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A checking account is an essential part of managing your finances and adulting. It’s useful for paying bills, depositing checks and keeping track of your money. Checking accounts come with a debit card for convenience, so there’s no need to carry a checkbook. You can also use mobile banking to deposit checks remotely and manage your account balance on the go.

Taking on the responsibility that comes with a checking account is part of growing up and proving that you can make wise financial choices. But how do you know if you’re ready to manage your own account? To start, you need:


 

• A source of income (for example, a job). You need to be able to deposit money regularly into the account in order to have money to spend and save.
• Your parents’ permission. Your parents must agree that you’re ready to handle a checking account. If they say no, respectfully accept the decision. Show them that you can save money and spend within your budget consistently, and they may reconsider.
• Responsible spending habits. A checking account doesn’t give you the freedom to spend money however you want. If you make smart choices about money — like spending on a budget and saving for future expenses — you may be ready for a checking account.
• Commitment to tracking your account balance. Spending more money than the amount in your account can be an expensive mistake. It’s important to keep track of your transactions so you know your balance before making a purchase.

Managed right, a checking account can be a great way to keep track of your money and set a budget for saving and spending. When you’re ready, check out a Dinero Teens checking account at Advancial to learn more.
 

Dinero Teens checking account

Our teen checking program helps you gain experience in managing your money responsibly. Account features include:

• No monthly service fees
• Unlimited check writing
• Debit card rewards
• cuAnywhere^® online and mobile banking
• Free debit/ATM card
• Unlimited free ATMs
• Automatic reimbursement on other banks’ ATM fees

Visit advancial.org/checking-accounts/dinero-checking to learn more about opening your first checking account at Advancial.

Do you have your eye on some large purchases this fall? Maybe you’re thinking about replacing your kitchen appliances, updating your yard equipment or giving your patio furniture a makeover. Retailers have a strategy and set times to roll out major discounts for Labor Day weekend, so as a consumer, having a strategy yourself can save you a lot of money.

Time Your Purchases

If you’re too busy enjoying the last weekend of summer to shop the sales, don’t worry. There’s a good chance you can still grab some deals later or even online. Many stores maintain Labor Day pricing throughout the month of September or slash prices even more.

Although shopping after Labor Day can help stretch your dollars even further, there may be less selection to choose from and popular items may be sold out. And it pays to be selective with your purchases, because Labor Day sales aren’t always the best time to buy everything. For example, if you’re looking to buy electronics or toys, consider holding off until Black Friday for the lowest prices.

Labor Day Shopping Deals

Knowing what and when to buy can help you time your purchases accordingly. Here are some shopping categories where you may find significant deals on Labor Day and through the fall:

• Major appliances. Manufacturers release new appliance models in September and October, so you may find some great deals on current year models during these months. Look for sales on refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers and more.
• Grills. Summer grilling season is over, and stores need to move their inventory to make room for fall and winter seasonal items. Look for closeout prices on grills on Labor Day and continuing into fall.
• Patio furniture. You can score deep discounts on outdoor furniture at Labor Day sales. The selection may be more narrow, but it’s worth it if you can find what you want at a fraction of the price you’d pay in the spring or early summer.
• Yard equipment. Buying lawn and garden equipment in the fall can help you avoid paying full price next season. With Labor Day sales in full swing, September is an ideal time to buy a new lawn mower, leaf blower or other yard equipment, according to Consumer Reports.
• Mattresses. Fall is a great time to shop for a new mattress to help you sleep better. Mattress companies and furniture stores traditionally have huge price reductions for Labor Day weekend.
• Clothing. Update your summer wardrobe with discounts on end-of-season sales at department stores and online clothes retailers. Back-to-school styles typically go on sale after the start of the school year.

Shop Smart, Pay Smart

Shopping Labor Day sales is well worth it if you end up paying less for items you were planning to buy anyway. It’s a good idea to explore all of your payment options when making large purchases and find out how much you’ll pay for applicable taxes, shipping, fees and interest.

Before swiping your credit card, consider how the new charges would affect your monthly payment. If you’re paying high interest rates on another credit card, make the switch to the Advancial’s Visa^® Rewards Plus card. There are no fees for balance transfers, and new cardholders enjoy 0% APR for one year if you qualify. After that, your APR will be 8.90%-14.90% based on creditworthiness.

