SafeAmerica Credit Union

compassion and empathy

• By Kevin Alvarez

The 5 Factors That Affect Your Credit Score (And Simple Ways to Boost Them!)

Information is brought to you by our partner, GreenPath Financial Wellness

Whether you’re looking to get your first credit card for everyday expenses or take out a mortgage to purchase your first home, credit is an essential tool for helping people to meet their financial goals.

When applying for a line of credit, the higher your credit score, the more likely you will be to qualify, and the more options you will have available to you.

Here, we’ll breakdown the 5 factors that affect your credit — in order of most heavily weighted to least—and the simple  yet effective steps you can take to give your score a boost.

Understand Your Current Credit SnapShot.

Federal law requires each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies -Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion -provide you a free credit report every 12 months if you ask for it. While these reports don't contain your actual score, they can be very helpful in identifying what might be affecting it (as well as any inaccurate information that may need correcting). Request yours at annualcreditreport.com.

1. Payment History (35%)

Payment history is the biggest single factor used to calculate your credit score. Late payments (even a couple of days), past due accounts, and accounts in collections all have a negative impact on your credit. Regular, on-time payment of the minimum amount (or greater) will improve your credit score. A non-time payment history in the range of 18 months or longer will begin to show results in a growing credit score.

Set up automatic payments.

If your late payments are due to forgetfulness, this is the easiest way to ensure you never miss a future payment.

Change your billing due date.

Suppose you have multiple bills due on the same day of the month. In that case, it may be worth changing your payment due date to align better with your personal situation (e.g.,spacing out bills to make them more manageable, or ensuring your payment date is after an income deposit date.)

Explore hardship/deferment options.

If you’re having trouble making ends meet, call your creditors and request a forbearance or payment deferral. They may also be able to waive late fees or even allow a lower payment for a period of time.

2. Amount Owed (30%)

Your credit utilization is determined by the amount you owe—not relative to your income but, compared to the total credit limit available to you, expressed as a percentage.(For example, if your card balance is $600 and you have a spending limit of $2,500, your credit utilization is $600/$2,500 or 24%.) As a rule of thumb, your credit utilization should be no more than 30.

Quick Tips for Improving Amount Owed:

Pay down your balance early.

If you can make small payments throughout the month, this can help keep your balance down and lower your credit utilization.

Decrease spending.

Find areas where you can cut back on spending to lower your utilization. Our Prioritizing Expenses Worksheet can help you to determine what to cut.

Ask for a credit line increase.

Increasing your credit limit is the simplest way to decrease your credit utilization with out having to cut back on spending.

3. Length of Credit History (15%)

Although not the most heavily weighted category, the length of a borrower’s credit history is important. It’s an indication to the financial institutions what kind of borrower you maybe in the future. In addition to the overall time an individual has had credit accounts open, credit history is also determined by how long specific types of accounts have been open, and how long it’s been since those accounts have been used.

Quick Tips for Improving Credit History:

Get a secured credit card.

Backed by a cash deposit, a secured credit card can be an excellent low-risk way for those who have not had a credit card previously to start building credit.

Keep credit cards open.

Closing a credit card can negatively affect your score. If you have cards you aren’t using, placing a small recurring charge on them (such as a phone bill or streaming subscription) can help to keep the card active while keeping your overall credit utilization low.

4. Credit Mix (10%)

Credit mix is determined by looking at the types of credit you are carrying (this includes credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans, mortgage loans,etc.) as well as your payment history in each area.

Quick Tips for Improving Mix:

Explore loan options that work best for you.

Your credit mix isn’t the most impactful category, and you shouldn’t pursue loans unless they make sense for you and your personal needs. In fact, you may already have a fair credit mix—things like credit cards, personal loans, auto loans, and mortgage loans are all considered different types of credit.

Make sure you pay loans on time.

A good credit mix is moot if you aren’t making timely payments–ensure you are making at least the minimum payments on your outstanding loans each month.

5. New Credit (10%)

Research shows that opening several credit accounts in a short amount of time represents a more significant risk—especially for people who don’t have an established credit history.

