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Tips and tricks to help you with everyday finances, budgeting, and everything in between.

2023 Tax Extension: Deadline, Rules, How To File

A man sits in his kitchen looking at papers he's holding in his right hand and punching buttons on a calculator with his left hand. A laptop is open on the table in front of him.

Need more time for your taxes? Learn about getting an extension in 2023.

2022 Income Taxes: What You Need To Know

Two men sitting close together on a gray couch. The man on the left is wearing a blue shirt and glasses and is pointing at a tablet in other man's hand. Man on right is wearing a gray shirt. Consumers' Checkbook logo in upper right corner.

Learn how changes to tax laws might affect your 2022 tax return.

How To Get a Credit Card for My Kid

Mother holding a mobile phone sits next to her child who is holding a credit card. They are sitting at a table, smiling. A large green plant is in the background.

Learn how to help your kids start building credit and managing their finances.

How To Pay off Credit Card Debt

Two smiling men sit shoulder-to-shoulder in front of a laptop and look over a paper document together.

Get tips for paying off debt and saving for the future.

How To Maximize Your Nonprofit Donations

A BECU employee speaking with another person, with food donations in the background.

Get tips for making the most of your donation dollars and time.

Do You Need Travel Insurance?

Couple huddled close together, smiling for the camera while situated in front of a medieval castle. Consumers' Checkbook logo in top left corner.

Get tips to help you decide if insurance makes sense for your trip.

How To Spend Less on Holiday Shopping

Couple standing shoulder to shoulder together outside, dressed in warm winter clothes, smiling and looking down inside of a red shopping bag, with holiday lights visible in the background. "Consumers' Checkbook" logo in the bottom right corner.

Learn how to get the best deals and avoid scams during the holidays.

Why Did My Credit Score Drop?

Illustration of a credit score gauge. A person is sweating from the effort of pulling on the indicator needle, like it's a lever, to move their credit score up.

Learn about these common credit-score setbacks and how to improve your score.
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How Credit Debt Could Affect Your Mortgage

Image of a young, smiling couple standing in front of a brick home with one of the individuals holding house keys in their hand.

Find out if credit card debt affects whether you qualify for a home loan.

Time To Winterize: Fall Projects That Save Money

Homeowner double checks duct work for holes or gaps. Consumers' Checkbook logo in bottom right corner.

Improve energy efficiency and prevent the need for costly repairs.

New Baby Budget: Costs for the First Year

Mother and father sitting on the floor in front of a baby crib holding and looking at their newborn baby, with a black- and white-colored dog as well as a brown- and grey-colored dog laying down on the floor next to them. Friendly depictions of a raccoon, bear, and forest are painted on the walls of the room. "Miranda Jade Photography" photo credit is displayed in text in bottom left hand corner of image.

Prepare for costs in the first year of your baby's life.

Grocery Inflation: Items That Cost More

A person pushes a grocery cart down the dairy aisle of the grocery store. The cart contains lots of fresh vegetables and other items. The person's hands and lower body are visible.

Learn which grocery prices have increased and get money-saving tips.

Buying Your Leased Car Could Save You Money Now

Couple standing inside an auto dealership reviewing materials on a digital tablet with an auto dealership employee. Consumers' Checkbook logo in the lower right of the image.

With inventory problems driving up auto prices, buying your vehicle as it comes off lease could result in a windfall.

5 Upgrades To Increase Home Value in 2022

Photo of a modern house with stone veneer along the bottom, vinyl-framed windows, and a four-panel garage door with windows across the top.

How to make the most of your home improvement dollars.

9 Steps To Include Fun in Your Budget

Two people kayaking in orange boats with orange paddles on a sunny day. A woman in the foreground is smiling, looking in the direction that the man in the boat behind her is pointing. The sun is shining on the calm water.

Learn how to loosen up spending limits to avoid splurges.

