Welcome to CASE’s Financial Wellness Library
This page was created as a free resource tool to assist members, as well as non-members, to learn how to adequately understand, plan, and utilize its content so that everyone can achieve financial success.
Financial Wellness Tips Library
Scroll through our library of financial wellness topics for short videos and practical tips to help with your financial success. We add to this library every quarter. Make this your go-to place for practical and useful financial advice!
Note:
For more assistance with mapping out your financial success, consider meeting with a Financial Counselor! Our financial counselors are a free resource for members and non-members. Check out their Financial Resources page for more information!
Check out our newest video in the Budgeting tab below! Family Spending Plan.
Budgeting
The first step in budgeting is seeing your income and expenses laid out so that you can accurately calculate your budget.
To begin, use this one-month calendar to write down your expenses and income using this One Month Budgeting Calendar(Opens in a new Window).
The 50/30/20 Rule.
Using your after tax income, your budget should be divided into three ways:
50% to needs
30 % to wants
20 % to long-term savings.
"Extra" Money
Make sure to put money that you receive as gifts, bonuses, tax returns, etc, into your budget instead of spending on unnecessary purchases.
Make sure to put money that you receive as gifts, bonuses, tax returns, etc, into your budget instead of spending on unnecessary purchases.
Tight Budget?
Finding your budget a little tight? Make sure you are utilizing monthly subscriptions you are paying for. Also, cut back on eating out and expensive activities. Look for local resources to find free or low-cost entertainment.
Finding your budget a little tight? Make sure you are utilizing monthly subscriptions you are paying for. Also, cut back on eating out and expensive activities. Look for local resources to find free or low-cost entertainment.
For a digital budget calculator check out Banzai's digital budget calculator.
Credit
Credit is the ability to borrow money or access goods or services with the understanding that you'll pay later. From Credit Cards to Auto Loans, and even a Home Mortgage, credit is an important part of your financial success.
Types of Credit
You want to have a great mix of revolving credit (credit cards), installment credit (car loans, mortgages, student loans), and open credit (cellphone and utility bills).
Credit Score
You want to have a great mix of revolving credit (credit cards), installment credit (car loans, mortgages, student loans), and open credit (cellphone and utility bills).
You want to have a great mix of revolving credit (credit cards), installment credit (car loans, mortgages, student loans), and open credit (cellphone and utility bills).
Things That Don't Affect Credit
Checking and savings account information, medical history and records, marital status, buying habits, income and asset information are not stored in credit reports and do not affect your credit.
Checking and savings account information, medical history and records, marital status, buying habits, income and asset information are not stored in credit reports and do not affect your credit.
No Credit?
Don't have a credit score?
The best way to build credit is to open a credit card, put a manageable amount on it and pay it off every month!
Don't have a credit score?
The best way to build credit is to open a credit card, put a manageable amount on it and pay it off every month!
Debt Management
The importance of saving
Saving money is important to building a better financial future. Follow these tips to get started saving today!
Tip #1 - Earn Interest
Put your savings into a money management account or term deposit account to earn higher interest while your money is safely being stored. Let it grow!
Put your savings into a money management account or term deposit account to earn higher interest while your money is safely being stored. Let it grow!
Tip #2 - Protect Your Money
Keeping your savings at a credit union insures your account up to $250,000. This is way safer than in your home or piggy bank where it can be stolen or lost in a fire.
Keeping your savings at a credit union insures your account up to $250,000. This is way safer than in your home or piggy bank where it can be stolen or lost in a fire.
Tip #3 - Pay Off Early
Pay more towards your auto loan and/or mortgage payment every month to pay off your loan faster and save on interest.
Pay more towards your auto loan and/or mortgage payment every month to pay off your loan faster and save on interest.
Tip #4 - Emergency Savings
If you have no dependents, you should have an emergency savings for 3 months of essential living expenses. For those with dependents that increases to 6 months.
If you have no dependents, you should have an emergency savings for 3 months of essential living expenses. For those with dependents that increases to 6 months.
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