Financial Fundamentals Blog

Ways to help support local businesses during COVID-19

  • Francesca Sacco
Everyone is feeling a pinch from the coronavirus pandemic. Many of our local businesses, which are incredibly vital and unique to our individual communities, have fallen on difficult times. As we strive for some normalcy in our daily lives, we can make an effort to find small ways to help support local businesses.

How to Travel Safely during the Coronavirus Pandemic

  • Francesca Sacco
Are you debating whether to cancel your summer vacation this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic? While there’s no way to completely eliminate the risks of contracting COVID-19 while traveling, there are precautions that you can take.

Should you use your emergency fund during the pandemic?

  • Francesca Sacco
COVID-19 has caused financial problems for millions of Americans, and while the local economy is starting to operate again, many people are still in a financial pinch. If you’ve started an emergency fund, you may have begun to dip into it. But before you drain that account, consider some alternatives. We’ve compiled a list to help you weigh your options before using/draining your emergency fund.

How the CARES Act Affects Student Loans

  • Francesca Sacco
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act signed into law March 27 introduced several new measures to help individuals and businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. For most student loan borrowers, the CARES Act automatically suspended certain federal student loan payments and reduced interest to 0% through Sept. 30, 2020. Because the pandemic has affected everyone differently, student loan borrowers have several options to consider when paying their federal student loans.

How to use your Economic Impact Payment Wisely

  • Francesca Sacco
The United States Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service have begun to distribute economic impact payments to the majority of Americans in an effort to provide financial relief from the ongoing pandemic. Given the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, it’s best to make sure your using your payment wisely.

Make a difference on Giving Tuesday

  • Francesca Sacco
Looking to spread some cheer this holiday season? Find a way to participate in Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. The movement is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (this year, it’s Tuesday, Dec. 3), and kicks off the charitable season when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. There’s no single way to participate. Donate your time or money to local, national or global organizations to help make a difference.

7 17 Credit Union Scholarship Applications Now Available!

  • Francesca Sacco
Are you a high school senior or college student looking to defray the costs of higher education or trade school? 7 17 Credit Union is committed to helping students succeed! That’s why we offer 12 $1,500 scholarships for post-secondary education at accredited schools and universities! Applications are now available.

7 17 Credit Union now offers Members Medicare Plan Options

  • Francesca Sacco
7 17 Credit Union has partnered with TLC Insurance Group to offer Medicare plan options to members.Whether you’re new to Medicare, getting ready to turn 65, preparing to retire or preparing for your annual Medicare enrollment review, 7 17 is here to help you navigate this complex process to select the plan that best suits your needs.

Be Aware of Wire Transfer Fraud in Real Estate Transactions

  • Francesca Sacco
While the internet has become a staple in most people’s daily functions, it has provided another outlet for fraudsters. Over the last several years, wire transfer fraud has been on the rise, with billions of dollars lost. The internet makes wire transfer fraud easier to commit and harder to track.

Learn what you can do to protect yourself from money transfer schemes in the digital age.
 

Tips for Recent College Grads to Avoid Common Financial Pitfalls

  • Francesca Sacco
Congratulations! Your hard work has paid off. Diploma in hand, you’re ready to tackle the next phrase of your life.

But the joy of graduating from college can quickly fade once graduates begin to grasp their new-found responsibilities, especially when it comes to their financial future. Navigating rent, a car payment, insurance, cable and groceries can be overwhelming. Throw student loan payments and other financial burdens into the mix, and it can be downright frightening.

The worst thing recent grads can do is to start using credit cards to help them maintain their lifestyle. The average college grad owes $4,100 on credit cards at the time of graduation. Not including student loans. Roughly 69% of graduates took out student loans and owe an average of $29,800 in federal and private debt.
 

Be ready: September is National Preparedness Month

  • Beth Ann Tabak
National Preparedness Month is four weeks designed to ready you for an emergency. And, it seems that both local and national weather is cooperating to remind you of what’s at stake if you don’t have a plan in place. Advanced planning can save you valuable time and money. From the financial to the practical, here are a few ways to make sure you are ready in an emergency.

How to Prepare for a Disaster: 5 Tips

  • Beth Ann Tabak
September is Disaster Preparedness Month, and with the devastation caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in 2017, you should consider creating your own plan for when a natural disaster or emergency strikes your region.