3 Things You Should and Should Not Do with Your Tax Refund

Tax season is well underway and it’s likely that you’ve already filed, and are patiently awaiting your tax return.

While having extra cash on hand can’t hurt anything, it’s definitely possible to make some good and not so good uses of it. Here’s a short list of do’s and don’ts that’ll hopefully be your compass leading to a good use of your return.

Do’s:

Pay Off Debt

Whether it’s student loans, credit card payments, a car loan, or any other sort of payment, it’s always a good idea to use what you can to reduce the principal amount. Minimum payments may not seem like a lot in the short term but definitely will cost more in the long run.

Boost Your Savings

You never know when you’re going to need to dip into your emergency fund, but you’d certainly feel better about it if you parked your tax return into that account. With the surprise expenses that life, cars, and owning a home can bring, it’ll be nicer to put that money into action without worrying as much.

Invest

We know money doesn’t grow on trees, but we also know of many other places money can grow. Whether it’s in the stock market, your retirement account, treasury bills, municipal bonds, or even shares of a local company, investing that extra handful of cash can bring more financial security down the road.

Another way to invest is in your own property. Using your tax return as a down payment on a house or mortgage is an investment in your future. If you’d like advice on purchasing a new home contact St. Cloud Federal Credit Union.

Don'ts:

Buy Lots of Small Things

It’s tempting to resist the urge to splurge. Maybe coffee every morning for a few weeks or entering a retailer and leaving with 12 additional items sounds good in the moment, but those little purchases can create a huge dent in your return. There’s a reason small buys seem to add up quickly, and that’s because we consider the purchases too small to make a difference.

Buy a New Car

That extra boost of cash may seem like the perfect time to upgrade your existing vehicle, but when you look at the size or your return and the overall cost, it’s pennies in the bucket. Modern cars often make it well past 200,000 miles if properly maintained, so consider whether or not the purchase is a want or need before heading to your dealership.

Spend it on Impulse

A night on the town with great food and drink is something most of us can appreciate, but not something our bank accounts will. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself how long this purchase will benefit you. Whether it’s a round of golf, movie tickets, a cappuccino, or anything in between, the thrill only lasts as long as it takes to finish it.



Your tax return can be a great help and with a little effort, you’ll be thanking yourself later. We hope these tips will help you put your tax return to good use, and lead you to a pat on the back from your future self. Be sure to follow us on Facebook for more helpful tips, and put your tax return to good use!

Teaching Your Children to Control Their Finances

April is National Youth Savings Month, which is a good time to show that we value each of our members–especially the children! If you haven’t already, now is a good time to teach your kids about the value of a dollar and the power of financial control. Show them that they can invest, manage and grow their money as they grow, too. We’ve gathered easy ways children can build their savings and learn to be financially secure.

Set Up a Savings Account

To get started, set up a Youth Savings Account at St. Cloud Federal Credit Union. We provide youth savings accounts from birth to age 16. Valuable benefits come along with all youth accounts. Special incentives are given to children who make a deposit and prizes are awarded when a new youth account is opened! Our savings accounts are designed to make financial sense to youth and young teens–not just their parents.

Use Birthdays and Special Occasions as a Learning Opportunity

Children are given a number of gifts every year for their birthdays and holidays. Most of the gifts and cash they receive gets forgotten and rarely makes an impact on the child’s future. Next time your child receives cash for a gift, teach them that setting aside a percentage for later will be valuable for their future. Encourage them to save up for a big-ticket item instead of asking for one for gifts. This way, not only will your child get what they want, but they will understand the means it takes to get it.

Set Chores Around the House

According to The Center for Parenting Education, “Research indicates that those children who have a set of chores have higher self-esteem, are more responsible, and are better able to deal with frustration and delay gratification...” Not only can your children earn small rewards for doing their chores, they are becoming financially fit without realizing it!

