5 Reasons Why You Should Join A Credit Union

Without further ado, here are 5 reasons why you (and everyone you know) should join a credit union (specifically, U.S. Eagle). 

Keep Your Money Local

Yep, keep your money in New Mexico. The majority of credit unions are local. U.S. Eagle was founded in 1935 in a federal building located in downtown Albuquerque. 82 years and nine branches later, we’re still local and, we still have a branch downtown - see our sign atop the tallest building in New Mexico!  We aren't going anywhere, in fact, we are so close to one billion in assets, we can taste it. 

Not-For-Profit, Financial Cooperative

Breakdown: Credit unions use funds to pursue our mission and keep the lights on. Our mission is to improve the financial well-being of each members and the community we serve through trusted relationships. Our members are our owners!  Your voice is heard and your vote counts. Attend our Annual Meeting on the first Wednesday in May to learn more about your credit union.

Community Service

If you follow us on social media or read our newsletter, you know we are big on community. Check out our blog from August and see what we’ve been up to around town. Since most credit unions are local, we do our best to invest in our community. Whether it be through the financial support of a local baseball team, volunteering at a food drive, or hosting a bake sale – we do our best to ensure the success of our community. 

Service

No question is a dumb question. We want our members to succeed and one way we ensure their success is through our personalized service.  You will notice a different experience when you set foot inside a credit union. Our staff greets you warmly when you enter a branch, members can grab some coffee before speaking with their favorite teller, and receive assistance with confidence.

Favorable Rates, Low Fees

You got that right – our rates are favorable, after all, we distribute our profits back to our members through higher returns and lower fees. The fees we do have can be waved with qualifying products. Fees that are charged, are returned back to our members! 

U.S. Eagle in the Community

Giving back to the community is one way U.S. Eagle exhibits the credit union difference. We do our best to emulate the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People". 

Here are our community service initiatives for the month of August:

• Packaging Food:  Every other week, employees from different branches and departments head to Rio Grande Food Project to help package food for those who may not know where their next meal will come from. Rio Grande Food Project provides food and emergency support to working families, seniors, and people in need. Our employees spend their morning packaging beans, veggies, rice, and more for those in need. 

• Popcorn Sales: U.S. Eagle sells popcorn throughout the year with proceeds benefiting a local nonprofit organization. This month, members and nonmembers can purchase popcorn from our tellers for $2.50 with all proceeds going to the Alzheimer's Association New Mexico Chapter. Popcorn flavors include cheese, green chile cheese, cherry, green apple, and caramel. Treat your sweet tooth all for a good cause!

• School Supply Drive: Access to books, backpacks or the materials needed to learn is a challenge for New Mexican children and their families. U.S. Eagle is dedicated to helping those in need and are again hosting an in-branch school supply drive. In all our branches, members and non members can donate school-related goods or cash to helps students at La Luz Elementary and El Camino Real in Albuquerque, Adelante in Santa Fe, and Farmington Public Schools. These donations will go directly to the students in need.

• Blue Star Mothers Supply Drive: U.S. Eagle supports Rio Grande Valley Blue Star Mothers by hosting supply drives at our branches. Drives collect much needed supplies to send to our troops overseas. Supplies include: toothbrushes, shaving cream, packaged snacks, and of course, green chile! Make a soldier's day, drop off some supplies at any of our branches.

• Meals on Wheels: Every week, a pair of U.S. Eagle employees come together to deliver meals to residents around Albuquerque. They meet at the Meals on Wheels headquarters, pick up warm meals, and hit the road to ensure the meals are delivered. Our employees knock on the door and provide a delicious meal to someone in need. Recipients are thankful and look forward to seeing a friendly face. Meals on Wheels of Albuquerque is the only home delivered meal program in our area supporting special diets. They provide service to anyone of any age. 

• Casa Esperanza: Twice a month, U.S. Eagle employees come together to plan, purchase food, and prepare a meal for residents at Casa Esperanza. Employees meet at Casa Esperanza, cook, and mingle with residents as residents enjoy a home-cooked meal. Casa Esperanza provides appropriate housing and emotional support for patients and their families who are temporarily residing in Albuquerque while the patient receives treatment. A delicious meal and friendly conversation could be just what someone needs while enduring a difficult season. 

