Your Guide to This Year’s More Limited Tax-Free Weekend

By | Articles, Lifestyle | No Comments
Everyone’s favorite back-to-school holiday is upon us – tax-free weekend, that is. Most people are familiar with this exciting time right before school starts when you can shop till you drop and don’t have to give Uncle Sam his cut. Tax-free weekend is a fantastic way to save on supplies for your child or yourself and prepare for the upcoming school year. But before you hit the stores in a frenzy this Saturday, take a few minutes to get familiar with what is and isn’t exempt, as there are many changes and more restrictions on what qualifies this year. The...
Read More

Five Tactics to Avoid Unnecessary Student Loan Debt

By | Articles, College Life, Finance | No Comments
Americans owe nearly $1.3 trillion in student loan debt, with the average class of 2016 student graduating with an indebtedness of $37,172.  What once was a minor inconvenience to graduates has grown into one of the greatest financial epidemics of our time. While it’s hard to dispute the value of having a college education, it’s difficult to defend the insane dollar amount associated with earning a degree. If you are currently enrolled in, or are planning to attend college, take a moment to step back and look at your current situation. What you do, how you act, and what you...
Read More

Using Home Equity Loans the Right Way

By | Articles, Finance | No Comments
It’s no secret that the values of the homes we all live in have improved over the past few years. While the Great Recession presented several financial challenges, decreasing values of our biggest asset created the most anxiety and uncertainty. As home values rise, the best advice I can give our members is to be very diligent in how you decide to leverage the value of your home. Please remember that history tends to repeat itself and if market values shift unexpectedly, borrowers may become upside down on the amount they owe and the value of their home. Keep in...
Read More

Five Ways to Save on Dog Care

By | Articles, Lifestyle | No Comments
For many dog owners, their pet is just another member of the family. And just like their “non-furry” family counterparts, they have needs and requirements that cost money. Sure, Fido doesn’t need new clothes for school (or any clothes, for that matter), but he does need food, medical attention, supplies, and maybe a few toys. It doesn’t take long for these costs to add up and take a substantial bite out of your monthly budget. Here are a few tips to help you save money while caring for your furry family member. Saving on Shots No, we’re not talking about...
Read More

Six Expensive Bad Habits Worth Breaking

By | Articles | No Comments
It’s been said that “old habits die hard.” Whether it be nail biting or smoking, by their nature, habits are extremely hard to break. However, not all bad habits are created equal. Some may simply be harmless and annoying while others can have a seriously negative effect on your finances. Here are six expensive bad habits worth taking the time to break. Not Using a Gym Membership Gym memberships are always started with the best of intentions. However, the dedication to regular visits often fades over time. If you currently have a gym membership, but haven’t even seen the inside...
Read More

7 Dollar Store Must-Buys

By | Articles | No Comments
When it comes to shopping at a dollar store, most people envision sorting through aisles upon aisles of ultra-cheap, low quality products. In reality, just because everything in the store costs $1 doesn’t mean that all of the products are inferior to their more expensive, store-brand counterparts. Here are a few popular dollar store items that may surprise you with their quality and value. Cleaning Supplies When it comes to household cleaning supplies, it’s easy to buy into the brand-name hype. In reality, there often isn’t much difference between the leading brand, and the no-name brand at the dollar store....
Read More

Saving Money on Workday Expenses

By | Articles | No Comments
Even though the whole point of going to work is to MAKE money, it’s extremely easy to SPEND a substantial amount of your hard-earned cash on work-related expenses.  We’re not talking about clothes or office supplies, here. We’re talking about morning (and possibly afternoon) Starbucks trips, $10 lunches, and trips to the company vending machine for sugary afternoon pick-me-ups. All of these things can add up to a substantial amount of spending over the course of a week. With a little pre-planning on your part, you can avoid these typical work-week expenses and stretch that hard-earned paycheck a little bit...
Read More

Sharing the GOOD

By | Articles, Finance | No Comments
Our members are always on the go, and we understand that. It may be for different reasons – business meetings, soccer games, leisure travel - but there's one thing you all have in common: membership at Achieva Credit Union. And you want access to your accounts – even when you can't get to one of our branches. In fact, when you’re on the go, we’re right there with you, with convenient locations across town, around Florida — even nationwide! These are called CO-OP Shared Branches. Achieva Credit Union’s participation in the CO-OP Shared Branch network means convenience when, where and...
Read More

Build the Perfect Budget in 15 Minutes!

By | Articles, Finance, Lifestyle | No Comments
Ah, the dreaded “B” word, “BUDGET”. Is it said out loud in your household? If not, it may be time to start allowing it! Properly discussing and implementing a monthly budget is a great way to track and manage your finances. In fact, once you correctly set and follow a budget, you’ll most likely feel like you received a pay raise, when in fact you are bringing home the same paycheck as your previous no-budgeting self. Budgeting is a continual process, so don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t seem to work for you right away. It will take a few...
Read More

Achieva Life blogs and articles are intended to provide general information, thoughts, and articles in regards to the topics covered therein. Achieva Life is provided with the intent and understanding that Achieva Credit Union is not engaged in the act of rendering financial, consulting, medical, technological, legal, accounting or any other professional advice. The information provided within Achieva Life is not intended nor should be used as a substitute for medical, legal, or other professional advice or other expert opinions. Achieva Credit Union is not responsible for the accuracy of the information on Achieva Life and makes no representation regarding the accuracy of the content. Achieva Credit Union reserves the right to delete or block any comments. The content and comments on Achieva Life do not necessarily reflect the views of Achieva Credit Union.