Big Picture, Small Details

What is it about those seemingly insignificant details that still manages to get to us? While overall, your house may look fine, there can be areas that throw a wrench in the visuals. Maybe it’s something that everyone comments on, or something only you notice. Either way, it’s frustrating to think of how much fixing up these details can cost, leading you to putting it off. It turns out, you can refresh a lot of areas in your house by yourself, and for a much better price.

Let’s begin with switchplates – what’s the big deal, you ask? While small and often unnoticed by both residents and visitors, replacing the old with a new style can make a difference in the overall feel of your home. Replace plain plastic switchplates with wood, metal, or ceramic for a more visually appealing look. If you have kids’ rooms, there are even cartoon-patterned ones (you might even want a superhero or Disney switchplate for yourself)! Make it fun for the kids to help out by letting them choose their own new switchplates. With every option at your fingertips, your home can be uniquely you. Whether you prefer the little details like light switches and outlets to have a subtle charm or make a dramatic statement, you’re just a click away from a quick, inexpensive way to set your home apart.

Some consider it hard to express your personality through the fixed aspects of your house. If it’s not furniture or wall decor, how can it be fun? Yet choosing a new wallpaper or paint color for the walls can make a world of difference, and show your unique take on decorating. In the kitchen, a gathering place for everyday and special events, fashion the walls with a backsplash that not only looks great, but protects your walls against messy cooking mishaps. Add tiles that have a more interesting pattern or texture than plain old ceramic tiles. If you’re renting, you can stick on decals to add more personalized flair. Don’t limit your home to being boring and neutral, let some character shine through!

Take a look around your house and see what touches can be added to reflect your creativity. Maybe you add stepping stones to your front yard or plant a garden in the back. Organize with shelves in your garage or hooks in your room to be practical yet pretty. Check out our other ideas for inexpensive home projects. Soon your home will feel both comfortable and new again. And as a bonus, you’ll increase the value of your house with these minor updates! Who can resist benefits like that?

Taking Time to Expand Minds

It’s been a long summer for most parents, starting with school closing before the actual end of the school year. Keeping children occupied has been a struggle for many. They can’t see their friends in person, and they need to let out that social energy somehow. Teachers have held classes online, which is harder for some ages to pay attention to. In Arizona, outside fun is already limited thanks to the summer heat, but now kids can’t even go to public pools, malls, bowling, or any other air-conditioned gathering place. Being stuck at home has parents and children alike getting frustrated. But never fear – there are many ways you can keep your kids engaged and learning at home.

If you haven’t already, sit down with your children and make a schedule. Depending on how old they are, this might be easier or harder with their input, but it’s still good to involve them in the process. A daily or weekly schedule will help everyone in the house stay on track and have something to refer to so you can keep yourselves accountable. Make sure to include time for learning, chores, and relaxing.

There are plenty of inexpensive ways to stay entertained at home. You can find free online games from PBS Kids or Seussville. For older kids, there are options like learning how to cook or creating science experiments using things commonly found around the house. Zoos and other wildlife organizations are offering livestreams of a myriad of animals 24/7. Teens can learn a new language through apps like Duolingo, helping them prepare for their language class requirement in high school, or simply giving them more ways to communicate with the world.

While it’s too hot to start planting, you can plan a garden with the kids. Together, figure out what materials you need, from the proper dirt to the area you want to plant. Pick what you want to grow: will you start with seeds, potted plants, or kitchen scraps? Next, find out when’s the best time of year to plant in Arizona. Fall isn’t far away for an outdoor garden, and if you’re starting something like an indoor herb garden, you can likely begin right away. Caring for plants and watching them grow is a fun, simple responsibility for kids of all ages.

When everyone has had to stay at home with no break from each other, tensions can run high. Kids can get bored more often, feeling like there are less options in how to spend their time. Yet there are still plenty of activities that they can do on their own or you can all do together as a family. Whether it’s practicing a new skill, relaxing with movies or games, creating something new, or something you’ve never considered before, there’s no reason for idle days. Show your family just how much there is to explore in the world.

Make Your House A Home

When you come home after a long day of work, you want to relax. Yet when you look around, it’s easy to spot all the areas that need touching up and parts that need repairs. It’s difficult to find both the time and the money for home improvements – or so we think. There is actually a great variety of projects that can be done on a small budget, in a short amount of time.