Quick Tips for New Credit:

Open new credit accounts only as needed.

Every time you apply for a new credit card,this creates a hard inquiry on your credit,which will automatically lower your score. Having more credit than needed can also encourage unnecessary spending and lead to increased debt.

Understand how hard inquiries show upon your report for different types of loans.

While multiple inquiries over a short time frame for credit cards may result insignificant score damage, other types of inquiries—such as home or auto loans—are reported a little differently. Since lenders know people often shop around, these types of inquiries won’t hit your report for 30 days, and when they do,they’ll be counted as a singular inquiry.

So, there you have it. If you implement these tips, you should start to see a gradual increase in your credit score. Remember: Your credit score is based on patterns over time, with an emphasis on more recent information. Improving credit won’t happen overnight, but with persistence and consistency, your score should gradually improve over time!

Free Credit Report Review

Need some extra help navigating your credit report? GreenPath’s NFCC-certified credit counselors can walk you through a free review of your credit report. They’ll explain how to read the report and help you to make a plan for managing your credit score to support your goals.

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• By Kevin Alvarez

Understanding and Preparing a Savings Account – Financial Literacy Month

Have you been keeping an eye out on the housing market? What about the auto industry? Well before you can purchase your first home or a brand new car, taking control and understanding your debt is needed. The journey of reaching your next financial goal may sound like a daunting task, but having the understanding of what it will take to reach those goals is the mindset to strive for. Through then, you can create short term goals which will assist with building up to the overall financial goal.

In order to be properly set for the financial path forward, there are a few initial organizational concepts that need to be accounted for first.

Understanding Your Monthly Income

Do you know the difference between net pay and gross pay? Net pay is the amount you take home AFTER pay roll deductions and tax with holdings have been made. Gross pay is the amount that is shown BEFORE tax deductions like state tax, federal tax and social security.

The number to be aware of is your net pay. As the amount of money you are actually taking home is known and acknowledged, you can create a budget from a true dollar amount and track accurate financial habits.

Understanding and Cutting Your Spending Habits

Are you aware of any habits that add a burden to your wallet? When it comes to finding where you can save money, coffee is a common expense people adjust first. You don’t have to cut coffee completely, but you can easily save by making coffee from home. Purchasing coffee from your favorite café is costly compared to a home brewed pot which could even save you time, eliminate transportation costs and reduce the cost of coffee itself.

Gym passes are also a typical expense that could be adjusted to aggressively save. There may be a numerous amount of reasons for a gym pass, yet there is an equal amount of alternatives that could be implemented in order to save. Switching to a home workout and using online videos and blogs can provide structure to your workout all while saving again, on transportation costs, time and of course, gym fees.

These are both conceptual ideas that could translate to other aspects of monthly expenses, in order to start cutting your spending habits.

Understanding Your Saving Habits

Now that you understand your spending, you can focus on your savings habits and take advantage of different accounts that pay dividends at better rates than traditional big banks. Your typical savings account at a big bank does not offer the same interest rates as a credit union, so it’s often advised to open either a Share Certificate Account or Money Market Account to maximize your monthly savings through dividends.

Understanding How to Move Forward

Everyone’s financial situation is different and some situations require to pay debt down aggressively, with a small consistent stream going into savings. It is recommended to do both collectively even if the monthly deposited savings amount is small. As a member of SafeAmerica Credit Union you have numerous resources readily available to help keep you, financially on track. Being financially healthy is a goal in and of itself and allows the path to financial milestones to present themselves. Keeping to strict saving and spending habits allows you to keep debt down and reach your financial goals.

Learn how you can use a Share Certificate to your advantage as well as the liquidity of a Money Market below.

Share Certificates
Money Market

• By Kevin Alvarez

Financial Tools for Success – Financial Literacy Month

Information is brought to you by our partner, GreenPath Financial Wellness

April is Financial Literacy Month –  a good time to consider the importance of financial literacy education, especially with the economic uncertainties caused by the ongoing pandemic. Continuing our series of blogs sharing information as part of Financial Literacy Month, the focus today is on finding the right financial tools for success – whether the resources help us with budgeting, setting financial goals, or managing credit card debt, loans, or other debt.

