Making Money Personal

Financial Resources for a Fresh New Year - Money Tip Tuesday

The new year has just begun! It’s the perfect time for a refresh, and the beginning of a new journey. 
If you’re ready to get kicking this new year with a resolve to tackle your finances, now is the perfect time to scope out some reliable resources and learn effective strategies to accomplish whatever goal you seek to achieve this year. 
Links:
Books:
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey 
I will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
The Millionaire Next Door – by Thomas J Stanley
The Simple Path to Wealth – J.L. Collins
The Psychology of Money – Morgan Housel
YouTube Channels
Ramit Sethi I Will Teach You To Be Rich - YouTube
Dave Ramsey The Ramsey Show Highlights - YouTube 
Graham Stephen Graham Stephan - YouTube 
Khan Academy (Economics and Finance) Khan Academy - YouTube 
Next Gen Personal Finance Next Gen Personal Finance - YouTube 
Financial apps
You Need a Budget (YNAB) 
EveryDollar
Good Budget
Pocket Guard 
Use Triangle Credit Union's app for iOS or Android for Money Management tools
Check out TCU University for more financial education tips and resources!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Learn more about Triangle Credit Union
Transcript:
Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast.  
To improve and learn, you need to find credible resources. Today, there are so many different avenues to find anything you have an interest in. 
This might be the year you want to increase your net worth, get your finances more organized, save more money, or get out of debt.  
Fortunately, there are so many resources and tools available that cover any financial topic.  
Here are some top resource categories with specific examples you should explore this year for financial knowledge, practice, and motivation.  
The first one for all the readers out there is to select some finance books that explore popular themes to help you not only understand money but also how to lay out strategies for organizing it. 
Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey 
I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi 
The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J Stanley 
The Simple Path to Wealth by J.L. Collins
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel 
This is just a short list of the many books out there covering finance topics. Doing a simple Google or Amazon search will bring up additional suggestions for you to explore. Also, if you prefer to listen to audiobooks, most of these are available in audio format.  
Keep in mind, many authors also write articles on their social media and websites so explore their profiles for more insight, news, and other advice they may be sharing. 
For anyone who likes to watch videos and tutorials, another resource is to seek out financial videos from good teachers and experts. 
If this is your preferred learning method, YouTube can be a great resource. Many financial institutions and professionals host videos and discussions on their own channel where you can pick up some useful tips, advice and learn all about a variety of topics.  
Explore the YouTube channels of some of these popular creators. 
Ramit Sethi I Will Teach You to Be Rich - YouTube
Dave Ramsey The Ramsey Show Highlights - YouTube
Graham Stephen Graham Stephan - YouTube
Khan Academy (Economics and Finance) Khan Academy - YouTube
Next Gen Personal Finance Next Gen Personal Finance - YouTube 
Don’t forget to also explore your financial institution and financial planner’s social channels for videos and posts sharing insight and advice.  
The last resource you will want to use is a personal finance app. 
It’s one thing to know what you need to do financially but another to make it work. Using a good mobile app or two will give you the tools to work a budget, set up goals, manage cash flow and pay off debt.  
There are a few top-rated ones out there so browse the app store and see what you can find. Right off the bat here are a few of the popular ones to start your search. 
You Need a Budget (YNAB) - This app helps you track spending and budget to pay off debt YNAB 
EveryDollar  - This app helps you with budgeting and cash management where you assign a use for every dollar you make EveryDollar - Ramsey (ramseysolutions.com) 
Good Budget – This app offers a digital take on the envelope system to help you organize spending money Best Home Budget App for Android, iPhone, & Web | Good budget 
Pocket Guard – This high rated app helps you simplify your money, track bills, and manage cash flow PocketGuard: Budgeting App & Finance Planner 
Keep in mind that some of these apps mentioned require subscriptions and others may have free versions so explore the features of each to see which ones you are most likely to use for your financial management. 
Also, make sure you get familiar with your financial institution and financial planner’s mobile apps. Many of them provide cool and useful tools for budgeting, debt payoff plans and net worth building.  
If there are any other tips or topics you would like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org. Like and follow our Making Money Personal FB and IG page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on social media to share your thoughts.  
Thanks for listening to today’s Money Tip Tuesday and be sure to check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast.  
Have a great day! 

