USALLIANCE Blog

We all know that budgeting is important. A budget helps build financial stability by keeping spending in check and ensuring you don’t live beyond your means. However, many people do not keep a budget. Some think they don’t need a budget, while others know that they do but are afraid to dive in because it can seem like an intimidating, complex process. With the right tools and information, building a budget can be quick and easy. Here’s how to create a simple and practical budget for the time-strapped consumer.

It’s tax refund season, so you might have some extra cash burning a hole in your pocket, or you might be eagerly waiting for your refund to hit your account. Having some additional money on hand is always cause for excitement, but it’s important to carefully consider how you’re going to spend it.

It’s tax season, and as if getting your taxes filed on time wasn’t enough to worry about, that means it’s also tax scam season. With sensitive documents and personal information getting passed around, it’s vital that you stay vigilant in protecting yourself. Whether you’re filing your taxes yourself, hiring a professional, or using a tax preparation software, follow these tax security tips to help you stay safe and secure this time of year.

A money market account can be an extremely useful financial tool, but many people are not familiar with them or how they work. Here, we will walk you through the basics of money market accounts: what they are, why they are a good option, potential uses for one, and how to manage a money market account. Download the full infographic for a quick, simple guide on the fundamentals of a money market account.

Tax season is fast approaching, and you might already be thinking about getting everything ready to go. It’s great to start organizing well in advance of the deadline to avoid any last-minute issues, but it can be overwhelming. That’s why USALLIANCE has put together this helpful guide to assist you in getting ahead on your taxes. Here’s how to prepare for tax season.

If it seems like every single year, you’re hearing more and more about scams and fraud, you’re probably correct. In 2022, scammers broke the $10 billion mark for the first time ever. The amount of money lost by Americans to scammers has increased significantly over the past 5 years, rising from $2.7 billion in 2018 to $10.3 billion in 2022, and a new record high has been set every single year in that time. From 2021 to 2022 alone, the amount of money lost rose by over $3 billion. On an individual level, the average loss per victim jumped from $8,142 per incident in 2021 to $12,859 in 2022. In short, scammers are successfully targeting more people than ever before, and they are taking more money than ever before.

It’s that time of year once again; the temperature outside drops, the thermostat rises – and your heating bill rises right alongside it! We all want to keep our homes warm when it’s cold out, but with rising costs, you might be a little hesitant to turn the heat up. It doesn’t have to be that way, though! USALLIANCE is here to help by providing you some tips and tricks that you can use this winter to keep your home warm without paying sky-high heating bills. Some of these are simple tips that you can start using today, others require a little bit of planning or investment, but all of them can help you turn down the heat on your wallet without doing the same inside your home.

What is a share certificate?

A share certificate is an insured savings account, typically with a fixed dividend rate through a fixed date of maturity. A share certificate from a credit union is similar to a certificate of deposit, or CD, from a bank. These accounts offer highly competitive rates by locking your funds into a fixed term. For example, USALLIANCE offers Certificate Accounts ranging from 3 to 60 months in term. The rate is different for different term lengths, but you can choose the rate and term combination that works the best for your financial situation.

The holidays are long past and the new year is now in full swing. However, some of us may still be struggling to get back to everyday life and recover from “holiday shock”. We all know the feeling – the house is in disarray, your daily routine has been out of whack for weeks, and then those first post-holiday credit card statements come haunting you like the ghosts of purchases past! After the time off work and gathering with family and friends over the holidays, it can be quite jarring to get back to our normal lives.

Even after a few weeks, you may still be seeing the residual effects of the holidays. The good news is, USALLIANCE is here to help you recover from your post-holiday slump! By making a plan and focusing on a few key areas, you can get back on track in no time and give your 2024 goals your all.