SafeAmerica Credit Union

financial literacy

• By Kevin Alvarez

What To Do If You’re Late Making Car Payments.

Life can be unpredictable and challenging at times, and having a late car payment might seem tempting as a temporary solution.

Making regular, on-time car payments not only helps borrowers maintain a good credit score, but it also ensures the reliability and availability of your vehicle, allowing you to fulfill your daily responsibilities without unnecessary stress.

If you find yourself facing financial difficulties, it can be helpful to reach out for assistance and explore viable options to avoid missing payments. While there isn’t one solution that works for everyone, there are options that can work best for you.

Making Late Car Payments Can Lower Your Credit Score.

Unfortunately, the consequence of making late payments on your car loan can reduce your overall financial health. You will also end up paying more for your car due to late payment fees. And if the payments continue to be late, it might even result in repossession, which will become a negative chapter of your credit history.

With a little planning, it might be possible to get back on the road to financial health to keep current with car loan payments. Assembled here, is a roundup of information to keep in mind if you’re consistently late with car payments.

Tips To Staying On Track With Your Car Payments.

Tip 1: Know When The Payment Will Be Considered Late

  • Check with your lender to confirm exactly when your payment will be considered late.
  • Typically, a payment will be reported as late to the credit bureau when it hits 30 days past due.
  • Ask your lender if there is a late car payment grace period. Some lenders provide a 10-day grace period for example.

Tip 2: Understand The Late Payment Fee Structure

  • Look over the loan documentation to understand the amount of fees you will be assessed when payments are late.
  • Creditors assess a late payment fee immediately following the missed payment, so be sure you have a clear picture of the fee total.

Tip 3: Track Your Credit Score

  • Creditors typically report a missed payment to the national credit bureaus after the 30-day mark.
  • When you’re finding it tough to keep up with payments, be sure to track the activity on your credit report and monitor your score.
  • Annualcreditreport.com provides updates from all three credit bureaus. Be sure your history is accurate and up to date. If something’s inaccurate, there are ways to reach out to credit bureaus for resolution.

Tip 4: Understand Repossession Policy

  • The number of missed payments allowed before a lender repossess the vehicle can vary by financial institution.
  • Some lenders can initiate repossession proceedings after a single default on the loan.
  • Take the time to connect with your lender to understand their policies and timing when it comes to repossession.

Tip 5: Connect With The Lender

  • Waste no time reaching out to creditors before payments are missed.
  • If payments are late, talk to the lender and ask for hardship options.
  • If you are facing a financial significant hardship, often the lender is willing to work with people to prevent delinquency or repossession.
  • Contacting lenders sets people up for more options, a new payment plan or hardship assistance, especially if you’ve maintained a good payment history.

Tip 6: Return To Budgeting Basics

  • Take an inventory of your financial picture. Has your income increased, decreased or remained steady? How have your expenses changed? Figure out your new baseline.
  • Prioritize expenses. Take a hard look at non-essential expenses and determine those that can possibly be reduced or eliminated.

Tip 7: Use Trusted Resources And Information

  • If you are considering a repayment option, or want to check on affordability, use GreenPath’s handy car payment financial calculator.
  • Take a free online course that shares information about budgeting for car payments.
  • Connect with a financial counselor who can assess your specific challenges and provide an action plan to move forward. Everyone who contacts GreenPath receives a free initial financial counseling session with certified counselors who lend an emphatic ear, look at the entire financial picture, help ease financial stress and uncertainty through access to clear information and develop a personalized plan.
Woman Calculating Monthly Bills

Your Next Step

It can be scary when loan payments are late, and there might be a chance your vehicle will be repossessed. It can be even more stressful when you work though the challenges all by yourself.

Our partner, GreenPath Financial Fitness is a trusted national nonprofit financial counseling agency which helps people navigate debt, budgeting and financial challenges for more than 60 years. Their certified trained counselors will look at your entire financial picture and help make a plan tailored for your situation.

This information is brought to you by our partner, GreenPath Financial Wellness

GreenPath Financial Wellness

• By Kevin Alvarez

Life Insurance Awareness Month

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month and if we've learned anything from these past few years, it's that life is unpredictable. At SafeAmerica Credit Union, our hope is to bring awareness and encourage you to learn more about Life Insurance and why it's so important to have.

A Member Benefit for You!

We strive to offer our members the best access to many products and services, such as Life Insurance.  We’ve partnered with TruStage to provide you with easy and affordable access to Auto and Life insurance.

As a member of SafeAmerica Credit Union, Trustage® will work with you to select a policy that's right for your budget, with ongoing support and no hassle.

