Income

Make sure to understand your paycheck: How often it comes (Pay Calendar) and the withholdings you set up (How To Change Tax Info). When you experience an increase in pay – celebrate – then live off your previous budget for a while to achieve your financial goals.

Budget

It can be a painful word to some but necessary to achieve your goals. Budgeting for your known expenses, combined with understanding your income, will reduce the need for loans and other programs that cost you more money.

Emergency Fund

Store up an emergency fund for those unplanned expenses. There’s nothing worse than a tire blow out or school pictures that spring up and blow your budget putting you back in a cycle of borrowing. Experts suggest starting with building $1,000 emergency fund

Reduce Debt

Once you have an emergency fund and you’re in the budget rhythm start paying off your debt. Some experts say start with the debt with the lowest amount and keep going to achieve a ‘snowball’ affect. Others say start with the highest percentage rate. Either way, get started.

Build Savings

Start that rainy-day fund! Depending on your life stage this could be a kid’s college account, saving for a car, or a down payment on a house. Making your savings automatic makes it even easier – look for ways to have it automated from your account to keep yourself accountable.

Understand Credit

If previous financial choices have impacted your credit score, time heals all. Work the plan above and make sure to pull your free yearly credit reports to keep track of it but don’t obsess over it.

Plan Retirement

All full and part time employees are automatically enrolled in our Fidelity 401K plan. Visit our Retirement page.

For more helpful information related to your financial wellness or go directly to Fidelity if you’re ready to dive in.

Identity Theft

IDENTITY THEFT:

Things you can do to protect your financial information:

• Monitor your financial accounts and credit reports for suspicious activity
• Consider placing a credit freeze with the credit bureaus
• Be cautious of unsolicited emails, texts, or calls asking for personal information
• If you believe you are the victim of identity theft, please add a fraud alert on your credit reports

1. Obtaining a Free Credit Report. Under federal law, you are entitled to one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three major nationwide credit reporting companies. Call 1-877-322-8228 or request your free credit reports online at www.annualcreditreport.com. Once you receive your credit reports, review them for discrepancies. Identify any accounts you did not open or inquiries from creditors that you did not authorize. Verify that all information is correct. If you have questions or notice incorrect information, contact the credit reporting company.

   The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that you check your credit reports periodically. Checking your credit reports periodically can help you spot problems and address them quickly.

2. Consider Placing a Security Freeze on Your Credit Files. If you are concerned about becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft, you may request a “Freeze” on your credit file at no charge. A freeze prohibits, with certain specific exceptions, the consumer reporting agencies from releasing your credit report without your expressed authorization. You may place a freeze on your credit reports by contacting all three nationwide credit reporting companies at the numbers below and follow the stated directions or by sending a request in writing or by mail, to all three credit reporting companies:

   Equifax Security Freeze
   P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788
   https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/
   (888)-298-0045

   Experian Security Freeze
   P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013
   http://experian.com/freeze
   (888) 397-3742

   TransUnion Security Freeze
   P.O. Box 160 Woodlyn, PA 19094
   https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze
   (888) 909-8872

   To place the freeze, you will need to supply certain personal information. After receiving your freeze request, each credit reporting company will send you a confirmation letter containing a unique PIN or password. Keep the PIN or password in a safe place. You will need it if you choose to lift the freeze.

3. Place a Fraud Alert on Your Credit Files. If you are the victim of credit fraud, you may be able to place a one-year “Fraud Alert” on your credit files, at no charge. A fraud alert tells creditors to contact you personally before they open any new accounts. To place a fraud alert, call any one of the three major credit bureaus at the numbers listed below. As soon as one credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, they will notify the others.

   Equifax
   P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069
   https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-fraud-alerts/
   (800) 525-6285

   Experian
   P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013
   https://www.experian.com/fraud/center.html
   (888) 397-3742

   TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Department
   P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016-2000
   https://www.transunion.com/fraud-alerts
   (800) 680-7289

4. Additional information: If you find suspicious activity on your credit reports or have reason to believe your information is being misused, call your local law enforcement agency and file a police report. Be sure to obtain a copy of the police report, as many creditors will want the information it contains to absolve you of the fraudulent debts. You may also file a complaint with the FTC by contacting them at www.ftc.gov/idtheft, by phone at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338), or by mail at Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. Your complaint will be added to the FTC’s Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse, where it will be accessible to law enforcement for their investigations. In addition, you may obtain information from the FTC about fraud alerts and security freezes.

   You may also wish to contact your financial institutions to inquire about steps to take to protect your accounts, including whether you should close your account or obtain a new account number if you have found suspicious activity.