7 House Buying Tips to Save Money

It’s finally house-hunting season and you could not be more excited to get the ball rolling on your big purchase! Before you hit the road or the search bar, consider these 7 steps. 

Before signing the papers or falling in love with the first home you see, be realistic about what is in your budget. We recommend spending no more than 25 percent of your monthly income on the mortgage. When you know what this number is, be sure to stick with homes...

Is your current car on the fritz or have you been eyeing that shiny new Jeep you see parked at a dealership on your way to work every morning? If you’ve been hesitant to buy a new vehicle because you’re worried about it costing too much, here are some ways that you can get the car you’ve had your eye on while still saving money. 

Before starting your search, you should get pre-approved for a loan. It’s important to know what limit...

Saving money over time is often one of the hardest things for a household to do. Between monthly bills, household essentials and, daycare, you may ask yourself, ‘is there anything left to save?’ If this sounds like you, read these tips to increase your savings game over time! 

Sticking to a budget is a simple concept, but in reality, it can be very difficult. Try to plan your expenses a month in advance...

It’s an unfortunate reality, that many criminals target senior citizens as they can be susceptible to online deception. If you’re keeping up with the times by staying online, it’s also important to keep up with online security measures!  

You would be surprised how often people are fooled by phishing emails. ‘Phishing’ emails are sent from cybercriminals who pretend to be a person or business...

Whether you’ve been looking for a while or just decided to begin the hunt, buying a home is an exciting adventure! With rates so low, it’s the perfect time to become a new homeowner. But do you know some of the things you should be doing before stumbling upon your dream home? We’re here to explain our top four steps to home buying so you can enjoy the journey. 

Even though you could get a loan for $300,000, this may...

Its Spring! With the new season comes a new energy and attitude which we want to take full advantage of! Over the last year and this winter, it’s been easy to get into a financial rut or overspend on subscriptions which is why it's time to purge your finances. Keep reading to see our top tips to help you spring clean your finances! 

You’ve heard this before, but it becomes easy for subscriptions to build up over time. Maybe...

According to a recent survey, only five percent of adults received any kind of financial education in school. It is a scary statistic, and may partially explain consumers’ record-high credit card and student loan debt.

If you want to equip your kids with the tools to be financially secure adults, a good place to start is with a savings or a checking account. Once they see money going in and coming out, it can drive home a lesson about money management.

Wondering...

Becoming a homeowner for the first time is no easy task! You have probably heard horror stories from friends about overpaying or missing a crucial piece of information before committing to an offer. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for buying your first (or next) home, so you feel confident in the home you choose to buy! 

Most parents understand that they should teach their kids about money. Knowing where to start, on the other hand, is another story.

Fortunately, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently released a guide to help families raise money-smart kids. In it, the CFPB discusses practical ways to build and measure financial capability in children.

Here are a few important takeaways from the guide paired with our own tips for making your child financially capable:

It is the question that every household asks. What can I do to cut my monthly costs? And it is a great question! No one wants to spend unnecessary money when there are mouths to feed and basketball uniforms to pay for. While you can tighten the budget by setting strict guidelines for yourself, your experts here at American First Credit Union have a few more realistic ways to lower monthly bills. 

At first glance, planning meals ahead of time...