It is easy to get carried away as you shop online, filling your virtual cart with item after item and spending real money in the process. But there are also ways to beat the online merchants at their own game, starting with the ten money-saving tricks listed below.

1. Download a savings code finding app

Online retailers routinely publish money-saving codes, but seeking these codes can take a long time. Downloading and using a targeted app will help you find the best codes, saving you money in the process.
 

2. Buy discount gift cards and use them online

Several websites sell gift cards at a discount, and buying them could save you 10%, 20%, or even 30% or more. You can even purchase online gift codes that can be used at your favorite retail websites and make your dollars go that much farther.
 

3. Shop with your accumulated credit card points

If you have credit card rewards, you may get more bang for your buck by using them online. Look for special offers that let you use points in exchange for additional discounts and savings.
 

4. Research price protection policies

Speaking of credit cards, the plastic in your wallet may provide additional protection against future price drops, so check out those programs and sign up. In addition, you could get money back via statement credit or cold hard cash should the price of your purchased items fall later on.
 

5. Abandon your cart

Retailers have a vested interest in having you complete your purchases, and they often reach out with additional enticements to close the deal. Adding items to your cart and then abandoning the proposed purchase could get you those extra savings.
 

6. Become a new customer

When you visit a new online retailer for the first time, you may see offers designed for first-time customers. It could be a free shipping offer, a percentage off in exchange for your email address, or even a gift with purchase. Being new has its perks, so take the retailers up on their special offers.
 

7. Look for online coupons

You do not have to go through the newspaper to find some great coupons; there are plenty of money-saving offers online. Some coupons are offered by the manufacturers or by the retail outlets themselves, but they could save you a great deal of money no matter where they originate.
 

8. Sign up for the loyalty club or program

Most grocery stores and online stores offer loyalty programs. If joining the store’s reward club requires opening a credit card, this could adversely affect credit scores, so be cautious. You may have to pay a premium for some, but many are free to join. By signing up, you’ll receive members-only discounts that automatically get deducted at checkout. Wouldn’t it be nice to get free shipping on your purchases?
 

9. Check out resellers for cut-rate deals

Resellers are popular online outlets, and finding them could save you a lot of money. Some resellers specialize in returned and refurbished merchandise, while others focus on overstocks or slightly damaged goods. Just be sure you understand the guarantees and refund policies of these resellers; they are likely to be more restrictive than those of traditional online retailers.
 

10. Add items to your wish list

If you have time to spare, try adding the stuff you want to an online wish list. Many retailers will reach out when prices drop, enticing you to purchase your wished-for items and saving you money in the process.

Shopping online is undoubtedly convenient, with fast and often free shipping and a massive selection of merchandise at your fingertips. But buying online is not always the lowest priced option, and there is no guarantee that you will get the best deal. So before you start, do research, and compare prices. And if you want to save money and enjoy the convenience of online shopping, the tips listed above may help get you started.

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Therefore, if you are having financial trouble, contact your lender immediately. Don’t wait until you have missed a payment or two. Depending on the state you live in, the lender may not need a court order or give advance warning to repossess the vehicle. In some cases, a lender may repossess after just one missed payment.

Before the vehicle is repossessed

You may be able to afford the payments by decreasing your expenses or increasing your income. Review your spending plan carefully to see if there are any areas where you can cut back, or consider obtaining a second or part-time job to add to your income.

If you can’t make spending plan changes that will enable you to afford the payments, you have a couple of options:

• You can contact your lender and ask for assistance.
• If you can get more than you owe on the loan, you may choose to sell the vehicle.
• You may give the vehicle back to the lender. This is called a voluntary repossession. Not only can it save you the repossession fee, the lender may also agree to waive the deficiency balance and not report it as a repossession on your credit report. (Get these promises in writing!)

Do not be afraid to contact your lender. In almost all cases, they don’t want the vehicle—they want you to repay the loan. The earlier you make this contact, the better. If you wait until after you have missed a payment, they may not give you a break.