How To Budget for Inflation

A woman sits at her kitchen table reading a receipt she is holding in one hand. She is holding an apple in the other hand. A paper bag of groceries is on the table next to her.

Get tips on how to adapt your budget as prices rise.
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Low-Cost Tips For Reducing Energy Use at Home

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Get tips to benefit your wallet — and the planet.

Things To Know About Credit Scores

White text on blue background: "April: National Financial Literacy Month." Illustration of a person sitting, looking at a smart phone; a thught bubble shows a credit score gauge with the needle pointed at green to represent a good score.

Learn how to raise your score and improve your financial health.

‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Pros and Cons for Travel

Parents stand smiling with their two young children on a sunny, sandy beach with bright blue water behind them. A logo says Consumers' Checkbook on the lower right.

Find out if putting off payment for your upcoming trip is right for you.

Personal Finance Tips for New College Grads

Three college students laugh as they walk away from a building on campus together.

Learn how to navigate your financial life after college.

Take Control of Your Digital Clutter

Woman sitting in her kitchen rests her chin on her hand and concentrates while looking at her laptop.

Get tips to prevent your personal and financial files from getting buried.

2021 Income Taxes: What You Need To Know

Stacked tax documents. Image has Puget Sound Consumers' Checkbook logo on bottom right.

Learn how changes to tax laws might affect your 2021 income tax return.

RV Supplies Increasing, but Prices Still High

A father, mother and their two boys pose for a family photo in front of their RV, which is hitched to their pickup truck.

What to expect — and what to consider — if you’re shopping for an RV.

Think You're Getting a Deal? 10 Tricks Sellers Use

Image shows a bustling crowd with sale signs in the background.

Learn the sales tricks that make you think you're getting a bargain.
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2021 Holiday Shopping Scams: What To Watch Out For

A woman wearing a tan coat, carrying shopping bags walks through a mall.

Learn about the latest online holiday shopping scams so you can avoid them.

How To Get a Fair Deal on Auto Repair

A woman happily driving a car. White text says Consumers' Checkbook in the lower right corner.

Tips for shopping for an auto mechanic.

Is DIY Home Improvement Right for You?

A woman smiles as she paints a white wall gray using a roller brush.

Save time and money and increase your home value by doing your homework.

How To Save on Moving Help and Avoid Scams

A man and woman stand in their garage doorway. The man is carrying a cardboard box labeled "BEDROOM # 2" in black marker. A woman, who is smiling at him, rests her hands on top of a stack of labeled cardboard boxes. A white text logo in the lower right says "Puget Sound Consumers' Checkbook."

Comparison shopping tips to protect your stuff and your money.

Car Shoppers Face Fewer Choices and Higher Prices

Aerial photo of a black sedan, the only car in a parking lot with eight spaces visible. Consumers' Checkbook logo in lower right.

Learn how a microchip shortage is affecting sales and get shopping tips.

Low-Cost Vacation Rental? Take a Closer Look

Smiling woman in a blue windbreaker stands in a garden in front of cabin with a low, round wooden door. Logo in the lower right reads Puget Sound Consumers' Checkbook.

Get tips for avoiding hidden fees and terms on your vacation rental.

Consider Costs Before Getting a Pet

A woman dressed in warm clothes sits on a Pacific Northwest beach with two dogs

Learn how much you’ll need to budget to care for a new furry friend.

10 Things To Know About 2020 Income Taxes

Bearded man sitting at a kitchen table, looking down at tax forms, a laptop open in front of him

Herb Weisbaum has answers to common questions about this unusual tax year.
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How to Stay Positive When the Job Search Drags On

Woman smiling, talking on a cell phone and looking at a laptop

Motivation for when it seems like your job search has no end in sight.

Set Sights on Smaller Resolutions for 2021

Illustration of the start of a New Year's resolution list surrounded by six pictures in circles: an apple with a milk carton, a person walking outside, a person riding a bike, a book, a small picture of a piggy bank, and a small picture of a dumbbell.

