{"id":2685,"date":"2016-04-06T16:56:02","date_gmt":"2016-04-06T21:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vfcu.net\/?p=2329"},"modified":"2016-09-26T15:46:00","modified_gmt":"2016-09-26T15:46:00","slug":"simplify-your-finances-with-valley-federal-credit-union","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vfcu.net\/es\/simplify-your-finances-with-valley-federal-credit-union\/","title":{"rendered":"Simplify Your Finances with Valley Federal Credit Union!"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve finally made the leap and left that big bank behind for Valley Federal Credit Union. You\u2019ve already begun reaping the benefits of having wonderful customer service and a free checking account<\/a>. Now that you\u2019re a part of an institution that cares about its clients, you\u2019re wondering how to best simplify your finances. We at Valley Federal Credit Union have a few tips on how to get started and take control of your budget.<\/p>\n

Take advantage of VFCU\u2019s services and apply for a free checking account today<\/em><\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n

Direct Deposit<\/h2>\n

You\u2019ve opted out of receiving a direct deposit<\/a> at your place of employment because you like holding that paycheck in your hand on payday. While that literal payoff may be satisfying, it can work against you when trying to simplify your finances. Switch to direct deposits and say goodbye to driving to the bank and waiting in line. With direct deposit, your check will automatically appear in your checking account with no hassle, rain or shine.<\/p>\n

Consider Automatic Bill Pay<\/h2>\n

It doesn\u2019t matter how many times you\u2019ve marked your calendar: your payments are always late. You just can\u2019t seem to remember your due dates. Automatic bill pay can save you from your forgetfulness. As long as you have the right amount of funds in your account, automated payments can help raise your credit score by preventing you from ever missing a payment again. Save yourself the trouble of late fees and pay all of your bills automatically and electronically.<\/p>\n

Take Advantage of Technology<\/h2>\n

Take advantage of online tools that can help you manage your account and make use of Valley Federal Credit Union\u2019s mobile banking services<\/a>. Access your account online from wherever you are with the Valley Federal Credit Union app or log in online to your account. These services can allow you to securely log in from wherever you are just by using a mobile phone, computer or tablet. It\u2019s the easiest way to keep tabs on your spending and account balances.<\/p>\n

Stick to a Single Credit Card<\/h2>\n

You\u2019re probably looking to simplify your finances because they\u2019re not in the best shape, and that\u2019s usually because of the number of credit cards you own. Consider cutting down on how many you have. Get rid of all of those department store cards and gas cards offered to you.<\/p>\n

These kinds of cards always come with higher interest rates that cancel any of the discounts you receive. Apply for a Valley Federal Credit Union credit card<\/a>, which has competitive rates and rewards that cater to its customers. The Classic Card starts at 17.95%, the Gold Card at 12.95% and the Platinum Card at 9.95%.<\/p>\n

Use Cash<\/h2>\n

We all know what it\u2019s like to overspend with a debit or credit card. Swiping it is so simple and it can be easy to lose track of just how much you\u2019re spending. Try using cash for a week and keep tabs on how much lighter your wallet becomes. The number of times you physically hand over money can be an eye-opener. Make it fun and divide your spending money into separate envelopes. When the \u201centertainment\u201d envelope gets lighter and lighter, you\u2019ll start to realize that you may be overspending on things you really don\u2019t need.<\/p>\n

Implement a No-Spending Day<\/h2>\n

Test yourself and see if you can go a day without opening your wallet. You\u2019ll be surprised at how much money you can save in just 24 hours. Get rid of that daily Starbucks habit, stop eating out and pack your own lunch. Once you get through an entire day, try going two days. Challenge yourself! You\u2019ll find that it gets easier to say no to bad spending habits.<\/p>\n

Batch Bill Pay<\/h2>\n

Pay all of your bills on the same day<\/a>. This will alleviate any stress or anxiety about missing a payment deadline. Due dates will probably vary for all of your monthly bills but vendors won\u2019t mind getting paid a couple of weeks earlier. The point is, you\u2019ll have gotten your finances out of the way and can budget accordingly until the next bill day comes around.<\/p>\n

Go Paperless<\/h2>\n

We know what it\u2019s like to open that mailbox and have it stuffed with junk mail and bills. Get rid of that mess and sign up for online billing. You won\u2019t just be saving yourself from a mountain of paperwork. You\u2019ll also be saving the environment by cutting back on paper statements.<\/p>\n

Work on that Emergency Fund<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s nothing like having a secret weapon in your back pocket when things get rough. In this case, that weapon can help you fight off eviction or repossession. You don\u2019t know what life will throw out to you that can result in money problems. It\u2019s great to have that emergency fund just in case things don\u2019t pan out the way they\u2019re supposed to.<\/p>\n

Automatic Transfers<\/h2>\n

How do you start that emergency fund? Try implementing automatic transfers on payday. Every time your paycheck is deposited in your checking account, have Valley Federal Credit Union automatically transfer<\/a> $50 into your savings account<\/a>. Once it\u2019s done, budget what you have left. You\u2019ll get into the habit of spending less while saving without even thinking about it.<\/p>\n

Cancel Your Subscriptions<\/h2>\n

Do you really need those magazine subscriptions, that cable subscription or that gym membership? There are plenty of ways to cut down on monthly spending habits. These extras can eat away at your bank account and when you add it all up, they can cost you hundreds of dollars a year.<\/p>\n

Stop Buying More Stuff<\/h2>\n

This may seem like a no-brainer, but only buy what you need and declutter your life. If you\u2019re hoarding clothes you\u2019ll never wear, make a quick buck by selling them in a garage sale. Get rid of the things you don\u2019t need and focus on what\u2019s important in your life. This will be good for your mind and wallet.<\/p>\n

Let VFCU Help you<\/h2>\n

Take control of your finances today with Valley Federal Credit Union. We offer personalized services, a live call center to answer any questions, overdraft protection, in-house loan approvals and ATMs at over 700 Stripes<\/a> stores in the Valley. Since 1935, Valley Federal Credit Union has remained a not-for-profit institution that helps serve the Valley\u2019s unique community with the best services possible. Open an account with our credit union in Brownsville today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve finally made the leap and left that big bank behind for Valley Federal Credit Union. You\u2019ve already begun reaping the benefits of having wonderful customer service and a free checking account. Now that you\u2019re a part of an institution that cares about its clients, you\u2019re wondering how to best simplify your finances. We at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3322,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,53,51],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-financial-education","category-financial-literacy","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vfcu.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vfcu.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vfcu.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vfcu.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vfcu.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2685"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vfcu.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2685\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vfcu.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vfcu.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vfcu.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vfcu.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}