Did you know that one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is saving more money? Many people also prioritize their health, with saving money second only to exercising more and losing weight. We probably can’t help you become more physically fit. But we certainly can help you become more financially fit. In fact, here are five reachable goals Central Willamette Credit Union can help you with in 2021.
1. Saving More Money
Since saving money is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions year after year, we thought it made the most sense to start here. It can seem like you’re climbing an uphill battle when it comes to saving money. That may have been especially true for 2020. You might be one of the millions of people who lost a job and had to file an unemployment claim.
But even if you’ve had setbacks in the past, it’s possible to save for the future. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how important it is to save for a rainy day. It’s easy to get started. All you have to do is open a savings account. You may be thinking, “But things are tight right now and I simply don’t have the money to open a savings account.” We know it’s been a tough year. That’s why we offer our Membership Savings account, which can be opened with as little as $5. You can put aside a certain percentage of your paycheck each week or simply add to it as you’re able.
Positive reinforcement can go a long way toward helping you achieve your savings goals. That’s where we come in. Central Willamette Credit Union rewards your deposits with some of the best rates of return in town. So open a savings account with us, watch your money grow, and reach your savings goals much more quickly. It’s that simple. Read on for further tips on how to save money.
2. Buying a New Home
If you’ve been thinking about buying a new home or refinancing your current mortgage, there’s never been a better time to act. Mortgage rates reached all-time lows in 2020, making now an excellent time to take advantage of favorable market trends.
If you’re a first-time homebuyer, the home loan process may seem complicated and even overwhelming at times. But we’re here to help make the experience go as smoothly as possible. Our mortgage calculator, for instance, will help you figure out how much home you can afford. We also have a calculator to assist you in determining whether it’s better to rent or buy. Our wide range of resources will help you make an informed decision about when to buy, how much to spend, and what type of loan to get.
3. Lowering Your Insurance Payments
When you make a large purchase, such as financing a home or vehicle, you have to protect your investment. Major expenses such as your house and car must be insured. Not only can we help you protect your assets, but we can also help you save hundreds of dollars by lowering your car insurance premiums.
How exactly do we do that? We partner with TruStage-Auto Insurance Program. The program offers a number of member-friendly benefits, including credit union member discounts, further reductions for safe driving, around-the-clock customer service, and a mobile app for quick and easy claims filing. The best part is that it’s easy to get a free online quote to see how much you’ll be able to save.
If you’ve had a tough year financially, you may be thinking it’s impossible to save money. But that’s not true. It just takes some creative thinking, resourcefulness, and a positive attitude. If you don’t have money to add to your savings account at the moment, start thinking of areas where you can cut back. Switching your car insurance agent is one way you can save hundreds of dollars each year, money that can be put toward savings instead.
4. Starting Your Own Business
Many people look to the new year as a time for a fresh start and a time to realize long-awaited goals. If you’ve always wanted to get your own business up and running, now may be just the time for you to get started on that business plan of yours.
Central Willamette Credit Union offers a complete portfolio of business management tools to help you run your day-to-day operations. From setting up an employee retirement plan to managing the payroll, we have all your business needs covered.
Thinking of starting an e-commerce business? We offer a number of merchant services that allow you to accept all forms of payment quickly and easily. Whatever type of business you want to manage, let us focus on the logistics so you can focus your time and energy on the success of your business.
5. Investing in Your Future
Saving money is an excellent way to reach your short-term goals for 2021, like buying a car or taking a dream vacation. But be sure to focus on 2021 and beyond. While you’re saving for short-term goals, make sure you also stock away a little money for the future. After all, you don’t want to spend everything you’re saving right now and end up with very little in your retirement years. Instead, come up with an investment plan.
Some people are intimidated by investing. Others love it. Central Willamette knows how to work with both novice and experienced investors. So regardless of your skill level, we have investment options to help you achieve your long-term financial goals. We’ll come up with a personalized investment strategy that’s most well-suited for you.
The sooner you start investing in your future, the better. So don’t put it off any longer. Give us a call and we’ll help you meet your financial goals for 2021 and beyond.