Making Money Personal

Top Items for Your College Shopping List - Money Tip Tuesday

College is right around the corner for incoming college Freshmen. You might be wondering what you should be buying to bring with you. Here are the top items that should be on your college shopping list. 
Links: 
Learn more about Apple.com student discounts
Follow our podcast page on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Learn more about Triangle Credit Union at trianglecu.org
Contact us with questions or ideas at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org
Transcript: 
Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast. 
First on your list are basic toiletries. Things like toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, soap, shampoo, and in some cases, toilet paper! While I didn’t experience this at college, I have heard that some college bathrooms run out of toilet paper so it’s important to have your own supply—particularly if you sharing a suite, which means a shared bathroom. If you’re living in a college dorm and are sharing a bathroom, you will also want to buy a shower caddy to hold all of your toiletries. This way you can easily bring them in and out of the bathroom and not have to worry about others using your stuff. You will also want to bring a pair of shower shoes (aka, flip-flops) because you shouldn’t walk barefoot in a shared bathroom. And don’t forget your towels!  
Next, prepare yourself for those days when you just don’t feel like yourself. Make sure you have cold or allergy medicine, cough drops, ibuprofen, antacids, tissues, and any prescription medications. If you’re a college student who isn’t living close to home, ask your doctor for a 3-month prescription so you can pick up your meds in advance.  
Third, your bedding is your nest, and you want to be comfortable. Before you move in, figure out how big your bed is—most dorm beds are extra-long twins so make sure you buy extra-long twin sheets. Don't forget blankets, a mattress cover, a mattress pad, your favorite pillow and maybe a bed wedge pillow so you can do your study on your bed.  
Fourth, your college clothes. Make sure you consider the climate and changes in climate for the area you’ll be in. If your college is in a warm climate, you probably don’t need to bring your winter jacket and snow boots. In addition to your clothes, you will need laundry detergent or pods to keep them clean.  
Fifth, don’t forget your laptop and other electronics. You will need a laptop to write your papers, take notes, send emails, do your projects, submit your assignments, take your exams, and even go to class if its hybrid. If you don’t have a laptop, check out Apple for a student discount. If money is tight, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and eBay are good places to pick up used laptops—just make sure you have enough storage space for all your college needs. You will also want to get a nice set of headphones or earbuds to cancel out any noise so you can focus on your work.  
Other academic supplies you will want include a few notebooks and writing utensils. If you prefer taking notes on paper, you may want to get a notebook for each class that you are taking. Highlighters and sticky notes can be useful as well.  
Next, you will want to buy a refrigerator. You probably won’t want to eat cafeteria food every day, so you can store any perishable food items in a fridge in your room. Some schools also allow small microwaves so you can warm up your food. Speaking of food, you should bring some of your favorites—especially for those days when you’re feeling a little homesick. Nothing like mac-n-cheese to make you feel better!   
Other items you will want to bring are storage containers, a fan, chargers, surge protector power strips, water bottle, water filter, and a desk lamp.  
This seems like a big list, but you will probably add more to your own list like decorations to make the dorm room your own.  
This concludes our must haves at college and good luck! 
If there are any other tips or topics you would like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org and don't forget to like and follow our Making Money Personal FB page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on Instagram and LinkedIn 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! 
 