Trustage Life Insurance® can help give you peace of mind today and provide an income-tax free cash benefit for your family. It can help pay expenses you might leave behind such as funeral costs, mortgage payments or unpaid debts. Trustage helps make it easy to compare insurance and explore options you can afford—so you can make a good decision today for your family.

Term Life Insurance

Term Life Insurance will cover you for the length of your policy. As long as your premiums are paid, you will be covered.

Learn more about Term Life Insurance »

Whole Life Insurance

With Whole Life Insurance, the rate you initially pay would be locked-in for the entire duration of your policy. Even if health conditions change and your premiums are paid, your coverage will never be cancelled.

Learn more about Whole Life Insurance »

Guaranteed Acceptance
Whole Life Insurance

Guaranteed Acceptance Whole Life is a policy which does not turn down people for their health. As long as premiums are made, coverage will never decrease or be cancelled.

Learn more about Guaranteed Acceptance
Whole Life Insurance »

You can also learn more about Life Insurance by visiting the Trustage website. They offer a variety of quick-read articles to help you make an informed decision.

Understanding Insurance

Get Started Today

Trustage® can help you get coverage that fits your needs and budget. We designed it to be easy to:

Don't wait, get an instant online quote today. Or call 1-800-814-2914 and talk to a licensed agent.

Why Trustage®

Since 1935 Trustage has been assisting millions of people by helping protect the financial future of their loved ones with insurance policies designed to be affordable.

Trustage works with thousands of credit unions across the United States helping families prepare for the future and help secure the financial stability of millions of credit union members.

Learn More

Get an Instant quote

TruStage® is underwritten by CMFG Life Insurance Company, a well-known credit union member insurance provider. For more than 80 years, CMFG Life has earned the trust of members nationwide and is rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best, an independent national organization that rates insurers’ financial strength and performance. “A” is the third-highest of 16 ratings, as of March 2021. Join more than 20 million members who rely on TruStage.

TruStage® Life Insurance is offered by TruStage Insurance Agency, LLC and issued by CMFG Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 61, Waverly IA 50677-0061. The insurance offered is not a deposit and is not federally insured or guaranteed by your credit union. Products and features may vary by state.

© TruStage Insurance Agency

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• By Kevin Alvarez

Financial Well-Being For Our Youth – National Credit Union Youth Month

Kids can learn a lot watching their parents. What they see can set a pattern for life. The key is to not run away from the conversation, but look at it as an opportunity to set our kids up for success.

You might feel comfortable talking to kids about their favorite video game, fashion, or trending Tik Tok video, but maybe not about money. As everyone is looking forward to new beginnings after the pandemic, it’s always a great time for the whole family to establish new habits and that includes with the younger ones at home.

What have we learned and what do we want to pass on to be ready for another major crisis, if it comes?

Some parents may need help passing on a financial literacy mindset to their children. However, once you decide to have the conversation, it’s important to start as soon as possible. Money is a tool that is very powerful, when mixed with the right knowledge.

Start Talking About Money Early

Experts say children as young as five or six can understand the basics of money and saving. With that in mind, we can start sharing financial literacy skills early to ensure our children are set up for success.

As grown ups, we know money is important to buy groceries, keep a roof over our heads, buy things we want, and much more. Even before they are in first grade, children can understand what money is and how to use and save it. Be proactive talking about money and modeling good spending behavior yourself.

The conversations may vary depending on your child’s age, but the general idea is the same – teach them early and often about money and finances. This will help them become comfortable talking about money and find solutions instead of having a financial misstep and ignoring it.

Learn the Importance of Saving Money

Learning how to save is just as important as learning what to spend money on. As their savings grow, parents can reinforce the good money management habits they are putting into practice. Having financial reserves can protect against hardship and give the saver power to decide how to spend or invest the money. Being financially literate is important at any age, but especially for young people just starting on their financial education journey.

Talk About Wants Vs. Needs

It is always important to make every dollar count. Part of the money education for children is helping them understand the difference between things they want and things they need.

That differentiation can be challenging for adults too. Financial literacy means understanding the difference between a “nice to have” (a want) and something they cannot live without (a need).

Sometimes a family challenge may move the “wants” to the back burner temporarily, while the “needs” become more important. If a challenging financial situation requires the family to adjust their lifestyle, make sure kids understand what is going on and why. This is a great opportunity to teach the importance of planning, budgeting and the fact that it’s ok to wait.

Create A Budget Together

Next time when you create a budget for the household, include your kids. Include them as you talk about how, where, and why you spend your money. Start small and slow, be honest, be patient, and encourage questions. Remember to talk in a way that doesn’t upset them or make them worry about finances.

Help Kids Understand Where You Are Financially

Being honest about your current situation can be a great opportunity to educate young people about money and how to handle it. A great start is getting a free financial health assessment and then, involve them as you work through the financial process for the entire family.

