April 29, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
Learn to Spend, Save and Give
For most people, spending comes naturally. Saving up for something special is harder. And setting money aside for giving is really hard.
April 22, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
What does it mean to be a credit union member?
Even though there are over 5,000 credit unions in the United States, many misconceptions about their structure and their services still exist. One popular-but-false assumption is that the term “credit union member” is interchangeable with the term “credit union customer.” It might seem like a harmless mistake, but the concept of membership is what sets credit unions apart from other financial institutions. A “member” isn’t an empty marketing term—it reflects your credit union’s commitment to co-operative values and shapes your entire banking experience. As a member, you’re a part owner, you have a say in how your credit union is run and you get to share in its success in tangible ways.
April 14, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
Why Do People Borrow Money?
Borrowing money comes at a cost. This extra cost is called interest. If borrowing money costs more, why do people still do it? Here are three reasons why:
April 8, 2022
Choosing your financial institution
March 31, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
What is Opportunity Cost?
You make many choices every day. You choose how to spend your time. You choose how to spend your energy. You also choose how to spend your money.
March 24, 2022
The 3 Hidden Expenses of Pet Ownership
According to the American Pet Products Association, nearly 70% of all US households own a pet. That translates into an estimated $86 billion spent on food, supplies, medical care and pet services in 2018. Although the love and companionship our furry (or feathered, or scaly) friends provide is priceless, it’s impossible to ignore the effect that pet ownership has on our wallet.
March 18, 2022
by: Banzai
by: Banzai
Ransomware
Everyone has secrets—personal data, passwords, private documents, etc—and people will spend lots of money to keep this information secret or gain access to it. Ransomware is just one way that hackers win access to personal information, expecting its owner will pay to win it back.
March 4, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
Four Questions to Ask Yourself Before Signing a Mortgage
Asking the right questions is an important part of every financial decision you make, and home ownership is no exception. If you’ve been thinking about buying a place, preliminary research will turn up a long checklist of questions for you to ask at every part of the process. There are questions for your financial institution, questions for your mortgage broker and questions for your real estate agent. But what about the questions you should be asking yourself?
February 23, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
Buying vs. Renting a Home: Are You Getting the Right Advice?
The average person moves residences about 11 times in their lifetime. That provides a lot of opportunity to confront the following question: is it better to own your home or to rent it? It’s a huge decision that affects your lifestyle as much as it does your finances, and the answer will vary depending on who you ask. There are compelling arguments to be made for both sides and the resulting advice—though well-intentioned—can quickly become confusing and contradictory. So, is paying rent really just a waste of money? Or is it true that you can make more money by renting than by owning a home? Take a closer look at six snippets of common owning-versus-renting advice:
February 17, 2022
by: IAMT
by: IAMT
Pay Yourself First: How to Automatically Start Saving More Money
Like going to the gym or eating a healthy diet, saving money is one of those concepts that’s simple to grasp but weirdly challenging to put into practice. We understand its benefits. We agree that it’s essential to our well-being. We know that it’s something we should be doing. But paycheck after paycheck, it’s the same routine: after the bills have been paid and the regular expenses have been looked after, there just isn’t quite enough left over for our savings goals. We blame our lack of financial willpower and promise ourselves we’ll do better next paycheck, but more often than not, the cycle repeats itself. If this scenario seems all too familiar, consider automating your personal finances in order to pay yourself first.