5 Skills to Become a Successful Entrepreneur - Money Tip Tuesday

Are you ready to pursue an entrepreneurial venture, but you’re worried you won’t be successful? If you’re preparing to start and run a business, there are effective skills you can develop to give yourself the best possible chance of success.
Check out the SBA or SCORE for resources on writing a business plan
Learn more about Triangle's business banking tools
Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill
Learn more about business cash flow: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/small-business/business-cash-flow
Like what you heard? Go ahead and share on your social media! Visit trianglecu.org to learn more about how we can serve you and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Transcript:
Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast. 
When it comes to starting your business, you’re probably excited but a little intimidated by the many steps and decisions involved with getting started. Starting a business is a noble venture, one with great sacrifice, but also great reward. 
You’ve probably thought many times over about the type of business you want to run and have a clear image of your product or service, your business space layout and your role in the entire process. But you might also be facing some apprehension or intimidation that comes with taking on such a big project. You may think, what if it doesn’t work? What if no one wants my product? What if I fail and look like a fool?  
Don’t despair because you’re not alone. There are many people who have gone before you and successfully started ventures that have changed the world. It wasn’t impossible for them and it’s not impossible for you either. With a little focus, discipline, and strategy you can make your business vision a reality.   
Here are some of the skills entrepreneurs develop that you too can work on to give yourself the best chance of starting and running a successful business. 
Do your market research and draw up a business plan. Market research will give you an idea of how your business will perform in the market and whether it’s a saturated or unsaturated market. Research is lengthy and involved so focus on specific questions like, who is your ideal customer? What is the size of the target market? What sets your product apart from the competition?  After your research, you’ll want to write a business plan. This is an important step of the process because it lays out the structure of your business and forces you to formulate more specific ideas about your business. Answer questions like: What problem am I solving? What is my target market? What expenses can I anticipate? Use resources online from the SBA or SCORE to help you get a business plan started. Don’t skip this step because starting with a solid plan sets up a strong foundation that’s more likely to lead to success. Use this quote as a mental guide, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”
Understand and organize your cash flow. It’s critical you understand your cash flow. Keep track of all your money coming in and going out and keep it organized. Money coming in would be cash from sales or any borrowing you’ve done. Money going out refers to your expenses, payroll, and rent/operation costs. There's also something called a cash flow cycle. Get familiar with your business’ cash flow cycle to get a good idea of how much money cycles in and out of your business regularly. You may not know this right away if your business is just starting out but as your business keeps running, it’ll be easier to identify. Paying attention to your business cash flow will keep your balance sheet organized so you’re not wasting precious time sifting through receipts, organizing bills and hunting for missing cash.
Make sure you set goals. If you don’t set goals for your business, you won’t have a clear vision to work towards. Start with setting up goals for your 1-year plan and then set up a 5-year plan. This will give you clear, actionable steps to follow that will propel you towards your final vision. Even if your business is an experiment to start, you’re more likely to succeed if you have goals to achieve rather than running aimlessly. Tony Robbins, author, speaker and philanthropist, said, “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”
Stay on top of Time Management. Managing your time is just as important as managing your cash flow. Starting and running a business requires a lot of attention and discipline. If you’re not managing your time wisely, things will start to get out of hand. Make sure you section off your time to focus on specific business stuff. It will keep you productive, help you work more efficiently, and ultimately lower your stress. Running a business can take a lot of your attention, so make sure when you’re setting aside time for your business, that you’re also setting aside time for your personal life or else you could suffer from burnout.
Don’t give up – persistence is key. You’ve heard the phrase, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” A huge reason many entrepreneurial efforts fizzle out is that obstacles and challenges become so great, the entrepreneur decides the vision is no longer worth the pursuit. There may be times when you feel like giving up and throwing in the towel, but if you keep pressing on, and don’t give up, you’re more likely to reach success. Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, writes about how important persistence is to success. He studied hundreds of successful businessmen, most notably, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Andrew Carnegie and others to figure out what strategies they used to grow wealth. In his chapter on persistence, he writes: “Without persistence, you will be defeated even before you start. With persistence you will win.” 
Starting a business takes a lot of preparation, discipline and hard work, but take the time to develop some of the skills mentioned here, focus on your goals, don’t give up and you’ll be on the path to real business success.  
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 FB page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on Instagram and LinkedIn 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! 

Episode 47: Steps to Starting Your Own Business with Sunil Khadka

Are you ready to start a business but need a push or some direction for your first steps? Then this is the show for you. In this episode we talk to Triangle's commercial banking legend and serial entrepreneur, Sunil Khadka about the steps he has taken for his own success and how Triangle can help you do the same.
Check out free business resources with SCORE and the SBA
Learn more about Triangle's commercial services and how they can help you with your business planning
Check out our other podcast episodes featuring representatives from SCORE and the SBA
Connect with Sunil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/knirus
View episode transcript.
Like what you heard? Go ahead and share on your social media! Visit trianglecu.org to learn more about how we can serve you and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Why Your Credit Score Matters - Money Tip Tuesday

