We’re fast approaching the end of the first quarter of 2025. How are your financial resolutions going? Did you create a budget in January? Have you cut back on credit card spending? Did you start an emergency fund? To help make your money go further, here are 10 tips to help you save and grow your money.
- Buy in bulk or by unit price: The more you buy, the more you save. While this is usually the case, be wise to do so with things you use. Purchasing large quantities of item you don’t like to save a few dollars won’t help your budget. When you’re at the market, look for the unit price. It’s usually in small type on the price label on the shelf. While item A may be cheaper than item B, by examining the unit price, you may discover you’re paying more overall.
- One in, one out: Before you make a purchase, take a moment to go through your closets and storage areas to see if you already have a similar item that can fill your needs. If you decide to make a purchase, commit to letting something you no longer need or use go. Not only can you save money, you’ll declutter your closets. If you sell the item you no longer need, it lessens the financial impact of a new purchase.
- Cancel unwanted subscriptions: Eliminating subscriptions to streaming services, digital or print magazines, gyms, and other services you no longer use can save you considerably. Our Subscription Manager Tool in Tulee makes it easy to cancel services you no longer need or use.
- Get a cash-back credit card: Inflation has taken a bite out of everyone’s budget. A cash-back credit card is a way to bite back. Get a Crystal Visa® Credit Card and earn up to 3% cash back on most things you buy for 12 months.* After that, you’ll earn up to 2.5% cash back on nearly everything you buy. With inflation at around 2.7%, getting cash back on your purchases helps limit the impact of higher prices on your budget.** Reminder: Always pay your entire balance every month to maximize you savings.
- Up your interest: The national average yield on savings accounts is just 0.42% APY***. While having a savings account is important, this low yield means you’re far from keeping up with inflation. Make your money make more money with our Online Savings account. You’ll earn 3.50% APY† with Direct Deposit (2.00% APY without Direct Deposit), more than 8 times the national average.‡
- Guess the price: When you’re out shopping and see something you like, think of a price you’d be willing to pay. Then, look at the price. Do you still want the item? Don’t make the purchase if the price is far beyond what you imagined it would be.
- Don’t meet to eat: Meeting with friends and family at a restaurant is great. But it can also be expensive. Try meeting up for a hike, scenic walk, or a picnic in a park. You get to catch up and save big when there’s no check to pay. If you love going out to restaurants, meet for dessert rather than a full meal.
- Pause before you buy: Online shopping has made our lives convenient. Unfortunately, it’s also made it easy for us to buy on impulse. Next time you turn to your favorite online retailer or service, put whatever you want in the cart, but don’t buy it. Let the items sit there for 24 hours. If you still truly need or want the items the next day, make the purchase. This cooling-off period could save you significantly.
- Don’t keep up with the Joneses: Following social media influencers can be fun and educational, but be mindful of those who make you feel you must keep up (buy) the latest fashion, gadgets, home décor, or visit the coolest restaurants or travel destination. Check out those who help share money-saving tips.
- Increase your money smarts: The more you know about money, the more in control and empowered you’ll feel. Money know-how can also help you stay on budget and plan and save for your short- and long-term goals. Start your journey to financial wellness by taking our Financial Wellness Check. It’s free, only takes a few minutes, and can help you grow wealth and avoid costly financial pitfalls. Meeting with a Financial Counselor is a simple way to get personalized, practical information to help you live your best financial life.
Final thoughts.
We hope these 10 tips will help you save and grow your money through the rest of the year and beyond. Making small changes to how you shop and manage your money today can help your money go further, combat the effects of inflation, and help your peace of mind.
*$100 Bonus for New Credit Cards for: Crystal Visa, Select Visa & Visa Platinum: A $100 (one hundred dollars) bonus will be paid in the form of “Visa Statement Credit” when at least $5,000.00 (five thousand dollars) is spent in purchases within the first 3 months (qualifying period) of the “New” Visa card opening. Bonuses will be paid out within 90 days after the qualification period. Example: If a card is activated on January 1, 2021 and the total of qualifying purchases for the months of January, February and March is at least $5,000, the primary borrower will receive a Bonus of $100 (one hundred dollars) no later than July 1, 2021. Limit of one reward/bonus per member number. Qualifying transactions must “post” to the designated account during the qualified period. All qualifying purchases will count towards the $5,000 in spent purchases unless return for credit of any of the qualifying transactions takes place within 90 days of the end of the qualifying period. Transactions may take two business days from the date of purchase to post. Member must be in good standing to be eligible for bonus. New accounts are subject to FIGFCU approval and all other terms and conditions apply. This offer is valid only for individual account /card holders, is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer. The $100 Bonus is a product promotion sponsored by FIGFCU and may be discontinued at any time. Visa is a registered trademark.
