Tips To Plan Your Next Summer Trip

Do you want to take a vacation this summer?  If you are like the other 66%* of U.S. adults that plan to take a leisurely trip this summer, than the answer is yes!  A popular time for many to take off work and enjoy some time with their families, summer is a perfect time to enjoy the weather and have some fun.  If you are thinking that your family needs a vacation, read these tips first to start planning your trip:

• Do some research!  Planning for a vacation is exciting and choosing what activities you will do while you are on vacation ahead of time can get the whole family involved and help you better prepare financially!  Depending on where you travel destination may be, there could be a lot more cost involved in some of the activities on your family’s list than just the travel and lodging expenses.  Do some research on the fun things in your city of choice so that you can plan your spending money ahead of time.  Accounts like Honor’s Vacation SavingsAccount can help your family save for your next trip!

• Are you driving or flying?  Depending on that answer, the preparation for your vacation could be very different.  Take a look at gas prices and determine if driving would make more financial sense for your family.  If you do decide to drive, you can include the estimated gas money it will cost you to get to your destination in your Vacation Savings Account so that expense is prepared for as well.  If flying is more your forte, the sooner your purchase your ticket the better!  Utilize travel websites that let you compare multiple airlines all at once to save time.  Many of these sites will also give you a deal if you bundle your hotel at the same time as your purchase your flight, potentially saving you even more money!

• If you have had enough time to plan and save, some of your may have the cash to cover your vacation.  That doesn't mean that you should take a wad of cash with you, though!  When you are ready to embark on your family vacation, stop into your local credit union first.  Products like Honor’s Travel Money Card allow you to take the savings from your Vacation Savings Account and put it on a secure card that is safer and easier to carry than cash.  Also accepted at over 1 million ATM’s worldwide, Travel Money cards allow you easy access to your money wherever your family trip is taking you!

With these tips you are ready to start planning your next family vacation!  The only question, is where will you be headed?

*Source - AAA Survey

Three Tips To Make Buying A House Less Stressful

Did you know that the months of April through June are the peak seasons for home sales?  We’re right in the middle of this upswing.  As the weather continues to warm up, so is the real estate market.  If you are thinking of making a home purchase yourself, here are three tips to make this huge decision a little less stressful:

1. Get Pre-Approved first!  Before you start shopping and falling in love with different houses at different price points, figure out what your financial situation will allow.  Honor is having mortgage checkups at each of our branch locations, making it easy for you to get all the solid advice you will need to make the best decision for your family.  One of our real estate specialists can help you get the home buying process started on the right track.
2. Make a priority list!  Once you are pre-approved and know what purchase price and monthly payment you are aiming for, sit down and make a priority list.  Once you approach a realtor, being able to provide them with a list of must haves and a couple wish items will make your search and their job a lot easier!
3. Get a good realtor!  You’ve been pre-approved and you have your priority list, now you need someone to help you find it!  A good realtor can make this process a smooth one, from the searching for a house to the placing of an offer and the closing process.  Ask around for recommendations from family, friends, and even your local credit union! 

If you want to schedule your mortgage financial check up and start the pre-approval process today, give us a call at 800.442.2800! And don't forget to follow Honor Credit Union on twitter @honorcu and let us know using #askhonorcu!

Listen to the full Mason Jar Monday episode about making your home-buying experience easier below!

Comment on this post, or follow us on twitter @honorcu and use #askhonorcu to get involved! You can also comment with the topic you want to see discussed next week! It's your money, and we want to talk about things you care about!

From College To The Real World - Tips For Parents Of Recent Graduates

Did your college student become a college graduate this spring?  Now what?  If your recent graduate is now struggling to adjust to the “real world” and balance student loans and debt here are a few tips to get them on the right path:

• Take this opportunity to teach!  You know you child better than anyone else.  If you feel they are lacking in basic financial knowledge, don’t wait any longer to sit them down and teach them the basics.  Many students nowadays are graduating without knowing how to write a check, or how interest works on a loan or savings account.  Even if your child knows these financial basics, understanding finances is going to be very valuable as they enter the workforce.  At Honor our Account Specialists sit down with members all the time to teach these very things.

• Cut Down The Credit Cards – If your child has slipped into the credit card trap that many recent graduates do, consolidation is key.  Credit card companies target this age group, so when you start to see the number of “irresistible” credit card offers addressed to your child increase it is no coincidence.  Having just a few cards, like Honor’s Visa, will make credit card debt more manageable and easier to work down to a zero balance. 

• Plan ahead for student loans – While most students will receive a 6 month grace period from the date they graduate to start paying off student loans, don’t wait that long to make a plan.  Addressing the situation of exactly what the monthly payment will be and a plan to get that balance to zero will make that first bill a lot less stressful.