Check out these financial tools to begin understanding options to figure out your finances.

Financial Calculators

A healthy financial future begins with an understanding of a person’s current situation. Online financial calculators help people run the numbers and answer questions related to financing their home or comparing how a debt management plan can help manage credit card debt.

Financial Wellness Resources

Being able to make healthy financial choices is about having good information at your fingertips. Much of that education is available online, but it’s important to tap into trusted resources. As an example, as a national nonprofit, GreenPath makes available a library of resources including worksheets, guides, educational on-demand webinars about managing finances, online learning experiences to help set a simple spending plan or prioritize expenses, and other educational tools.

Financial Counseling and Debt Management

Teaming with a trusted financial counseling agency gets the right information to help people make the best decisions about their future.

As a national nonprofit, GreenPath Financial Wellness provides free one on one financial advising with certified counselors. You’ll improve your financial literacy education with credit card debt counseling, debt management plans, student loan counseling, housing counseling, foreclosure mitigation, and debt management counseling

Based on a person’s full financial picture, people will understand how to pay down debt, steps to rebuild credit history, tips to create a savings strategy or other specific information to move forward.

As your financial institution, we proudly provide our members with insight through financial education and resources that may be of benefit. Through this, we can equip our members with knowledge to assist with helping to prevent financial stress, especially during when its most unpredictable.

Below is a list of available resources SafeAmerica Credit Union has for members:

Calculators

Here you can learn and calculate:

  • What your loan payments would be
  • What your auto payments would be
  • Should you refinance your auto loan at a lower rate
  • How long it would take to to pay off your credit card(s)
  • Should you transfer your credit balances to a lower rate with us
  • How much could you borrow from your home equity (HELOC)
  • Should you refinance your mortgage
  • Understanding your possible mortgage payment
  • How much would you need for retirement
  • how much should you save to reach your financial goal
Rates and Fees

Here you can stay up to date with our current rates for:

  • Savings
  • Checking
  • Credit & Personal
  • IRAs
  • Auto
  • Home
  • Fees
Educational Videos

Through our How-To Videos you will understand the following:

  • What is a Credit Union
  • How to enroll in Online Banking
  • How to use Our Mobile App
  • How to use Mobile Deposit
  • How to use mobile wallet
  • How to make a payment

Learn about online security through our How-To videos:

  • Getting back your stolen identity
  • Simple Tips for Secure Mobile Banking
  • Protect your Account through Strong Passwords
  • Wi-Fi Network Access Scams
  • What is Multifactor Authentication?
  • Protect Yourself from Phishing Attacks
  • Protect Yourself from Vishing Attacks
  • Protect Yourself from Gift Card Scams
  • Warning! Fake Cashier's Checks
  • How did a Virus Get on My Computer
Blog

Read our blog for continuous financial learning and updates:

  • Financial Literacy for Kids
  • 5 Factors That Affect Your Credit Score
  • What is a balance transfer
  • What is a Debt Management Plan

Our blog is constantly being updated on a monthly basis, so make sure to check back often!

We have also partnered with GreenPath Financial Wellness to provide exclusive and free financial education and counseling.

Learn more about GreenPath by clicking below.

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• By Kevin Alvarez

5 Reasons to Make a Budget – Financial Literacy Month

Information is brought to you by our partner, GreenPath Financial Wellness

Making a budget and following it are two powerful financial habits. It’s not always easy, or fun at first. But it is one of the best steps you can take to successfully manage your finances.  There are many reasons to budget and in the long run, it feels really good to see yourself accomplishing a goal.

 

Reasons to Budget (There's more Pros than Cons)

#1 – A budget helps you gain control of your finances

Think of a budget as a financial roadmap. It will guide you to your destination. It will also reduce arguments and improve relationships because you and your family will know where you are going financially, providing a smoother ride along the way.

#2 – Budgeting helps you achieve goals

Whether it is putting money aside for emergencies, a vacation or a college education, a budget helps you devote resources to those things that you determine are most important. Having a plan also promotes well-being and reduces stress.

