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Big Purchases: When to Save & When to Borrow

By: American Heritage 07.23.20 3 minute read Auto Savings & Budgeting

When you’re looking at a big-ticket purchase, one question always comes up: Should you pay with your savings or finance it? Or, if it’s a new home or car, how much of the purchase price should you pay up front, and how much should you borrow? There is no simple answer. On the one hand, paying in cash can keep you out of debt. On the other hand, large cash purchases could wipe out much of your savings, while borrowing can help ensure you have more savings available for emergencies. There are many factors to consider. Ask yourself these eight questions to figure out whether you should pay cash or use financing for your next big purchase.

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5 Ways to Help a Friend Going Through Financial Hardship

By: American Heritage 07.09.20 3 minute read Savings & Budgeting

A good friend is always there to help, in good times and bad. But if a close friend of yours is struggling with financial problems such as a job loss, overwhelming debt, or major expenses like medical bills, it can be hard to know how to help. Often, giving or lending money is not the best solution. While there may be situations when providing a small amount of cash is harmless, this isn’t always the case. A friendship can quickly get complicated once money is involved, especially if this leads to resentment over an unpaid debt or if this gets in the way of your own financial needs. Fortunately, there are plenty of other ways you can help. In honor of the International Day of Friendship, which is July 30, we’ll show you how to help a friend who’s struggling financially without having to spend your own money.

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How-To: Charitable Giving

By: American Heritage 06.22.20 3 minute read Holiday Culture

It's never a bad time to get involved with a charitable cause. However, it’s also a good idea to think before you donate. While giving to global charities and community charities is a wonderful thing, it’s also a good idea to make sure that you’re giving in a way that provides maximum value for your giving dollar and allows you to take advantage of the tax value of donations.

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A Financial Checklist for Newlyweds

By: American Heritage 06.12.20 3 minute read Savings & Budgeting

Getting ready to tie the knot? The opportunity to take on life as a team is exciting, but having your lives so closely intertwined also means big changes for your lifestyle. Especially when it comes to managing your finances. Unfortunately, money can be a tricky topic for couples. In fact, it’s the number one thing married couples fight about. But this doesn’t have to be the case. As you begin this next step in your relationship, one of the best moves you can make for your marriage is to sit down and talk about money. Then start taking the steps in this financial checklist for couples. Your relationship – and finances – will be all the better for it.

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6 Ways to Make the Most of Your Retirement

By: American Heritage 06.04.20 5 minute read Investing & Retirement

You want to enjoy your retirement. You’ve earned it! So, the last thing you want to do is worry about your finances. If you’re recently retired or soon will be, you want to make sure your money will last, especially during these uncertain times. Here are six keys to saving money and simplifying your finances in retirement.

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Looking for Ways to Help During COVID-19?

By: American Heritage 05.28.20 3 minute read Culture Coronavirus Pandemic

It’s easy to feel frustrated and disconnected by the new challenges and safety guidelines surrounding COVID-19. For many of us, that makes us want to find ways to help and support our community. While there may be temporary limitations to our ability to get out of the house and do all the things we used to do, there are still plenty of ways that we can help our neighbors and community. Here are eight ideas to get you started.

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4 Ways to Keep Your Savings Protected & Growing

By: American Heritage 05.14.20 3 minute read Savings & Budgeting

You’ve worked hard to build up your savings. So you want to make sure they’re protected – and steadily growing – during today’s economic uncertainty. But right now, it may seem harder to grow your savings, especially when you want to avoid the risks that come with a volatile stock market. Keeping your funds protected in a federally insured financial institution is a smart way to avoid market risk. And, with the right account, you can still earn a great rate. Here’s how.

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A Couple looking into Refinancing their home

Should You Refinance Your Home? Consider These 4 Factors.

By: American Heritage 05.07.20 3 minute read Home & Mortgage

Right now, you’re probably looking for ways to boost your financial security, such as by lowering your bills or building up your savings. You’re not alone. Many homeowners are doing exactly that by refinancing their home to take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates. To see if refinancing is right for you, it’s important to understand why people choose to refinance and what makes someone a good candidate for a refinance mortgage. Ask yourself the following questions:

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A couple managing their finances on their computer

Managing Your Money in Difficult Times

By: American Heritage 04.16.20 3 minute read

Things are different now, and new economic uncertainties and financial pressures are a reality for many people. We understand, and we want to help ease the financial stress you may be feeling. Even in the face of an economic recession, there are some practical steps you can take now to help boost your financial security and feel better prepared for whatever tomorrow brings.

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Spending More Time at Home? Use it to Teach Your Kids About Money

By: American Heritage 04.09.20 2 minute read

Your kids may be spending more time indoors these days, but that doesn’t mean they have to miss out on opportunities to learn and grow. April is National Financial Literacy Month and National Credit Union Youth Month, so it’s a great time to increase your child’s financial literacy. And doing so doesn’t have to be boring: There are lots of ways to make learning about spending, saving, and borrowing fun and interesting for kids of all ages. Here are a few of them:

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