New Horizons Credit Union Blog

  College packing lists are everywhere online. Lots of blogs will tell you to bring everything you can possibly think of, but the truth of the matter is that your child will probably not use everything you bought them. That is money and space wasted. This college packing list lists some the most important dorm items your child will need to get them started on their college journey.   Bed linens, mattress pads, comforter, and blankets. College beds are really uncomfortable. To make the room feel like home, make sure to make the bed as comfortable as possible using mattress pads and comforters. No one wants to lose sleep because their bed is uncomfortable! Two sets of bath towels, washcloths, hand towels, and a beach towel. Storage Units. Small storage units that can fit in small spaces are very helpful. Your child can use this as extra storage to keep their small dorm room organized. Area rug, futon, or beanbag can make a room feel cozy! First Aid Kit We are all about safety first and b

  Moving into college is nerve-wrecking for both the parents and the children. It's a day filled with many emotions and stress. If you are not prepared for the trip to campus, or if you haven’t packed the necessities, your day may be stressful before it even begins! Lucky for you, we’ve gathered some helpful tips to prepare you for one of the most important days of your child’s life.   1. CLEANING SUPPLIES ARE A MUST Let’s be honest, dorm rooms lay empty for many months before students move in. They get dusty and dead bugs are ever so present on windowsills and corners. So a cleaning kit is very essential when you move into college. Include Clorox wipes, paper towels, wet and dry Swiffer pads to clean the floor, and some Lysol. Life after COVID has made us hyper aware of germs that live on every surface, so cleaning before you move in is helpful to make sure you stay healthy! 2. TOOL KITS WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE A tool kit is one of the most essential things you need. A hammer and scre

The National Association of College Stores estimates that college students spend around $80 on EACH new textbook. Some textbooks like science, engineering, or medical books, can cost you around $175! Crazy, right? This is all for a textbook you will only use ONCE and we're sure you'd rather spend that money on something else. Read on to find out how you can save on your first set of college textbooks. 1. SKIP THE BOOKSTORE Colleges will do everything they can to get you to shop at their bookstore. They make profit from there, so why wouldn't they?  The bookstore is easy because you can pick up your textbooks a day or two before you need them, but they're not cheap. So look online a few weeks before classes start so you can save money.  2. SHOP FOR USED BOOKS ONLINE New textbooks are expensive, and why even bother buying an expensive new one when you'll only use it once? Look at Amazon or Chegg to see if you can get used books for your class at a lesser price. Chegg

  Vacations are supposed to be fun and relaxing time away from work and school. Planning a vacation should not be stressful. To avoid stress, you need to be prepared and make sure you plan for all possible scenarios. This will give you piece of mind knowing you’re prepared, as well as help you relax and enjoy your trip.   1. READ THE REVIEWS Before you book that hotel, condo, or Airbnb, make sure you read the reviews! You don’t want to spend more than one night sleeping in a less than ideal place. The beauty of reviews is that real people who had real experiences want to let others know what they experienced so others can get a feel of what to expect or be aware of.   2. COMPARE YOUR PRICES Look at all of your options and compare the prices. Make sure you look for things you truly want in the hotel, condo, or Airbnb, and select the one that fits your needs. Staying within budget is the best thing you can do to have a successful vacation.  3. PACK LIKE A PRO! Check the weather before yo

  Living near the beach means plenty of beach trips! Whether they be day trips, weekend trips, or week-long trips, being prepared for a beach trip is always necessary. We’ve gathered some tips to help you have a pain free and successful beach trip for the whole family.   1. BE PREPARED FOR EMERGENCIES Being prepared for sunburns, cuts, headaches, or any other type of emergency is crucial! Whether you’re going to the beach for a day or a week, bringing essential items like Aloe Vera, a first aid kit, ibuprofen, ice packs, and plenty of water is always a good idea. When you’re prepared for emergencies, you can avoid a trip to the emergency room, and avoid stressing.  2. BRING COMFORTABLE SEATING You cannot go to the beach and not have anywhere to sit on! Yes, there is the sand and it’s pretty comfortable, but you’re going to get tired of the sand pretty quickly. Always bring a comfortable chair, plush beach towels, or a beach mat to sit on. Being comfortable is key to a successful beach

  If you have debt, you’re not alone. According to Experian’s 2019 Consumer Debt Study, the average American has a personal loan debt of $90,460. Lucky for you, our partners at  GreenPath Financial Wellness (Opens in a new Window)  have provided two ways to pay off your debt. Read on to see if these two methods are right for you.   THE SNOWBALL METHOD The Snowball Method suggests you pay off the smallest debt with the lowest interest rate on your credit cards to create a sense of motivation and accomplishment. Paying off your small bills at a higher frequency can motivate you to pay it off faster so you can move on to other debts. For example, you have debts on two credit cards and a loan:   Credit Card A:     $5,167 - 17% APR Credit Card B:   $3,500 - 12% APR                                                Loan:                   $900 - 5% APR       Here, you would pay more on your loan because it has the lowest APR, and you accumulated the lowest amount of debt on it. You would then p

  You’re fixed on a house that you truly want to buy, your Realtor is encouraging you to get your house professionally inspected, except you don’t want to spend any MORE money than you have to. Surely you can skip out on that $500 home inspection... right? Wrong! Skipping out on a home inspection can cost you more money in the long run! Here are a few reasons why you should get that home inspection.   1. YOU CAN BACK OUT OF THE DEAL A home inspection reveals hidden problems your house has. There may be a gas leak waiting to happen, or there’s mold in all of the rooms. A home inspection can give you the option to back out of a deal if the house proves to have too many problems. Would you rather spend $500 to have your home inspected before you close the deal, or would you rather spend thousands of dollars repairing your home after you’ve moved in? 2. PROVIDES SAFETY Safety is the number one priority in every home buyer’s mind. People don’t want to move into a home that has mold, uneven

  Put it on the card! We love to say those words until we realize our credit card is maxed out and we’re in serious debt. You begin to stress about paying off your bills and your credit card interest is piling up. If this explains your life, you may be living beyond your means and you need to make some serious changes. Below are ways you can solve that! 1. YOU PAY THE MINIMUM ON YOUR CREDIT CARDS Do you have multiple credit cards, and only pay the minimum balance each month? You may think you’re paying them off, but this only accumulates more interest! To keep this from happening, pay a little extra. Let’s say you used to pay $20/month on the card, try paying $50 or more and pay it before the interest rate hits. Paying before the interest rate helps you decrease your debt! Check out our  Two Ways to Pay Off Debt blog  to find out what works for you. 2. YOU WORRY ABOUT PAYING YOUR BILLS If you stress about paying your bills and lose sleep over this, you need to take a day to create and