Financial Education

Helpful, easy-to-understand articles to guide your financial wellness journey at every stage.

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New Year, New You: 7 Steps to Creating a New Year’s Resolution + Sticking to It

There is no more popular time than the first of the year for goal-setting. We often have grand visions of how we will look, feel, and live before ringing in the next year by knocking out major resolutions left and right. For some, the major lifestyle changes stick. For others, resolutions are long given up on, or forgotten, just a few weeks into the new year.

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Budgeting & Planning

Quick Money Tip: 5 Steps to Paying Off Holiday Debt

So, you saved up, created a holiday budget, gave affordable gifts, and celebrated the season frugally, but you still ended up with far more holiday debt than you'd like. It's no fun to kick off a New Year with financial stress, feeling totally broke. Here are some ways you can get rid of that December debt as quickly as possible.

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Debt Management

Thrifty Thursday: 8 Things You Should Always Buy Used

We're huge fans of shopping secondhand to save major bucks, but sometimes it can be hard to decide whether you're better off buying new or used items, especially when health and safety are concerned.

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Personal Finance

The 5 Moves You Need to Make to Get Financed for an Auto Loan

Ever wonder where you should start when you know you need to buy a new car? Have you wondered if you have the credit to get a great car financed at a great rate? Or maybe you are a new borrower and have no credit established? At 3Rivers, we have many members asking these question and others related to getting financed for a vehicle. Your credit union is a great starting ground on getting you into a car that you will love, and one that meets your budget.

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Auto Loans Credit Score

Money Monday: Understanding Your Credit Report (Bonus: A Free Printable!)

A couple of weeks ago, we recommended a few money moves you should make before 2015. One to-do on that list: Check your credit report. But what's the point in doing so if you don't understand what that report - or your actual credit score - is telling you? We've got some resources that can help you out!

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Credit Score

Fun Money Facts: The Commerce of Christmas

The stores are swarming with shoppers. Holiday tunes have taken over the radio. Homes are being prepared for visitors. And stress levels are through the roof. Yep, it's that time of year again! We stumbled across this infographic (which is outdated by a couple of years, so numbers have actually gone up slightly) and are curious: If you celebrate Christmas, do these findings reflect your spending habits?

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Personal Finance Debt Management