The entryway can be a source of stress. How do you make it nice not just for guests, but for those who live in the house and have to see it every day? To start out, get a boot tray that’s easy to clean – or create your own with a rimmed baking sheet – so that dirt won’t be tracked inside. A shelf with pegs is easy enough to add, allowing for organization of your jackets, hats, umbrellas, and more! You can also keep the Arizona essentials on top: sunglasses and sunscreen, so you’re prepared for every sunny day.

Reorganize your rooms with plastic bins. Don’t spend any more time digging through all the baking supplies and canned goods and cereal boxes to find that one jar of unopened peanut butter you’ve been craving. Have your kids sort their toys so that they can see which one they want through the clear plastic rather than having to pull out every single one to find their favorite teddy bear. Get your crafting supplies categorized with labels, allowing for your next project to be completed much more quickly.

Restoring parts of your home that seem like little details can make a big difference while still being inexpensive. Painting your front door is a great way to refresh the look of your house from the outside. Make sure to remove it from its hinges and clean it well before priming and painting it. Moving back inside, start in the bathroom, where almost everyone who visits will spend some time. Check around the sink, bathtub, and shower for caulk looking cracked or discolored; this can lead to mildew or water damage from leaks. Remove it, clean well, and replace it with a new caulk seal that can last up to 10 years. Another important part of your house is the trimwork, which can subtly change the whole feel of a place depending on the state it’s in. Paint or replace any scuffed, damaged, or missing moldings, end caps, or baseboards. You’re sure to feel a difference after completing these changes.

Home projects can add up quickly in time and money, turning a simple decision of where to start into an overwhelming obstacle. While there are plenty of undertakings that will require certified professionals, or a lot of effort and funding on your part, you can always start small. This feeling of accomplishment will make your efforts snowball, and soon your house will be turned into a home you can fully unwind in.

For the bigger projects, there are options such as refinancing your house. Take advantage of competitive rates now so you can breathe easy sooner!

Creating A Sense of Community

Spending more of your time at home than you’re used to can be both boring and stressful. Whether or not you’re living alone, you probably miss friends and family you don’t get to meet up with like you used to. It can also be taxing to not be able to spend time at big events, malls, or even grocery stores in the same way as before. Luckily, there are a myriad of ways to spend your time without spending a lot of money.

You have likely already discovered the wonders of Netflix, but did you know there’s a Chrome extension called Netflix Party that allows you to sync up with friends so you can all watch at the same time? Watch or rewatch your favorite movies and shows together no matter where you are. While this doesn’t work with other streaming services, there is still an abundance of stories to get enveloped in no matter the site you choose. It may be tempting to subscribe to all of them, but instead save money by trying out their free trials and see which one or two have the most you’d like to watch.

Libraries have been offering more online options now that they have had to close their physical locations. Check out this list of ways to download and read free books for a great way to keep your mind active and maybe try some new genres you haven’t before. Rediscover other hobbies you may have gotten too busy for, but now have some time to attempt again. Sing some karaoke, start a podcast, learn an instrument. Cleaning up your home can feel productive – maybe redecorate some areas for fun! All of these cost little to nothing, depending on how seriously you get into them.

There are also a variety of video chatting options these days, that are of course being used more than ever. Check up on your friends. Set a day and time for a weekly family get-together. Make new friends by livestreaming on your Facebook or Instagram. Find apps that allow you to play with friends while video chatting. Have a game night with everyone in your household. Why not take this time of physical distancing to get closer to people emotionally?

Just because you’re getting tired of being at home, doesn’t mean you have to spend a wild amount of money to find entertaining activities. If none of the above activities have caught your attention, look up lists like these that will show you a world of possibilities. There are free classes for anything from exercising to playing guitar, free computer or physical games, free theater and music, and so much more. At a time when finances are becoming an issue for too many, save your money and connect with others, all in one go.

Down to the Bare Necessities

When a pandemic puts the whole world into crisis mode, there are few plans that won’t be affected. Work in particular has been a confusing situation for everyone. How do you handle your finances when you’re not sure what will come next? Whether you’ve been working from home or were laid off, now is the time to get your budget in order.

Saving on gas while you work at home? Put that money toward your essential bills, savings, or investment. If there’s a risk of income disruption, now is not the time to count your gas money as “extra” fun money. Planning for the long-term, now or in any other crisis, is extremely important since we can’t predict how long the situation might last.

Is your work on hold, or you’ve been laid off? There are many resources out there to help you make ends meet right now. You can also find budgeting tutorials and suggestions, such as the budgeting tips we have here. Even with necessities, however, you can reduce your spending. Use coupons on your groceries, reduce your utilities usage to cut down costs, check with your landlord on payment options.