Encourage Your Kids to Become Mini Entrepreneurs

The next sunny summer day, make some lemonade with your children and help them set up a stand. They will begin to understand the value of working for the money you earn and exposes them to the idea of success. They’ll better understand finance by making change and saving their profits.

Babysitting

Babysitting teaches responsibility and will help young teens prepare for the future. Babysitting is common for young kids to put on their first job applications. The quality lessons they’ve learned will better prepare them for future jobs. The cash they earned can be put into savings for the future, too!

These are just a few of the ways you can get your kids involved in saving and becoming more financially savvy. For more ideas, follow St. Cloud Federal Credit Union on Facebook, or visit our website.

5 Ways to Save Money During the Holiday Season

The holiday season can be great for many reasons. It’s a great time to be with friends and family, throw company parties, and attend religious gatherings. While the holiday season can be great it can also be very stressful. Naturally there are a lot of reasons for this, but it seems the one main reason is financial obligations. With so much going on during the holiday season, it is quite easy to lose track of how you are spending your money until it is too late. Here are five ways to save money during the holiday season…

1. Know Your Budget

The biggest piece of advice we can give is to know your limitations. Figure out what is worth purchasing and doing and what is not. We’re not saying that you should limit your holiday activities, but we are encouraging you to be smart with your money. By setting a budget of how much you can afford to spend during the holidays, you will be putting yourself in a position to stay #FinanciallyFit. Your budget should include: gifts being purchased, food costs, travel costs, event costs, and anything else you plan on doing over the holidays. Create this budget, then be prepared to stick to it. It won’t be easy, but it will be rewarding.

2. Homemade Gifts
Some of the best gifts are not ones that cost a lot, but rather those that come from the heart. Instead of spending your money on gifts for family and friends, invest your time and talent into creating their gifts yourself. To most people, family and friends mean more than anyone, so think of something that they would enjoy. Here are some possible gifts to make:

• Blankets 
• Hats & scarves 
• Toy chests & jewelry boxes 
• Artwork 

3. Do Activities That Don’t Require Money

An outing with friends and family is a great way to spend time with those closest to you. However, not everything you do needs to cost money. There are plenty of things that don’t cost money, such as:

• Iceskating 
• Sledding/Skiing 
• Caroling 
• Snowshoeing 

These are not only examples of creative family gifts that they will remember forever, but also a good way to stay active and get outside during the winter.

4. Potlucks
The typical holiday feasts are definitely something that most people look forward to. The holiday season is sure to be filled with delicious meals. However, these meals can be quite expensive for one person or family to host. Consider pitching in and having a team effort. A potluck is a great way for everyone to join in on contributing to the feast. Through a potluck, you might be able to enjoy foods you would perhaps normally be hesitant to try.

5. Save your money

Earlier, we covered setting a budget and sticking to it. Have you ever thought about the best way to use the gift cards and financial gifts you receive during the holiday season? It seems as though our natural impulses tell us to instantly spend it, but that is not acting #FinanciallyFit. Rather, resist your natural urges and save your money. Think about what you would spend money on if you had not been given the money as a gift. Once you are absolutely sure what you want and CAN afford it, go ahead. You will be in a much better situation to enjoy your purchases.


Hopefully these five tips help you better stay ahead financially and enjoy the holiday season!

Saving Money Like an Olympian

The Olympics inspire many athletes to pursue their sports dreams but here at St. Cloud Federal Credit Union it inspires us to be financially fit! In fact we believe the same principles to becoming a Gold Medalist are the same as being a financial fitness champ like our employee Phoebe!

Set a Goal

Setting a goal is the first step into any adventure, whether it is becoming an Olympian or saving money. Your goal doesn’t have to meet anyone’s expectation but your own. To be successful set a goal that you think you can achieve.

Create a Plan

You cannot simply say you want to save money just like you can’t simply walk into the Olympics and ask for a gold medal. You have to create a financial plan like you are training for the Olympics. This plan could be saving $5 a week or it could be saving $100 a week. It can be any amount you choose as long as it makes sense for your ultimate savings goal.

