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Fixed or Adjustable: Which Mortgage to Choose?

Ready to buy a house? Congratulations! This is one of the most important purchases you’ll ever make – so it’s no surprise that it can also be one of the most complicated. There are a huge amount of decisions to consider; from the basics like location and size, all the way up to more in-depth […]

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“Two Dos” for Financial Health

How exactly do you get your finances where you want them? Everyone’s situations and goals are a little bit different, but these two financial health to-dos are a great place to start.

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How Credit Cards Affect Your Credit Score

Maintaining a good credit score is key to keeping your personal finances in good health. With a strong credit score, you’ll be more likely to qualify for home, school and auto loans, and have access to better interest rates when borrowing money. A good credit score can even impact your insurance premiums and your ability […]

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Celebrating National Postdoc Appreciation Week (And Finances!)

This week, September 17-21 is National Postdoc Appreciation week.  We’re excited to recognize the significant contributions that postdoctoral scholars make to U.S. research and discovery.  We look forward to meeting our postdoctoral members at special events going on this week.  And, as an advocate of helping our community improve their personal finances, we put together […]

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3 Healthy Financial Habits to Start Now

Developing healthy financial habits can do wonders for helping us achieve our goals, and the earlier you start, the better! Here are three habits to start today:

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How To Manage Credit Card Debt In Your 20s

Whether it’s from student loans or misuse of credit cards, debt often follows university study, and can linger well into your late 20s and beyond. In cases where you graduate owing nothing, debt has a funny way of finding you a few months or years later. It’s common to be excited in your early years […]

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6 Ways to Pay Off Your Mortgage Sooner

Paying off your mortgage is an amazing feeling. It means you own your home outright, without the financial stress of monthly home loan payments. And, paying off your mortgage sooner rather than later will save you money in the long run, because you’re not shelling out for the added interest every month.

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What Items Stay On Your Credit Report

Building up your credit score is an important part of financial independence and stability. A good credit score is key in qualifying for a mortgage, rental and insurance rates, car purchases, and other vital, often unavailable expenses. The good news is that smart credit card maneuvers, such as keeping credit card spending below 30% of your limit […]

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How to Stop a Leaky Budget From Sinking Your Finances

No matter how hard you try to budget, some months it feels as though your money is simply vanishing. If you’re consistently wondering where your money has disappeared to, you might be spending without even knowing it – or what’s more commonly referred to as having a leaky budget. How to avoid a leaky budget? […]

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Practicing Healthy Habits Can Help Spark Your Financial Independence

Making the transformation from being a carefree young person to a financially healthy adult can seem overwhelming and scary.  Most young adults like you starting out their careers can attest to the challenges of managing an entry-level salary while still striving for the financial stability they desire. But there are ways to create a path […]

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Financial Aid 101

College educations aren’t free, and they certainly aren’t cheap (in the US, anyways). We live in an age where student debt has snowballed past $1.5 trillion, and savvy college financial planning is more important than ever before. So where to start? Your first step is to apply for financial aid. After all, you won’t receive […]

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Guide to Secured Credit Cards

Having a great credit score is rewarding in many ways, from being able to get a good mortgage to receiving affordable rates on a car, and even qualifying for credit cards with more perks. Achieving that score, however, is not always an easy journey. Unexpected and emergency payments can veer savings and payment plans swiftly […]

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Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Explained

When looking at financial products and services, there are many essential terms to understand. One of the most important acronyms to know is APY, or annual percentage yield. Though it may sound complicated, APY is actually quite simple: it describes the total annual rate of return with compound interest. To understand APY, it’s a good […]

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Ways to Manage Finances as a Couple

There’s a moment in every romantic relationship in which financial responsibility becomes a pressing topic. Whether you and your partner have just recently moved in together, gotten engaged, or are living the married life, money will inevitably come up. Shared financial burden can put a strain on your relationship, especially if you don’t have a […]

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5 Things to Know Before Buying a Car

Besides buying property, buying a new car is one of the most significant purchases you will make. The world of car sales involves many financial factors, and can seem overwhelming to the first time buyer. However, preparing yourself with the right research and information will make the experience much more approachable. The following are five […]

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Budgeting Basics

As we move deeper into 2018, now is a good time to refresh some of those New Year’s Resolutions and continue to integrate good habits so they stick throughout the year. One of the most important and fundamental habits for financial wellness is budgeting. By making budgeting a habit now, you will see lots of […]

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Top Five Student Debt Myths: Busted!

According to recent statistics regarding student debt in our country, Americans owe over $1.4 trillion in student loan debt, which is spread out among nearly 44 million borrowers. Furthermore, the average amount of student loan debt for a graduate of the Class of 2016 was approximately $37,172, up six percent from the previous year. (Sources […]

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3 Unique Tips to Help You Budget for Home Improvements

Your home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make – so it only makes sense that you’d want to keep it in great condition. However, home renovations can take a heavy hit on your wallet. To help smooth along your home improvements, here are three renovation budgeting tips you might not have considered.