You probably know about your credit score, but do you know why it matters? In this tip we talk about your credit score, why it's important, and some tips on how to raise your credit. 
Learn more about your credit score: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/great-credit-powerful-tool
With a Triangle Better Checking account you can get a free credit report every 30 days when you register at idprotectme247.com. If you don't have your registration code contact Triangle Credit Union. 
Check out Nerdwallet or annualcreditreport.com to get a copy of your credit report.
Like what you heard? Go ahead and share on your social media! Visit trianglecu.org to learn more about how we can serve you and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Transcript:
Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast. 
First, it's important to understand how your credit score works. There are five factors to how your credit is scored – payment history, balances owed, age of credit, credit mix, and recent activity. Payment history and balances owed have the largest impact on your score. Credit is scored on a 300 to 850 scale. Credit scored from 300 to 629 is considered bad and credit in the 630 to 689 range is considered fair. What you want to aim for is anything from 690 to 850. Credit that falls between 690 and 719 is good and a credit score of 720 to 850 is best. 
Credit scores are primarily used to determine your creditworthiness. One way this can influence you is by determining whether you’ll get approved for a loan and what interest rate you will have to pay. The higher your credit score, the better rate you will get and the lower your payment will be. For example, according to NerdWallet, “Someone with FICO scores in the 620 range would pay $65,000 more on a $200,000 mortgage than someone with FICOs over 760.” That’s a lot of money you would have to pay just because you have a lower credit score.  
Your credit score can also influence your approval rate for many other things besides loans. It can determine if you get approved for a credit card and how much you get approved for. Property owners look at credit scores to decide who they want to rent to. Insurance premiums can also go up if your credit score is low. 
Checking your credit score is easy, and typically free. Most credit card providers allow you to check your credit score for free.  
Now that you know why your credit score matters, here are a few ways you can build it up. First, always pay your bills on time, and never miss a payment. One single missed payment can take over 100 points off your score.  
Another way is to apply for a credit card and regularly use it to make purchases. Using it and paying on time is an easy way to build your credit up. Just make sure you know the credit limit on the card and only spend what you can pay back when the bill comes. Paying your balances off in full is another way to build up credit.  
Some services like Experian Boost can help boost your credit score. You can report recurring payments such as utilities, rent, and even streaming services to the credit bureau for some extra credit. 
Keep in mind that identity theft can damage your credit score, so it’s important that you monitor your credit report to make sure that no one is using your credit or making any unauthorized purchases. You can get your credit report for free at NerdWallet or annualcreditreport.com.  
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 FB page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on Instagram and LinkedIn 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! 

Simple Ways to Lower Energy Costs this Summer - Money Tip Tuesday

According to WMUR, New Hampshire officials are warning residents to prepare for higher utility bills, with a general increase of fifty percent expected. This tip provides some simple ways you can lower your energy costs for this summer.  
Read the WMUR article: https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-increases-electricity-bills-61622/40314355#
Check our your electricity rates: https://www.energybot.com/electricity-rates/new-hampshire/
Check out this article with additional tips to save money on your electric bill: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-to-save-money-on-your-electric-bill
Like what you heard? Go ahead and share on your social media! Visit trianglecu.org to learn more about how we can serve you and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Transcript:
Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast. 
With the weather getting warmer, it’s understandable that you have fans going and the air conditioning running to stay cool. However, heating and cooling is one of the bigger expenses on your utility bill. If you’re going to leave the house, or even not go in an air conditioned room for a while, you might as well turn off the cooling. Air conditioners especially use a lot of power and can range from 500 to 3500 watts per hour, depending on the size. This can range from 3 cents to 42 cents an hour.  
Check to make sure that your doors, windows, and refrigerator are sealed properly. If they aren’t sealed, this allows the cool air to exit, which means that your air conditioner and refrigerator are going to have to work harder to run, causing an increase in energy usage. If you haven’t already, you may want to consider insulating your house, or sealing leaky windows and doors to keep as much cool air inside as possible.  
Another way to stop your refrigerator from working overtime is to keep your fridge at 38 degrees F and your freezer between 0 and 5 degrees F. At these temperatures, your food will still stay fresh and your refrigerator won’t use as much energy.  
Hot water is another big expense. There are quite a few things that you can do to lower this on your next utility bill. To begin with, take shorter showers. Even taking just two minutes off your shower can save five gallons of water, which is about 10 cents. Check your faucets to see if they are leaking. If they are, replacing them will save not only the water leaking from your tap, but also the money leaking from your wallet. You can also do your laundry with cold or warm water instead of hot. Doing this can cut your energy consumption per load in half.  
The final energy user is lights and electronics. Check your lightbulbs to make sure that they are energy efficient. Look for lightbulbs that have the Energy Star label and install dimmer switches if you can, to lower your energy consumption. Similarly to air conditioning, if you are not in the room, turn the lights off. There’s no point in lighting up a room that you aren’t in. You can also use smart power strips to lower energy costs, especially with devices that are constantly using power day and night.  
It might also be time to replace any old appliances you’re using. Newer appliances often run more energy efficient than older ones, so buying a new one might save you money in the long run.  
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 FB page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on Instagram and LinkedIn 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! 
 