Train For the Gold

Once an Olympian makes their training plan, it’s time to put it into action! The same process can be applied to your savings plan. You have to train yourself to get into the habit of saving. One way to do this is to have a portion of your paycheck go into your savings account.

Patience

Your savings account will not grow rapidly overnight and that’s okay! Every little bit you put into your savings counts. Eventually you will make it to your savings goal just like an Olympian that gets the gold!

Keep Your Eye on The Prize

It is easy for us to slip back into old spending habits. Just like it is easy for an Olympian to have a sloppy practice. One way to stay focused is to write down where all your money goes and how much you want to save each month.

We are here to help you become financially fit champion like Phoebe! Feel free to stop by either of our locations or browse our website to learn more about our services.

Be Financially Fit in 2014

Hi everyone, its Financially Fit Phoebe here! The New Year is here and it’s the perfect time to take control of your finances! Here are four things that I plan on focusing on to be financially fit and so can you!


Budget

Create a monthly budget. I know this is easier said than done, there have been times that even I’m temped to break my budget! The key to having a successful budget is to have “fun money” set aside each month for you to spend. As long as you don’t go over your “fun money” limit, you can still have fun and stay on budget. When creating your budget it is important to include EVERYTHING: such as grocery, utilities, mortgage/rent, debt, clothing, transportation, phone/cable bills, “fun money”, insurance, and other bills you may have. Your budget should also include savings goals.

Set Savings Goals

It is important to think “spend what is left after saving” rather than “saving what is left over from spending”. Each month you should have a set amount of what you will put into your savings. I recommend starting out by putting 10% of your income to savings. If that seems like too much for you right now, start by putting $20 in your savings a month. Any little bit will help. Once you have a handle on saving, start setting monthly and yearly savings goals.

photo credit 

Get out of Debt

Write down all of your debts from highest annual interest rate to the lowest annual interest rate. Debt with the highest interest rate should be what you begin to pay off first. One way to pay off debt faster is by reducing your monthly expenses.

Take Control of Your Spending

What I recommend doing is writing down what you spent your money on for the last two months. I mean everything… down to the penny! This will help you determine what you can cut back on. Some ways that I cut down on my spending include: not buying name brands, looking for the best sale price, bringing a lunch from home, upcycling, and using coupons.

Apps

There are many finance and budgeting apps out there. Some of my favorites include iReconcile, Expenditure, MoneyBook, Toshl, and Mint. Our SCFCU Banking app helps you keep track of what you are spending and how much money you have in your account at all times (it can help you spot any potential theft).

Finance Calculators

We have many calculators you can use to help reach your goals!
All Calculators
Household Budget Calculator
“Benefit of Spending Less” Calculators
“Savings Goals” Calculators

It’s never too late to become financially fit. The St. Cloud Federal Credit Union team and I are here to help you gain control of your finances and to help you embrace the “financially fit” lifestyle!



xo,

~Phoebe

6 Tricks to Make Halloween a Treat

Did you know that in 2013, consumers will spend just under $7 billion on candy corn, costumes, and creepy décor? That’s some serious Halloween dedication! However, more of us must have Financial Fitness on the brain, because spending is down from 2012, when spending peaked at over $8 billion.

Let us help you enjoy the Halloween season, without breaking your budget in the process!  Below are 6 frugal (but festive) tricks to make your Halloween a Treat …

1. Do a Costume Swap

Find a neighbor, relative, or family friend, and swap some costumes for the kids! This will help them have a variety of choices to choose from, and save you from those outrageously-priced costumes.

2. Create Your Own Costume
If your little one has their mind set on what they’d like to dress up as, but you don’t want to drop the cash on ‘the perfect outfit’, create your own costume! Figure out what pieces the costume is made of, and see how you can make it yourself for a lot less.  Inexpensive and unique!