What other questions does your recent graduate have entering the real world and what solutions have you offered?  Follow Honor Credit Union on twitter @honorcu and let us know using #askhonorcu!

Home Improvement Projects That Will Pay Off

As the weather heats up, many homeowners get the itch to tackle that project that they just couldn't do in below freezing temps.  But how do you know which projects are a worthwhile investment?  Here are three areas that done wisely will improve the value of your home and pay themselves off.

• Kitchen/Bath – Perhaps the first two areas that potential buyers look at in a house, making some tweaks to these high use rooms can make a big difference.  Even if the difference is as small as refinishing the cabinets or a new floor, the overall impression of the room will go up instantly.  While these can be larger projects to tackle, the moderate kitchen remodel (under 15,000) has more than 100% return value according to HGTV!
• Curb Appeal – New siding or a new roof may not be in the forecast for everyone, but if you are thinking of selling, improving the curb appeal of your home can make a big difference.  Being able to list new siding or a new roof on your house’s listing will go a long way in the eyes of buyers.  Even just planting a few flowers and a new layer of mulch can make a huge difference in your house’s curb appeal.
• The Small Things – While in comparison to a new roof, a programmable thermostat may seem small, the value it holds can really pay off.  The extra bells and whistles that features like programmable thermostats, extra insulation, or energy efficient features can make will help in both overall value and keeping your energy costs down.

If any of these projects strike a cord with you, but you are wondering how you would finance a larger project, don’t forget about an Honor Home Equity Loan to get your project up and running!

What other projects are you tackling this summer? Follow Honor Credit Union on twitter @honorcu and let us know using #askhonorcu!

Five Reasons You Should NOT Lease Your Next Car

While leasing can be an easier way in the moment to get into a shiny new car, it doesn't always pay off in the long run.  Looking at just the monthly payment comparison won’t give you the big picture when you are thinking about the long term value of the car you want.  Here are five reasons you should buy your next car, instead of leasing:

1. You don’t own the car at the end of the lease – Even though you've been driving the car for a period of time, when your lease is up, that car still belongs to the dealership.

1. Your mileage is limited – At the end of the day, it’s not your car, so you have to follow someone else’s rules.  Every lease agreement is different, but almost all of them will limit you to a certain number of miles.  If you go over that mileage then you often have to pay an additional fee at the end of your lease.

1. More expensive in the long run – when comparing the scenario of buying a car and driving that car until it’s paid off, leasing is significantly more expensive.  With buying, that point in the distant future when you no longer have a car payment is there to look forward to.  That is not the case with a lease.

1. Increased flexibility in buying – It’s your car and you can do what you want with it when you purchase!  If you want to upgrade certain features, drive across the country putting a ton of miles, or sell it whenever you want to, you can! All of those would be no-no’s with a lease.

1. Wear & tear charges – at the end of your lease, the dealership will assess s the wear and tear on the car.  You could end up paying additional fees depending on the condition the car is in.  Now of course the goal is always to be careful with your automobile, but sometimes things happen, and when your child stains the backseat with that melted chocolate bar, you could end up paying for it literally.

Now that you know all the benefits of buying a car vs. leasing one, the only question left is where to get your car loan from? Well, that answer is an easy one.... just come on down to your local credit union, like Honor CU!

Are You Ready For Summer?

Believe it or not, summer is actually just around the corner!  As you prepare for the long awaited warmer months, have you thought about the credit union products and services that are perfect for this time of year?  Here are some products that you can take advantage of during the warm month festivities all available at your local credit union:

1. Visa Gift Cards – How many graduation parties and weddings have you been invited to this season?  No need to stress about what gift to bring to each of those events when you can simply pop down to your local credit union, like Honor CU, and grab as many Visa Gift Cards as you need!  These are gifts that you can guarantee won’t need a gift receipt and will save you the hassle of driving around to who knows how many different stores searching for that perfect gift.

1. Travel Money Cards – If your family has a summer vacation planned; make sure you stop in your local credit union for a Travel Money Card first.  More secure than cash, Travel Money Cards will ensure your trip goes off without a hitch.  Accepted at nearly 1 million ATMs worldwide, Travel Money Cards will give you secure access to your money virtually anywhere you are going!

1. Re-loadable Visa Cards – Do you have a student that is going away to summer camp or on a trip with friends?  Make sure to get them a Re-loadable Visa Card before they go.  You can control how much they have available to spend without worrying about any overdraft fees.  More secure than cash, and you can remove the worry from your child’s next event!

What other credit union products are you excited to use this summer?  Let us know on twitter @honorcu using #askhonorcu!

Listen to this week's Mason Jar Monday, featuring Honor's Crystal, below!

Comment on this post, or follow us on twitter @honorcu and use #askhonorcu to get involved! You can also comment with the topic you want to see discussed next week! It's your money, and we want to talk about things you care about!