Elizabeth, Author at Harvester Financial Credit Union

Savings Strategies from a Recovering Spender

Savings Strategies from a Recovering Spender It\’s 2019 and if you\’re like many Americans, your resolution might be to save more money this year. It might sound like an impossible task-and a year ago I would have agreed. You get paid and somehow the money is gone long before your next payday. Here are some…

The Impact of Taxes in Retirement

A new Nationwide Retirement Institute survey finds nearly two in five retirees (37 percent) admit they did not consider how taxes would affect their retirement income when planning for retirement. As a result, they may have lost the opportunity to save an additional six years’ worth of income in retirement. The survey highlights a lack of understanding…

Annoying Robocalls Hit Record Numbers Last Month

The number of annoying robocalls Americans endured rose by 15.9% last month versus the previous month, according to the YouMail Robocall Index. In fact, there was a new monthly record of 5.1 billion robocalls received nationwide in October, which marks the first time the monthly total has topped 5 billion robocalls since the YouMail Robocall Index launched…

1 in 3 Americans Think They Will Never Be Debt Free, Survey Finds

In a new survey, nearly a third of Americans expressed concern that they will not be able to pay off debt in their lifetime, according to GOBankingRates. Perhaps it\’s time to visit your credit union. Forty-four percent of Americans said that low income is the No. 1 reason for their ongoing struggle with debt. Respondents also…

Student Debt Reduces Home Buyers’ Budgets by Nearly $100,000, Zillow Finds

Carrying student debt, whether for themselves or someone else, limits potential home buyers’ budgets by $92,440, leaving fewer homes on the market they can afford, according to a new report from online real estate company Zillow. The average monthly student debt payment for renters who plan to buy a home in the next year is $388, says…

Kelley Blue Book Announces the 2019 Best Buy Award Winners

Following head-to-head testing and evaluation of 2019 model-year vehicles, the experts at Kelley Blue Book today announced the 2019 Best Buy Award winners. Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buy Awards honor the top new model-year vehicles available in the U.S. market in 14 major categories, along with a brand-new category for 2019 – Best New Model – with the…

Do You Practice Home Fire Drills? Have You Installed Smoke Alarms?

The American Red Cross is reminding everyone that fire prevention demands some action on the part of homeowners and renters. Americans should take two simple steps – practice fire drills at home and test smoke alarms monthly – to stay safe from the nation’s most frequent and deadliest disaster. On average, seven people die every…

New Homeowners Pay $40,000 on Average to Buy and Move into a New Home, Zillow Finds

Buying a home is one of the most expensive transactions someone will ever make, and home shoppers can expect to spend $40,000 on average in one-time fees on the typical U.S. home, according to a new analysis from online real estate company Zillow\’s RealEstate.com brand, and online resource Thumbtack. For first-time buyers, understanding their home-buying…

Majority of Finance Executives Willing to Provide Tuition Reimbursement

A college diploma may not always be required for new hires in accounting and finance, especially when it comes to functional areas such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit and collections, and payroll, according to staffing firm Robert Half. Many executives in the recent Robert Half Finance & Accounting survey also report they’re open to…

It Takes Seven Years to Save for a Down Payment on a Home, Zillow Finds

For someone making the median income and putting away 10 percent each month, it would take just over seven years to save for a 20 percent down payment on the typical U.S. home, according to a new analysis from online real estate company Zillow. It hasn’t taken this long to save for a down payment…