Post-Holiday Savings Deals to Explore - Money Tip Tuesday

The holidays are almost over, but surprisingly, many deals are just beginning. Post-holiday sales are very common and taking advantage of these savings is a great way to start the New Year. Here’s what you need to know to ensure you get the best deals. 
Links:
Check out TCU University for more financial education tips and resources!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Learn more about Triangle Credit Union
Transcript:
Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast. 
The first deal you should look out for is for anything that is seasonal, or holiday related. For example, holiday decorations. You will probably be taking down your holiday decorations soon, or maybe you already have, so it’s way too early to put them back up. However, buying holiday decorations now is a great way to save money. Stores want to get rid of their holiday decoration stock so there will be plenty of good deals out there on all kinds of holiday items. It’s the perfect time to replace any festive lights that may have gone out or even buy yourself a new artificial tree for next year. 
Seasonal and holiday related food will also go on sale. Certain brands, especially candy, will usually offer limited supplies of festive themed food. Deals like these can be found wherever you buy groceries. Just make sure to check the expiration date first, as you don’t want to buy too much and not be able to eat it all before it goes bad. 
Holiday themed wrapping paper, cards, and gift bags will also go on sale. Before you grab these deals, try and remember how much wrapping paper you used this past season and take inventory of what you have left. That way, you have a rough estimate of how much you will need for next year. What you don’t need is an over-abundance of holiday themed wrapping paper that you only use once a year. 
Another deal you should look for during post-holiday sales is on winter clothes. In January, retailers turn over their merchandise, which means that winter clothing will go on sale or clearance to make room for next season’s clothing.  
The next deal to look for is anything fitness related. One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to exercise more, and retailers will take advantage of this by offering great sales. Exercise equipment, clothing, and more will be on sale to help people become healthier in the new year. You will definitely be able to find a discounted rate on gym memberships, so if you don’t have the space for exercise equipment, you can go there instead. 
The final deal you should look out for is on toys and games. Stores will often overstock these products in preparation for holiday shopping.  
If there are any other tips or topics, you’d like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org and don't forget to like and follow our Making Money Personal Facebook to share your thoughts. Don’t forget to look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on Facebook and LinkedIn.  
Thanks for listening to today’s Money Tip Tuesday and be sure to check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast.  
Have a great day! 

Charitable Giving Ideas to Help Others - Money Tip Tuesday

It’s that time of year! Time for family and friends, get-togethers, yummy food and sharing. It is also a time of reflection and a time when we consider others more often than ourselves. One way we do that is through charitable giving.
Links:
Charitable organizations to look into: Make a Wish, Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, Soup Kitchens
Check out TCU University for more financial education tips and resources!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Learn more about Triangle Credit Union
Transcript:
Charitable Giving is a wonderful way for individuals and corporations to donate or “give” either to individuals or to organizations, particularly, those that support their values and organizations whose mission it is to help people either directly or indirectly. Some examples are, Make-a-Wish, Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, Soup Kitchens, and so many others. Or donating to fund a scholarship or donating goods for a fundraiser.
Unsurprisingly, December is the month in which most charitable giving occurs. Last year, according to nationalgivingmonth.org, Americans gave $410.2 billion, with 31% occurring in December alone. With stats like these, it’s clear that we are a generous people. Charitable giving is often tax deductible. And though it is about others, this can be an incentive for individuals and businesses and in the end, it goes to help and support others anyway.
If you are anything like me, you notice the increase in requests whether it is the famous bell ringing to the different requests in the various places we visit. This proliferation of need can be daunting so here are a few helpful hints.
#1 Decide ahead of time what you will give.
By setting a “budget” for giving it helps you prepare yourself just as you would when purchasing gifts for family and friends and helps you avoid that uneasy feeling of not giving to everything. The burden of need falls on all of us and no one can do it alone. Giving should be cheerful and without obligation or compulsion.
#2 Give thought to whom you would support.
Giving is a privilege and giving wisely benefits you, as the giver, too. If you have ever wanted to give but are unsure about the company and what it stands for, do some research before giving. This way you can give according to your principles, ideals, and beliefs and avoid any hesitation or “givers remorse”.
#3 Be creative in your giving.
While charitable giving is most often associated with money, there are other ways we can give, this would be our time and talent. This time of year, there are plenty of opportunities to give by sharing your time. You can volunteer to serve; you can volunteer to spend time with others who may feel alone this time of year. Your talent could literally be something you’re good that you “give” or share with others like performing or reading to kids or something similar. Sharing your treasure is awesome but don’t overlook your time and talent either!
Well, that’s it for this MTT, all of us at TCU hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday season. Be encouraged to give and seek the joy in doing so.
If there are any other tips or topics, you’d like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org.  Like and follow our Making Money Personal FB and IG page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on social media to share your thoughts.  
Thanks for listening to today’s Money Tip Tuesday and check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast.  
Bye!