These are just a few examples of what your credit union does to help our community. When you buy a bag of green apple popcorn, donate a can of hatch green chile, provide colored pencils, or make a monetary donation, you're helping someone else in our community.Thank you to everyone who make these opportunities for us to help, possible. 

5 Habits To Help You Live Frugally

Check out these 5 tips sure to help you live frugally. How many of these habits do you practice?

1. Coupons

Remember when you were a kid and your Mom would drag you to the grocery store? She’d pull out a big book of papers and sort through them at the register. I would always wonder how much my mom would actually save by using coupons. The notorious “coupon book” actually is a great way to save money. Digital coupons may be a bit handier and greener, but cutting coupons can definitely help you save money during your weekly grocery shopping trip. Check your mail, newspaper, or the internet for coupons that could help you save hundreds annually. Also, make sure you shop around. Some places will price match with what you find in flyers or even online. Groupon also offers some really affordable deals for family fun!

2. Emergency Funds

If you follow along with our blog, you know we are big advocates of emergency savings. I know I sound like a broken record, but experts recommend saving six months’ worth of expenses. You never know what life will throw at you, and you want to be prepared for when it happens. Utilize automated payments, and have funds transferred to your savings account.

3. Buy in Bulk

Buy your groceries in bulk. Head to the nearest Costco or Sam’s Club and purchase your household needs and groceries at a lower price per item than you would at your grocer. If the cost is too much to buy in bulk, split it with a family member or friend.

4. Clean Sweep

Simplify your life. Do a clean sweep of your closet, attic, storage unit, or shed and have a garage sale. Take your gently used clothing to a thrift store and make some extra cash to add to your savings or for a fun night out with the family. Websites like Glyde are great for selling your old electronics that you no longer use! Poshmark is also a great app to sell gently used clothing.

5. Limit Eating Out

You never really know how much you spend eating out or purchasing Starbucks until you start adding up the transactions. For one month, record every time you eat out. You will probably be shocked at the total. Once you pick your jaw up from off of the floor and realize that this is fixable, you can start limiting the amount of times you eat out. Save money by simply bringing lunch to work, brewing coffee at home, or passing up a soft drink and ordering water at your next trip to a restaurant.

For more information on how to take control of your financial wellness, speak with a financial counselor through Balance. A financial counselor will help you avoid or resolve financial distress and establish personal financial control. 

5 Tips for Managing Your Credit Card

Time to talk credit cards. How well do you understand how credit cards work? Check out these 5 helpful tips sure to help you achieve credit card success.

1. Make your payments on time – pay off your balance

Always, always make your credit card payment on time, or even better – pay off your balance in full. If you miss a credit card payment, you’ll be hit with a late fee, and you’ll receive a nice ding to your credit score which could even result in a higher interest rate. Not good. If you tend to be on the forgetful side, use the automated payment feature. Your requested dollar amount will be withdrawn automatically from your bank account before the due date. No one is perfect – if you forget to make your payment, call your credit card company and see if they'll work with you. The worst could happen is they’ll say, “No”.

2. Pay over the minimum – don’t max out your card

If you can afford to pay over the minimum – do it. Even if it’s just ten dollars. This will decrease your credit card utilization. Try not to maintain a balance over 30% of your credit card maximum and never max out your credit card, it could damage your credit score. While you’re holding that new pair of Nikes in the store, ask yourself, “Do I really need a third pair of Nikes?” Probably not. Before making a purchase on your credit card, make sure you determine if it is a want or a need.

3. Ask for a higher limit

If you’ve been making your payments on time and maintaining a low balance, request for a higher limit on your credit card. A higher limit will boost your available credit, resulting in lower utilization.

4. Understand your credit score

Initially, understanding your credit score could be a little bit tricky. It’s important to check your credit score at least once a year. You can check your credit score for free and without penalty on Credit Karma. U.S. Eagle members also have access to Balance - free financial counseling to review debt management and credit scores. Click here to learn more.

5. Shop for a low rate

Make sure you do your research and find a credit card with a low rate. U.S. Eagle has a credit card suite with rates as low as 6.9%! And, don't forget about rewards. U.S. Eagle's Rewards! program allows you to accumulate points that you can redeem for name brand merchandise, travel services and experiences, entertainment and dining, and even gift cards. Find a credit card perfect for your lifestyle. And don't worry - U.S. Eagle has you protected with EMV chip technology which is easy to use, and prevents counterfeit and fraud. 