Fraud Protection: Beware of Banking Trojans - Money Tip Tuesday

Online security is important, especially when it comes to banking. Here’s what you need to know about banking trojan viruses and how to avoid them.
Learn more about Norton device protection
Learn more about BitDefender protection 
Listen to our Setting up Secure Passwords Money Tip Tuesday for more security information
Learn more about Triangle's Better Checking account with Identity Theft Protection
Like what you heard? Go ahead and share on your social media! Visit trianglecu.org to learn more about how we can serve you and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Transcript:
Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal Podcast. 
A banking trojan is a type of malicious virus that attempts to gain access to your bank information by posing as a trustworthy website. What this means is that these websites will spoof a credit union or bank’s website to try and trick you into signing in. However, when you sign into this fake website, what you are doing is sending your personal bank information to the cybercriminals. Another danger of banking trojans is they can be downloaded and installed onto your device, where they’ll gain access to even more of your personal information. 
So how do you avoid this deadly virus? First, make sure your device and web browsers are fully up to date. Developers often add security patches when they are made aware of vulnerabilities in the system. Consider using an antivirus such as Norton or Bitdefender to add an extra layer of protection to your device.  
Second, familiarize yourself with phishing tactics. Phishing is when a cybercriminal will send you an email pretending to be someone else. In the case of banking trojans, they will pretend to be your bank or credit union. These emails will often have a link or file attachment that they will attempt to get you to click. Don’t click on these, as this is how they will steal your information.  
There are a few ways to see if the email is a phishing scam or not. Look at the domain name of the email. If it's not a domain you’ve heard of or not the official name of your bank, it's probably a phishing scam. Look at the email and how it's formatted. Does it look like an official email? Are there typos and grammatical errors? If so, it’s probably a scam. You can also hover over the link, but don’t click it, to see where it is going to redirect you to. If it's not the official website, it’s a scam. If you ever get a phishing scam in your inbox, most email services provide an option to report phishing or as spam. 
Third, to avoid banking trojans altogether, have a computer that you use only for your banking. That means no browsing the internet, no sending messages, and no downloading anything. This will limit a cybercriminal’s ability to steal your information. 
Last, it’s also important to have a strong password. We talked about how to protect your password in a previous Money Tip if you would like to check it out! 
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 FB page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on Instagram and LinkedIn 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! 

Episode 46: From Thinking to Being - Visualizing Your Future Self with Barbara Hatfield

You've probably heard the phrase, "What you think you become." If you want to achieve certain goals in life, you must work now on becoming the person that can achieve those goals in the future.
In this episode, we chat with Barbara Hatfield, Life Coach, about how strong visualization techniques positive thinking and good habit development can help you transform it to the person who can take on anything.
Follow Barbara on LinkedIn
Barb Hatfield Life Coaching on Facebook
Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill
The Secret - Rhonda Byrne
Law of Attraction - Michael J. Losier
View episode transcript.
Like what you heard? Go ahead and share on your social media! Visit trianglecu.org to learn more about how we can serve you and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
 
 

