4 Ways to Pay for the “Extras” in Life

We live in a world of opportunity! From travel and entertainment to high-end home improvements, we have so many truly exciting options available to us. But… how do we pay for these extras? We aren’t talking about emergency home repairs or medical expenses. We are talking about the trips to Disney World, the dream kitchen make-over and the Mediterranean Cruise. Today, we are going to dive into 4 ways you can pay for the special “extras” in life that come your way.

• Increase your income: This makes sense… If you want to buy something that costs more than you make, you need to make more money. We were recently talking to a friend who works a part-time “per diem” job on the weekends. Her family is planning a trip to Disney World this fall so she is planning to pick up some extra hours during the weekend to help pay for their trip. This is a great set-up for her family. If you can pick up a part-time job or extra hours, that is a great way to save for the fun opportunities. However, many of us don’t have the opportunity to pick up extra work, and that leads us to #2…

• Decrease your expenses: Find areas in your budget where you may be overspending or areas you could cut back. One place to look is the grocery budget. Two friends recently compared their grocery bills. Both are feeding families of 4. Both have similar meal plans (healthy with some snacks and splurges built in). One shops at the local big name grocery store (super convenient and easy) and spends between $800 – $1,000 per month. The other shops at the local discount grocery stores (multiple visits to multiple stores) and spends between $400 – $600 per month. If your schedule can handle the time commitment, we are huge fans of discount grocery shopping! This is an easy way to make a big difference in your budget.

• Specialty Savings Accounts – If you are not already a part of a Christmas club or Vacation club, NOW is a great time to start! These accounts are designed to help you save money and pay for the special extra’s in life. You can even set up automatic transfers from your account. At the end of the year, you have the money waiting for you to go on vacation! Sign up for your vacation or Christmas club today! Vacation holiday accounts

• Take advantage of your credit: As your credit union, we know, you worked hard for that great credit score. You can take advantage of your credit with really low-rate loans for home improvements, vacations and other extra’s. We even offer a 2.99% intro rate VISA card that is perfect for the big extra’s because you get to keep the intro rate for the lifetime of any purchase made in the first year! Check out complete details here! Visa credit cards Of course, we do caution everyone to make good financial choices when deciding to pay with credit. You want to make sure that you can afford the monthly payback amount. And as always, meet with one of our expert loan officers to find the right choice for you! Contact Us