Student Lending
Achieve your dreams of higher education without the higher price tag often associated with other private student loans. #ABetterWayToPay
LFCU has been a local community Credit Union serving Lebanon county since 1969. LFCU takes pride in donating to over 100 different organizations in Lebanon County each year. Scholarship opportunities are also provided to all the local area high schools. Adult and youth financial literacy programs are offered. Seminars are scheduled throughout the year to educate members about our financial services. LFCU employees and their families volunteer countless hours in the community each year. Lastly, LFCU offers all the financial products and services that the "big banks" offer, but with a personal touch!
If you live, work, worship or attend school in or have a business or other legal entity in Lebanon County, you are eligible to join the credit union. You are also eligible to join if you have an immediate family member who lives, works, worships or attends school in Lebanon County. Once you become a member, individuals in your family also become eligible to join. If you are eligible, complete the online Membership Application and a Member Service Specialist will contact you.
Start the process online to become a member by clicking the link below.
If you would like to become a member in person, please visit one of our four convenient branch locations:
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Difference Between Credit Unions & Banks
Source: mycreditunion.gov
Click to learn more:
mycreditunion.gov
Source: mycreditunion.gov
Money might be tight when you’re in college, but it’s not impossible to find ways to save. Here are some simple ideas.
Budget
It’s smart to create a spending plan so you know where and how you’re spending your money. If you don't know where your money is going, it’s impossible to know what to cut back on. Too many dinners out with friends and an unexpected book you have to buy for class may find you short on cash at the end of the month.
Food
Prepping meals at home can save you a lot of money. One meal out can cost as much as one cooked meal and the leftovers for two more meals. Never go grocery shopping when you’re hungry. Stock up on sale items you can easily store or freeze to save time and money.
Textbooks
Before you go out and buy the newest copy of each book for your classes, shop around. Look for used versions of textbooks or rent them if possible. Sometimes you even can find textbooks at the library. If you have to buy a textbook at full price, take good care of it so you can sell it back at the end of the semester.
Entertainment
Having fun inexpensively while in college should never be a problem. Instead of spending money on entertainment, check out the free events your campus has to offer—concerts, movies, speakers, sporting events. Stay in shape with the free fitness classes or intramural sports offered at your school’s recreational center. Lastly, ditch your cable—watch shows and movies online or borrow them from the library.
sources:
U.S News (Money)
No one likes throwing away food, especially if you’re trying to save money. But what do you do with those fresh string beans you got on sale that may not get eaten before they go bad? Freeze them. Follow these handy tips and you’ll be able you to enjoy your favorite foods for months.
Many people wonder how they can build an emergency fund when they’re trying to pay off my debts. It isn't as hard as you might think. The strategy is to start small, change a few habits, and change your mindset.
If you're starting from scratch with your emergency fund, begin by saving one month’s worth of living expenses while paying the minimum on your credit cards. When you have that first month of emergency funds started, turn your focus to your credit card debt and pay more than the monthly minimum. Once the credit card debt is paid off, go back to building your emergency fund. If your credit card debt is very high and can’t be paid in full within a couple of months, then alternate the extra payment every other month: The first month, add to your emergency fund and pay the minimum on your credit cards. The next month, pay more on your credit cards and skip the deposit to your emergency fund, etc.
Here are five ways to boost your emergency fund and change savings habits for life:
Treat savings as a bill. Figure out what you can afford to save each month and stash away $75, $50, $25, or even $10 a month. No matter the amount, it adds up and can become habit-forming. As your financial situation improves, increase the amount.
Live one raise behind. When you get a raise, don’t begin spending more. Instead, apply the extra amount to your emergency fund.
Automate it. Set up an automatic transfer to your emergency funds account. When the credit union receives your direct-deposited pay check, you can have a portion of it put directly into your savings or emergency account. Out of sight, out of mind, but you know it's there if you really need it.
Give savings a garage-sale boost. Go from room to room in your home and purge stuff you no longer want and need. Then schedule a garage sale. Both your house and your savings will look better.
Think of it as a life jacket. If you can't find that initial spark to get started, ask yourself how you'd pay your bills if you lost your job tomorrow. Having an emergency fund will help you keep “your head above water.”
Remember: The professionals at LFCU are ready to help with all your savings needs. Call us at 717.272.2210 to set up short-term and long-term savings vehicles that fit your needs.
College years are the time when many people establish financial habits that will carry them for the rest of their lives.
Pay attention to these items to get off on the right financial foot:
Apps make personal finance easy
There are many apps to help you manage your money.
Or, there are others that might help as well:
Achieve your dreams of higher education without the higher price tag often associated with other private student loans. #ABetterWayToPay
How to Fill Out a FAFSA Correctly
Each October, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA is made available for the next school year. This is the form that families fill out to apply for federal grants, loans, and work-study funds for college students. It is administered by the U.S. Department of Education, which provides more than $150 billion in student aid each year.
Your eligibility for federal grants (which don’t have to be repaid) and federal loans (which do) will generally be based on your financial need, and this is determined by the information you supply on your FAFSA. You can apply online or print out a PDF from the website and mail it in.
Filling out this form may seem like a daunting task, but changes to the process have made it easier than ever before. Before you start, have the following information ready:
To complete the form online, follow these 8 steps:
Each state and school has its own deadline, so make sure you check the school’s website or call its financial aid office. You’ll find state deadlines on the FAFSA website.
Whether you desire the shiny, brand new one, or if you are content with finding a reliable used one, we want to help you to get the most for your money.
5 Reasons Credit Unions Offer the Best Auto Loans
The average cost of a new vehicle today is around $37,000.
Here are five reasons it makes more sense to get your loan through us.
The bulk of a credit union’s profits go back to members in the form of lower rates on financial products and more flexible loan options. If you don’t like the pressure of working with lenders from a commercial bank, a credit union is the answer.
By using the right card responsibly, students can build good credit to help them score better interest rates in the future.
U.S. consumers are once again increasing their collective credit card debt, which now exceeds $1 trillion. The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act protections, which went into effect in February 2009, require card issuers to disclose rates and other information more clearly. This should make it easier for consumers to monitor what they owe. But, regulations can't prevent people from making poor debt management habits.
Here's some advice for controlling credit card use:
If you don't already have a Platinum or Classic Credit Card from Lebanon Federal Credit Union, now's the time to get one!