News

From the Couch to the Caribbean: How to Save for That Much-Needed Vacation

Who doesn’t like going on vacation? If you’re like me and love to travel, you probably have a few destinations in mind of places you’d love to go; however, how often do you actually think about saving for these vacations? Unless you’re like my dad, who has a savings account specifically for vacations, you probably don’t think too much about saving for a vacation or how much money you need for one until it’s right before your trip.

How to Master Your Budget Based on Your Pay Cycle

Budgeting is a critical component of managing your finances. However, an often overlooked factor in budgeting is the impact of pay cycles. Whether you receive a monthly, biweekly, or weekly paycheck, it's important to understand how your pay cycle affects your overall financial plan.

Revamping Your Debt Management Plan for Federal Student Loan Repayment

If you have federal student loans, you're likely aware of the payment and interest freeze that has been in place since March 2020. With payments set to resume in October of 2023, you might be looking ahead and wondering how best to prepare.

Beware of Student Loan Debt Relief Companies

If you’ve borrowed federal student loans, you may have had third-party debt relief companies reach out to you with the promise of forgiving your loans. However, it’s important to understand the potential dangers of interacting with these companies.

What Everyone Should Know About The Different Types of College Savings Plans

Although students can find some form of grant, tax break, or scholarship to help defray the cost of higher education, most will still have to pay out of their own pockets. If you are planning on completely paying for your child's college education when he/she graduates, think again. This is one of the biggest mistakes parents make when saving for their child's education.

Exploring the New SAVE Student Loan Repayment Plan

With the federal student loan forbearance period ending in August 2023, borrowers are gearing up to resume their loan payments this fall. After a 3-year hiatus, many individuals may be concerned about managing their student loan obligations. To address this issue, the federal government has introduced the SAVE Repayment plan.

Did You Just Charge $3,178 on Your Credit Card? Reply Yes or No" SCAM

As text scams become more sophisticated, it is getting increasingly difficult to identify the “real” from the “fake”.

How to Maximize Your Savings While Planning Your Next Trip

If you have an upcoming break or some extra time off from work, it can be the perfect time to relax and recharge. Or, plan a big trip and spend some time somewhere new! No matter which direction you decide to take when planning a holiday or vacation, trips can quickly get expensive. So, we have gathered some tips to help you save on your adventure, no matter where (or when) you are going.

How to Find the Right Home for Your Emergency Fund

Whether your phone breaks, your car needs repair, or your washing machine springs a leak, it's important to be prepared for the unexpected. And one of the best ways to do this is by setting up an emergency fund dedicated to these unforeseen expenses.

Do You Know Your Financial Personality? What Your Money Habits Say About You

These tests are designed to help you understand yourself, your actions, and your attitude towards the world in general.

Critical Fraud Trends to Watch

As fraudsters develop increasingly sophisticated ways to con consumers out of their hard-earned money, we, in turn, must elevate our awareness and advance our fraud prevention tactics. At Alloya, our compliance and fraud prevention experts are continuously monitoring evolving fraud trends to keep our members informed.

Lifestyle Inflation: How to Recognize and Avoid it

Lifestyle inflation is best described as a vicious but often unrecognized cycle of financial or spending increases. When income increases (even by a small amount), spending—not saving—increases at a similar rate. Each time a promotion, raise, or job change occurs, many people fall victim to the same cycle of lifestyle inflation.

5 Biggest Mistakes You Can Make With Your Retirement Savings

If you’re starting to save for retirement, you’ve got the right idea. Millions of Americans have little or no retirement savings at all, and the simple act of working toward a nest egg can put you on the right track.

How to check medical bills for accuracy.

How often do you check your medical bills? If you're like most people, then not often. It’s common for us to assume the bill is accurate, make payment arrangements, and go on with our lives. Unfortunately, medical billing errors are common in the United States. Over time, they can cost customers thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. The good news is that most mistakes are easy to spot by taking the time to review your bill for accuracy before paying it. So let's take a look.

Your funds are safe with HealthCare Associates Credit Union

While recent banking-related news may cause people to be concerned about the health and security of their financial institution, please rest assured that your funds at HACU are safely insured as they have been for over 40 years. Deposits are insured for at least $500,000-$250,000 through the federally insured NCUA National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund and an additional $250,000 via Excess Share Insurance. Click to see our disclosures.