3. Don’t Overstock the Candy Bowl

You never know just how many visitors you’ll have, so don’t spend an arm and a leg filling buckets and buckets of candy to hand out. While buying in bulk can get you more bang for your buck, don’t go overboard!  Set a price you want to spend, and know that it’s OK if you run out – just make sure you switch the porch light off.

4. Think Ahead

When buying your candy supply, plan on buying it ahead of time.  No, we’re not talking clearance Easter candy – but don’t wait until the few days before Halloween; that’s when prices are highest.

5.  Shop Around

If you’re looking for the perfect pumpkin, do a little price comparison.  In some cases, a local pumpkin patch can offer reasonable prices (along with hay rides, free activities, and fun) – but sometimes a nearby supermarket may save you more.  Take the time to shop around and you’ll find the pumpkin and price you want.

6. D.I.Y.

If you want to really get into the spirit, look for ‘DIY’ (do it yourself) projects to make your own Halloween decorations!  Many projects use items you may already have around the house, and can be a fun way to spend an afternoon with friends and kids – head to Pinterest for loads of fun ideas!

Halloween fun doesn't have to be expensive! By spending a little time comparing prices and getting your creative juices flowing, you’ll be able to enjoy the Halloween season, without it taking a toll on your Financial Fitness!

Our mission is to educate, support, and encourage our Members to become Financially Fit.

Six Back-To-School Savings Tips

It’s that time of year… you know, right after they put the red, white, and blue  picnic décor away, but just before the Halloween candy comes out – yes, Back-to-School time!  Getting ready to send the kiddos back to school can be exciting, nostalgic, and a little stressful.  Don’t let the rising expense of supplies and list of needs bring you down, there are ways to save and keep you Financially Fit…

1. Sooner isn’t always Better

While it is exciting to see those shiny folders, vibrant crayons, and fresh bottles of glue line the shelf early on, it’s not always the best idea to buy your supplies right when they hit the floor.  According to an article from MSNMoney, holding off on the first ‘Back-to-School Sale’ and waiting for later sales will save you money.

2. Make a list of Needs, BEFORE going to the store

Before you embark on the trip to the store for Number 2 pencils, make a detailed list of what you need.  Take the list the school has given, add any other necessities, and stick to the list.  Remember that in some cases, different children in different grades will need different supplies – so it’s important to look at various necessities.  Remember to stick to the list! If it says 24 pack of crayons and 2 glue sticks, get the 24 pack (not 48) and 2 glue sticks (not 5).

3. Reduce, Reuse, Save Money

Once you've made your detailed list, shop around at home first.  Check the supplies the kids brought home from school at the end of the year and see which folders will hold up, which markers still work, and if there are notebooks with a decent amount of paper left in them.  Reusing school supplies that still have some life left in them will save you money, and create a whole lot less waste.

4. Keep an eye out for Give-Aways

Watch your local ads and flyers for any back to school giveaways!  You might find a deal for a free notebook with a purchase of folders, or a free ruler with a pack of pens, etc.  If you need the items, it never hurts to get a little something free along with it that you can also check off the list!

5. Buy in Bulk

After looking at the handy-dandy list you made, you know you’ll have to pick up a half dozen notebooks and fifteen folders, why not buy in bulk? Depending on the age of your child, a large pack of loose-leaf paper may be a less spendy alternative to notebooks, and splitting a large pack of colored pencils could be cheaper than buying two or three.  If you don’t have multiple kids to split the supplies between, consider going supply shopping with another parent or two and divvy up what you need.

6.  Keep it Basic

There are loads of supplies with sparkles, gems, sports teams, and TV stars on them, but are often more expensive than the generic supplies as well.  While it’s fun to splurge by letting the kiddos pick out 1 or 2 ‘fancy’ items, the ‘plain’ colored folders and yellow pencils will work just as well, and save you some money.

Don’t let the cost of back-to-school time take the excitement out of your school shopping, it doesn't have to break your budget.  Make a list, have some fun, and get the kids ready for a great school year ahead!

Our mission is to educate, support, and encourage our Members to become Financially Fit.

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