Author: Ronna Idzenga
Celebrating the Magic of Credit Union Youth Month
Every April we celebrate Credit Union Youth Month, a time dedicated to educating and engaging young people about financial wellness and responsibility. In a world where an overwhelming amount of information is available at our fingertips, it can be hard to navigate how to teach your kids about money – especially if you struggle with […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center, Homepage Featured.
Making the Right Picks For Your Financial Bracket
The onset of March means two things: 1) March Madness® is upon us. 2) It’s National Credit Education Month! When it comes to making decisions about your finances, it’s not always as simple as picking your brackets by your favorite mascots or the team’s colors. This National Credit Education Month, we are here to help […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
Breaking Unhelpful Financial Habits & Avoiding Financial Groundhog Day
Do you have déjà vu each month when your bills become due? Do you feel like Bill Murray in the 1993 comedy classic Groundhog Day – no matter what you do you can’t seem to break your own predictable and unhelpful financial habits? Whether Punxsutawney Phil forecasts an early or late spring come February 2, […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
School Success Backpack Donation Program
You can help our youth member community, ensuring they have a successful school year by donating cash or new school supplies!
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Homepage Featured.
Financial New Year’s Resolutions
Sometimes the onset of a new year is just what you need to motivate you to take control of your financial health and planning. Do you have any financial new year’s resolutions? Here are a few ideas of resolutions to set for 2024 if you don’t already have these in place: Create a budget – […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
Scrap Some Subscription Services and Save
Let’s be honest – we love our subscription services! Whether you use them to help plan your weekly meals, find great deals on flights, listen to audiobooks, or have access to thousands of movies and TV shows – subscriptions make our lives easier and more enjoyable. But are you really getting your money’s worth out […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
Do You Have the Right Types of Insurance?
An important part of financial health is planning for future protection of yourself, your family, and your assets with various types of insurance. While the types of insurance and amount that you should be covered for are unique to you and your family, we have some recommendations for the essential types of insurance that most […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
Money Matters for Recent High School Grads
Congratulations – you just made it through 12 or 13 years of school. PHEW! We know you’ve been busy mastering algebra and studying for finals, but don’t forget about the importance of mastering personal financial management as you enter adulthood. Here’s the rundown on what you should be considering regarding your finances now that you’ve […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
11 Tips to Stretch Your Vacation Budget
The summer season is upon us – do you have big vacation plans? There’s no need to break the bank — here are some tips to get the most out of your summer while staying on budget! Set a Budget Determine how much you can afford to spend on your vacation, and stick to […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
Prioritizing Your Savings Goals
We all know saving is important – but how do you prioritize savings goals in a way that ensures you’re on track to meet your goals, and you’re covered when you need it? Our friends over at NerdWallet have these recommendations for prioritizing competing savings goals: Put Your Emergency Fund First An emergency fund cushions […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
Financial Capability for Youth
In 2004, Congress designated the month of April as National Financial Literacy Month. In the credit union industry, we also celebrate Youth Month in April! This fortuitous overlap of awareness-raising financial health initiatives means there is no better time to start teaching kids about financial fitness. And Cutting Edge is happy to help along the […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
Consolidating & Paying Off Debt
Was one of your New Year’s Resolutions to get a handle on paying off your debt? GREAT! If you’re having a hard time getting started, we have some ideas. Debt consolidation might be a good idea if you can get a lower interest rate than what you’re currently paying across your debts. This would […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
Eight Tips for Strong Passwords
When it comes to passwords, stranger is stronger! Creating strong passwords is more important than ever these days. Scammers, hackers, and cybercriminals have made an industry of information and identity theft. They operate in a variety of ways and the best thing you can do to avoid being a victim is to create strong, complex […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
P2P Payment Scams
This time of year, scams using P2P apps, or “person to person” payment apps such as Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, Meta Pay, etc. are on the rise. While these types of apps are generally secure and convenient to use, here are some scams to be on the lookout for – including some do’s and don’ts […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
Ten Tips for Shopping Securely Online
Keep your finances safe from sneaky scammers this holiday season. It seems just couple of years ago, consumers were skeptical about shopping online – but today, buying online for everything from groceries to televisions has become the norm. But as commonplace as it has become, online shopping still has some risk. The FBI Internet Crime […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
Retirement Planning Tips
No matter when you start, saving for retirement – whether by choice or out of necessity – is an important financial strategy. But where do you start? The US Department of Labor has these 10 tips to prepare for retirement to share: Start saving, keep saving, and stick to your goals. If you are […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
Make Your Move Less Stressful With These Pro Tips
Did you know that more people move during the month of August than any other month? Whether you’ve bought or sold a house, or are moving into a larger or smaller rental, we have some ideas to share to help make your move a smooth and less-stressful experience! Set a moving budget and stick […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
Helpful Tidbits for Using Credit Well
The credit system in the United States can be confusing – but once you learn the basics of how it works, you can use certain tips and tricks to your advantage to use credit well and maintain a good credit score. If you could use a refresher on our national credit system and how it […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
Budget-Friendly Summer Activities
When the weather is nice, it’s sometimes hard to stick to your budget – there’s just so much to do! Big family vacations can be memorable, but they can also cost a lot of money. Here are 51 budget-friendly summer activities for individuals and families that are big fun but cost little money: Make some […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
Savings Goals & Strategies
Would you call yourself a savvy saver? Or do you struggle to put away for a rainy day? It’s possible you may just need some structure to guide your saving strategies. Read on for some ideas for how to get started formulating your savings plan. Pay yourself first, and automate your savings To “pay […]
Posted by Ronna Idzenga in Financial Fitness Center.
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