#3 – A good budget keeps you honest

Documenting purchases allows you to figure out where your money is going.  It allows you to stay accountable to your goals. By keeping a budget, each dollar you spend is accounted for. That’s a powerful incentive to stay true to your good intentions.

#4 – Budgeting helps improve habits

If you spend more than you earn, you will drain your savings. And if it continues, you will take on debt.  By measuring how you spend your money, you will know for sure whether you’re headed for trouble, and you can take the steps necessary to improve your habits.

#5 – Budgeting helps you avoid debt and improve credit

By truly understanding how much it costs to be you, you can make adjustments to stop living from paycheck to paycheck. You may be able to identify ways to get out of debt and stay out of debt. By paying your bills on time and not taking on too much debt, you will take the most important step toward building good credit.

Use Greenpath's Budgeting worksheet to calculate your monthly expenses and income to get an idea of what you have to work with, what your commitments are, and what they have remaining to devote to their goals.

Click here for the Budgeting Worksheet

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• By Kevin Alvarez

Saving Money Isn’t a Luxury – It’s a Necessity

Information brought to you by our partner, GreenPath Financial Wellness

4 Reasons to Start Saving Now - Plus Tips for Getting Started

Saving money can often be a challenge — especially during times of financial uncertainty. As humans, we’re wired to take care of our needs now, and worry about later ... well, later. However, saving money is a critical component of financial wellness. Here, we break down why saving (even a small amount) can make all the difference:

Saving Helps to...

Prepare us for emergencies

Putting aside a set amount each month helps protect us in a financial emergency. Perhaps it’s a surprise medical bill, car repairs, or temporary loss of income. There are many reasons why an emergency fund is critical to help handle unexpected expenses. Plus, building up emergency savings to cover unexpected expenses is better than using high-interest credit cards or taking out a loan. An emergency fund gives you peace of mind and prevents you from going into debt.

Set us up to manage planned expenses:

For those anticipating making large purchases, saving money can help us prepare our budget to pay for expenses that we plan to take on–such as a down payment on a car, home improvements, or an upcoming vacation. Emergency savings are also useful for smaller cash outlays like costs for pets, car maintenance and other important bills Here again, by saving up for planned purchases whether they be the significant expenses or lower cost items, we can avoid using high-interest credit cards or taking on other debt. When you plan ahead, you take control of managing your monthly income.

Reduce Stress:

Financial stress is real. It can be overwhelming to have bills and expenses that we struggle to pay each month. In fact, many researchers see a significant connection between financial stress and mental health and well-being. During the ongoing pandemic, financial strain is felt by the newly unemployed, furloughed, and those still working but facing an uncertain future. When you build up savings, you reduce the stress many of us feel about our finances and give yourself a gift–peace of mind.

Provide a sense of freedom:

Gaining a sense of freedom might not be the first reason that comes to mind as a benefit of setting up a savings plan. Yet many of the people who contact GreenPath Financial Wellness report enjoying a sense of improved freedom and flexibility after building up savings, no matter the amount. Setting aside even $20 a paycheck is proven to provide a feeling of freedom due to the "buffer" savings "nest egg" exists gives people more freedom to choose how to handle their finances, rather than feeling stuck in a particular situation.

 

How to Jump-Start Your Savings

1. Assess your budget.

Use GreenPath's Budgeting Worksheet to get a  handle on your monthly income and typical expenses, including credit card debt or other loan payments.

2. Commit to a monthly savings amount.

Once you have a complete picture of monthly income, expenses, and debt, consider how much you can set aside each month to build up savings. How much you set aside will depend on your financial goals. For instance, if you're planning for a large purchase, break down the amount over a 6 month or 12-month period, and automate savings to meet that goal.

3. Automate your savings.

Automating your savings makes it more "painless." You'll be able to set it and forget it, by paying yourself first through automated deposits.

4. Maximize Interest

Ensure you're maximizing the interest you're earning by getting a competitive annual percentage yield (APY). Consider a money market or other higher interest account.

5. make it a family affair.

Setting a savings goal with loved ones lets you come to a consensus about goals and dreams. That way, it is easier for you all to plan and encourage each other to save for emergencies, planned expenses, or other goals.