Zero Percent (0%) Introductory Rate Promotion is offered on ALL purchases for new FIGFCU Crystal Visa® account holders. If you are in an introductory rate promotion period, you are not eligible to transfer other loan balances, line of credit balances and credit card account balances to take advantage of the introductory rate promotion.
The program promotion may be modified, suspended or cancelled or may be changed at any time without notice and without restriction or penalty. Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union reserves the right to change the promotion rates and program retention period from time to time. You will be notified of any expiration or program changes as required by law. Contact Farmers Insurance Credit Union for details on applicable conversion to current rate and payment options which are then in effect. At Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union’s sole discretion, the promotion offering of the program may be terminated, for any reason, including but not limited to a “Rules Violations”, Your Farmers Insurance Credit Union account is not in good standing or is suspected of fraud, or if you move to another Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union Credit Card.
This program is void where prohibited or restricted by law. You are responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes.
Loss of Introductory APR: We may end your introductory APR and/or apply the Penalty APR if you make a late payment or are Over limit.
Billing Rights: Information on your rights to dispute transactions and how to exercise those rights is provided in the Billing Rights section of the Visa® Credit Card Agreement.
Effective Offering Dates: Promotion period for Zero Percent (0%) introductory is effective for at least the first 6 (six) months from activation of new FIGFCU Crystal Visa® Credit Cards opened beginning July 30, 2020 through “until further notice”.
If you are in an introductory rate promotion, you are not eligible to increase limits until the introductory rate promotion has expired.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS The introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) will apply to purchases made during a promotional period of 6 (six) months from the date of opening of your Crystal Visa® account. After this promotional period ends, 6 (six) months from the date of activation of your Visa account, your standard APR will apply to any remaining balance and to all new purchases and balance transfers. The terms of this introductory rate may not be applied to existing Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union Visa accounts.
This promotional introductory offer is based on meeting Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union’s criteria for creditworthiness. Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union will review your credit and employment history and any other information permitted by law to process your application. The credit line on this account will be determined after a credit review of your application by Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union and will be based on various factors, including income. FIGFCU maintains the right to not open this account if: a) the information provided is incomplete, inaccurate or cannot be verified, or if you do not meet Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union’s standards for creditworthiness; b) your name and/or mailing address on the credit application have been altered; c) the income you reported on the application is insufficient to support the opening of this account; or d) you do not meet Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union’s membership eligibility or “member in good standing” requirements. You have the right to review your credit history by contacting the appropriate credit reporting agencies.
Change in APRs, Fees and Other Terms: Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union may change the APRs, fees and other terms of your account at any time in accordance with applicable law and the Visa Credit Card Agreement. Factors we may consider in determining whether and how to change your terms include, but are not limited to, a late payment or an extension of credit that exceeds the credit limit, the frequency and severity of defaults and other indications of risk on accounts with Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union and other creditors. To the extent allowed by law, the new terms will affect all outstanding balances. If we increase your APRs for any reason other than an increase in the Prime Rate, the new APRs will apply only to new transactions you make after we notify you of the change in writing.
No points are earned for finance charges, fees, cash advances, convenience checks, foreign transactions currency charges, purchase or currency charges for crypto currency, or insurance charges posted to their account. Charges or transactions may be added to, or removed from, the lists of eligible charges and transactions from time to time at the sole discretion of the Crystal Rewards Program.
** Statista Research Department, “U.S. monthly inflation rate 2024,” Statista.com. Published 3 January 2025. Accessed 8 January 2025.
***, ‡The national average for this type of account is 0.42% APY, based on rates published in the FDIC Monthly National Rates and Rate Caps accurate as of 01/21/2025.
†APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APY is the annualized rate based on a compounding period of one year. When the deposited money earns dividends and the accumulated dividends starts earning dividends as well, we are talking about compounding. Fees could reduce the earnings on an account. All yields except Certificate yields are subject to change retroactively to the beginning of the month.
Rate bonus is for a minimum of $1,000 monthly ACH Direct Deposit or Agent Net Check into a Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union Checking Account. Rates are subject to change at any time. No branch or call center access with this account.