Episode 64: Unique Ways to Save Money on Holiday Gifts

It's the holiday shopping season and you're likely neck deep in the hustle of picking out the perfect gifts for everyone on your list. But with prices rising across the board, you might be struggling to keep your spending from getting out of control.
In this episode, we share a few practical tips and tools to save money on your gifting this year. 
Links:
See 2023 Holiday Outlook trends
Learn about the protective benefits of a Better Checking account
Leran more about Triangle's Purchase Rewards program
Check out TCU University for more financial education tips and resources!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Learn more about Triangle Credit Union
View episode transcript.
 

Important Financials to Review Annually - Money Tip Tuesday

Being financially healthy takes attention and discipline. But you can’t determine where you’re going if you don’t know where you currently are. That’s why this time of year is the perfect time to do a financial review.
Links:
Check your credit score from any of the top three credit bureaus: TransUnion, Experian, Equifax
Get a free 3-in-1 credit report every 90 days with a Triangle Better Checking account
Learn more about Triangle's Financial Planning services
Check out TCU University for more financial education tips and resources!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Learn more about Triangle Credit Union
Transcript:
Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast.  
As 2023 comes to an end, it’s a great time to think about your financial goals and plan for the New Year. Taking some time in the next month or so to look ahead at your budget, credit, and investments is the best way to help you define your financial objectives, recognize your financial success and failures of the previous year, and make improvements in the New Year. 
Set aside some time in the next month to look over these three important financial categories and determine how you stand.  
First is your Budget 
Think about your budget over the past year. What things worked for you? Did you find it easy or hard to stick to your budget?  
Reviewing your budget helps you determine your financial status by looking over your assets like income, savings, and retirement contributions. Ask yourself if something changed in your finances. Did you get a new job? Did you buy a new car? A new house? All new financial changes should be factored into your budget so you can update it accordingly. 
Next, you’ll want to look over your liabilities such as loans, credit cards, and monthly expenses including your mortgage and utility bills. Ask yourself if any of your expenses went up. Did you pay off a credit card? Did you get a new loan? Sign up for new subscriptions? Take note of all these changes to determine how many new or increased expenses you’ll have going into the new year.  
After reviewing your assets and monthly expenses, you can now determine where to make improvements such as removing certain expenses or subscriptions, paying off credit cards or increasing retirement contributions. 
Next, Monitor and Review Your Credit 
Do you know what your credit score is? If not, do you know how to find out? 
Your credit score helps lenders determine your credit worthiness when it comes to borrowing money for things like a car or house. If you intend to take out a loan at some point, you’ll need a credit score, and a good one at that. The higher your score, the more likely you’ll get a lower rate. Which means you’ll have a lower monthly payment. Take time to look over your credit score and determine if it needs improvement.  
There are many resources available to check your score, like the top three credit bureaus, TransUnion, Equifax and Experion, if you have a credit card, many credit card companies provide it, and you can also get it through a Triangle Better Checking account with ID Protect.  
Once you know your credit score, set new financial goals towards your credit. Reevaluate ALL your credit cards and determine which ones you want to continue using, which ones to remove, and which ones you need to focus on paying off. Determine which ones to keep or remove by reviewing the perks of the credit cards and weighing any cons like interest rates.  
 
Lastly, Review Your Retirement Savings and Investments 
Saving for retirement in an individual retirement account (IRA) or a 401(k) is one of the best ways to prepare for your future. Do you have a retirement account? How much have you been saving? Do you know if you’ll have enough saved when you’re ready to retire?  
 
