If you are planning a wedding this year, it could be challenging. With high demand coming from a global pandemic, brides have limited options for everything from wedding dates to food to venues; it’s a true “wedding boom,” according to Brides.com. After more than a year of postponed and called-off weddings, the industry has seen an influx of weddings coming back as the world opens up again. As a result, the demand for every aspect of the industry is higher…
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Buying a Home in a Seller’s Market
Life Goals
You’ve made the decision to buy a new home. Or maybe this is your first time. You’re probably excited and can’t wait to go house hunting. If the market is a “Buyer’s Market,” one in which supply exceeds demand, you’ll have plenty of time to get your financing in order and look at as many homes as you like. But what if demand is high and supply is low? Then you’re in a “Seller’s Market.” During a seller’s market, homes…
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Considering a car purchase in 2020?
Life Goals Spending/Saving
Purchasing a car can be complicated, and perhaps an even more difficult decision to manage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the ongoing economic challenges, consumers appear more eager than usual to make a vehicle purchase. As people have shifted their lives to a more virtual environment, consumers continue to shop for cars online. According to a recent Cars.com survey, which polled around 3,000 respondents earlier this year, 48% of consumers said they’re interested in handling price negotiations online, while 42%…
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Does a new car top your holiday wish list?
Life Goals Spending/Saving
If you’re looking to drive into the new year on a new set of wheels, the timing is right to save some money on this big purchase! According to Kelley Blue Book, you can benefit from both year-end sales events and, if you wait until the end of the month, automakers and dealers looking to meet monthly sales targets. But according to Automotive News, more Americans are likely to turn toward a used car for their next purchase. Both escalating…
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Paying for College with Midwest Community
Life Goals
Preparing for college is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful as you start to tally the costs. College is expensive! Before you get overwhelmed, take a deep breath and walk through the process one step at a time. How much will it cost? By now you have probably received a financial aid award letter from your college of choice that outlines your Cost of Attendance (COA) and the financial aid you are eligible to receive. Remember…
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Sticking to Financial Resolutions
Life Goals Money Management Spending/Saving
Ohioans, like most Americans, entered 2019 hoping to better their finances, but many have likely already fallen off track. In an Ohio Credit Union League 2019 consumer survey, 69 percent said their New Year’s resolution was to get on a budget. That statistic isn’t surprising; many Americans looked critically at their financial situations as they headed into 2019. Statista, a platform providing statistical data on a variety of topics, polled 2,000 people about their New Year’s resolutions in early January….
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Why it’s never too early to start saving for a down payment
Life Goals Money Management Spending/Saving
The best advice my mom ever gave me was, “Pay yourself first.” Pay yourself first What does that mean? Every payday, put some funds straight into savings – before you throw that cash at other expenses or purchases. Now, it doesn’t mean you should ignore your bills. Obviously, you need to pay your rent and make your car payment and all the rest. But if you set yourself an aggressive monthly saving goal, paying yourself first can help you avoid…
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6 ways to prepare for retirement
Life Goals Money Management Spending/Saving
Planning for retirement can be daunting, leaving even the most-prepared individuals feeling anxious. In an Ohio Credit Union League 2018 consumer survey, 92 percent of respondents said they had at least one major financial concern about retirement. A majority of the survey’s respondents, about 74.6 percent, don’t plan to retire from full-time employment in the next five years, if ever. Ohioans’ financial fears surrounding retirement vary. Most, 27.5 percent, fear they won’t have time to save what they need. Another…
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Life Hacks for Saving
Life Goals Money Management Spending/Saving
Saving money, especially when you’re young, can be challenging. But, that doesn’t mean that you can’t manage your money like a BOSS! With today’s technology, literally at your fingertips, there is no reason why savings and spending should go unmanaged. Right now, Millennials are stepping into or are a few years into the beginning of their careers. Managing bills, a new job, new expenses, and oh, yeah, that college loan can be daunting, but not unruly. Track Your Spending Mobile…
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Why healthy relationships require financial communication
Life Goals Money Management
Everyone knows communication is key to a happy marriage. Couples love talking about their future together and exciting vacation plans, but avoid the tough conversations like finances. In fact, 91 percent of Americans said they actively found reasons to avoid discussing money with their partners, according to an American Express Spending and Saving Tracker poll. Even though they’re not communicating about money, couples are stressing about it. A Money Magazine poll found four out of five spouses believe they’re on…
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