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Making Money Personal

Making Money Personal

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 Engaging in real talk about financial matters that affect your life and your community.Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
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  • 3 Reasons to Get Pre-Approved Before Buying a Car - Money Tip Tuesday

    3 Reasons to Get Pre-Approved Before Buying a Car - Money Tip Tuesday
    Feb 10 2026

    President’s Day is right around the corner, which means if you’re shopping for a car, you’re in luck! Dealerships across the country offer discounts for the President’s Day weekend, sometimes extending them for a week or more. If you’re planning on shopping these deals, now’s the chance to head to the dealership with confidence and a pre-approval.

    Links:

    • Get a great on your next pre-approval with Triangle
    • Check out TCU University for financial education tips and resources!
    • Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
    • Learn more about Triangle Credit Union

    Transcript:

    Typically, Presidents’ Day sales are the first official sales events of the year. While this makes sense for dealerships experiencing a slump in auto sales during the cold winter months, this is also the perfect time for consumers who have recovered from the holiday season.

    If you’re on the hunt for an auto deal this President’s Day, consider getting preapproved for an auto loan before setting foot into an auto dealership.

    1. Stay on Budget

    Staying on budget is essential during the car-buying process. Before applying for an auto loan, you must outline your budget to make sure you have a clear understanding of how much you can afford.

    Once you know how much you can afford, a preapproval is an extra step you can take to ensure you stay on budget, helping you go into the car-buying process as prepared as possible.

    1. Save Time at The Dealership

    We’ve probably all been there. You go to the dealership expecting to test-drive a car, and the next thing you know, it’s been 3 hours, and you’re sitting in an office waiting for paperwork.

    Wouldn’t it be nice if you could cut that time down so you can spend less time at the dealership and more time doing what YOU want?

    If you go to the dealership with a preapproval in hand, you won’t have to sit there while they run your credit and search for auto loan rates, which saves you time in the end.

    1. Avoid Dealership Upsells

    Another benefit of shopping for a car with a preapproval is being able to avoid dealer upsells and add-ons. A typical dealer tactic is to push buyers to sign up for extended warranties or other add-ons they typically aren’t interested in.

    With a preapproval, you have a designated amount you are approved for; therefore, when dealers approach you with all the extras, you can shut it down by saying those extras do not fit within your approved amount.

    What You Need to Get Preapproved

    If you’re interested in getting preapproved before shopping for a car, here is what you should have prepared:

    • Personal Information: Name, date of birth, Social Security number
    • Housing Details: Address, how long you’ve lived at that address, monthly housing payment, information on whether you rent or own
    • Income: Employment status, employer’s name, gross annual income
    • Loan Details: Desired loan amount, desired length of loan
    • Trade-in or Down Payment: Title and registration if trading in a vehicle or the amount of the down payment

    If you’re on the hunt for a new or used car, now’s the time to start out strong with a pre-approval. We offer many affordable financing options and our competitive auto rates are here to help.

    If there are any other tips or topics you would like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org. Like and follow our Making Money Personal FB and IG page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on social media to share your thoughts.

    Thanks for listening to today’s Money Tip Tuesday and check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast.

    Have a great day!

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    4 Min.
  • 5 Ways to Show Love Without Touching Your Credit Card - Money Tip Tuesday

    5 Ways to Show Love Without Touching Your Credit Card - Money Tip Tuesday
    Feb 3 2026
    We’re always looking for ways to save you all money, and with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s so easy to go over budget, that is, if you even had one anyway. For those trying to dial back a little on spending this year, we’re sharing a few ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day without having to take out that credit card. Links: Check out TCU University for financial education tips and resources!Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!Learn more about Triangle Credit Union Transcript: Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast. Valentine’s Day often comes with a lot of pressure—lavish dinners, expensive gifts, and grand gestures that can leave your wallet feeling less than romantic. But here’s the truth: love doesn’t have to come with a price tag. In fact, some of the most meaningful ways to show you care cost absolutely nothing. If you’re looking to celebrate without swiping your credit card or maybe minimizing its use, here are five heartfelt ideas that prove thoughtfulness beats extravagance every time. The Power of Personal Touch Nothing says “I love you” quite like words straight from the heart. Instead of buying a pricey card, write a heartfelt letter or even a poem. Share your favorite memories, what you appreciate most about your partner, and your hopes for the future. Often it’s easy to splurge on candies or flowers, but if you’re cutting back on buying things this year, making something from the heart can be just as nice. Trying something like a handwritten note feels personal and timeless—something they can treasure for years. Besides a handwritten letter or note, crafting something unique from scratch can be just as meaningful. For the creative folks, browse through ideas online from a site like Pinterest where you’ll find plenty of thoughtful homemade Valentine's crafts and gifts for your special someone. Quality Time Over Price Tags Sometimes, the best gift is your undivided attention. Plan a tech-free evening where you both disconnect from screens and focus on each other. Screens are often distractions from the present moment, robbing us of the true value that comes with being together. Make the holiday more special by offering your undivided attention and just spending time together. If you’re unsure what to do, try an idea like cooking a meal together using what you already have in the pantry. You could also take a walk under the stars and talk about your dreams, or you might enjoy dusting off a board game or card deck for some friendly competition. Quality time strengthens emotional bonds and creates lasting memories—no receipt required. Acts of Service Speak Volumes Love isn’t just about words; it’s about actions. Doing something that makes your partner’s life easier can be incredibly romantic. There are many times in life when acts of service are the perfect gift. For those who are busy and don’t have time to tackle common daily tasks, they can build up and cause much uneasiness or stress. For many loved ones this Valentine’s Day, something simple like an act of service might just be the perfect gift they’d been hoping for. One idea could be to make your significant other breakfast in bed. You could tackle a chore they’ve been dreading or even organize a space they use often, like their desk or closet. To up the stakes and gain points, pick one task the night before and surprise them by morning. Acts of service are beautiful gifts because they show thoughtfulness and effort, which often means more than any store-bought gift. Create Something Together Shared creativity can be a powerful bonding experience. Instead of buying something, make something together. If you know your significant other is crafty and values building or creating, this may be the perfect Valentine's Day gift. You could curate a playlist of songs that remind you of each other. You might enjoy baking cookies or trying a new recipe together or you could even start a photo album or scrapbook of your favorite moments. Collaborative projects create fun, laughter, and a sense of accomplishment—plus, you’ll have a keepsake to look back on. Memory-Making Experiences Experiences often outshine material gifts. Plan a free adventure that gets you out of your routine. Depending on where you live, this option might be teeming with possibilities. If the weather is good, go for a nature walk or hike in a local park. Check out free museum days or community events going on in the area. If you’d prefer not to leave the house, have a picnic at home or in your backyard with homemade snacks. Shared experiences deepen your connection, give you stories to tell for years to come, and will be worth their weight in memories. Love isn’t measured in dollars—it’s ...
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    6 Min.
  • Wasteful Habits That Can Drain Your Wallet - Money Tip Tuesday

