From the moment I married my husband, we dreamed of the trips we would take together. Our trip of a lifetime? Europe. It was a big and far-fetched dream, especially five years ago when we were just starting our careers and didn’t have much stashed away in savings. But, it all starts with a dream, right?
 
I am proud to say that this dream has become a reality, as we will be on our way to Europe this Spring! I can’t believe it. If we can do it, so can you. I can boil down our success to four main points. If you can stick to these four things for the next five years, maybe you’ll be packing your bags for your dream trip!
 
1. Setting a goal.
This is the easy part- choosing where you want to go! Start planning out your dream trip. The sticker shock is real but giving yourself a realistic goal in the beginning will set yourself up for success in the end. I’m a goal-oriented person, so a real number with a real purpose made me much more driven to get to the end goal.
 
2. Be patient for promotions.
This part is hard for the planner side of my brain. But, we saved not hundreds but thousands of dollars by waiting for promotions on plane tickets and travel arrangements. There are so many travel blogs that will give free and helpful advice on when and how to find out about the best deals in the travel industry. For my husband and I, we subscribed to a site that would notify us when a certain flight went on sale. After booking our trip (during the promotional season), we waited anxiously to receive emails, knowing what number we were looking for. It took about two months, but we got the absolute lowest airfare to Europe that is possible. We literally saved over $1,000 on airfare alone.
 
3. Saying no.
This part is the hardest, but also vital to success in hitting your goal without debt. We have said no to friends who have asked us to go to dinner with them because there was no more money allotted for eating out. We had to buy popcorn at the dollar store and watch a movie on Netflix because we were out of “Date Night” money! We decided that our first house would be an older, smaller house. We have made a lot of sacrifices on this road. But, now that our trip is booked and waiting on us, I can tell you it was worth EVERY no that we had to say along the way and every penny saved.
 
4. Sleeping on it.
Don’t make large purchases in one-day. Make sure that you go home, let it settle in, and sleep on it. The next day, you may realize that going on your dream trip is more of a priority than purchasing a new car. For us, there were several major home renovation projects that we wanted to work on after buying our house a few years ago. But, we decided to wait in order to pay cash for our trip. We chose experiences every time. (Also, dreaming about Italian gelato helped, too.)
 
Going on a vacation that is already paid for is SO much more enjoyable. We can’t wait to spend money, guilt-free, on our trip. It’s our hard-earned money. I hope that these three tips will help your family save over the next year(s) for the trip of a lifetime. If you want to learn more about savings, click here to go through the module in our ēCO Educational Center. 

Written by: Georgia Hux

Some people will tell you that it’s impossible to eat healthy and save money. I’m here to tell you they are wrong.
 
Five years ago, after my husband and I got married, we lived in a one bedroom, one bath apartment and made just enough money to pay our bills with a little left over (if it was a good month). Six months into marriage, I decided that I was tired of the on-again-off-again dieting; I was ready for lifestyle changed (think: everything in the pantry being thrown into the trash can). With our salaries, I knew I would have to be creative to make this change affordable- but also lasting.
 
We will celebrate five years in June., and I am very proud to say that while the queso and ice cream have won a few times, I have stuck to my healthy lifestyle all of these years without going over $100 per week in groceries.
 
Are you saying, “There is no way! Eating healthy is so expensive and takes up so much time. There is something she isn’t telling us,”? Trust me- it took a lot of research, planning and discipline to be in this part of my journey. However, every part of my plan is about as practical as a lifestyle change can come! Here are four ways you can start trimming off those pounds and have financial freedom:
 
Make Pinterest your friend.
I have found all of my favorite recipe blogs and food techniques from Pinterest. Did I mention a Pinterest account is free? I love that you can create a “Recipe” board and save everything in one place. It makes life easier to be able to reference your saved recipes when you’re making your weekly plan and prepping for the grocery store.
 
Plan your meals and list before you shop.
Whatever you do, DO NOT walk into the grocery store without a list in your hand. I guarantee you that you’ll spend at least $20 less with a list, if not more. Take an hour the night before your grocery store trip. First, plan for the necessities, and then, plan out your meals for the week. I may be particular about this part, but I prefer to map out my favorite grocery stores and plan my list according to the layout of the store. Personally, it keeps me from getting distracted by that bag of Caramel M&M’s at the end of the aisle that calls to me.
 
Shop what’s on sale.
We eat a lot of veggies and fruit. Let’s say I put oranges on my list for that week, but when I arrive at the store, apples are on sale for a $1 less than the bag of oranges. I will grab the apples instead. I am not brand loyal; I buy what’s on sale. So, if I have almond milk on my list, guess what brand goes into my cart? If you answered, “the least expensive,” then you are correct! Also, always compare generic brands with the name brands. They will almost always save you money and taste the same (or better!).
 
