If you've had your eye on a new laptop or need to replace a washer/dryer, this may be a good weekend to drop some serious cash. Last week Massachusetts lawmakers passed an economic development bill that includes a tax-free holiday on the weekend of August 11-12, 2018...the first tax-free holiday since 2015!

What if your income stream suddenly stopped? Would paying for the essentials be difficult? What if an unexpected expense, such as a medical bill, popped up? Would you be able to pay it? Many people turn to credit to help them make ends meet in difficult times. While it may provide temporary relief, it could cost you, as interest accumulates on your balance if you cannot pay it in full. Not to mention, it may be a struggle to make the payments each month.

Everybody loves summer, right? School’s out. Students are graduating. Friends are getting married. And everybody’s thinking vacay! Trouble is, the costs for all that fun can add up and sink your savings goals in the process. The good news is that with a little planning, you and your family can enjoy all that summer has to offer, without busting your budget.

Hanscom FCU is always looking for ways for our members to save more money, which is why we've partnered with a program called Love My Credit Union Rewards. This program offers our members unique discounts and offers, like the one from Sprint, which gives members a $100 cash reward for every new line they activate or transfer (3 lines maximum) and $50 for each existing Sprint line transferred into the Sprint Credit Union Member Cash Rewards program. On top of this, members get a $50 Loyalty Cash Reward each year for every line activated or transferred.

*This publication is only intended to be used for general informational purposes. Consult a tax professional for the most current data and/or personal advice.

Wouldn’t it be nice to adapt to change easily and gracefully? To offset the wallet-shock an unexpected life change can bring? You can.

A number of unexpected expenses could cause you unnecessary financial strain if you don’t have emergency savings. Here are five great reasons to start an emergency fund today.

Our pets provide emotional support, physical protection and endless entertainment. It’s no wonder that so many animal lovers consider their pets priceless.

Sixty-eight percent of US households own a pet, according to a 2017-2018 National Pet Owners Survey released by the American Pet Product Association. Dog ownership tops the list at 48 percent, with cat ownership at 38 percent. Both statistics are up a few percentage points from the last survey, conducted in 2014.

Most parents have already heard the bad news: a college education has never been more expensive. Many, in fact, are still paying off their own student debt and would like their children to avoid that burden. The good news is that there’s a lot parents can do to help their children and make the costs of college more manageable.

If you’re not a fan of the word budget, you’re not alone. For some, it conjures up a life of limits and deprivation. You work hard to make a living, and you deserve to treat yourself once in a while, right?