Get Financially Fit! | Health Eating on a Budget

Eating healthy doesn't have to break the bank! Food Network has compiled a sign dedicated to
Healthy Eating on a Budget. Visit this site for tips and tricks to shop smarter, create tasty meals and lose your guilt along the way!

View Healthy Eating on a Budget.

Hudson Hot Air Affair | February 5-7

The Hudson Hot Air Affair is just around the corner—February 5-7! Join in on all of the wonderful family friendly events such as an evening parade, hot air balloon launches, geocaching, shopping, smooshboarding, arts and crafts, hot air balloon moon glow and great food just to name a few. WESTconsin Credit Union is proud to sponsor this community event!

Visit hudsonhotairaffair.com for more details!

Get Financially Fit! | Spending Habits

Does it seem like your paycheck is spent before you even get it? Perhaps it is time to take a look at your spending habits. Karen Cordaway, contributor to U.S. News and World Report and writer on her website, MoneySavingEnthusiast.com, shares with us 5 Tips for Better Spending Habits.

While 2016 is in full swing, if you haven't thought about a resolution yet, don't give up. Maybe it's time to make one that has the potential to stick. If you're often wondering how money slips out of your wallet, consider becoming the crash test dummy for better spending habits. Test drive some of these ideas below to develop better ones.

Read Full Article

Are you going to #ShopSmall today?

Today is Small Business Saturday which encourages people across the country to support small, local businesses.

Remember, Kindness Counts!

As you are out and about shopping over the next few days, remember Kindness Counts—Pass It On! Be kind to others and remember your manners. Did you perform, witness or receive a random act of kindness? SHARE with us in the comments section. Happy shopping!

Smart Shopping During the Holidays

Smart Shopping During the Holidays

Source: NCUA Consumer Assistance Center

Keep your finances safe while you shop during this holiday season.

Criminals and scammers use many techniques to fool potential victims. NCUA has put together a list of tips you can use to avoid becoming a victim of a holiday scam. Take a look at a few of the newest and most common scams you should watch for this holiday season.

Read the full article here.

GUEST POST | How to Shop Cooperatively This Holiday Season

How to Shop Cooperatively This Holiday Season

by Jeremiah Tucker

KENT, Wash. (11/17/15)--It's a trend that's been going on for years. In an attempt to wring more profit from the biggest shopping day of the year, so many retailers start Black Friday on Thanksgiving that it's become almost commonplace.

Many people view these early store hours as eroding family time and corrupting the meaning of Thanksgiving. The backlash has included consumer campaigns and boycotts against companies perpetuating this trend, and some companies, like Staples, are reversing course and staying closed on Thanksgiving.

Start planning your Thanksgiving now!

Start planning your Thanksgiving now with our Frugal Fall Frills & Feasts board on Pinterest!

Follow WESTconsin Credit Union's board Frugal Fall Frills & Feasts on Pinterest.

We’ll have you singing a new tune this holiday season!

We’ll have you singing a new tune this holiday season!

Receive as low as 4.99% APR* introductory offer for 9-months on all purchases, cash advances and balance transfers. Offer ends November 15, 2015. Some restrictions apply. Member eligibility required. Subject to credit approval. *Rate and credit limit based on credit score, income and MVP status. After 9-months, standard interest rate applies.

Apply now!

NEW Pinterest Board | Back-to-School Savings & DIY

For back-to-school savings and DIY fun, check out our newest Pinterest board—Back-to-School Savings & DIY!

Follow WESTconsin Credit Union's board Back-to-School Savings & DIY on Pinterest.

Back-to-School Savings for Your Household Budget

Back-to-School Savings for Your Household Budget

Students aren’t the only ones who’ll need to pull out the pens, paper, and calculators for the back-to-school season. Parents who want to keep back-to-school spending under control should consider doing the same.

Backpacks, paper, books, pens, pencils, calculators, computers, clothes and shoes are basic necessities that can add up quickly and become significant expenses for any household. Developing and sticking to a solid spending plan is the key to avoiding overspending. If you are in charge of back-to-school shopping, here are tips to help keep your budget on track:

7 Foods to Buy When You're Broke

If you’re confined to a strict food budget, you should consider green vegetables, brown rice or beans.

By Aaron Crowe Jan. 16, 2014 | 11:55 a.m. EST

Trying to live on a food budget of about $4 per day can be quite a challenge. People quickly discover this when they take the Food Stamp Challenge and try to learn what it's like to be poor for a week.

The challenge mirrors what someone can get through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, the federal program that helps low-income people buy groceries. One in seven Americans receive the benefits, which were significantly reduced by Congress in November.

To qualify, a family of four can have an annual net income of up to $23,556, which puts them at the federal poverty level. They would then receive up to $632 a month in SNAP benefits, which equates to about $5.25 a day per person for food. The average SNAP recipient receives $4 per day, according to the Food Research and Action Center.

While getting this extra money can mean the difference between eating and going hungry, the limited funds can make it difficult to choose which food to buy. Getting the most nutrition for your money can be hard when you don't have a lot of money for groceries, but it's not impossible.

The Best Purchases to Make in May

It's a great time to buy mattresses and spring clothes.

Thrift stores are usually fully stocked this time of year

By Jon Lal May 7, 2015 | 9:00 a.m. EDT

Now that we are in the beginning of May, spring is in full swing and the seasons are changing. It’s the perfect time to prepare for the travel, events and fun that summer has in store, and there are plenty of bargains available to help you do so. Here is a guide with the smartest purchases you can make this month, as well as a few things you’ll want to avoid: