Page 3 - Jolt - Winter Newsletter

TAKE CONTROL OF

YOUR FINANCES.

The New Year is the ideal time to re-focus on your finances
and take the time to review your budget, plan for the year
ahead, and determine your goals for 2020. We are here to
guide you on your financial journey – starting with some tips for
budgeting and saving more.

DEFINE YOUR GOALS & BUDGET. To effectively budget,
outline your expenses and goals, then work them into your monthly
budget. Goals can include anything from creating an emergency fund to
saving for retirement to reducing debt or all of the above.

AUTOMATE YOUR PAYMENTS AND SAVINGS. Ensure you’re paying yourself first by
setting up a recurring transfer of funds to your savings account on a regular basis or consider allocating
a portion of your direct deposit funds right into your savings. Likewise, automating bill payments with
merchants will help keep your bill payments on track, avoiding late fees and a potential hit to your credit
score along with saving you time each month.

PREP YOUR TAXES. Designate a specific place to store important tax forms (1099-DIVs,
1099INTs, W2s, etc.) as they start arriving over the next month or so to keep them safe and organized.
Consider starting a list of the tax forms you expect to receive and as each one arrives, check it off your
list. Taking these steps make filing your taxes much easier come tax time.

CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORT. Make it a priority to visit annualcreditreport.com and
obtain your free report from each reporting agency on a regular basis. When reviewing, look for errors,
fraud, and opportunities to consolidate debt.

APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP

GIVING IT ALL WE’VE GOT!

Over $2 Million Dollars Awarded in Scholarships

It’s no secret that college can be expensive. If you are looking for a way to reduce expenses, scholarships
are a great option. Your Jolt membership connects you with a scholarship opportunity.
Awarded annually since 1982, the Msgr. Forbes scholarship was inspired to honor the legacy of the
late Msgr. Eugene A. Forbes whose dedication and commitment to encouraging the pursuit of higher
education, coupled with the credit union’s philosophy of “People Helping People”,
continues to be an integral part of Jolt Credit Union.

The college scholarship is available to members of the credit union
who are planning to attend or are currently attending a college,
university, community college, or a trade or technical school.
The award is based on the student’s personal achievements,
scholastic accomplishment, financial need, community service
and grade point average.

APPLY ONLINE AT

joltcu.com/scholarship-program
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 8, 2020