To learn more or to apply for a credit card so you can save on all of your Labor Day shopping, go to www.advancial.org/credit-cards/visa-rewards-plus or call 800.322.2709.

The pressure’s on for buying school supplies for kids, teens and college students heading back to school. According to a National Retail Federation report, families sending children back to school and young adults off to college plan to spend record amounts of money on school and college supplies this fall.¹

The average amount families with children in elementary school through high school planned to spend per child is $849 in 2021, an increase of $59 from last year. Back-to-school shoppers planned to spend $296 on electronics, $253 on clothing and $161 on shoes (top three expenses). College students and their families planned to spend an average of $1,200 on college items in 2021, which is an increase of $141 from last year. They planned to spend $306 on electronics, $164 on dorm/apartment furnishings and $159 on clothing (top three expenses).¹

It pays to be prepared for back-to-school shopping season. Consider some of these tactics to help you save money from kindergarten through college.

School-Age Kids

Back-to-school shopping can be a great opportunity to teach your child about saving and spending money with these tips:

• Shop with a list. Check with your child’s school for a school supply list based on grade level before you go shopping. Stick to this list and resist the temptation to buy extra items.
• Take stock of last year's supplies. Many of the pens, pencils and notebooks your child used last year are still good. Be sure to count these items before purchasing more.
• Do the math. Getting your kids involved in comparing prices to find the lowest price on school supplies can be a good learning experience.
• Save up for special items. If there’s something your child wants to buy – and it’s not on the list – encourage them to save their own money to buy it in the future. Help your child grow their savings with our Money Musketeers Kids Savings Club.

Teens

Help your teen understand the difference between needs and wants by getting them involved in budgeting for back-to-school shopping:

• Create a budget. Make a list of everything your teen needs for school (plus some of the extras they want to buy). Decide how much to spend on school supplies, clothes, electronics and other items. Let your teen figure out how to stretch their budget to cover the essentials while staying within the budget. 
• Shop online and in stores. Save money by comparing similar items and shopping around for the best deals online and in stores.
• Trade up or buy used. Is your teen ready for the next size or level in sports gear, scientific calculators or musical instruments? Check with your network of family, friends and parents on buying, selling or borrowing equipment.
• Pay the difference.  If your teen wants to upgrade to a more expensive pair of shoes or high-end tech gadget, consider paying the cost of a lower-cost item and have your teen make up the difference with their own money. Encourage your teen to build their savings with Dinero Teens.
• Spend smart on credit. Talk to your teen about the risks and responsibilities that come with a credit card. Encourage them to use credit cards to purchase things they can afford to buy, and pay off the balance monthly. Advancial’s Dinero Visa^® Card is a great first credit card for learning how to handle credit responsibly. These good habits will help them as they move in to the next phase of their lives – college!

College Students

Send your college student off to school with the financial tools they need for success:

• Budget for college expenses. Paying for tuition is only part of the story. College expenses also include room and board (or rent), food, books, activities fees and more. Plan ahead with your student and decide how to budget for these costs together.
• Save money on furnishings. Shop thrift stores or search Facebook marketplace and other online apps to find deals on dorm or apartment furnishings. Encourage your student to share costs with roommates and connect with students on campus who are moving or selling furniture. This will also make it easier with moving the furniture.
• Manage money with a checking account. Your student can learn a lot from managing a checking account and tracking their income and expenses with online and mobile banking. Ultimate Checking from Advancial includes no monthly service fee and unlimited free ATM access, so your student can access cash from anywhere.

Stay on Top of School Expenses

Help your student start the year on the right foot with everything they need – without going over budget. Keep track of all your back-to-school spending with the Advancial mobile app. Log in or visit www.advancial.org to learn more.





¹ Source: National Retail Federation 2021 Back-to-School/College Survey.

Think about your financial goals for a moment. Do you picture yourself buying a home or taking a much-needed vacation? Are you focused on building a financial safety net or saving for retirement? Although challenges and setbacks may throw you off course, it’s easier to bounce back when you have a plan for reaching your goals.

At Advancial, we can help you build a brighter future with financial services you can count on. As a not-for-profit financial institution, we’re committed to providing the tools and services you need to reach your financial goals. Here are some ways we can help you on a path to financial security:

Streamline your budget. Take control of your finances with a checking account that works as hard as you do. With Ultimate Checking, there’s no minimum deposit or monthly service fee, so the savings start immediately. You can also grow your savings with the Save Up^SM program that automatically rounds up your debit card transactions and deposits the difference into your savings account. Plus, you’ll enjoy unlimited free ATMs worldwide as well as access to 5,000+ shared branches nationwide.

