General

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...

Think back to how you formed your financial habits. Did you learn everything you needed in school? From your parents? If you could go back and talk to your younger self, what financial pitfalls would you tell yourself to avoid? If you have children of your own, you may be wondering how and when to start teaching them smart financial habits like saving early and spending responsibly.

Younger kids enjoy the process of learning and earning rewards, while teens will be motivated to learn...

Tax time is just around the corner. Wouldn’t a big fat tax refund come in handy? Well, here are steps you can take now to boost your tax refund when you file after the first of the year.  

The standard deduction is $12,400, so it’s tempting to claim it rather than tracking down receipts and tax forms so you can itemize your deductions. But itemizing might be worth...

What a year 2020 has been! New Year’s celebrations were barely over when the coronavirus turned things topsy-turvy. But one bright spot for 159 million people was the $1,200 Economic Impact Payment that appeared in their mailbox or checking account. 

If you didn’t receive a payment, you may be wondering, why? And if you did, you may be wondering, what’s the catch? American First is here to help put your mind at ease, so let’s tackle your questions, one by...

According to IdentityForce.com, about 1 in 15 people were victims of identity fraud in 2019. As technology continues to grow, the risk will only get higher. That’s why protecting yourself from this kind of crime is more important now than ever! 

The first step in prevention is recognizing what identity theft is and why it’s dangerous. Identity...

When we called Dale M. to let him know that he was one of our lucky Big Prize Savers, he was thrilled to hear the news. When he found out that he had won the GRAND prize of $50,000, he couldn’t contain his excitement. Could you?

How did he win? Dale has been a member for over 40 years, but his veteran status isn’t why he won. He simply won for saving smart.

After...

Believe it or not, giving back and donating doesn’t have to cost you a penny. Maybe you’re torn between two New Year's Resolutions: to save more money or to give back to those less fortunate. Good news – you can do both! Make 2021 extra special and try some of these ways you can donate without breaking the bank.  

This is a win-win when...

We may all think we know a thing or two about finances, but do we really know it all? There’s always more you can learn to better yourself and that includes money management skills. Today, we’ll give you five challenges to test your money management in order to whip your finances into shape! 

This is a fun one! This occurs weekly for a whole year,...

Once you enter adulthood, your finances become your own and major life purchases quickly approach. While not all of these purchases take place at the same time nor is everyone guaranteed to make them all, the average person will make most of these purchases at some point in time. Continue reading to be better prepared for your financial journey in the future! 

That car you got when you turned 16 won’t...