After you have added in any financial assistance (unemployment benefits, tax return, etc.), if your income still doesn’t cover all your expenses, you need to take action. Ideally you would have had an emergency fund ready to be used in this time of need. If you hadn’t been able to build one up before the crisis, try selling unneeded items or getting a part-time job. Make sure to check the state rules if you’re collecting unemployment benefits, so that any side income doesn’t affect your eligibility.

No one is certain about how long this pandemic will last. If you are able to work from home or get a temporary job in the midst of this instability, take care of your finances. This applies even more if you have been laid off – you have the time now to go over your individual or family budget with a fine-tooth comb and make sure you stick to it. No matter the long-term financial impact, spending and saving wisely is the key to making it through.

Riding Out Rough Patches

There is a lot we cannot predict about the coming months. What is the economy going to be like? When will things go back to normal? Although we don’t have all the answers, we do have solutions for those finding themselves in a difficult financial situation. Here are some tried and true tips to help you navigate through this time.

A budget has always been a good place to start. Now, it’s more helpful than ever. If you’ve already been working on making and sticking to a budget, you’re likely in a better situation than many others. If you haven’t, start now. Prioritize what needs to be paid first, and estimate how much it will cost you, whether weekly or monthly or another time range is up to you. Eliminate nonessentials wherever you can. Top of the list should be what you need to survive – food, shelter, and utilities. Then come other expenses such as transportation, which might not be as necessary but can become very important at certain times. Lastly are the items that aren’t strictly essential, but might add to your quality of life, especially when you have to social distance. Maybe you still want to grab that coffee every day, or you’ll make it at home. You might want to add another streaming service so that your family has a greater variety of choices for movie nights, or perhaps you’ll be fine with the one you already have. These kinds of budget items can change with every individual.

Take advantage of refinancing programs for your house or car. If your credit is good and you’re going to have the same house or car for the foreseeable future, you could be saving money by refinancing your loans. Similarly, with insurance for your home, vehicle, health, and so on: make sure you’re neither overinsured nor underinsured. You want to be covered just enough at the best rate you can find. This can involve a lot of research, but is sure to be worth it in the end.

If you have any money left over from budgeting, put it into your savings. Many are dipping into their emergency funds these days, so you may feel like you should use it on backup supplies or put it toward other bills that could be waived instead. However, setting aside any extra money in your savings account is just as good a thing to do now as it has ever been. We don’t know what the future holds, and this way you will be more prepared.

These financial tips are advice for any rough patch, but are needed now more than ever. And during any time of stress, make sure to take care of your mind and body too. Exercise, eating healthy, and practicing mindful meditation can all keep you going through this unpredictable time so that you’re ready to embrace when the situation evens out again. Navigating through stormy seas isn’t something anyone wants to do, but if you build a sturdy ship, you’ll get back to shore safely.

A Little Goes A Long Way

Who doesn’t look forward to not having to work when they’re older? But to make that happen, you must start right away. The sooner you begin saving money, the more comfortable you’ll be in your retirement – or the earlier you can retire. Get your long-term savings ready now so you can relax later!

Add to your long-term savings every month. Start as early as possible, so your money will have more time to work for you. If you’re in your 20s and save $200 a month, you can make your goal more easily, while if you’re in your 40s when you start, you might need $600 a month to meet the same retirement goal. You don’t want to have to deal with a huge drop in your allowance when you retire and then have to tighten your budget suddenly, so plan now.

You should also be depositing money into your 401k every month. You decide how much money you want moved from each paycheck to your 401k – even starting with 2% could make a huge difference in the long run. Some employers will match your contribution. Take advantage of that offer and sign up for it right away! The difference between this and a savings account is that you can’t easily take money out of your 401k for emergencies, as it’s intended to stay there until your retirement. It’s a great way to make sure you stick to your plan!

Beginning your savings journey by setting aside a little at a time can make all levels of saving much less daunting, and much easier to manage. Watch our Ask SunWest episode on Long-Term Savings, then check out the rest of our series. Have more questions on savings or other financial topics? Send us a message or leave a comment so we can answer it in a future video!

Navigate Life With Confidence

Your extended family is going to go on a long cruise vacation next year. You and your spouse are planning on buying your first house together. Your doctor has recommended you get laser eye surgery to help improve your sight. What do all these have in common? They require medium-term savings!