Now that you’ve looked at your cash flow and know what you have to work with, you can begin to negotiate. Explain your situation: whether it is temporary or permanent, and how much money you have (if any) to go toward the payment. Your options for resolution may include:

• Making no or reduced payments for a period of time. When that time frame is up, you either increase your future payments until you repay the balance due, or add the amount you owe to the loan and make extra payments at the end.
• If your credit rating is good and the value of your vehicle is greater than the loan balance, you may be able to refinance the loan with a better interest rate or longer term. For example, if you have two years left on your contract, you may be able to get a new loan where you have five years to repay, which will reduce the payment because of the longer time frame.

Neither of these options is guaranteed. When you took out the loan, you promised to make the payments as agreed. However, it does not hurt to ask, and if you have a long and positive relationship with your lender, you may very well be able to work out a deal.

After the vehicle is repossessed

If you are unable to make an arrangement with your lender and do not make your payments, eventually they can take the next step and hire someone to repossess the vehicle.

Once that happens, you may have a few options. Depending on your state and the contract, you may have the right to reinstate the contract (pay all past due installments, including late fees and costs the lender has incurred in repossessing and storing the property), or redeem the car (pay off the whole debt for the car in one lump sum, including late fees and costs the lender has incurred in repossessing and storing the property.) Not all states include these options, nor do all contracts, so you will want to check with your lender on what options may be available to you after a repossession.

If you are unable to reinstate the contract or redeem the car, the lender will then sell the car at auction. They will notify you of the auction date, and you may attend and bid on your vehicle.

Whether you or someone else buys it, however, you will be responsible for the deficiency balance if the vehicle sells for less than the loan amount. A deficiency balance is the difference between the amount that you owed on the loan and the price the vehicle sold for at auction – plus repossession, storage, and auction costs.

This deficiency balance is an unsecured debt. Some lenders may sue for this sum, while others may forgive it. If the lender does forgive it, the IRS will consider that amount income, and will assess tax due.

Summary

Dealing with a vehicle payment problem quickly, knowledgeably, and aggressively is very important. If you are having trouble making your payment, don’t wait until the “repossessor” is at your door; contact your lender as soon as you can.

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Prepare for the unexpected

Planning ahead is key to minimizing the financial impact of a natural disaster. Learn how to safeguard your finances before an emergency happens.

Recover financially after a disaster

Rebuilding after a disaster takes time and careful planning. These resources will guide you through financial relief options and strategies to get back on track, including managing debt and communicating with creditors.

Protect yourself from scams and fraud

Disasters can leave people vulnerable to scams and fraud. Learn how to recognize and avoid predatory financial schemes.

The post Natural Disaster Toolkit appeared first on Kaiperm Credit Union.

The Down Payment

The down payment will be the most significant outlay of your pre-purchase costs. The rule used to be that you needed to put down 20% of the purchase price, and you would obtain an 80% mortgage. Today, homebuyers can buy a home with as little as three to five percent down. If you do put less then 20% down, you will probably have to purchase private mortgage insurance, which will cost you between .5% to 1% of the loan amount until your equity reaches the full 20%. Keep in mind that the more you put down, the less your mortgage payment will be.

Earnest Money

Earnest money is a cash deposit you make when you submit your offer, which proves to the seller that you are serious about wanting to buy the home. Your real estate broker will deposit the money into an escrow account, and if your offer is accepted, it will be applied towards the down payment. If the offer is rejected, it will be returned to you. Typically the earnest money deposit will be about two percent of the price of the home.

Closing Costs

Closing costs include all fees required to execute the sale transaction, such as attorney fees, title insurance, appraisals, points, and tax escrows. Typically these fees are paid up front. The average cost is three to five percent of the purchase price.

Post-purchase Reserve Funds

You may also need to prove to the lender that you have some reserve funds to protect against potential cash flow problems. This not only is assurance for the mortgage holder, but is also for your peace of mind. Post-purchase reserve funds should be at least two to three months’ worth of housing payments. This money is recommended to be in a savings account and accessible without penalties for early withdrawal (though money in a retirement account can also be counted toward the reserve requirement).

