Q: What should be on my financial to-do list this spring?

A: It’s wonderful that you’re using the season to clean up your finances. Let’s review some ways you can improve your money management this time of year.

April 22^nd

August 20^th

When trying to trim a monthly budget, most people don’t even consider their fixed expenses; however, with just a bit of effort and research, most of these costs can be reduced.

1. Consider a refinance

Trim your mortgage payments by refinancing at a lower interest rate. It will cost a bit, but you can roll closing costs and other fees into your refinance loan. Plus, the money you save each month should more than offset these costs. A refinance is especially smart in a falling-rates environment or if your credit score has improved a lot.

If you’re like most Americans, you’ve probably noticed your grocery bills climb to crazy heights during the coronavirus pandemic. Over the past 12 months, all of the six major grocery store food group prices increased, according to the November 2021 Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Spend less, save more, pay down debt — how can you make 2022 the year you actually stick to these and other financial resolutions? To help answer that, we’ve compiled a list of tips. 

Quiet. Calm. Clean. And empty.

These are just some words that may come to mind when your youngest kiddo leaves the nest. No stray sneakers cluttering up the hallway. No trail of school papers. You may even get the TV remote to yourself!

With the sun setting by 6 pm since we fell back for Daylight Saving Time, it’s more important than ever to brush up on ATM safety. Using a compromised ATM can mean risking identity theft and/or having cash stolen.

Here are tips to help you keep your ATM transactions secure. 

From the outside, banks look sophisticated and glamorous. There’s all that hype advertising and flashy logos. But, when it comes down to it, those things don’t matter much. What counts is how each institution will look after your money and what kind of service you can expect from them. That's why everyday people often consider an alternative to these corporate giants.

As a Member of We Florida Financial, you are uniquely positioned to manage your finances and watch your money grow on the best possible terms. Like a Member of an elite club, you are entitled to exclusive privileges and individualized service, courtesy of your credit union.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the benefits you can enjoy as a member :

Q: I’d love to improve my credit score, but I can’t get ahead of my payments. I also find that my spending gets out of control when I’m paying with plastic. How do I use my credit cards responsibly?

A: Using your credit cards responsibly is a great way to boost your credit score and your financial wellness.

Here’s all you need to know about responsible credit card usage.

Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and many others can help us connect on a personal and professional level with friends, family, business associates, and causes that allow us to make new connections with others with shared interests. And participation is free to everyone, which has led to an unprecedented use of social media. 

A long-distance road trip with the kids isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s often the only practical choice to get your family from point A to point B. If you’re planning on traveling with your children this Labor Day, try these tips for keeping your children happy and entertained.

More employees are getting called back to the office. Maintain your budget and avoid debt by following these cost-saving measures on back-to-work expenses.

The pandemic is still causing chaos and pushing average spending higher.

This is the second year where the pandemic has severely disrupted schools. Back-to-school shopping this year is going to be difficult. Because cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 continue to increase, school districts may quickly change their plans, which means parents will face many challenges with their budgets. This year, families like yours will spend hundreds of dollars on school supplies, Parents still do not know if their children will be in hybrid learning, in-person learning, or virtual learning, and this is causing a problem for our budgets. Do you need to budget as much for clothes or uniforms if the school will continue to be virtual or part-time?

We all grow up hearing the same financial advice: Spend less, save more and invest early. While most of these words of wisdom ring true, there are lots of widespread money management tips that are actually false.

Outlined here are 6 money myths that might be causing you more financial stress than benefit.

With more of our elders becoming targets of scammers, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime instituted the National Elder Abuse Fraud Hotline for people to report fraud against anyone age 60 or older.

A 2020 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report says the most money lost in scams by older adults in 2019 were romance scams. Older adults reported aggregate losses of nearly $84 million on romance scams in 2019.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime website, many are too embarrassed or afraid to report the crimes, so many go unreported and victims suffer alone.

The toll-free number of the National Elder Fraud Hotline is 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311.

Don’t get scammed this summer! Follow these 6 tips to stay safe. 

1. Never pay for a “prize” vacation

If you’re asked to pay a small fee to claim a free vacation prize, you’re looking at a scam. A legitimate company will never ask winners to do that.

2. Use a credit card when traveling

A credit card offers you the most protection in case something goes wrong. You’ll be able to dispute unauthorized charges, and in most cases, reclaim your lost funds. Some cards even offer certain travel perks that help your trip go off without a hitch.