Be sure to have your emergency fund set up first. Once you’ve amassed enough short-term savings, you’re ready to start saving up for bigger, planned purchases! We all have some kind of big-ticket item we’ve been thinking about that will take a while to get to because of the large amount of money it requires.

These purchases add value to your life. Sure, you could survive in your small apartment as you start your family, but why not save up for a nice house in a good neighborhood that has an extra room or two for the kids? You might be fine taking the bus to work every day, but wouldn’t your own car save you time you could spend on something more fun or productive? Not waiting in the heat, rain, or cold winds would be an added bonus!

So, once you’ve built up your short-term savings to a comfortable level, start on your medium-term savings. Preparing to cover your tuition so you don’t have to work as much during college, getting ready for that surgery so you don’t have to take out another loan at the time of the procedure, or wanting to be able to pay your own way through your adventure in another country are all solid reasons to begin planning now.

Start out by determining the total cost, then split it up to see if you can save that amount in the time you have. If your vacation will cost $6,000, and you wanted to go in a year, you would need to save at least $500 a month. If that isn’t doable for you right now, you might want to put off your vacation until you’re sure you can pay for it. The same applies to any other large planned purchase. There are other ways to save as well, such as starting with $10 from your first paycheck and doubling the amount you save at each paycheck ($20, $40, $80, $160, etc.). Find the savings plan that fits your goals and way of thinking best so you will feel motivated to keep it up and not be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of money you are building toward.

Setting aside a little money at a time will help you navigate through life with more confidence and less stress! Watch our Ask SunWest episode on Medium-Term Savings, then check out the rest of our series. Have more questions on savings or other financial topics? Send us a message or leave a comment so we can answer it in a future video!

Don’t Let the Unexpected Sneak Up On You

It’s easy to look at a seemingly daunting task and think, “That’s too much to tackle right now – I’ll do it later when I’m ready.” More often than not, we end up putting it off again and again until it’s too late. By that point, things are worse than if we’d accomplished the difficult task in the first place.

When it comes to finances, a lot of us put off saving because those goals seems highly unattainable. We know saving is important but we aren’t sure how to put aside money when there’s so much that you have to spend your money on right now. It’s time to end the cycle!

Starting with short-term savings, you should be making sure to set aside enough to cover emergency expenses. You don’t want to get stuck with a flat tire or broken A/C unit and not be able to pay for repairs. Some emergencies, like not being able to drive your own car, can lead to more expenses the longer you can’t fix the problem!

Some say that you should set aside three to six months of income, or have enough to cover three to six months of bills. Of course, the more you save, the better. But the most important thing to do is just start! Even if it’s just $10 from each paycheck, that’s better than nothing. Try to increase it every time – maybe next you’ll put $20 in savings, then $40, then $80… Soon you’ll find that you’ve got a good amount ready for emergencies, when it seemed like it would be so hard to get to.

Think of it not just as putting money into a backup stash, but as investing in your future self. When your next unexpected expense sneaks up on you, you’ll be thanking your past self!

Watch our Ask SunWest episode on Short-Term Savings, and stay tuned for more in this series! If you have any questions on savings or another topic you’d like us to cover, send us a message or leave us a comment!

Paving the Path to Stability

Navigating the chaos of everyday life is not for the faint of heart. Throw managing your finances into the mix and now you have the perfect storm for stress and burnout. That is, unless you are a member of a credit union that has your back during some of the most difficult times in your life. Here at SunWest, we know just how overwhelming things can get when it comes to your finances and we strongly believe everyone needs a partner to help them on their journey.

Take control of your future with our financial education series called “Ask SunWest.” This program was designed with you in mind. The student who just graduated high school and is now approaching the daunting task of shifting from carefree teenager to college student, on their own for the first time. The 22-year-old who just secured that beloved first job and is on the way to learning how to adult. Or perhaps you’re the new parents trying to find enough money for bills, diapers, formula, food, date nights, and house repairs (since the roof will inevitably start leaking). Whoever you are, and whatever walk of life you are from, SunWest wants you to know that we see you and we are here to help!

Send us your questions via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or the comment section right here on our blog and we’ll do our best to guide you through all things money related.

Our first series will discuss the importance of establishing a solid financial foundation through saving money and investing in your future self.

Check out our first video brought to you by our very own Joseph Folan, and stay tuned for the next video in the series. Here’s to dodging obstacles, jumping hurtles, and living life on your own terms!