National Credit Union Youth Month Recap

Bad news first, then good news.

Bad News: National Credit Union Youth Month has come to a close. 

Good News: U.S. Eagle treats every month like National Credit Union Youth Month! 

U.S. Eagle had such a great month hosting financial literacy, posting fun contests on social media, organizing scavenger hunts, and participating in National Take Your Kid to Work Day! Here is a quick recap of all the activities and winners of April’s National Credit Union Youth Month.

Financial Literacy

Your credit union takes financial literacy very seriously. We strive to provide basic money management classes wherever there is a demand. This month, we provided multiple Mad City Money classes around the city. So, what's Mad City Money? Mad City Money is a real life simulation which gives students a sense of adulthood with income and bills to pay. Participants are assigned a temporary identity, including occupation, salary, debt, marital status, children, and more. They have to decide where they will live and how they will live, all while staying within budget.

Mad City Money at Warehouse 508

Social Media Contests

U.S. Eagle ❤s social. We had a blast hearing from our members via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! We posted questions and received such a great feedback from our followers.

 

 

Scavenger Hunt

You heard it right – we hosted scavenger hunts at our branches. Clues were posted all over social media, and the first child to find the hidden blue ticket won a VISA gift card!

Take Your Kid To Work Day

U.S. Eagle made sure to celebrate Take Your Kid To Work Day! About thirteen kids showed up bring and early to learn about the credit union difference. They met our President and CEO, Marsha Majors and THE Eagle! Kids played credit union bingo and learned about the different departments of the credit union. The day ended with the kids learning about the vital roles their parents play to make U.S. Eagle operate smoothly.

U.S. Eagle treats every month like National Credit Union Youth Month. We strive to offer financial literacy wherever there is a demand. We post financial tips and important articles on all our social media pages. Make sure to follow us or add us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and LinkedIn! 

If you are interested in U.S. Eagle providing a Mad City Money experience for your class, please call Danielle Silva at 342-8875 or send an email to dsilva@useaglefcu.org  and schedule a complimentary financial literacy session for your students. 

New Year, New You.

Happy New Year! With a fresh new slate called “2017”, it’s time to plan your new year’s FINANCIAL resolutions. Check out these tips sure to help you improve your financial situation in 2017 and beyond. 

 1. BYOB – Build Your Own Budget. 

Do you even budget, bro? You may think you budget, but there is huge difference between keeping a balance in your head and writing things down. Keeping a monthly budget and noting every single transaction may seem like a tedious task, but it is the only way to fully understand your cash flow. If you’re not a paper and pen type of person, try using a spreadsheet and recording your monthly costs, or use a budgeting app to find out where your money is going. Maintaining this habit will allow you to set goals, adjust your spending, and most importantly, save your money.

 2. Check your credit score. 

Start the year off by checking your credit score. Checking your credit score will allow you to check for identity theft, review your credit history, and understand where you are at for future financial decisions, e.g. applying for a loan. Head to AnnualCreditReport.com and get your free annual credit report from all three reporting bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, Experian). It will not hurt your credit score and it is free. Not the number you envisioned? Don’t get too discouraged, this is your year to change that. Easy ways to boost your score include paying over the minimum monthly payment, making payments on time, and maintaining low balances.

3. Build your emergency savings. 

Building an emergency savings isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon, and it is never too late to start. Experts recommend savings up to six months’ worth of expenses. Once you BYOB, you can determine how much you can set aside per month to build your emergency savings. The purpose of an emergency savings fund is to provide back-up in case your car quits, your roof starts leaking, you lose your job, or there’s a health emergency. Don’t wait for something happen; be prepared for when it does happen.

 4. Automatic savings. 

A quick way to save money is to utilize automatic savings. Instead of manually moving money into your 401k or savings account, set up automatic savings. With everything going on in life, sometimes it is easy to forget to move your money from one account to the other. Head to your closest U.S. Eagle branch and set up an automatic withdraw or transfer biweekly, monthly, or quarterly. Watch your savings grow!

 5. Make Extra Income.

If you plan on making a big purchase this year, paying off a large amount of debt, or want to stash some extra cash into savings, making some extra income may be the best option for you. There are so many ways you can make some extra money, it just depends on how much time you have to dedicate and how much you want it. You can go through your closet and sell clothes you no longer wear, pick up a second job as an Uber or Lyft driver, or go outside the box and start blogging. If you live in a large home and have an extra room, consider posting it on AirBnB. Another option is turning a skill set into income. If you’re great at tennis, maybe you can offer lessons on weekends, or if cooking is more your style, offer classes after work! Options are endless.

