MoneyWisdom Blog

The ever wise and philosophical Benjamin Franklin had advice about our smallest denomination of currency: “A penny saved is a penny earned.’’ But even he might be surprised how quickly that single penny can add up to serious savings. One penny saved can lead to nearly $700 in the course of a year. Here’s how you do it:

Are you hesitant to offer financial education as part of your wellness programs or employee benefits? You aren’t alone. Many of the employers and HR professionals I talk to are aware of the benefits of providing financial literacy support to their workers, but they are also mindful of the challenges.

Years ago, if you had a subscription to something, it was probably for a magazine, newspaper, or compact discs (remember “eight CDs for penny?”). Today, it seems you can subscribe to just about anything via a subscription box and maybe even save a little money to boot. Dinner, razors, new outfits, cleaning supplies – you name it, there's probably a merchant out there with a subscription box to suit your needs ... or wants, whims, and wallet!

If you’re looking for a way to fill in gaps in your retirement income, the solution may be under your own roof. Hanscom Federal Credit Union is now offering FHA-insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) to members age 62 and older.

We have a full suite of banking products and services to help you reach your financial goals and simplify saving.

A year ago you went 45 days past due on a few of your bills when you lost your job. Luckily, you were able to find a new position quickly and catch up on the amounts you owed. Now you’re ready to apply for a mortgage, but when you check your credit report — yikes! Those negative items stand out like klieg lights, beacons attracting the wrong kind of attention you want from a mortgage lender.

I talk to a lot of small business owners and HR professionals who want to increase participation in their employer retirement plans. They invest a lot of resources into retirement benefits for employees, yet many are frustrated by low participation rates. 

In an effort to get employees interested in retirement plans, some employers try innovative techniques. For example, the office-supply company Staples created a vampire-themed game to make planning for retirement and money management more appealing to its busy associates.

Heating your home can be expensive, and this year it may be more so. The U.S. Energy Information Administration is forecasting that heating bills for American families will be higher than last year because of higher forecast energy prices. They predict natural gas bills to rise by 5%, electricity by 3% and home heating oil by a whopping 20%. How can you cut the high costs of heating your home this winter? Here are 7 winter energy savings tips that'll bring the cost of heating your home down:

 Before the year's end, millions of Americans will be asked to make important decisions about their benefits packages, including healthcare benefits. Open Enrollment — also called Open Season and Annual Enrollment — is a period of time, often starting in November and ending in December, where employees can make changes to their healthcare benefits at will. (Open Season this year for federal employees runs from November 1 through December 15; it's one of the shorter seasons on record.) Once Open Enrollment ends, that's it:  you're locked into the benefits you have ... or don't have. The exception to this rule is if you experience a "life event," such as a birth, death, marriage, or a job loss.