Discount Websites that Can Save You Money - Money Tip Tuesday

With prices continuing to rise across the country, saving money on purchases is bound to become top of mind for many people. If you’re someone who likes to buy online, there are plenty of websites you can use to get the right price every time.  
slickdeals.net
bensbargains.com
dealnews.com
bargainjunkie.com
camelcamelcamel.com
Like what you heard? Go ahead and share on your social media! Visit trianglecu.org to learn more about how we can serve you and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Transcript:
Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast. 
When it comes to shopping, everyone wants to get the best deal.  
But bargain hunting can be laborious, and many times after long hours of hunting, you may still not end up with any real savings.  
Using the right resources will empower you to make wise choices about what you want to purchase and how much you’ll spend. Shopping online can save you money with very little effort. 
Not only do you buy from the comfort of your couch, you also don’t have to spend money on gas to drive to and from different stores. If you get a good shipping price, you can’t beat the convenience of buying online.  
Another thing to remember is that some retailers offer online only sales.  That means, you’ll get a better price when you buy online instead of going to the physical store. Many of these online shopping websites are great at picking up on those online sales to get you a deal you would otherwise miss out on. 
Here’s a list of five online websites you can explore when hunting for a great price. 
Slick Deals.net On this website you can shop a wide variety of products from top retailers like Walmart, Sam’s Club, Amazon and more. You can set up deal alerts for certain products when they go on sale. They’ll contact you when your item gets within the custom price range you set. It also has a grocery section so you can shop current prices for brand name grocery items and see how the price compares with other retailers. A valuable option to keep in mind as food prices continue to rise. You can also search and collect coupons for retailers to use when you checkout. 
Ben’s Bargains.com This website, like slickdeals.net, allows you to search by brand names or categories based on what you’re looking to purchase, and you can set up custom alerts for specific items. When you’re ready to buy, the listing makes it easy to purchase by taking you to the vendor website so you can securely check out.
DealNews.com Like the others you can also search by categories and brands and takes you to the vendor website when you’re ready to purchase. This site also provides coupon codes for vendor websites with offers like 50% off, free shipping and others.
Bargain Junkie.com This one is different than the others because it isn't categorized by brand names and you have to create an account to purchase on the website. It does offer free shipping on orders of $15 or more, which may end up being useful depending on what you’re purchasing.
Camelcamelcamel.comThis one is specifically an Amazon price tracker. If you’re an avid Amazon user, get familiar with this tool. If you’re looking to buy specific items, maybe higher ticket items and you want to get the best price possible, it shows you the item list price. It also compares with the average price so you can get an idea of how good a deal you’re getting. Plus, if you create an account, like the others, you can set up alerts for items and track the price history to time your purchase with special deals or offers. Another cool feature of this site is it displays a unique price chart so you can visually see how the price has changed over time and allows you to compare the price history with other retailers selling the same item. 
These aren’t the only websites out there to browse for deals and discounts.  
There are so many others you can check out for savings, coupons and other offers.  
Do a simple google search to look through and compare with the sites mentioned here.  
Next time you’re searching for something, take a moment to explore some of these websites to compare prices, find the best deal and save some money! 
If you found this episode helpful, we’d like to hear from you about thoughts on this show or maybe you have some ideas on other topics we should cover, email us at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org. Be sure to subscribe to the Making Money Personal podcast for our full episodes and weekly Money Tips wherever you listen to podcasts and follow us on Facebook for more great content. 
From the podcast team, thank you to our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union, and thank you, as always, for listening. 
Have a great day everyone! 