Stick to your budget.
Our grocery budget stays at $400 every month. We make it work. If we only have $50 left at the end of the month, we try to clean out our pantry and make a meal out of what we have and hope there is some type of meat on sale that week! Try your hardest to not go over the budget that is set for your groceries. Food should account for 5-15% of your total budget- including eating out. Do the math for your family, and try to stick to a challenging but doable goal.
 
Speaking of a healthy lifestyle, we are hosting one of our biggest fundraisers of the year- our 3rd Annual Charity Trail Run- next Saturday, April 14 at Red Mountain Park. We have a 1 Mile Fun Run for the beginners, and a 5K and 10K Trail Run for the more advanced. We have a “Sleeping In” option, and you don’t even have to show up (but you’ll be supporting a great cause AND receive a t-shirt)! One hundred percent of our proceeds will go to supporting financial literacy in the Birmingham metro area! Click here to register.
 
Written by: Georgia Hux
​April 6, 2018

​Recently, my 2004 Maxima transmission started having major issues. So, I had to give old Maxi up. (I’m not crying; you’re crying.) And then, the dreaded car search began. I don’t know about you, but searching for a new car is not something I have been looking forward to. Also, going to car dealerships unarmed will cause ALL the angry emoji faces. Let’s dig into this topic a little more and talk about the myths of car buying.
 
I should go to the dealership first. No. Nope. Sorry, but no. Incorrect. I don’t know if there are any other ways to say it; do NOT go to the car dealer first. If you are financing your vehicle, they are paid bonuses based on who you are financing your vehicle with.  Do yourself a big favor and do your research before you walk through those big, fancy dealership doors. What is your budget? What kind of vehicle fits into that budget? How much are you putting down? Where can you find your best rate? At ēCO Credit Union, members are encouraged to call or come into a branch to find out our rates first. We hope that your financial institution encourages you to do the same.
 
A lower price/payment means a better deal. When you are considering financing a vehicle, you need to consider the whole picture; consider how much you will be paying back in total at the end. We all want to pay off our auto loan quicker than scheduled, but life happens and that isn’t always possible. So, let’s say you will be stuck with what you sign up for. Don’t settle for a 7% interest rate just because your payments will be below your budget each month. What if you could pay $50-$100 more a month with a lower interest rate and pay back THOUSANDS less over your term?
 
A used car that is less than four years old is a waste of money. Like I mentioned above, a car’s value depreciates the most in the first four years of its life. However, there are some variables to consider. If you are going to a dealership, look online first to see the cars that are within in your budget and compare. Personally, I did this a month ago and came out on top. I drove about 45 minutes away to a college town; the school’s rival team has blue in their school colors. I was able to buy a 2017 car in blue for the same price as a 2013 model in any other color. Now, I can drive to any other town, and it would be worth more when I am ready to sell. Make sure to research online inventory. Don’t be afraid to ask your car salesman questions about these variables; you will be glad you did (drives away waving in blue car).
 
Are you in the market to buy a car? We are offering a free seminar next Thursday, April 5 at the Gardendale Civic Center and would love to see you there! We will be discussing auto buying and home buying. All we ask is that you register here, as we will be providing dinner. (Make sure to check off the last choice if you plan to attend.)  We hope to see you there! And, stay tuned for April as we will be celebrating Financial Literacy Month. 

​

It’s that time- the pollen is everywhere, the rain is falling, and the daytime is longer. Spring is here! No matter whether your home is a 600-square feet apartment or a 3,000 square feet house, this season creates a desire for cleaning up and cleaning out the dark dusty corners for a fresh start.
 
When I look around my house, I have a hard time knowing where to begin. Do I start with the closet? Or, what about those curtains? But, the fridge shelves haven’t been cleaned in…?
 
Here are some tips to have your house sparkling on a budget:
 
Declutter first.
Before you start organizing and cleaning, go through your “stuff” with a fine-tooth comb and find out what you use/wear/need the most. Then, donate or sell the items you decide are not worth the space they are taking up.
 
Seek out savings.
Don’t get in a hurry to buy all-new cleaning appliances. Do your research and seek out discounts. This is the season to find great deals on even hi-tech gadgets that will help you maximize your time now and throughout the year.
 
Find practical cleaners.
Right now, there are a myriad of choices for cleaning products. And, with less chemicals being a trend in our culture, the more natural brands will want (a lot of) your money for their ingredients. Why not do your own version of “natural”? Go ahead, and login into your Pinterest account. Search “DIY Cleaning Products”. You’ll be amazed at how many ingredient lists will read dish soap, vinegar and baking soda right out of your kitchen! For once, a Pinterest project that will turn out the way you want.
 
Double on décor and storage.
Are you thinking about updating your space but need a place to store some clutter? You’ll find that many companies are offering pieces that double as décor and storage for your space. I just love a good ottoman that is also efficient, right?! However, please don’t throw out those sturdy plastic bins! Use the less aesthetically pleasing pieces in less visible places to maximize your storage even more.