Saving for your future is closer than you think.

Building savings can seem like a daunting task, but you will start to see results with practice and patience.

If you're unsure how much you can reasonably save each month or need a helping hand getting started, you can request a free financial health assessment with a GreenPath NFCC-certified Financial Wellness Expert.

Our professional, caring coaches will work with you to assess your situation, explain the options or solutions available, and help you create a plan to meet your goals. It's free, confidential, and no pressure.

For additional insight view an on demand webinar: 10 Ways to Start Saving Money.

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• By Kevin Alvarez

The Impact of Stimulus Payments on Your Taxes

What a year 2020 has been! New Year’s celebrations were barely over when the coronavirus turned things topsy-turvy. But one bright spot for 159 million people was the $1,200 Economic Impact Payment that appeared in their mailbox or checking account.

If you didn’t receive a payment, you may be wondering, why? And if you did, you may be wondering, what’s the catch? We are here to help put your mind at ease, so let’s tackle your questions, one by one.

Do I owe tax on the money I received? That’s an easy one: No. The stimulus payment was designed to impact the economy, not your taxes, so it won’t reduce your 2020 refund or increase your tax due.

I didn’t get a payment – why? If your income for 2019 or 2018 was over $75,000 ($150,000 if you filed jointly, $112,500 if you were head of household), then your payment was reduced by $5 for every excess $100 you earned. And if you didn’t file a tax return for either year, you may not have gotten a payment. But don’t despair, you still may be entitled to payment.

Really? What can I do now? If you were supposed to file a 2019 tax return and didn’t, file right away. If your income was too low to file, at IRS.gov you can click on the tab marked “Non-filers” and fill in your basic information. If the IRS determines you are eligible for a payment, they will send it to you.

What if my income has gone down? If your 2019 income was too high for you to receive a payment, but your income this year is much lower, you are in luck. You can claim your stimulus payment on your 2020 income tax return, and it increase the refund you receive (or reduce any tax due).

My 2020 income is higher than in 2019 – will the government want the money back? No. If you received a stimulus payment based on lower income in 2019, that payment is yours to keep even if your income increased above the threshold in 2020.

When it's time to file your taxes TurboTax is here to help!
From simple to complex taxes, TurboTax® has you covered. And when you need help, real experts are standing by — and can even do your taxes for you, start to finish with TurboTax Live®. Getting your biggest possible tax refund has never been easier. And as a credit union member you can save up to $15 on TurboTax. Click here to get started today!

The information in this article is for general educational purposes only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations.Please discuss your particular circumstances with an appropriate professional before taking action.

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• By Kevin Alvarez

Your Top Tax Question About Working Remotely, Answered

Last spring, many of us were asked to leave the office and begin working remotely from home. If you were one of them, you know that presented a lot of issues to be solved as you juggled work and family, including children newly banished from their schools. It was a tumultuous time, and congratulations for dealing with it powerfully and creating solutions that worked for everyone. Whew!

Now, with tax time approaching, there are tax implications of working remotely that you need to address, and we are here to help. So, let’s take a look at the tax issues of remote employment.

What tax issues? I still pay tax on my income, right? Yes indeed. The income from your job will be reported to you on a W-2 in January, and you’ll report that income on your tax return. Nothing there has changed, at least for the federal tax return. But you may have special tax issues to deal with when you file your state income tax return unless you live and work in a state that has no income tax.

What’s different about state returns for remote employment? If you live in the same state in which your employer is located, state taxes are pretty straightforward. But when the pandemic hit and commuting to the office became a thing of the past, many people left urban areas and moved to the less-populated country where it was less expensive to live. If you crossed state lines to do that and now live in a different state from your former office, you may be dealing with the income tax rules of two states, not just one.

Oh no, do I owe taxes to both states? Good question – it depends. Most states look to your physical presence in determining whether to tax you. If that’s the case, if you live and work in one state for an employer in another state, you will only owe tax to the state in which you live and work. But each state is different, so be sure to use tax preparation software such as TurboTax® that considers the facts and circumstances of your employment situation in light of the tax laws of the states involved.