After a tough 2020, it’s ok to set smaller goals for the new year.

Stay Safe with This Virtual Holiday Guide

Four people gather on screen for virtual holiday party.

Make the most of this holiday season with these festive and safe celebration ideas.

4 Shopping Tips for Black Friday 2020

Shopping bags

Tips for Black Friday shopping while keeping yourself and others safe by staying home and avoiding the crowds.

Support Small Businesses on Saturday, November 28

Small business merchants

Learn how to support your favorite local shop on Small Business Saturday.

Ideas for a Virtual Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving Celebration

Family photo on cell phone

With the latest guidance from the CDC and Governor Inslee, many of us need to rethink our holiday plans. Get ideas for a virtual Thanksgiving (or Friendsgiving) celebration.

Turkey Shopping Tips for Thanksgiving 2020

Turkey

Get the best bang for your bird buck with these turkey shopping tips.

7 Easy Alternatives to Trick or Treating

Ghost trick or treating with witch

Spook-tacular ideas for a fun and safe Halloween.
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10 Free Ways to Keep Kids Entertained This Summer

Sign that says Museum

Ideas for free summer fun from the comfort of home.

Save Money by Starting a Victory Garden

Various vegetables

Even if you don’t have much space or a yard, you can grow your own food.

4 Tips for Buying a Budget-Savvy Engagement Ring

Engagement ring in an open box

Don't feel like you need to break the bank.

Emergency Funds: Your Financial Bestie

Emergency Funds - Your Financial Bestie

Emergency Funds aren't a one-size-fits-all kind of thing.

Are Meal Delivery Services Worth It?

Are Meal Delivery Services Worth It?

We look into meal delivery services and see if they save you money.

Best Summer Camp Tips for Parents

Best Summer Camp Tips for Parents

The best time to book a summer camp? Now.

Let's Talk About the Cost of Turkey

Turkey

Get the best bang for your bird buck. Check out our turkey-shopping tips.

Top 6 Tips for Perfect Kid Presents

Gifts decorated with ribbons

Hopefully this will make shopping easier.

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Four Tips for Finding Some Extra Money for Summer

Container full of coins

It's more than checking the couch cushions.

5 Budget-Friendly Home-Improvement Hacks

Blueprint, small model home, and pencil marking compass

You don't have to break the bank to up your curb appeal.

Four Fun Ideas for a Budget-Friendly Summer Vacation

Boardwalk, trees, and water landscape

Tips for enjoying some much-needed time away without breaking the bank.

Best of Back to School Sales

Chalk board that says Back to School

Did you know some of the best back to school sales happen in July?

Free (Or Almost Free) Things to Do in Seattle

Seattle's Pike Place Market

You don't have to break the bank this summer in Seattle.

Three Can't-Miss Summertime Side Hustles

Sign that says Pizza

The summer is the perfect time for professional moonlighting.

Your Summer Financial Podcast Playlist

Headphones connected to a phone

Here are some finance suggestions for your podcast playlist.

Get Financial Advice on Pinterest

Pinterest

Did you know that BECU is on Pinterest?
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Saving Through Streaming

Yellow, white, and red cables

"Cutting the cord" with cable providers can benefit your bank account.

Four Common Tax Filing Mistakes to Avoid

Calculator paper clip and pen on a table

Be sure to avoid these mistakes this tax season.

Take a Fresh Look at Your Debt This Spring

Piggy bank in a meadow

Check out the debt consolidation tools available to BECU members.

A Wake-Up Call From the Shutdown

Sign that says Sorry We're Closed

We look at options for possibly missing a paycheck.

Is Biometrics Here to Stay?

Finger pointing to the word Security

Looking into biometrics.

The Virtual Gold Rush

Are You Missing Out On a Virtual Gold Rush?

Taking look at digital currency.

Questions? We're here to help.

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