Cost Breakdown

So how much money will you need to come up with to buy a home? The actual figure depends on many factors. You may have to save more or less for the same home depending on current interest rates, whether you get a fixed or an adjustable rate mortgage, repayment terms, and your credit rating. Other expenditures you may want to save for are landscaping, immediate repairs, redecorating, furnishings (particularly if you are moving into a much larger space), and moving expenses.

Example for a $300,000 Property:

20% Down payment $60,000
3.5% Closing costs $10,500
3 Month reserve fund* $5,625
Total estimated pre-purchase costs $76,125

* $1,875 per month for Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance. Example based on a 30-year fixed mortgage, 6% interest, $2,436 annual property tax and $2,796 annual homeowners insurance.

Want to review the costs for a different property price? Check out our Mortgage Qualifier calculator.

Educate yourself

Obtaining high quality, objective home ownership education is essential for first time homebuyers. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) can put you in touch with the nearest housing counseling professional in your area by calling (800) 569-4287. You will learn how to develop a reasonable savings goal and time frame, how large a mortgage you qualify for, and the approximate price range in which you should be looking. You will also be given feedback about your credit score, and what you need to do in order to make improvements. Suggestions may include increasing income, paying down debt, closing unused accounts, paying collection accounts, correcting errors, and making timely payments for a specific time period.

Review your spending plan

Analyze your current financial position by reviewing all assets and liabilities. Do not overlook any source of funds. Include all checking and savings accounts, CDs, stocks, mutual funds and savings bonds. Retirement funds such as a 401k or an IRA can be counted toward the reserve requirement. You may even be able to borrow against your 401k plan and use the proceeds toward the down payment (check with your human resources department for details and restrictions).

Prepare a cash flow spending plan to determine how much you can realistically save each month. You may choose to sacrifice some expenses or delay the purchase of non-essential items in order to meet your monthly goal.

Save effectively

Some good techniques for effective saving include:

• Set up direct deposit with your employer, where a portion of your income is siphoned directly to a savings account. What you don’t see, you don’t miss.

• Track your spending. Awareness leads to diligence and thrift.

• Get the family involved. It is easier to save when everyone is excited and working towards the same goal.

• Tape a photo of the home or type of home you are saving for on the refrigerator or computer. It will be a constant reminder of your objective.

Ultimately, saving for a home is a choice. If you find your savings plan to be unfeasible, consider extending the time frame.

Conversely, if you really want to stick with the original time frame, you may want to buy a home that has a smaller purchase price—and buy “up” later. The idea is not to abandon the dream, but to reassess, reorganize, and reengage!

The post Saving for Homeownership appeared first on Kaiperm Credit Union.

Increase retirement plan contributions by 1% (or more).

Most people want to retire someday. If you’re one of them, vow to make those later years more financially comfortable. Raising retirement contributions by 1% in the year to come is a good starting point. Of course, it can always be increased as the year progresses, but starting with 1% is an easy thing to do.

Add $50 (or more if possible) to emergency savings each paycheck.

Sometimes the smallest goals may be the easiest to reach, so vow to set aside $50 from every paycheck. Automate the process by using direct deposit to a savings account or move the funds manually each month.

Choose one bill a month and negotiate it down.

The ability to negotiate with a cable company, internet service provider, phone company, and more may improve your finances in the coming year. Choose one bill a month, pick up the phone and negotiate to get fees and rates reduced.

Fine-tune or create your budget.

Hopefully, your budget is already in place. If not, now is the time to create one. If you have a budget, make a resolution to fine-tune it even further. Make adjustments that create a higher level of control over expenses and income.

Improve your job skills.

A great way to improve finances for the coming year is to strengthen one’s earning power. Take a class, enroll in community college, attend a seminar, and do other things that will help to earn more money. Better job qualifications may result in additional promotions.

Interview a new financial planner.

There is nothing wrong with shopping around, even if a current financial planner is providing good service. Getting a second opinion from another financial planner is one smart way to see the options available.

Record or update the information for all online account logins, keep them somewhere safe and let a loved one know where they are.

If death or incapacitation occurs, loved ones will be unable to access financial accounts without the correct information. Do them a favor by recording the information and keeping it in a safe place that they can access.

Review all insurance coverage.

