Education Articles

The Financial Mistakes of Our 20s and 30s

Early in our careers, we tend to focus on the here and now. It's an understandable impulse. Why worry about the unknown? And how would you prepare for something so far off? But the thing about the future is, it has a habit of sneaking up on us. We may not have a crystal ball, but that doesn’t mean we can’t prepare for what’s to come—and the soon...

How Students Can Keep Money in their Pockets

“It’s a truth universally acknowledged, that a college student in possession of a budget, must be in want of tips for saving money.” -Jane Austen (kind of) For most of us, going to college and living on a budget go hand in hand. Who couldn’t use a few ways to save money here and there? Whether you’re looking to fund your fancy coffee fix or to s...

Be Aware of Free Trial Offers

Not exactly a news flash, but online shopping has been displacing brick-and-mortar retailers for years. In 2018, an estimated 1.8 billion people made purchases on the internet to the tune of $2.8 trillion in e-retail sales . The latter figure is projected to swell to $4.8 trillion by 2021 as retailers continue to shift resources to e-commerce an...

Swimming Clear of Phishing Scams

You’ve heard the story before: Scammer poses as a familiar business or service provider, victim is lured into providing personal information, scammer steals victim’s identity. It’s an oldie, but for scammers it’s still a goodie—it's estimated that more than a  trillion emails are sent in a year by cybercriminals. (And that's just emails!)...

Tips to Control Holiday Spending

’Tis nearly the season to get in the spirit of spending more money than you normally do (or perhaps your season has already begun). The National Retail Federation reports holiday spending has steadily increased each year over the past decade. But that doesn’t mean you have to ride the shopping wave. Here are a few tips for keeping spending in...

Make Debt Work for You

Ever seen a report that claims a certain kind of food is bad for you? Then, a couple weeks later, there’s another report saying the  same  food is good for you? It’s usually not the food itself but what you do with it that makes it “good” or “bad.” The same goes for debt. Like drinking red wine or eating bacon, managing debt is all about how...

Couples' Therapy: Investing Together

You like to take risks when investing. Your partner would rather play it safe. So where do you go from here? Many couples grapple with this dilemma. While it might seem like a good compromise to split your funds and invest as you each see fit, that likely won’t bring peace—or wealth—into your relationship. In a marriage, for one thing, whether...

10 Tips for Teaching the Value of a Dollar

Talking to your kids about money can be difficult, but it’s also one of the most important conversations you can have. Learning how to earn, manage, and appreciate the value of money at an early age gives children the foundation they need to succeed down the road. As a financial institution founded by teachers, SELCO is committed to helping Oreg...

Quicktips: Traveling Smarter and Safer

Going out of town for awhile? Kaydie shares her top 5 tips for prepping your finances for vacation. Plan ahead, stay safe, and avoid surcharges at the ATM.

5 Things You Probably Have Wrong About Credit Unions

Trusting any financial institution, from the smallest local credit union to the largest national bank, requires a leap of faith. The search for a financial institution with the perfect balance of trust, products, and personal service, along with the belief that you are more to them than just an account number, can be challenging. Add community...