Incorporate Money Into Daily Activities

One way to increase your child’s financial I.Q. is to incorporate learning into everyday activities. Here are some tips:

  • Play games involving money
  • Help kids make a wish list for things they want
  • Teach while you shop
  • Link their allowance to chores around the house
  • Teach them to split money into categories like saving, spending, and giving
  • Have them “save up” for something they want

Wrapping It Up

It’s important to remember money plays an essential role in all of our lives.

Consider starting early to share the right information and lead by example. If you need help getting your own financial house in order, connect with a caring, certified GreenPath counselor.

GreenPath Financial Wellness

• By Kevin Alvarez

Make Money Resolutions That Stick

Maybe you only have one resolution this year. Maybe you have a laundry list of resolutions and a goal of being so self-actualized your friends and family will hardly recognize you! Maybe your resolution is to not have a resolution.

Set A Goal (and Write It Down)

Goal setting gives you direction. You can decide on your destination and make a plan to get there. This might seem small, but it’s not. Not only is goal setting found to be linked to higher achievement and self-confidence, but writing down your goal can also make you 42% more likely to succeed.

Get Clear

Getting clear on your priorities and deciding on a specific goal are two keys to success. When it comes to your money and your financial situation, set aside some time to reflect on what you really want to accomplish – and be specific.

Ask yourself three “W” questions:

  • What do you want to accomplish?
  • When will you achieve it?
  • Why does it matter to you?

Visualizing a dollar amount can lead to success, whether it is a specific figure to save, pay off or earn in the year ahead. Keep that figure alive by writing it down or tracking it in an app. A real dollar amount makes for a real goal. Give yourself a deadline while you’re at it, to motivate you even further.

Be Positive and Realistic

Goals can challenge you and help you grow into a new future. Choosing a goal that is attainable is another important part of success. Let’s say you’ve chosen a clear goal – with a positive outcome – such as: “In five years, I will be debt free. I will pay off my entire debt of $12,000 so that I can focus on enjoying my family instead of worrying about money.” Be sure it’s a realistic goal given your specific situation. Given your income, debts and expenses, is it realistic to spend $200 on your goal each month? Is it possible to pay it off even faster by spending $250 a month? Or does your budget allow for $100? Staying positive and realistic shows you how much you can devote to achieving your money resolution.

Money Resolutions That Stick

Hit Those Milestones

Making your goal measurable will help it stick. Keeping track of your progress can help you stay focused and motivated. Tracking progress on an app or spreadsheet, or a simple notebook, helps you see your future getting closer and closer. Break your goal into smaller milestones. This makes it easier to see your progress and it’s less intimidating. For example, a mini-resolution might be to pay off one consumer credit card. Making smaller changes over time is often easier than trying to make a massive change all at once. Celebrate your success along the way. Celebrating wins actually “trains your brain” by reinforcing your new habits, which in turn makes it easier to stay on track if you hit a bump in the road at some point.

Make (and Work) The Plan

Money resolutions often go by the wayside if they serve as a goal without a plan. A plan outlines how you will accomplish your goal. Keep it simple. The plan might dearly define how much you will spend toward your goal, how often you’ll make deposits on it, and the method you’ll use to transfer money toward your goal. For instance, automating monthly payments or savings goals is proven to help people stick with money resolutions.

Choose one habit at a time to change. For example, if you need to reduce your credit card spending, focus on making that change as your first milestone. Then move on to setting money aside for payoff.

This article is shared by our partners at GreenPath Financial Wellness, a trusted national non-profit.

GreenPath Financial Wellness

• By Kevin Alvarez

Managing Debt as Interest Rates Rise

Debt can be a challenge to manage, even in the best of times. Now, with the economy in the news nearly every day, how do you effectively manage your debt as the cost of borrowing for things like homes, cars,
and credit cards rises? People are successful when they set a realistic budget for spending. Focusing on non-traditional gifts, the joy of experiences and the resulting memories, can be just as rewarding without damaging your finances, especially as prices on essentials are rising.

Here are five general questions to ask in order to minimize the hit to your wallet in the face of rising interest rates.

What's Your Current Credit Score And History?

Knowing this information helps you understand how rising interest rates will apply to you. Some research shows that only 33 percent of Americans checked their credit score in the past year. Regularly monitoring your credit can alert you to errors, protect you from fraud, and provide you valuable information to strengthen your credit score–which can potentially minimize the rising cost of borrowing.

What Is Your Debt Portfolio?

Another helpful course of action is to make a list of your current debt such as credit cards, car loans, student loans and other debt. Although it’s a simple step, this can make a big difference in visualizing the big picture of your financial situation. Part of seeing the impact of rising interest rates is understanding exactly where you stand.