 2017 is your year for financial success. Before you make a purchase, ask yourself, “Do I really need this pair of shoes?” Challenge yourself! For one month, don’t spend any money on eating out; instead, move it into your savings account. Sometimes, we don’t realize how much money we can save by removing something out of our lives, even if it is temporary. Happy New Year!

5 Favorite New Mexican Holiday Traditions

Let's talk tradition! What are our top five favorite New Mexican holiday traditions? We've listed them below.

1.       River of Lights

Wear a heavy jacket and some good walking shoes because you aren’t going to want to miss the River of Lights. With millions of twinkling lights and more than 500 displays, make sure you add this to your list of holiday activities. The River of Lights landed on MSN’s “The 15 Most Spectacular Holiday Lights Displays in the U.S.” and definitely deserves a spot! Grab the family, head to the BioPark and witness this magical display of lights for yourself.

2.       Luminarias

The most infamous of all Christmas decorations: Luminarias. You just need three things: brown bags, candles, and sand. Place them all around your house and yard, and you are set. Luminarias are basically a Christmas staple here in New Mexico! In fact, ABQ Ride has created a Luminaria Tour to highlight just how much we <3 luminarias.

3.       Nob Hill Shop and Stroll

Check some gifts off your list at Nob Hill Shop and Stroll. Central shuts down, and local businesses keep their doors open later. Nob Hill expects to see 8,000-10,000 people at this event. Customers come to shop, browse, and grab a bite!  

4.       Twinkle Light Parade

Congratulations are in order for this bright and twinkly occasion! The Twinkle Light Parade has been named #2 Best Holiday Parade in the country by USA Today.  This infamous New Mexican tradition features over 300,000 lights stretching over a mile, cool cars, firetrucks, and of course, Mr. and Mrs. Klaus! Bundle up and grab a canister of hot cocoa because you won’t want to miss Albuquerque’s biggest holiday parade.

5.       Biscochitos

What goes best with all four traditions mentioned above? Biscochitos. Everyone in New Mexico loves biscochitos especially right out of the oven! You can get them anywhere…even at U.S. Eagle. In fact, when you purchase biscochitos at any one of our branches, all proceeds will benefit local organizations. Delicious cookies all for a good cause.

Well, this concludes our top five favorite New Mexican Holiday traditions! We would love to learn about your family tradition around the holidays. Leave a comment and tell us your favorite tradition. Happy Holidays!

The Authentic Difference

 

 

Every third Thursday of October since 1948, credit unions across the globe celebrate International Credit Union Day. For those of you who didn't know credit unions exist on a global scale - now you know. In fact, the first credit union was founded in Germany by Friedrich Raiffeisen. Moving on from my history lesson of the day, International Credit Union Day recognizes the history of the credit union movement and its achievements. This momentous day also celebrates the hard work of those who dedicate their lives to the credit union industry.

 

This year, the theme of International Credit Union Day is "The Authentic Difference". Not to toot our own horn, but there truly is an authentic difference in the credit union industry. Our goal is to serve our members and help them financially succeed. We do this as an organization, and each department has an integral role to make our members' experience as authentic as possible. Here is how some of our employees exhibit the authentic difference in their roles at U.S. Eagle:

 

Meet Theo. Theo has worked for U.S. Eagle for nearly 27 years! Theo was the "SEG Champ" back when the ball first started rolling. "SEG" stands for "Select Employee Group". In order to join U.S. Eagle you had to be a part of a select employee group or a family member of an employee. Theo added hundreds of SEGs so that all their employees and family members could truly experience the authentic credit union difference.

 

  

 

Meet Jeremy. Jeremy has worked for the credit union for almost three years and is one of our biggest cheerleaders! His favorite part of his job is helping people with their financial needs. Jeremy is passionate about the credit union movement and exhibits the authentic difference by providing the right services and products that will fit our members' lifestyles. Jeremy leaves work every day knowing he made a difference in someone's life.