As you review your annual financial plan, look at your retirement accounts and check their balances.  
If you have multiple accounts, consider whether you should roll any old 401(k)s over into another if necessary and determine whether you should increase or decrease your annual contribution. For any other investments, like a brokerage account, it’s important to keep an eye on the status of those investments when you do the annual financial planning review so you can decide whether to trade out any bad or underperforming investments.  
If you haven’t paid much attention to your retirement planning but you know it’s something you need to do reach out to Triangle for financial planning services that will help you put together a sound retirement strategy. 
If there are any other tips or topics, you’d like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org. Like and follow our Making Money Personal FB and IG page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on social media to share your thoughts.  
Thanks for listening to today’s Money Tip Tuesday and be sure to check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast.  
Have a great day! 

How to Avoid Overspending This Holiday Season - Money Tip Tuesday

The holidays are here, and it can be difficult to keep track of how much money you spend during this shopping season. If you’re worried about overspending this time of year, keep listening for a few practical tips to stay on the right financial track.  
Links:
Check out TCU University for more financial education tips and resources!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Learn more about Triangle Credit Union
Transcript:
Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast. 
If you want to avoid spiraling out of financial control due to the holiday spending frenzy the best thing you can do to keep control is to start with a budget. Creating a budget will give you more control over how much you spend by helping you strategize how best to distribute your money. The budget structure of your monthly income should be divided into three categories; needs, wants, and savings. You should portion your monthly income into each category at the following percentages: fifty percent towards needs, thirty percent towards wants, and twenty percent towards savings. 
Establishing a reasonable budget that reflects your monthly payments limits how much you spend as well as how much you want to save. A budget allows you to set expectations for yourself when it comes to spending wisely as well as saving for future purchases and your emergency fund. Let's dive into how to avoid overspending by limiting your spending, balancing your budget, and saving money. 
Limitations of Spending 
Think about your monthly payments that need to be made, whether it’s for a loan or a credit card, so you can set a limit on your holiday spending and day-to-day expenses from what you have left from your monthly income. Once you have that limit set, it’s important to keep track of all your purchases so you can keep your budget balanced and avoid overspending. 
Balance Your Budget 
Because your monthly spending can increase due to the holidays, you can adjust your budget a little while keeping it balanced. Simply change your income allocations from 50/30/20, that’s 50% needs, 30% towards wants and 20% to savings to something like 50/40/10, 50% needs, 40% wants and 10% savings. Slightly adjusting your breakdown can keep your budget balanced by ensuring you’re still covering bills and purchases, without completely neglecting an important category like savings. 
Save Up for Back Up 
Saving money through a budget can be rewarding and provides financial security. But savings only works when you stick with it. The purpose of saving is to make sure you have funds available for future expenses. That could be an emergency fund so you have money set aside to cover an emergency, or it could be a separate savings account for a big vacation or purchase, like a house. Putting a portion of your monthly income into a savings account is critical to staying on financial track throughout the year and helps you reach your long-term goals.  
This is a busy and hectic time of year, making it particularly difficult to avoid spending more than planned on gifts, travel and other holiday expenses. Making sure you set up a proper budget with set allocations gives you control over your money and keeps you from spending way too much during seasons of spending, like the holidays. 
If there are any other tips or topics, you’d like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org.  Like and follow our Making Money Personal FB and IG page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on social media to share your thoughts.  
Thanks for listening to today’s Money Tip Tuesday and be sure to check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast.  
Have a great day! 