Improve your credit. Managing a credit card, auto loan or student loan wisely is key to building good credit. Lenders will review your ability to handle credit responsibly when looking to approve you for more substantial loans or lines of credit down the road. Paying your bills on time shows good money management habits – and you can stay on track by setting up automatic payments. If you need help establishing or rebuilding credit, check out our Savings Secured Visa^®.

Grow your savings. Our lineup of savings products are designed to help you build financial security over time. When you open a certificate for a specified term, you lock in a higher rate than a regular savings account. Depending on your goals, a money market account or individual retirement account can also help boost your savings. Learn more about high-yield savings options to boost your savings potential.

Create an emergency fund. Having an emergency fund can be a lifesaver when unexpected expenses pop up. Experts recommend having three to six months of essential living expenses in a liquid savings account for emergencies. Consider making savings automatic with direct deposit or recurring transfers.

Use credit cards to your advantage. With our Visa^® Rewards Plus card, every purchase earns unlimited rewards up to 1.5%¹ that can be used for travel, gift cards, merchandise or cash back. You also won’t have to pay any interest for the first 12 months allowing you to pay off your balances at your own pace. After the first 12 months, your rate will only be 8.90%-14.90% based on creditworthiness.

Apply for a home loan. When you’re ready to buy a home, we’re here to help. Getting preapproved for a mortgage puts you in a stronger position to know how much you can afford and make an offer in a competitive market.

Pay down debt. Seek smart solutions such as consolidating debt, refinancing to a lower-rate loan and creating a plan to manage debt. We have the tools to help you create a debt-reduction strategy that works for you.

Go digital. Manage your finances wherever you are with our mobile banking app and online banking. Mobile wallets and person-to-person payments make transactions easy and fast.

Bring It All Together

Save time and money when you bring all of your financial accounts and needs together at Advancial. We’re here to help you streamline and simplify your finances. Go to www.advancial.org or call 800.322.2709 for more information.




¹ Spend between $1-$2,499 and earn 1% rewards. Earn 1.5% when you spend $2,500+ or when you make 25+ purchases during a billing cycle. 

Toilet paper shortages, long lines at stores, stress and panic-buying made grocery shopping a nightmare during the pandemic. Some of these experiences fueled a trend toward buying in bulk to prepare for future emergencies. Whether you’re prepping for a disaster or just trying to tame your grocery bills, stocking up on bulk items at warehouse stores can save you a bundle.

But beware of a “bigger is better” approach to shopping, because sometimes it can backfire. Thinking twice before you buy can help save money and reduce waste.

Shop Smart for Bulk Items

Here are some tips to help you choose wisely when shopping for bulk items.

Compare per-unit prices. Don’t assume that the biggest package is always the best price. You could end up paying more per unit than you would for a smaller package. Use a calculator to help you compare the price per unit before adding something to your cart. Keep in mind that buying certain items on sale at the supermarket may be a better deal than regular warehouse prices.

Check the shelf life. The mega size container of spinach or strawberries is only a good deal if you can use it all before it spoils. Remember that cooking oil may go bad in about six months, and spices may lose flavor after a few years – so buying smaller containers may be your best bet.

Plan for storage space. Buying in bulk only makes sense if you have room for the items you buy. It’s a good idea to check available space in the fridge, freezer and pantry before you shop.

Protect your investment. You could spend hundreds of dollars on bulk meats or other expensive foods and lose everything due to a refrigerator malfunction or extended power outage. Having a stockpile of food is a plus for disaster preparedness, but be wary of spending lots of money on items that could go bad if your storage solution fails.

Take Advantage of Rewards

The money you save by shopping smart adds up even faster when you earn rewards on groceries and other everyday purchases. With the Advancial Visa Rewards Plus card, you’ll earn unlimited rewards up to 1.5% on every purchase that can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, merchandise or travel.¹

To learn more or to apply for Visa Rewards Plus, go to www.advancial.org/credit-cards/visa-rewards-plus or call 800.322.2709.




¹ Spend between $1-$2,499 and earn 1% rewards. Earn 1.5% when you spend $2,500+ or when you make 25+ purchases during a billing cycle.