Insurance is not a set-it and forget-it kind of thing, and an annual review should be on everyone’s to-do list. Making sure the proper insurance coverage is in place should be part of the review process. Removing unnecessary coverage may result in monthly savings that can be used elsewhere.

Set up an estate plan.

Make this the year to finally set up an estate plan. Having an estate plan in place is one of the best things someone can do for loved ones. It’s just a smart way to provide financial protection for family members.

Invest in good health.

Last but not least, make the promise to focus on good health and well-being throughout the year. Exercising more, eating right, and taking care of oneself should always be a priority. The positive financial impacts of better health are numerous.

Making resolutions is a common activity. As the calendar rolls over and the old year gives way to the new, people everywhere will be looking for ways to improve their lives, and that includes their finances. The ten resolutions outlined above may be a way to enjoy a better today and a better future.

The post 10 Money Smart Resolutions for Any Year appeared first on Kaiperm Credit Union.

Common phone scams to be aware of include:

• The "Grandson" Scam: Posing as a relative in distress and asking for immediate cash.
• Fake Bank Representative: Claiming suspicious account activity, needing “verification” of your account details.
• Government Impersonation: Posing as Social Security, the IRS, or some other agency in order to demand money or personal information.

Red Flags to look out for:

• Pressure and urgency to take action immediately.
• Threats of severe consequences if one does not comply, such as legal problems.
• Requests for money transfers, or other sensitive information like Social Security numbers, PINs, and credit card numbers.
• Odd language, miscommunication, or discrepant information.

How to Protect Oneself:

• Stop and Think: Never do anything because of pressure from a caller.
• Verify the Caller: Hang up and then call the institution's official number or person to verify any call.
• Take Counsel from Someone: Discuss this mysterious call with someone close, like family members, friends, or siblings that you can trust.
• Protect Your Data: Never disclose personal information, passwords, or any form of authorization by telephone.
• Be Tech-Savvy: Never install apps or software at someone's request; it may give them remote access to your device.
• Transfers to Avoid: Never withdraw or transfer money at the urging of a caller.

Your Safety Matters to Us

If you think you may have been the victim of fraud, contact Kaiperm Credit Union immediately at (925) 939-5626. Let's stay vigilant and stop these scammers together!

The post Stay Alert: How to Protect Yourself Against Phone Number Spoofing Scams! appeared first on Kaiperm Credit Union.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
• Define financial health as more than just a credit score
• Understand the four pillars of financial health: Spend, Save, Borrow, and Plan
• Assess their personal Financial Health Score confidentially
• Identify specific areas of strength and opportunity in their finances
• Create next steps to strengthen overall financial well-being

Who Should Attend:
• Individuals seeking a clearer picture of their financial health
• People who want to build stronger money habits in saving, spending, borrowing, and planning
• Those curious about how their current financial choices impact long-term stability
• Anyone ready to take actionable steps toward greater financial confidence and control

The post Are You Financially Healthy? appeared first on Kaiperm Credit Union.

Tony Delumen, CLTC

Financial Services Professional
MassMutual Northern California
CA Insurance Lic. #0D47382

The post College Education for the Modern Student appeared first on Kaiperm Credit Union.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
• Assess their financial readiness for buying a home, including credit, debt, and savings
• Understand the importance of budgeting for upfront and ongoing homeownership costs
• Explain key steps in the pre-purchase process
• Identify potential obstacles (like credit issues or debt) and steps to address them
• Create a personal action plan to prepare for homeownership with confidence

Who Should Attend:
• First-time homebuyers considering purchasing within the next 1–3 years
• Renters who want to understand the steps to becoming a homeowner
• Individuals or couples who want to get their finances mortgage-ready
• Anyone interested in learning what lenders look for in a qualified buyer

The post Becoming a Homeowner I – Preparing for Homeownership appeared first on Kaiperm Credit Union.

Why Attend?

• Learn about wills, trusts, and protecting your legacy
• Enjoy a fine dining experience
• Ask questions in an intimate, limited-seating setting

The post Legacy Planning Dinner Workshop appeared first on Kaiperm Credit Union.