Five Holiday Scams to Avoid - Money Tip Tuesday

If your holiday shopping is in full swing, your head is probably buzzing with all the to dos and events filling up your schedule. But, during this time it’s also important you keep your guard up because fraud can lurk behind even the cheeriest holiday ad or email.  
Links:
Check out other common holiday fraud tactics
Learn more about ID Protect with Triangle's Better Checking
Check out TCU University for more financial education tips and resources!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Learn more about Triangle Credit Union
Transcript:
Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast. 
Holidays are a busy time for most of us. We’re wrapped up in the excitement of gift giving, shopping, hosting, prepping, there’s just so much to keep in mind when you’re maximizing your holiday experience.  
While we’re shopping for the perfect gift, hanging up the Christmas lights or baking cookies for the fam, someone else is busy this time of year, and they’re not filling out cards or sending letters to Santa. They’re fraudsters and they’re trying to steal your money. 
Fraud increases significantly during the holiday season and its prevalence should make you pause before opening that incredible new deal that just popped up in your inbox. 
You’re probably thinking, oh come on, one more thing to have to worry about this season? Yes! When it comes to keeping your identity safe, you can never be too busy.  
Don’t let the thieves rob you of your holiday cheer this year. Here are a few of the more popular fraud tactics you should keep in mind while celebrating the holiday season. 
Fake Charities – What better time to prey on the generosity of people than during the holiday season? Bad actors abound and you can bet they’ll try preying on your generosity by posing as a charity to get you to hand over a donation, no matter the amount. When giving to charities, stick with the ones you trust. Visit their site directly to make your donation instead of clicking on a link.
Lookalike online stores – These are common on social media and can be extremely convincing. Fraudsters put together a fake website and then create attractive ads that promote incredible deals to get you to click. They post those ads on social media and link back to their site where you select your item and can even complete a purchase. Oftentimes, people who fall for this find out it’s a scam when they never receive their item. Be careful when you see sites offering great deals. Even if it looks legit or appears to be a brand you recognize, check the URL to verify it’s the actual brand’s site, and always make sure to check the website for contact information and a return policy. If they don’t have either, then it's a huge red flag the site is fraudulent.
Phishing scam emails – If you’re like me, your email inbox is overflowing with deals, offers and other holiday specials. But, where the emails abound, fraudsters are likely to be present. Keep a close eye on the emails you receive and beware of deceptive ones camouflaged to look like reputable sites. Keep a sharp eye out for urgent messages, spelling or grammar errors and other red flags. Hover over all URLs before clicking to make sure they link back to the brand site and don’t open any attachments or click any links before making sure they’re legitimate. 
Fake tickets for travel or other events. Who doesn’t want to save on their next big vacation or favorite star’s uber expensive music tour. If you’re a travel or experience aficionado, you’re likely to be watching for discounts and offers for traveling or other experiences. But beware because this is another way scammers try to trick you. You may see offers for deeply discounted travel or concert deals through email or social media. They can also come as fake sweepstakes where you’re notified that you won an all-expenses paid trip to the destination of your dreams or a free cruise to a tropical paradise, but you don’t remember entering. Again, think twice before clicking on unbelievable travel deals or notices. Work through companies and websites you trust to avoid falling for one of these scams. 
Missed delivery notifications – This tactic tries to trick you into clicking a link via a text message. Scammers send you a text message appearing to be one of the nationally recognized delivery companies, informing you of a missed delivery or a delivery update. Since we’re all likely waiting on deliveries this time of year, receiving a message like this might not seem so suspicious. Once you click the link, you’re brought to a fake website where you’re prompted to provide sensitive information like a credit card or SSN to retrieve your order update. If you get a message like this, don’t click the link. Delivery companies won’t ask you to provide a credit card number or social to look up delivery information. Visit the company’s website directly to track your order, get updates or to contact them. 
 
Those were just five examples of common holiday scams, but there are so much more. Check the link in the show notes for a longer list of other fraud tactics that occur around the holiday season. 
Before I close I want to remind you of these best practices to safeguard yourself from fraud not only this time of year, but all year round. 
Be very wary of any urgent message prompting you to act now 
If it looks too good to be true, it probably is 
If you get a phone call from a FI or other company you do business with asking for sensitive information, hang up and call them at the number on their website 
Make sure you have identity protection and fraud monitoring to help with resolution. There are a lot of affordable options out there that give you a great benefit for a reasonable price, like Triangle’s Better Checking with ID protection. If you’re interested, visit a branch or check the website to learn more. 
 
The holiday season is supposed to be full of comfort and joy. And though I don’t want to bring you bad tidings or negative vibes, I want to keep you informed so you can enjoy your celebrations in peace. 
Stay safe and enjoy a fraud-free holiday!  
If there are any other tips or topics, you’d like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org.  Like and follow our Making Money Personal FB and IG page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on social media to share your thoughts.  
Thanks for listening to today’s Money Tip Tuesday and be sure to check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast.  
Have a great day! 