 

 

Meet Patty. Patty has been working for U.S. Eagle for eleven years! Her favorite part about working for the credit union is the impact she has on families. Many families may be in need of guidance concerning financial situations. Her financial knowledge is continually developing and allows her to confidently give members different options that best fit their specific needs. Patty says the best part of learning is that it never stops - tomorrow is an endless day full of possibilities! Patty demonstrates the authentic difference to our members by helping them feel like a person and not a paycheck. She strives to offer them an experience of belonging and is always eager to share our meaningful mantra - "Where Everyone Belongs".

 

 

 

Meet Ina. Ina has been working for U.S. Eagle for nearly five years. Her favorite part about working for a credit union is how our organization lives out the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People". She recognizes how community-centered U.S. Eagle is and appreciates the many opportunities available to commit time to local non-profits. Ina exhibits the authentic difference through her position in human resources by ensuring our internal members are happy and confident in their position which allows better service for our external members. She is a trusted resource, her door is always open, and she commits daily to go above and beyond in her position.

 

Meet Diana. Diana has been lovin' life at U.S. Eagle for almost a year. Her favorite part of her job is interacting with our members and knowing that U.S. Eagle is helping them financially. Diana exhibits the authentic difference in a few ways. Farmington is such a tight knit community and everybody is familiar with one another. This allows Diana to demonstrate authenticity by acknowledging each member by their name and treating them as individual and not just a number. She welcomes them as soon as they walk through the door and treats them with kindness. Through membership interaction, Diana has become more outspoken and enjoys having important conversations with members to ensure their financial success.

 

Stop by any branch on Thursday, October 20th from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and celebrate International Credit Union Day with U.S.!

 

 

 

 

Beware of Fraudsters

Have you ever received an email from a random individual offering you a job, and even better – advance pay before you have even interviewed? What about receiving a message from someone who claims they are romantically interested in you and within days requests to deposit a check into your account with the promise to designate a portion of the cash to you?  Have you ever heard the saying, “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is”? Well that applies to these scenarios.

Recently, our Fraud Department has noticed an influx of our members falling prey to scams like these. Let me break down these two scenarios a little bit better.

Scenario 1: At some point in the past year or so, you have posted your resume on a job search engine. One day, you receive a job offer sent to your personal email describing a position the “employer” is pretty much giving to you with the promise of a paycheck before you even start. All you have to do is send your account information and you’re set! Should you send any of your information? NO. In fact, you should block the sender and report the email as spam.

Scenario 2: You have recently started online dating. After exchanging some messages with a promising contender for your heart, they ask if they can deposit a check into your account. Even better – since you two are exclusive, they want to provide you with some money for the trouble and have offered to deposit the check on their end using RDC (remote deposit capture). You agree and send them your login information. They download the app on their mobile device, deposit the check, and boom – your balance increases $5,000.  All you have to do is head to the credit union and withdraw the amount they want you to send to them. The things we do for love!

Both of these situations have one thing in common – you never meet the person on the receiving end. You never meet your “employer” nor do you ever meet your new “crush”. In the end, you’re the one with the negative balance in your account, and your information is in the hands of a scammer somewhere in the world.

So, what can you do to avoid these types of situations? Never give out any of your account information or personal information.  Stop all communication with the fraudster – they will be very persistent. These scams are common no matter what age you are. If you find yourself in a similar situation, please call our Fraud Department immediately at 505-342-8871.

Money Management vs. the Pythagorean Theorem

Growing up, kids and teens learn about the Pythagorean Theorem, ionic compounds, and how to diagram compound sentences. But after they finish school, do they actually remember all the information surrounding these topics? Maybe. How about actually applying these skills in the real world? Eh, probably not. Don’t get me wrong, the Pythagorean Theorem is great. I can’t say I have done much with it since I learned it back in middle school, but I am sure there are people out there that really enjoy solving problems using the Pythagorean. And, yes, I had to look up the spelling of that word. I think I am getting a little bit off topic. Back to financial literacy. So, why aren’t we teaching our children and teenagers how to balance their checkbook or how to manage their credit score - both skills that will last a lifetime. Most people apply these skills daily, and at least monthly.  Why don’t we teach our youth basic money management skills?

I know that first paragraph was kind of a downer, but there is good news. Your credit union (us, U.S. Eagle) tries to actively fix this problem to the best of our ability. We do this through financial literacy. We go into schools and organizations and actually talk with our youth about budgeting, understating credit, saving money, and more. We discuss these topics in their classrooms and engage them in conversation to help them learn about these basic financial concepts.

