- Endwell, NY – Visions Federal Credit Union recently teamed up with Willow Fedoris to support Every Dog's Dream Rescue. Each month, Visions recognizes a Little Hero, a child age 12 or under who makes a positive impact in their community. Willow was selected as the winner in August, during Visions' annual Youth Month. "We wanted to do something special for our Youth Month winner," said Lindsay…
- When Should You Consolidate Debt?, Debt can be a stressful thing, especially when it's coming at you from multiple directions. The average American has more than $5,000 in credit card debt and it's not unusual to have that spread out among several accounts. Debt consolidation is a solution that can simplify billing to one statement and lower interest rates so that you have a single, manageable payment. But, when should you…, You Have a High DTI, The first signal could be your debt-to-income ratio. That's your total debt relative to your gross income. The Federal Reserve considers 40% a sign of fiscal stress, while 20% is considered low. If you fall toward the smaller end of the spectrum, debt consolidation may not be necessary for you., You Can Lower Your Interest Rate, This is the primary reason to pursue debt consolidation. If you can lower your interest rate, you can pay more toward the principal. The more you can apply to the principal balance, the faster you can pay off the debt. Start by determining your average interest rate and compare it to the APR on a personal loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC)., You Can Control Your Spending, Of course, none of this matters if you don't get to the root of your debt problem. In order to become debt-free, you must have a plan to change your financial ways so that you don't end up in the same situation. This starts with a monthly budget that you commit to sticking with. This should naturally be a lot easier if you're paying one lower monthly bill to one source. So, if you truly want to…
- Putting Your Bills On "Auto Pilot", For most of my life, I've struggled to keep track of things, especially my to-do list. Then, as an adult, I was diagnosed with ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), which explained a lot of the challenges that I had dealt with throughout my life. However, a diagnosis like that doesn't solve the problem, it only helps to define it. One lesson I learned the hard way was, when it comes to…, auto pilot, !, This is how my system works., First, I added up my monthly expenses: mortgage, insurance, utilities, groceries, etc. Next, I divided that sum between my paychecks. By knowing this amount, I was able to put the necessary funds into a separate checking account each time I received my direct deposit . Anything leftover goes into my "personal" checking account, and anything in that personal account, I'm free to spend – with the…
- Endwell, NY – Visions Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce the hire of Julie Steele as its new Manager of Talent Acquisition and Retention. Steele joins Visions with over 25 years of leadership experience in talent recruitment strategy, workforce planning, and process innovation. Throughout her career, she has implemented and led high performing recruitment teams in engineering, finance,…, About Visions Federal Credit Union, Visions Federal Credit Union is a not for profit financial institution completely owned by its members. Established in 1966, Visions proudly serves over 235,000 members in communities throughout New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Services include banking as well as auto, home, personal, and business loans. Visions is an equal opportunity employer whose goal is to achieve a positive work…
- Keep your wedding budget and planning on track with this definitive guide to all the things you may need to pay for and do... , The Wedding Essentials, Hire a wedding planner Ceremony location Reception venue Guest list Engagement photos Register on wedding planner website (The Knot, mywedding, WeddingWire) Set a wedding budget Form a spending plan, Wedding Detail, Stationery, Save-the-date cards Invitations Map/direction cards Reply cards Ceremony cards Postage Newspaper announcement Thank you notes Rehearsal dinner invitations Bachelor and Bridal party invitations Wedding programs Address labels, Apparel, Gown, veil, jewelry, accessories Bridal shoes Shoes for reception Bridesmaid dresses Groom's tux Groomsmen tuxes Pocket handkerchief Cufflinks Garters Alterations Children's apparel (flower girl, ring bearer) Gown preservation Dress for Rehearsal Dinner, Ceremony, Clergy/officiant Location fee Marriage license Marriage certificate Rehearsal arrangements Hairdresser/makeup artist Chair/pew rental Chair/pew decorations Ring bearer pillow Unity candle Ushers Transportation Rice/rose petals/bubbles, Flowers, Brides bouquet Bridesmaids bouquets Corsages Boutonniere Reception centerpieces Pew/chair bows Flower girls' flowers, Reception, Venue Deposit Caterer Musician/DJ/Band Wedding cake Table decorations Other decorations Table linens Chair covers Parking Gratuities Limousine Child-care Guest-lodging, Gifts & Favors, Gift for fiance(e) Guest favors Bridesmaid gifts Groomsmen gifts Hotel Guest Welcome Bags, Photography, Wedding party portraits Reception Ceremony Videography Family portraits, Honeymoon, Airfare Accommodations Rental car Entertainment Spending money, And Don't Forget, Social Security card Driver's license Order new checks, credit, debit and ATM cards Designate beneficiary on bank accounts, retirement accounts, and insurance policies Update name with alumni associations, professional memberships, subscriptions, social media accounts, and place of employment Make financial plans, budgets, and goals Create a will
