows credit unions to approve personal loans with lower interest rates and higher flexibility than programs offered by payday lenders or banks.

For more details about First Financial’s Fast Cash Payday Alternative Loans*, and how we can help you find smart solutions for your financial needs, stop by one of our local branches or call us at 732-312-1500, Option 4.

*Loans of $200 to $1,000 available for terms of one to six months. An application fee of up to $20 will be charged; other fees and charges may apply. At least one month of First Financial Federal Credit Union membership is required to obtain a Payday Alternative Loan, and is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers or attends school in Monmouth or Ocean Counties. A $5 deposit in a base savings account is required for credit union membership prior to opening any other account/loan. Not all applicants qualify, subject to credit approval. Rates vary based on creditworthiness, but will not exceed 28%. Terms and conditions of this offer may be subject to change at any time.

Should You Pay for Credit Repair Services?

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Should You Pay for Credit Repair Services? Probably not.

Call it a coincidence. Call it savvy marketing. Whatever you call it, there always seems to be a spike in credit repair advertisements around the time the first holiday shopping bills arrive. Maybe you’re staring wide-eyed at a balance that’s higher than you expected, wondering how you’re even going to keep up with the minimum payments. This kind of uncertainty can the stage for bad decisions. So, before you scramble and sign up for credit repair services, take a deep breath and realize you have more control than you think.

Risk vs. Reward: Is credit repair worth the cost?

It’s important to remember that some credit repair services are legitimate businesses, able to follow through on their claims. Unfortunately, the reputable companies reside in a corporate landscape littered with scam artists and opportunists. If you’re willing to devote enough time and research, it’s possible to separate the upstanding services from the scams, but as NerdWallet columnist Liz Weston points out, “If you’re able to do that kind of research, then you can certainly figure out credit repair and do it yourself.”

While the trustworthy credit repair companies aren’t necessarily too good to be true, there’s a good chance they’re too costly to be worth it. When you consider that many of these services charge monthly fees ranging from $30-$100, the boost in your credit rating may not justify the ongoing expense.

Facing credit challenges? Your credit union can help.

Good credit isn’t the result of tricks and trade secrets. It’s established by applying solid financial habits over time. The same holds true for credit repair. While there may be some additional steps required to clean up your credit report, rebuilding good credit requires a consistent commitment to responsible money management.

Credit unions exist to ensure the financial success of their members. Educating people on proper credit management is part of that mission. If you’re drowning in debt and struggling to regain your financial footing, your credit union could be the lifeline you’re looking for. Discussing your current challenges with one of the credit union’s representatives can be the first step toward putting those struggles behind you.

Repairing damaged credit is no walk in the park. But with a little hard work and dedication and the guidance of your credit union’s financial professionals, you can be on the way to reclaiming the good credit you deserve.

Need a little help understanding your credit score or want to sit down with a First Financial representative to help with debt management strategies? Stop into your nearest branch location, email marketingbd@firstffcu.com, or call 732-312-1500 to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you get back on track!

Check out our guide for understanding your credit score.