Alaskan at Heart Blog

Ahhh, LUV is in the air. At Credit Union 1, we skip the chocolates and flowers on Valentine's Day (although that'd be cool too), and instead we celebrate the ways we make our members smile, improve their finances, impact the local community and enhance the quality of life for our much-loved fellow Alaskans.

Happy 2020, Alaska! Together, we're embracing a brand new year of possibilities. Start your new year right with a few tips and tricks to improve your finances in 2020, and make more of those awesome possibilities a reality.

Alaskans are no strangers to change. We’ve seen our state change immensely in the past 59+ years, from limited dirt roads and camps to a bustling network of thriving communities. However, despite the amazing growth and development that many of us have witnessed, we’re also not immune to slumps in the economy, unemployment, and other “unknowns” that can affect one’s personal ability to make ends meet. Fortunately, when unexpected circumstances strike, we have tips on hand to help you face financial change! 

Read, reflect, and share with someone in need.

Raise your hand if New Year’s resolutions are on your mind this month! Some of the most common (and beneficial) resolutions you’ll encounter have to do with physical health and financial well-being. While both these topics can be extremely valuable to your year ahead, they can also be uniquely challenging. Luckily, CU1 is here to help! Check out these five positive money habits that will help pave the way to a fun and successful 2018.

In case you haven’t heard, compound interest is the best. You may remember it as an equation you had to memorize for math class, but it’s so much more than that. It’s the concept that powers all sorts of savings and investment products and, over time, allows you to turn your money into, well, more money!

Even though compound interest is easy to understand — compound interest = more money for you! — those who can potentially benefit most from it (those in their teens and 20s) don’t seem to be taking advantage of it. Savings contributions and retirement savings participation rates are falling among young adults. So if we understand that compound interest translates into free money down the road, what could possibly be standing in the way? 

Budgets are like the New Year’s resolutions of personal finance. We all know we should have one and we all know it’s a fairly simple thing to follow—at least in theory. Like resolutions, we often map out personal budgets with the best of intentions, only to abandon them a couple of weeks later.

Has the steady employment you depend on suddenly come to an end? Many Alaskans are finding themselves in unsure waters these days as our job market changes and the economy adapts. If your own job is ending or at risk, there are steps you can take to prepare for the future! Act now before your bank account suffers – and remember that you always have a helping hand at Credit Union 1.

With the new year in full swing, we’re going to go out on a limb here. Do you have a bit of aging credit card debt you’d like to wipe off your slate? DON’T WORRY! It’s totally normal to want a fresh start. Plus, if you’ve chosen your existing credit cards wisely, you won’t pay an arm and a leg in interest as you work toward paying down your balance.

The question is how do you choose the right card?

Main priorities should be your interest rate, terms and any associated perks of the card (such as One for All Rewards). Take a look at a few different options below:

Saving money is a challenge. Not only do unexpected expenses pop up, but dividends on your savings account can sometimes accrue so slowly! Even though your savings balance may seem like it’s growing at a snail’s pace, a magical power called “compound interest” is on your side. Check it out! The more money you save, the faster your money will grow.

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