Can I deduct the costs of working from home, such as my computer, internet, office furniture, and supplies? Probably not. Unfortunately, the tax act passed at the end of 2018 axed those deductions for most employees, with the exception for teachers that allows them to deduct up to $250 for supplies used in the classroom. If you aren’t entitled to a deduction for your expenses, your best bet is to ask your employer to give you a non-taxable reimbursement for those costs.

When it's time to file your taxes, TurboTax® is here to help!

From simple to complex taxes, TurboTax has you covered. And when you need help, real experts are standing by — and can even do your taxes for you, start to finish with TurboTax Live®. Getting your biggest possible tax refund has never been easier. And as a SafeAmerica Credit Union member you can save up to $15 on TurboTax. Click below to get started today!

The information in this article is for general educational purposes only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations.Please discuss your particular circumstances with an appropriate professional before taking action.

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• By Kevin Alvarez

What is a balance transfer?

A balance transfer is a financial resource that doesn't get as much recognition as it deserves. Let's shed some light on balance transfers and go over how you could take advantage of paying down debt with a lower interest rate and get you on track for your next financial goal.

What is a balance transfer?

It's moving high interest debt (usually credit card debt) amount from one account to another account that has a significantly lower interest rate.

How does a balance transfer work?

Let's use an example; you have a credit card balance of $1,200 at 24.99% APR from your favorite retailer and transfer that total debt amount to another financial institution with an interest rate of 10%.

Think of the financial position you would be in with an interest rate of 10% or even 0%. Instead of paying $299.88 in interest with your 24.99% APR account, you'd now pay $120 with your new 10% APR account or even $0 with a 0% APR.

Does a balance transfer hurt my credit?

As long as your credit account from the previous financial institution is kept open, your credit will improve.

Is there a fee to transfer a balance?

Many big banks charge a balance transfer fee between 3% and 5% of the amount that would be transferred. Let’s continue to use the $1,200 at 24.99% APR scenario for another example. When you transfer over to a financial institution with a lower rate but charges a balance transfer fee of 5% be prepared to pay the additional $60. As situations vary from person to person, the fee itself may be the deciding factor for transferring over a balance. Of course, be aware of all fees in order to make sure a balance transfer is truly beneficial to your current financial situation. Remember as a member of our credit union, you receive a lower or no balance transfer fee, one of the many differences between your local credit union and the big banks.

Should I close my old credit card after a balance transfer?

You definitely should not close any of your credit cards. Since balance transfers are linked to a credit card, you would be increasing your credit utilization amount, which would then improve your credit score. As long as you have no balance and are not charged an annual fee, it won't cost you to keep the account.

Does a balance transfer count as a payment?

A balance transfer does not count as a form of payment. You transferred a balance in order to make lower payments.

What is a typical minimum payment on a balance transfer?

Minimum payments vary with financial institutions and its always good practice to clarify with your financial institution.

Do balance transfers earn reward points?

This would also vary between financial institutions. For the most part, financial institutions would not offer rewards points for balance transfers. This would be something to verify with the financial institution when applying for credit cards with the balance transfer feature.

How long does a balance transfer take?

Industry average is between 14 and 21 days to complete the process of paying off your previous lender.

Is a balance transfer the right financial resource for me?

A balance transfer can be very beneficial for those who have manageable debt with high interest rates. The objective is to take advantage of any promotional 0% periods to pay down as much debt as possible which in turn, is going towards paying down the principle rather than any interest.

SafeAmerica Credit Union can help. If you're interested in transferring a balance you have at another financial institution, we're currently offering 0% APR on purchase and balance transfers through September 30, 2021 when you open a new credit card through March 31, 2021.

How SafeAmerica Credit Union's balance transfers work:

  • Balance transfers often take 2-3 days compared to industry standard of 14 to 21 days.
  • We're currently offering 0% interest through September 30, 2021 on balance transfers done from January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021
  • We charge no balance transfer fees on our balance transfers.

To learn more on how you can take advantage of balance transfers and start paying less interest on your debt, click below.

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