Countdown to a Successful and Stress-free Thanksgiving - Money Tip Tuesday

Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays because it’s not about costumes or presents, it’s about taking time to give thanks and be with family and friends you love. While that is what we would like to think, Thanksgiving has become somewhat of another stressful holiday that can fill you with financial, mental, and emotional anxiety. Stay tuned as we countdown ways you can alter your Thanksgiving feast and family time to make this holiday the best one ever!
Links:
Check out TCU University for more financial education tips and resources!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Learn more about Triangle Credit Union
Transcript:
Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast.
I love Thanksgiving primarily because my mom is a fantastic cook and even though I’ve been adulting for 40 years, she still hosts our family with all the delicious fixins! I won’t say getting to her house for Thanksgiving is the easiest because she and my dad live six hours north of our home in NH. As you can imagine, the most stressful issue for us is getting there! My husband and I have two adult daughters: one with a job and one in college in NC. What was an easy arrangement for us to all get in the car years ago, has now become quite an ordeal. Now we have three people who have to get time off and getting the also have to get our girl home from university without breaking the bank. We know we aren’t alone when it comes to holiday stress so here are ideas you can incorporate into the final countdown to Thanksgiving:
7 Days Out – if you haven’t extended your invites yet, you need to do that today! You don’t need formal invitations or a special email—a phone call or a text will do. When you think about those invitations, really stop to consider who’s going to be at your table. In addition to the who, you also want to consider how many simply because a crowd can cause chaos. Too many people can lead to a hectic and stressful situation so don’t put yourself in that position. Invite those who can comfortably fit at your table. And don’t forget the single aunt or neighbor who may not have anyone to share this special day with—extending the invitation will make their day a special one.
6 Days Out – Clean out your fridge and make room for all the groceries you’re about to buy because it’s time to think about your meal: what will you serve for an appetizer, main entrée, sides, and dessert? Once you have the menu, then you’ll want to prepare your grocery shopping list. We all tend to over prepare or buy when it comes to food so be considerate of your budget and don’t go overboard. There are meal planning tools online (and we’ll share those in our show notes). If you are on a budget, don’t be afraid to ask your family and friends to bring a side dish to share. Whenever I get an invitation to a party, I always ask, “what can I bring?” with the expectation that I do need to bring something! Try to stick to your list when you go shopping—if you do buy extra groceries just make sure you can afford them and you have room to store them! You will find grocery stores offer big sales during Thanksgiving week so if your budget allows, plan to pick up a little extra, but don’t go over budget! Check the sales flyers before you leave your house and don’t forget the condiments!
5 Days Out – Plan your table. There is something about a festive table to set the mood. Add some holiday decorations as a centerpiece. If you’re looking for ideas, a simple Pinterest search will present you with some amazing suggestions. Table décor is beautiful and will be appreciated by your guests, but it is not necessary so if your budget doesn’t allow for it, you can pass on this one. I have a co-worker who just told me she will have thirteen people for Thanksgiving which is about the cutoff for real or paper plates. She’s opting for paper and that is a great option as well—super easy clean up and there are gorgeous prints and patterns to choose from in all sizes.
4 Days Out – More planning is on the menu today: what will your day look like and what will your guests be doing? How long do you plan to have them stay? It’s quite common to have guests arrive an hour before mealtime, which is perfect for appetizers and to catch up. After the meal and clean up, what comes next? So glad you asked! Depending upon your vibe, your guests can retreat to the family room and sofa for football, or you can bring out the board games once the dining room table is cleaned. After dinner coffee is always a good idea—a little mid-afternoon caffeine pick-me-up will keep your guests awake! Whatever you plan for entertainment, let it be simple and easy. There is no need to force complicated activities and cause frustration. There is one item that is a must: make sure you take a photo together. Be sure to think ahead about when people will be leaving so you have the time to capture your special day together.
3 Days Out – Start cleaning. Anytime I have guests, I always start my cleaning early. I do try to keep our house tidy but inevitably, there are rooms to clean! Depending on how many rooms you have, tackle one or two a day so you don’t play yourself out before the big day!
2 Days Out – Keep on cleaning! Double check the groceries to make sure you have everything you need. If you have any last-minute items, now’s the time to get them!
1 Day Out – It’s Thanksgiving Eve and your guests arrive tomorrow—no need to panic because the house is looking great (if not, keep cleaning), your groceries are in the pantry and refrigerator! Today is the day to pre-prepare any food that doesn’t have to be made on Thanksgiving Day, which can be most dessert items and apps. You can even set and decorate your table in advance. Once your food items are prepped, put them in the refrigerator for tomorrow. One last item: write a to-do list for tomorrow with approximate timelines—this will help you keep a schedule and limit your anxiety…then get to bed early; you’ve got a big day tomorrow!
Thanksgiving is here and it came up fast, but you’re ready to face it with gusto! Enjoy your special time with those you love and give thanks for it all. 
 If you have any comments, tips or ideas, please email us at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org. For more great content, be sure to subscribe to the Making Money Personal podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and be sure to follow us on social media.
Many thanks to our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union, voted the best credit union in NH, and many thanks for tuning in.
Have a great day everyone!
 

