Budgeting Help
We all know that budgeting is essential to being a wise money manager, but sometimes the task can be overwhelming and turns into a project that is easily put off for another day. Don't worry! ICCU is here to make budgeting easy with several different tools for you to use. There are so many different ways to budget your income and expenses, so it is important to pick the best one for you. Another important step is to make sure you being realistic in your income and the amount you spend. Once you have created your budget, you can set up different goals to work towards. A budget is only good if you are able to stick to it. Happy Budgeting!
Tools to Create Your Budget
- MoneyDesktop: Login to It'sMe247 Online Banking and click on the "Personal Finance" tab at the top to enroll in MoneyDesktop. Use your account information (and add your non-ICCU accounts) to get a full picture of your finances. You can set goals, manage debt payments, and view spending trends all in one secure place.
- Budget Analyzer: Type in your numbers and print out the reports
- Budget and Planning Worksheet: Print out the worksheets and fill in the information
To establish good credit, you need a steady work record and continued residence at the same address. It is important to make on-time payments for bills and debt, and keep outstanding balances low on credit cards.
You have come to the right place! ICCU offers several resources to help you create a budget that works for you.
- If you don't know where to begin, you are welcome to sit down with a Financial Service Representative, who can work with you to create a reasonable budget that you can stick to.
- If you feel like you have a decent handle on how much you spend and save, you are welcome to use ICCU's Financial Planning and Budgeting worksheets to add some structure to your plan.
- ICCU also has a fantastic online personal finance manager, located securely inside It'sMe247 Online Banking, called MoneyDesktop. MoneyDesktop is an easy way to see all of your finances and bills in one place -- even accounts that aren't with us, keep track of where your money goes, and figure out how to keep more of it! Click here to find out more.
- To get started with MoneyDesktop, simply login to It'sMe247 Online Banking and click on the "Personal Finance" tab. To keep track of your budget on your smartphone, download the MoneyMobile app! For security purposes, you will need to register your phone using a computer (or click on the "Click here for standard login" link before you log in to It'sMe247 Online Banking to access the full site), inside MoneyDesktop in order to access MoneyMobile.
Cosigners lend their names and good credit histories to the person requesting the loan. Should this person be unanable to make payments, all responsibility for meeting the terms of the loan transfers to the cosigner. An often-overlooked aspect of cosigning a loan is the fact that the loan appears on both the maker's and cosigner's credit reports. Be sure to consider these resposibilities carefully before cosigning on a loan with someone else.
It might be tempting to view your 401(k) as a source of emergency funds, but before you dip into your retirement account for cash, explore alternatives.
Click here for more information.