USALLIANCE Blog

Many people use the terms “interest rate” and “APR” interchangeably, but the two have different meanings and the distinction is important. This infographic defines these two crucial financial terms, shows the difference between them, and gives insight on how to apply this information to real world situations.

If you’d like to make some improvements to your home but cannot afford something as extensive as a full-blown renovation, then you might want to consider trying some DIY home improvements. In this article, we’ll discuss a number of different projects that you can tackle yourself. Some are simple, some are a little more involved, some can make a major difference to your home, and some are minor updates, so whatever you’re looking to do or however handy you are, there’s a project here for you! With a bit of creativity, the right tools, some instructions, and the willingness to roll up your sleeves and get to work, you can spruce up your living space without spending big. Here are nine home improvement ideas you can do on your own.

Previously, we shared a Financial Glossary infographic that focused on a wide range of financial terms that members are likely to come across in their lives. It’s an essential building block of financial education to know and understand these terms. It opens more options and gives members more control over their finances. Many of these terms are a bit too advanced for kids, however, and providing early financial education to children can go a long way to preparing them for a financially successful future. That’s why we’ve created another Financial Glossary for Kids, so that parents can help walk them through some basics and begin teaching their children about how to handle money.

In today's world, where many people spend hours of each day browsing the Internet, staying safe online is paramount. The web is rife with scammers employing sophisticated tactics to get at your money and information. Scammers will sometimes set up fake websites purporting to sell legitimate products, but all they will do is steal your information and the product will never arrive. Another common tactic of criminals online is to spoof websites – creating a nearly identical version of a website that users know which tricks users into interacting with the website as they normally would. Accessing these and other kinds of scam websites can leave you open to having your information stolen or malware downloaded onto your device. Fortunately, there are clear warning signs you can watch out for to help stay safe while you surf the web. Here are six ways to tell if a website is safe:

Summertime is almost here, and that means school is out, so is the sun, and it’s time for some fun! Whether you’ve got a vacation coming up that you’ve been waiting all winter for or you’re just planning to go to a few ballgames or concerts, you need to budget for those expenses. Summer vacations and entertainment is a ton of fun, but it won’t be so fun come the fall if you’ve exceeded your budget and put yourself under financial stress. Download this full infographic to learn about the average costs of some popular summer expenses including vacations, travel, lodging, food, and entertainment so that you can budget accordingly and maximize your fun this summer!

There are many reasons to start a home improvement project. You might have some outdated plumbing you need to take care of, or an addition to the family you need more room for, or maybe you’ve had your eye on a particular part of the house since you bought it and you can finally take on the project. Whatever the reason for your home improvement project in the here and now, you should also consider the future. Many home improvement projects can help boost the value of your home when it comes time to sell – often times you can recoup at least part of the cost of the project or even exceed it.

One of the most fundamental and important parts of financial education is learning the language that is commonly used in the financial world. It can be overwhelming to discuss or even think about and research finances on your own without having a basic grasp of the terms that you will come across. Without knowing what APR is, you can’t make an informed decision on which credit card would be the best fit for you. Without knowing what a Certificate of Deposit, or share certificate, is you can’t know all the possible options you have for growing your savings.

For many individuals grappling with financial challenges, the idea of saving money can seem like an unattainable luxury. Especially if your struggles are such that you sometimes find yourself running out of money before the end of the month or making difficult choices in the last week before your next paycheck. However, neglecting your savings when the going gets tough can make things even more difficult down the line. In this article, we will go over why it’s important to continue saving when the going gets tough and discuss some practical ways that you can make it happen.

One of the types of fraud that financial institutions have been dealing with increasingly is spoofing. What is spoofing? It’s a type of scam where the criminal tries to trick their victim into believing that they are interacting with a source they know and trust. By doing so, they can con their victim into giving away sensitive information that leaves them exposed to further attacks. There are a number of different ways that scammers will attempt spoofing. In this infographic, we will review four types of spoofing: email spoofing, caller ID spoofing, website spoofing, and text message spoofing. Download the full infographic to learn what each type of spoofing is, the dangers of it, and how you can protect yourself.

Spring is in the air! It's the season of renewal, and while you're decluttering your home, why not give your finances a refreshingspring clean, too? Just like a good scrub can revitalize your living space, a financial spring cleaning can bring new life to your savings and set you up for a brighter financial future. Our finances can easily become routine. It’s important to set aside time each year to review your savings plans and goals, even if, on the surface, everything seems to be going well. Over time, things change that can impact our finances – the increased cost of items you buy regularly, a change in job or salary, paying off a loan, all of these situations and more can change the amount you’re saving or are able to save. If it’s been a while since you’ve given your savings a good, hard look, then start this spring and make it an annual habit! Not sure how to get started? Here’s how to spring-clean your savings in five easy steps.