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Credit vs. Debit; Difference in Plastics

Both credit cards and debit cards are useful and convenient means of payment, especially in the way most consumers shop today. So, you can use them interchangeably, right? Wrong, but don’t fret! We’ll help explain why it’s crucial to understand the differences between these two forms of payment in order to know when to use […]

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Financial tips for recent grads from our Instagram community

It’s that time of the year where  graduation caps are thrown in the air and we celebrate the accomplishments of those graduating. If you are a recent grad─congratulations you’ve made it! Now that you’re transitioning into the “real world” what better time is there to get your finances in order and learn good financial habits?

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5 Simple Steps to a Better FICO Score

A better credit score overnight isn’t really feasible. It takes time and good practices to increase your score. However, if you’re following any of the steps below, you’ll on the right path to having an excellent credit report score (FICO score). So, let’s get started!

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Budgeting Tips Every 20-something Should Know

Your 20s are an exciting decade for change and growth; from graduating from college, to investing in higher education, to getting your career off the ground and, perhaps, making serious plans to start a family. Of course, there can also be financial difficulties. Being a 20-something usually means supporting yourself for the first time while […]

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The College Money Conversation

In a recent study conducted by Wakefield Research for Thrivent Financial, respondents agreed that opening the lines of communication is key to reducing stress and ensuring students really are prepared for the realities of college costs. 70% of students wish their families spoke with them about college costs more often.

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Tips for Living with Student Debt

We asked a recent college graduate how she’s living with her student loans. Check out what she had to say:

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Own a Solar Energy System

Solar panels help you predict and control your energy usage, and they can amount to significant household savings in the long run.

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Less Student Debt, More Peace of Mind

With nearly seven in 10 US college graduates leaving school with student loan debt, it’s no surprise that college loan balances hit an all-time high of $1.4 trillion in 2017. The average student loan debt is just over $34,000, but there’s also a mental cost to student debt. In one survey a full 80 percent […]

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The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need to Mortgage Refinancing

If you’re a homeowner, you’ve probably heard that mortgage refinancing could save you money. But what you might not know is whether or not refinancing is the right option for you – in terms of your income, the size of your home loan, and the financial market as a whole.

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What Do You Need to Know About HELOC?

If you’re a homeowner, there’s a good chance that your most valuable asset is the house where you live. This means that if you ever need to borrow money, your home can be leveraged as useful collateral to help you get the best rates. This is known as home equity, and it comes in two […]

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How To Develop Healthy Money Habits in College

Being at college means dedicating yourself to the pursuit of education, but remember – learning doesn’t only happen in a classroom. College is also a time to study the art of how to live your best life; and an opportunity to form money habits that will help you out for years to come.

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Save the Windfalls

Everyone likes receiving a big check, but they rarely happen with regularity. If you find that it is more difficult for you to save small amounts of money consistently, try saving those big checks when they do come your way.

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2018 Wintersession Recap

Wintersession, the last week of Winter Recess before classes begin, is a time when students have the option to participate in programs that encourage personal reflection, intellectual curiosity, and social interaction.

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A Better Banking Alternative With No Fees

Recently, Bank of America announced a new fee on their checking accounts for those who do not meet their minimum daily balance or monthly deposit requirements, sparking unhappiness from current and previous users.

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A Solution For Daunting Tuition Costs

For many of us, college is the first step on the road to achieving our dreams. The financial stress of tuition and living costs, however, can often stand in the way. If you’re a parent or guardian of a college student, you might be able to save yourself and your family a whole load of […]

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Refresh Your Finances with HUECU’s Fiscal Cleanse

Refresh Your Finances with HUECU’s Fiscal Cleanse

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Financing Your Child’s Future

To further support the financial and life ambitions of our members, we’ve introduced the HUECU Family Student Loan. With no origination fees and a low interest rate, this loan helps parents or family members cover education-related expenses, so that students can focus on their studies.

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A Message from the CEO

Dear HUECU Members,

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Managing Unexpected Expenses

Ever had something break? Or get sick and had a high medical bill? What about unforeseen home repairs? We all have been there: you have your budget, all is well and then…life happens and you need (lots of) money for an unexpected expense.

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Celebrating 75 Years

HUECU was founded on June 26, 1939, when Harvard University employees banded together to create equal access to quality financial services within our community.

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Reducing personal finance worries in the community

Close to 33% of employees are distracted at work due to their personal finances1. Those distractions may affect work performance by shifting employees focus away from their work responsibilities. For the past few months, HUECU has helped reduce money stress at work by providing personal finance workshops throughout Harvard University.

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New Financial Wellness Partnership

We are pleased to announce a new partnership in our continued efforts to support and promote financial well-being and independence.