What Are Your Current Interest Rates?

An effective next step is to regularly review your balances, terms, and interest rates on a monthly basis. By staying on top of this vital information, you can make adjustments and informed decisions about reducing any existing balances more aggressively. As a debt paydown strategy, it often makes sense to start with the highest interest credit cards or loans.

What Is A Realistic Payment Plan?

As you are able, consider paying credit card balances in full by the due date each month. You can avoid interest charges on what you purchase, which means rising interest rates may not have much of an effect on your household finances.

What Is Your Overall Financial Plan?

To stay financially healthy and minimize the impact of rising interest rates, it is key to earn more than you spend, so that you have enough money to build savings for the future. Keeping an eye on your spending is an important step in the effort to create a budget without the cost of high-interest debt. Once you develop a household budget and track income and spending, it becomes clear where the money is going and where you need to adjust your spending to achieve your financial goals. By setting financial goals, preparing a financial plan, sticking to a budget, and setting up an emergency fund for the unexpected, you ensure that your financial well-being does not suffer as interest rates rise.

This information brought to you by GreenPath Financial Wellness.

Learn More Here

• By Kevin Alvarez

Tips For New Credit Card Holders

For those starting their college career or their professional career, keep your eye out on offers for credit cards. These life milestones are often signals to lenders that the time might be right for you to get on board as a credit card holder.

Figuring out how to manage credit cards is critical for new borrowers. We suggest to start by asking yourself the following:

  • Is using a credit card the right way to pay for the purchase? Would cash or a debit card work just as well?
  • Is it clear how interest is charged?
  • Will any credit card fees be assessed?
  • Once the charge is made on the card, is it easy to track the minimum payments and due dates?

It can be helpful for borrowers to run through these questions for each card.  Knowing due dates, minimum payments and other terms is very helpful towards using credit cards wisely.

Advice To Follow

After you ask those questions about the basics, it also pays to think ahead.

Many people who have run into challenges with credit cards have told us that the most important advice to follow is to make payments on time, keep credit card debt manageable, pay off balances and maintain low balances to avoid interest and late charges.

If people only make minimum payments and keep making purchases, their debt will quickly grow, increasing financial stress and derailing their financial future. If a person gets into the habit of making late payments or taking on more debt than they can handle, then the credit score will suffer and they will have to take additional steps to repair the damage that been done.

New borrowers are wise to understand their current financial picture, their spending habits, and the pros and cons of how access to credit will impact their specific financial situation.

Where To Start?

As those credit card offers fill up your mailbox, it can be confusing to know where to start. Credit cards are available with many options. Compare different cards based on your needs and the card terms.

For students and new borrowers interested in using credit cards wisely, it is helpful to look at the following:

  • The annual percentage rate (APR): This is how much interest you will pay if you do not pay off your balance each month. Also, for many credit cards, rates may increase after a short period of time.
  • Fees: Many cards have yearly fees. Most charge for late payments, balance transfers, cash advances, or spending over your credit limit.
  • Credit limits: Your credit limit is right for you when it is in line with what you can afford to pay back. Many people we work with find that high credit limits offer challenges when it comes to managing the balance owed.
  • Figure out how many credit cards Is the “right” amount.
  • Managing just a few credit cards can be easier than having many cards.
  • When you reach the spending limit on one card, it’s best to manage those payments before shifting your purchases to another card.
  • Planning monthly expenses and setting a budget is the best way to easily adjust your spending habits.
  • Keeping your receipts helps with keeping track of monthly activity.
  • Having a plan will help you reduce the chance of impulse buying. When you have a plan, there’s less chance you will overspend on items you don’t truly need.
  • Review the different payment options: Is it easier to pay through an app or at a website or over the phone? Usually people can set up automatic payment drafts to pay the full balance or just the minimum payment by the credit card due date.
  • Many new borrowers find that it is necessary to use credit cards to cover important expenses such as food, gasoline, and utilities. If that becomes a regular pattern, it is helpful to review your budget.

New Credit Card Users — Next Steps

Remember: Every time you use a credit card, you take on debt, and debt is borrowing money you haven’t earned yet. It is wise to always keep the focus on this fundamental truth.  Beware of high interest credit cards that can become difficult to pay back if financial circumstances change unexpectedly.

It’s all about the basics: looking at monthly expenses, looking at income and setting spending priorities as well as building up emergency savings. As a new credit card holder, these principles will be the building blocks of achieving financial success!

brought to you by GreenPath Financial Wellness

Youth Month

Save small. Dream big.

We're celebrating Youth Month all April long! Be sure to check out our blog each week or follow is on social media for a new youth financial literacy topic.

You can also check out our Youth Program to help get your child started on the path to smart money management.

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