- Family Budgeting with Coupons, Adulting is hard, even when it's filled with great things. Nothing brought me to that sense faster than having $36,000 in student loan debt and working my dream job while being newly married , a new homeowner , and – the cherry on top – having a baby on the way ! Even though we lived on a budget and were fine financially, I was panicked about money. We had lots of great things happening, but I…, I don't know whether it was fate or divine intervention., Shortly after a major money meltdown, I stumbled across a friend's social media account where she had posted about a shopping haul she made with her sister. I remember the photo in her post showcased several packages of diapers, baby wipes, and laundry detergent, among other things, but what intrigued me most was the caption: they paid something like $6 for all of it! I immediately reached out…, extreme couponing, . I must be honest, "couponing" is not for everyone. It can be time consuming to clip, print, organize, and match coupons to deals, but there's nothing like the euphoria you get from having a cart full of groceries and paying almost nothing for it! At first, I used couponing to stretch the money I had budgeted as far as I could – and if I could start contributing more to my savings, that would be…, My Tips and Tricks for Couponing, Always sign up for a store's savings card program and download their app. They often have exclusive coupons paired with them Decide on a budget, plan your shopping trip, and stick to your list Become familiar with each store's policies (for coupons, rainchecks, etc.). If you can, bring them along when you're shopping Instead of a card, use cash. Then after your shopping trip, deposit the…
- What's Next Now that You've Said 'Yes'?, Planning for a wedding can be very exciting, but can also be extremely overwhelming. A combination of endless details, deadlines, stress, and a big price tag all come with the preparation in making your Big Day something special. The average cost of a wedding is $26,645, not including the honeymoon, according to costofwedding.com. When it costs more than $1,500 just to put the proper clothing on…, Start Saving for Your Wedding, If you haven't already, start setting aside at least a little each week. Now's the time. Open up a special wedding savings account and set up a direct deposit allocation to go into that fund. It will come directly from your paycheck, and you won't even miss it., Take Out a Wedding Loan or Open a Line of Credit (if necessary), Paying with credit is not recommended, but sometimes necessary. A wedding loan can cut into that debt or cover smaller items like entertainment or flowers. If one or both of you have a decent FICO score (generally 680 and higher), you shouldn't have trouble getting 0 percent promotional APR on a credit card . This will give you a good year or so to pay the balance on your "wedding card" without…
- Endwell, NY – With a recent employee-led campaign, Visions Federal Credit Union employees were responsible for raising over $20,000 to support the American Heart Association (AHA). The campaign was led by Dan Spence, Visions' Director of Business and Indirect Development, who also served as Co-Chair for the Southern Tier Heart Walk. Spence and a committee of employee volunteers oversee ongoing…
- ENDWELL, N.Y. – Financial Wellness Bootcamp, a contest from Visions Federal Credit Union, has concluded and Robert Moore of Binghamton was one of the participants. The contest, launched in June 2021, provided a unique chance for Visions members to get their personal finances on track, whether they were trying to buy a house, pay off debt, or just improve their credit score. Last year, contestants…, About Visions, Visions Federal Credit Union is a not for profit financial institution completely owned by its members. Established in 1966, Visions proudly serves more than 230,000 members in communities throughout New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Services include banking as well as auto, home, personal, and business loans.
- As student loan debt continues to climb, more and more of the nation's 44 or so million borrowers are looking for manageable ways to pay them back. The student loan refi has become an increasingly popular way to get a handle on this life expense that now looks more like a mortgage than a common monthly bill. What one or two generations ago was considered a nuisance payment has grown in both size…, Membership, Credit unions are member-owned nonprofits , which makes you more than just a number or dollar sign. Unlike banks, profits are reinvested in the membership in the form of lower interest rates on loans and higher dividends on savings. As a member-owner, you have a stake in how you're treated. You'll likely get the fairest shake from your credit union as opposed to a national web-based bank. With a…, Financial Guidance, In addition to its local, physical location, your credit union likely offers personal guidance for all things financial, from how to crush student loan debt to building a monthly budget. This is just one added benefit of membership. Not only can you get the loan you need, but sound financial advice as well., Total Debt Solutions, College debt is more than just student loans. It's not unusual to accumulate some credit card debt when you're on a limited income at school or as you start out in your career. That's where options like the Any Purpose Signature Loan from Visions come in. With the Any Purpose, you can roll your student loans and other debts into a single loan with one interest rate and manageable monthly payments., Community-Based, By virtue of their missions, credit unions are community-focused. In the same way they give back to members, they support the public by sponsoring community events, making donations to worthy organizations, or encouraging employees to volunteer their time. By banking with a credit union, you get personal service while also indirectly impacting the place where you live, work and/or play. Feels…