    Wasteful Habits That Can Drain Your Wallet - Money Tip Tuesday
    Jan 27 2026
    How often have you looked at your bank accounts and thought to yourself, “where did all my money go?”, or how many times have you felt buyers’ remorse after purchasing something? The truth is that it's way too easy to spend without noticing how much money is actually slipping away. In this episode, we’ll talk about 7 common habits that cause people to waste money and share some tips on how to correct them. Links: Check out Triangle's competitive Personal Loan and Auto Loan refinance rates to start saving moneyCheck out TCU University for financial education tips and resources!Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!Learn more about Triangle Credit Union Transcript: Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast. Many people believe they don’t have enough money because they don’t earn enough, but often the real issue is spending too much. Most of us don’t spot wasteful spending right away. It can build up for different reasons and turn into a habit. If your habits aren’t helping, they could be hurting. To make the most of your money, it helps to know where you might be wasting it. Here’s a list of a few wasteful habits that tend to drain our money. The first one is throwing away food. Have you ever filled your fridge, only to toss out a lot of it a week later? This is a major way people waste money. If you want to cut waste, start here. Fix this habit by making a food plan. Choose recipes for each meal, list the ingredients you need, and buy only those. Planning ahead keeps you organized and helps you use everything you buy rather than waste it. Habit number two is spending too much on dining out. After a long day, it’s tempting to order takeout or eat out if you haven’t planned a meal. But eating out often adds up fast. With food, drinks, tip, and tax, you might spend more on one meal than it would cost to make several at home. What can you do? Plan your at-home meals in advance and set a budget for dining out. This way, you'll have money set aside to spend on dining and can enjoy eating out without guilt. Habit number three is impulse buying. Impulse buying often happens for emotional reasons. If you buy more than you planned, that’s an impulse purchase. This can waste a lot of money, especially if you didn’t budget for it. To change this, try shopping in person with cash and bring a list—only buy what’s on it. If you shop online, use a debit card instead of a credit card. You’ll have to pay close attention to your spending because you’re limited by that account balance. Habit number four is buying brand-name items when generic products work just as well. People often spend more on brand names without noticing. Brand-name products can cost 20% to 30% more, even when generics work fine. Look at the items you usually buy and see if the price difference is worth it. Many generic products, especially food products, contain the same ingredients. Do your research and choose what makes sense. Habit number five is stocking up on too many things you don’t need. The Internet is full of people showing off their hauls—candles, body scrubs, food, sneakers, clothes, and more. Many of us like to collect things, but there’s a fine line between collecting and overbuying. Content creators, ads, and online messages often tempt us to buy things we think we’ll use but don’t really need. This can be wasteful, especially since some items, like cosmetics and beauty products, expire. If you stock too much, they may go bad before you get to use them. Avoid this habit by sticking to a budget to help avoid overspending on things you don’t need. If you’re considering items that have a shelf life, be intentional to use up what you have before buying more. Habit number six is paying unnoticed fees or subscriptions you don’t need. How many subscriptions do you have? Can you keep track of them all? Have any gone up in price in the last six months or year? If you don’t keep track, you might end up paying more than you planned. Avoid wasting money on fees and subscriptions by checking them regularly. Cancel the ones you don’t use or downgrade the plan if necessary. When it comes to late fees, check your account history for any missed payments. Companies will charge a fee when a payment isn’t made on time, so the best way to avoid these fees is to stay organized. Mark up a calendar or set alerts on your phone to stay on top of all payments and use auto pay tools to ensure the payment is made on time. Wasteful habit number seven is paying high interest on loans. If you think you’re paying too much interest each month, you might be right. Interest rates change over time, and your rate could be higher than necessary. To avoid this, consider refinancing your loans to get a lower...
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    5 Min.
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