Now, my personal favorite financial literacy tool is “Mad City Money”. Kids love this game, as well as parents and you’ll see why. Mad City Money is a simulation that gives kids a taste of the real world. They have a family, bills, and a steady income. Participants must decide where they are going to live, how they are going to commute, what they are going to eat, and much more. They discover how much internet costs, how expensive groceries and eating out can be, and…how much diapers cost! I find parents who participate in this game sometimes enjoy it more than their kids…

Through these presentations and simulations, our youth are learning more about these important financial topics. They are engaged and they are having fun. This is one way we hold true to the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People”.  We encourage parents to bring in their kids or teens and teach them about the importance of saving their money in a savings account. Even if it just $5.00 per month. Getting into the habit of saving at a young age can really pay off in the long run.

 

If you are interested in facilitating financial literacy at your school or organization, please call Danielle at 505-342-8875.

 

 

Tips and Tricks to Help You Save During the Holiday Season

The Holiday Season is upon us! Don’t worry – U.S. Eagle has your back. Check out these Holiday Tips to help you save during the Holiday Season.

1. Budget, budget, budget. Before you map out your shopping route, grab a pen and paper, make yourself a cup of hot cocoa, and create a list of all the people you need to purchase a gift for. Once you make your list and check it twice, set a dollar amount for each person. Plan not to spend more than this amount. Extra credit: Write down some gift ideas for people on your list!
2. Before braving the holiday crowds, do your research. Track down the Sunday paper and check out what’s on sale at your favorite shopping spot. Score some coupons using mobile apps like “RetailMeNot”, “Flipp”, and Target’s new “Cartwheel” app. Since we live in the Digital Age, take advantage of websites that price compare for you. Before you purchase something online, check out FreeShipping.Org and make sure you grab a free shipping code if it’s available! If possible, start your shopping early, saving it for the last minute tends to be an expensive and stressful adventure.
3. Use cash! Prepare for your on-foot shopping adventure by making your first stop at your financial institution. Take out your total budgeted amount and keep it separate from other spending money. Taking this precaution will lessen the chances of you overspending. U.S. Eagle is offering an Instant Holiday Loan through the end of December. We can deposit the cash right in your account. No need to worry about overspending!
4. Didn’t save for the holidays? Use plastic. I may be able to recommend one of the best credit cards around…U.S. Eagle has some of the lowest rates in the state! If you choose to go this route, make sure you don’t overspend. You’re more likely to spend more using a credit card instead of cash. Another tip, Skip-A-Pay at U.S. Eagle will give you some spending leeway this holiday season.
5. If you’re extra tight on money this holiday season, DIY projects are usually inexpensive and allow you to be creative. You can also create in bulk. Sugar scrubs, homemade cookies, coupon books, candles, ceramic tile coasters, embroidered handkerchiefs, or hand designed mugs are a few gift ideas that are affordable, easy-to-do, and personable for this holiday season. Pinterest or a simple Google search will give you endless DIY ideas!
6. If you plan on purchasing lots of gift cards, take advantage of e-cards. A lot of retailers offer gift cards you can purchase online and send to someone via email for little to no cost! Use GrannyGiftCard.com to purchase gift cards at a discounted price. Personalization of your gift card is usually available on websites as well.
7. If you’re a super shopper, plan on taking full advantage of offers on dreaded Black Friday and anticipated Cyber Monday. Prep yourself ahead of time, find the best discounts, map out shops in the city, and do your research. Beware – some of these “deals” are no better than shopping on a Tuesday or Sunday!
8. If you’re worried about your bank account with the holidays approaching, find areas you can cut back. Driving past Starbucks instead of going to the drive-thru twice a week will save you around $40 per month. Making your lunches at home instead of dining out and ordering water when you do dine out, will help save you some money too.
9. Enjoy free activities around town. If you’re short on money this holiday season, check out Christmas light displays with your loved ones. Pack up your family in the car, put some delicious hot chocolate in a jug, and see beautiful light displays. Some other ways you can afford holiday cheer are: gathering your friends and family for a Christmas caroling journey, volunteering at local shelters and charities, or hosting a Christmas potluck.
10. Remember the reason for the season. Although a lot of stress may come with your holiday planning, remember your reason for celebrating. Spending time with family will always be more meaningful than presents. Volunteer some time at local charities and bake your neighbor some holiday cheer! Happy Holidays!