7 Tips to Save on Gas this Summer - Money Tip Tuesday

With gas prices on the rise, it’s more important now than ever to find ways to save some money not only at the pump but even while you drive. This tip shares some practical things you can do to save on fuel costs.  
Calculate your vehicle's mileage per gallon: https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/savemoney.jsp
Gasbuddy's article on the best day to buy gas: https://www.gasbuddy.com/newsroom/pressrelease/2022/02/01/1091
AAA's TripTik homepage: https://triptik.aaa.com/home/
AAA's gas cost calculator: https://gasprices.aaa.com/aaa-gas-cost-calculator/
Like what you heard? Go ahead and share on your social media! Visit trianglecu.org to learn more about how we can serve you and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Transcript:
Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast.  
If you’ve been paying attention at the pump, you’re likely to have noticed the rise in the price you’re paying to fill up your tank. 
In many places across the country, gas has already topped $5 a gallon and may not stop there. The national average is at the time of this recording is $5.01, an all-time US high.  
This can land a huge blow for your expenses, especially if you’re on a tight budget.  
Fortunately, if you prepare and do a little research, there are some simple actions you can take to save a little money on gas.  
We hope you’ll find these helpful to keep your fuel expenses low, especially this summer.  
Make sure you keep proper tire inflation. Under-inflated tires increase your vehicle’s drag which increases your car’s fuel consumption. If you want your car to drive as efficiently as possible, make sure you check your tire pressure and do your best to keep them all properly inflated. Next time you’re at the gas station to top off your tank, head over to the air hoses and top off your tires too. 
Get on a gas station rewards program or other plan. Many gas stations have started offering discounts for buying from their chain. If you visit a particular station the most, you may want to consider signing up for their program. It may not save you an exorbitant amount, but with the current prices, anything saved counts. National retailers and membership stores also offer gas programs. BJs, and Walmart+ offer discount prices on gas as part of their membership packages.
Use an app to find low prices in your area. Using apps like Gasbuddy, Waze, and others offer insight into which stations have the lowest prices. They also offer other tips and tricks you might find helpful when you need to fill up. For example, Gasbuddy released a recent study that showed what days were the best and worst days to fill your tank, with Sunday being the best and Wednesday and Thursday being the worst.  
Carpool with others if possible. If you can hitch a ride with someone you trust, you both can benefit from the savings. This is a very real option if you and a friend or family member are heading to the same location. If it saves you some money overall, it’s worth consideration.
Avoid speeding, rapid braking, and long idling. The US Department of Energy states that for light duty vehicles, every 5 mph you drive over 50 mph will increase your price per gallon by $.18. And that’s when gas was around $2.63 a gallon! Gas mileage decreases the faster you travel so try to keep your speeds at a level to get the best fuel economy. For long trips, use cruise control to keep your car at a steady pace and get you the most mileage for your money. Other habits like rapid braking and idling will also waste gas, so make sure you’re mindful of how you’re driving your vehicle to save on gas.
Plan your trips and consider fuel costs. If you’re planning a road trip, long or short, consider the amount of gas you’ll be using. Planning your route ahead of time will give you an opportunity to consider the terrain and environment you’ll be traveling through. Will you be traveling through dense metropolises at rush hour? Will your trip be mostly highway? All these traffic routes and patterns have factors to consider, so the more you know about them, the better you’ll be prepared to face them. AAA has a gas cost calculator you can use to get a rough idea of your fuel costs when traveling to and from certain destinations and they also have a road trip planner app called TripTik that helps you plan everything from fuel expenses to food and lodging. 
Get to know your vehicle’s fuel economy. If you’re curious about what your gas mileage is, you can use a helpful calculator at fueleconomy.gov to find out. Simply enter your vehicle’s information to find out how many miles per gallon your car typically gets.  
As gas prices continue to climb across the country, it’s more important now than ever to pay attention to how much you are spending and to make a conscious effort to conserve as much fuel as possible. 
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 FB page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on Instagram and LinkedIn 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! 

Setting Up Effective Password Protections - Money Tip Tuesday

Password protection is important, especially when it comes to online banking. Here are some tips to keep your password (and your money) safe from cyber criminals.
Learn more about password protections from Google: https://passwords.google.com/intro
Learn about Firefox password protections: https://monitor.firefox.com/
Check out haveibeenpwned.com to check if your passwords have been compromised
Learn more about secure password management platforms LastPass and Dashlane
Like what you heard? Go ahead and share on your social media! Visit trianglecu.org to learn more about how we can serve you and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Transcript:
Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal.   
The first step to making sure you have a secure password is to never use a password more than once. It may be easier to remember if all of your passwords are the same, but it will make it easier for cybercriminals to get access. If you use the same password for everything and that password gets compromised, all of your passwords are compromised and so are all of your accounts.  
When creating a unique password, don’t make something easy to guess. Obviously, password123 is a terrible password, and don’t make your password your name, your birthday, or anything else that someone could easily find out. It’s best to use a random string of both lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters to create a strong password that no one will guess. The longer and more complex your password is, the better. If you’re having trouble creating a password, most web browsers have a “suggest strong password” button, which will generate one for you to use. 
However, having a complicated password does make it difficult to remember. Fortunately, there are several ways to keep your password safe, confidential, and easy to access. Most web browsers have the option of saving your passwords for you, so you don’t have to write them down. However, it is better if you use a more secure dedicated password manager to keep them safe. LastPass and Dashlane are both easy to use and secure password managers that you may want to consider. You could even write your passwords down on a physical piece of paper, which might be the most secure as paper can’t be hacked. Just be sure to store your paper in a secure place so someone else can’t get a hold of it.  
Another way to keep your online banking and other accounts secure is to have two-factor authentication. This is typically a one-time code that is sent to your email or texted to you that you have to enter in order to gain access to your account. That way if your password is compromised, they will still need the authentication code to get in. 
Data breaches happen often, but how do you know if you are affected? Google’s Password Checkup, Mozilla’s Firefox Monitor, and Have I Been Pwned, can show you if your email and passwords have been compromised, so you can get to changing your password right away. 
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 FB page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on Instagram and LinkedIn 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!