Author: Elizabeth Gray
News, Events, Resources, Tools & Advice
5 Tips for Preparing a Post-College Budget
Stepping out of college and into the real world can bring a wave of financial anxiety. Discover five practical tips to research your new living expenses, outsmart student loan traps, and leverage free mobile banking tools to build a stress-free budget. Continue reading
Save on Heating Costs
Shifting from a blistering West Texas summer to winter weather shouldn't mean watching your utility bills skyrocket. From mastering the candle draft test to optimizing smart thermostats and lowering water heater boundaries, discover our favorite practical, low-cost habits to keep your home warm and your budget on track. Continue reading
Kids + Extracurricular Activities = $$$
From endless weekend track meets to out-of-state Rubik's Cube competitions, the cost of kids' extracurricular activities can easily cause severe financial stress. Discover how to transition from last-minute panic to a smooth, stress-free routine using early-bird registration hacks, gear-swapping networks, and automated credit union savings buckets. Continue reading
The 30-Day Frugal Reset Challenge
A temporary spending fast is the ultimate way to shock your household budget back into perfect alignment. Discover a practical guide to launching a 30-day frugal reset challenge, outsmarting modern food inflation by raiding your own pantry, and unlocking hidden cash inside your wallet using forgotten gift cards. Continue reading
DIY it or hire a pro?
Navigating a home renovation shouldn't drain your energy or your wallet. From cosmetic paint tricks and the smart "demolition compromise" to six critical questions you must ask before starting a project, learn how to decide when to DIY and how to leverage your home's equity to fund your dream updates. Continue reading
Bring Back the Brown Bag
From childhood memories of Sonic specials in Stamford, Texas, to the modern reality of $10 fast-food combos, the cost of our daily lunch breaks adds up fast. Discover how to reclaim $1,300 a year using the low-tech power of the brown bag, clever supermarket headphone hacks, and the beautiful art of car-seat solitude. Continue reading
Teach a Child to Save
Developing good saving habits at a young age creates a foundation for a lifetime. Involving our children with a savings plan and good money management skills prepare them for a solid future. Here's how ATFCU helps teach those foundational skills to the children in our service area. Continue reading
“You’re the Boss” with Card Management
Take complete control of your debit and credit cards with a single tap. Discover the step-by-step how-to guide to navigate the Card Management dashboard inside your ATFCU app or desktop portal, learn how to instantly freeze or unfreeze lost cards, and see how to set up real-time text alerts and official travel notices. Continue reading
Bills, Bills, Bills
Shuttling between ten different websites and endless passwords just to pay your bills is a recipe for organizational chaos. Discover our platform-specific how-to guide to activate free Bill Pay, navigate adding payees on both desktop online banking and the mobile app, and master our delivery timelines. Continue reading