Episode 63: Kickoff with Kevin | Kevin Shepherd

In this very special episode, we have some great news to share. We're introducing for the very first time a brand new host, Kevin Shepard who just joined our podcast team. In this episode, we're gonna chat with Kevin about what he's excited to share on this podcast and how you can enter a special raffle that we're running to celebrate this occasion. 
Links:
Check out TCU University for more financial education tips and resources!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Learn more about Triangle Credit Union
View episode transcript
 
Kickoff with Kevin Contest!
Join us in celebrating our new podcast host, Kevin Shepherd! We’re welcoming him to our Making Money Personal podcast team and wanted to celebrate this exciting news with you by raffling off some gifts!  
To celebrate Kevin, we’re giving away three $50 gift cards to specific businesses selected by Kevin himself. 
Entering is easy— Email us at TCUpodcast@trianglecu.org  with a welcome message to Kevin along with the gift card of your choice and you’ll be entered*! 
Entries will be accepted until Thursday, November 30, 2023. 
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Tips to Keep Your Mobile Wallet Safe - Money Tip Tuesday

In a world of consumer convenience, nothing is easier than using a mobile wallet. If you’re ready to make it easier to buy, stay tuned.  
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Transcript:
Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast. 
Mobile Wallet use is on the rise and here is some staggering data. As of July 2023, there were 3.4 billion mobile wallet users in 2022, growing to a projected 5.2 billion in 2026. An estimated 54% of e-commerce payments will be made via mobile wallets by 2026. Almost half (49%) of global online transactions were made with a mobile wallet in 2022.  
A mobile wallet is an application on your mobile device that stores credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, and even some event tickets on smartphones and smartwatches.  
Mobile wallets allow you to make quick, secure and convenient payments with just a tap on a contactless card reader.  
Mobile wallets are more secure than a physical card because when you pay, your phone communicates with the terminal using near-field communication technology which provides encryption and other protections when data is transferred.  
Your credit card number is also replaced with a randomly generated digital ID, referred to as a token, which means your card number is not being transferred at the point of payment. 
Although the payments from a mobile wallet are safer than a physical card, you still need to take precautions in case your mobile device is lost or stolen.  
 
While mobile wallets are a more secure payment method, there are always some ways to boost the safety of your mobile wallet—here are our tips:  
Keep your phone locked. One of the first steps is to enable a lock on your phone with a numerical/alphabetical password, a swipe pattern or biometric authentication. Biometric passwords are the most powerful because they require a fingerprint or face scan to unlock your phone.  
If you choose to use a password, use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols to make it more difficult for a thief to guess. If you choose a swipe combination, always make sure you enter your password confidentially as you can never be too sure who might be watching you.  
Make sure the mobile wallet app you are using is from a trusted source. Most new smartphones will come with a mobile wallet app preinstalled on the phone such as Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet, etc. If your phone does not come with a preinstalled mobile wallet app and you’re interested in using one, make sure you download an app from your phone’s app store that is created by a trusted brand. 
 
Don’t use public WiFi. Public Wi-Fi can be found in most restaurants, retail stores, shopping malls, and more. Although convenient, public WiFi is easy for thieves to hack, making your information easy to obtain. Cybercriminals can track your activity online, get into your accounts and even see payment information.  
If your mobile device is lost or stolen, make sure to immediately contact your financial institution and put a hold on your cards and account, just in case.  
Taking a few extra steps to ensure the security of your mobile wallet will give you extra peace of mind this holiday shopping season.  
If there are any other tips or topics you’d like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org. Like and follow our Facebook and Instagram pages, and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union, on social media to share your thoughts.  
Thanks for listening to today’s Money Tip Tuesday, and make sure to check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast. 
Have a great day!