Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union,
3305 E Elms Road
Killeen, TX 76542
Telephone: 254-690-2274
www.gctfcu.net

Financial Management Tips

Financial management is the process of planning, budgeting, saving, investing & spending your money to meet long-term and short-term financial goals. With a good financial management plan in place, you will be able to make well-informed financial decisions while giving yourself a safety net for times of emergency. Here are some reasons that emphasize on the importance of financial management:

  • Allows to establish clear financial goals.
  • Fulfils daily financial needs.
  • Helps in managing your income. (Budgeting, Savings & Expenditure)
  • Gives a healthy financial future.
  • Keeps you prepared for sudden & big expenses.
  • Improved standard of living.
  • Helps to optimize the worth of your income.
  • Financial Independence.
Here are some proven money management tips:

Determine Your Financial Priorities

Assess your financial needs & priorities to streamline the process. Create short-term & long-term goals and build an effective financial plan to achieve them.

Create a Budget

Create a budget that aligns with your financial priorities, income, daily expenditures, recurring expenses, taxes, wants, needs, savings & debt repayments. You can also choose a budgeting framework to set financial boundaries.

Example: Use the 50/30/20 budget rule. Spend 50% of your income on needs & daily requirements. Dedicate 30% of your income on wants like shopping, dining out, travel, entertainment and other luxuries. Minimum 20% of your income should be added to savings, emergency funds & debt repayments.

There are multiple budgeting plans, choose one that suits your income and priorities.

Track Your Money

Making yourself aware of the financial situation helps to keep things organized and transparent. Make a checklist or use financial apps or calendar to monitor the movement of your money. With changing income, expenses and priorities revisit the budget plan time and again to keep track of it.

Savings & Investment

Explore various savings and investment options to grow your money over time. Study interest rates and other outcomes of the plan before investing your money. Consider opening a savings account in a credit union to seek higher dividends. You can also avail automated savings & investment options. Diversifying your investments usually generates positive results.

Create An Emergency Fund

Save a specific amount of money as an emergency fund. The emergency fund provides a safe cushion in situations like medical emergencies, financial distress, etc. 

Insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union offers multifarious automated services, savings, investment & lending options. For more financial management tips, visit Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union at 3305 E Elms Rd, Killeen, TX - 76542 or browse through www.gctfcu.net
Comments are closed
GCTFCU Blog | RV Loan in Killeen, TX
Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union,
3305 E Elms Road
Killeen, TX 76542
Telephone: 254-690-2274
www.gctfcu.net
Comments are closed
GCTFCU Blog | Used Car Auto Loans: Things To Consider
Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union,
3305 E Elms Road
Killeen, TX 76542
Telephone: 254-690-2274
www.gctfcu.net

Used Car Auto Loans: Things To Consider

If you are thinking of buying a used car for the family but are not yet ready to make a large one-time investment, it makes sense to go for a used car auto loan. With a used car auto loan, the vehicle you purchase costs much less to begin with and your loan provides you with a way to scatter payments into comfortable and easy monthly installments thus enabling you to start using your car immediately without having to worry about one-time payments. There are a number of things to consider when you want to finance a used car. Knowing about these factors can help you make a wiser, smarter decision and make the process smooth and easy.

Initial Considerations

The first thing you need to determine before you can start the process of getting a used car auto loan is to set a concrete budget. Remember to include all possible components in your budget likes local sales tax, licensing fees and car titling fees. If you calculate these costs ahead of time it will really help to figure out the value of the used car that you finally choose.

The next step is to choose a used vehicle and determine its exact current value accurately. Make sure that you get a fair price and have the vehicle assessed by professionals, if there is need for that. To know more about the condition of the vehicle in question, you can ask for a history report from the previous owners which would tell you about usage records, servicing records and records of accidents if any. This helps you foresee potential problems in the future which can turn out to be costly.

Getting a Used Car Auto Loan

When all the initial steps have been taken care of, you can then move onto the actual process of getting a used car auto loan. Keep a close eye on your budget and figure out how much you want to spend monthly. Another thing to watch out for is the interest rate which you will be charged with a used car auto loan. Make sure that your monthly payment figure and the rate of interest is favorable to you and enables you to smoothly make monthly payments with convenience and by staying within your original budget. On figuring these things out, the only thing that remains to be done is to complete the actual paperwork and you will have the money to buy the used car of your choice.

Comments are closed
GCTFCU Blog | Auto Loans In Killeen: Common FAQs
Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union,
3305 E Elms Road
Killeen, TX 76542
Telephone: 254-690-2274
www.gctfcu.net

Auto Loans In Killeen: Common FAQs

Getting an auto loan from a credit union in Killeen is a fairly simple process. However, before applying for a loan, you need to be clear about your requirements and budget. Besides, there may be a lot of questions and concerns that you may have in your mind. Listed below are some of the common questions asked by people while applying for an auto loan in Killeen:

Q: How do I approach for a car loan?
A: You can research online or contact the credit union in your area to know about the vehicle financing options available. After comparing the interest rates offered by different institutions, you need to submit an online auto loan application form. Depending on your eligibility, you may get intimation from the lender to process your application further for loan approval.

Q: How much loan can I get from the credit union?
A: Depending upon the terms and conditions of the credit union, you may get loan up to 90% of the total value of the car you are planning to buy. However, certain factors may influence the actual amount approved by the credit union. These may include the price of the vehicle, resale value, insurance costs, your income etc.

Q: How is the interest rate determined for my auto loan?
A: The interest rate for auto loan is determined after considering factors such as credit history and loan amount sanctioned. The credit union may evaluate your ability to repay the loan while deciding the interest rate. The length of loan term and amount given as down payment are some of the other factors that may be taken into account.

Q:
What are the important documents that I need to submit?
A: While applying for an auto loan, you may need to submit proof of your income, credit history, residence, age, financial statements etc. You will also be required to provide vehicle information to the lender whether you are buying a new or used car. This includes details such as: year of manufacturing, model, vehicle identification number etc.

Q: If I decide to repay my auto loan early, is there a pre-payment penalty?
A: Though most of the financial institutions do not have a pre-payment penalty, you need to check out the specific rules of your credit union. Depending on the specifications of your loan as well as the terms and conditions, you may or may not be able to repay the loan early.

For affordable auto loans in Killeen, TX, consider Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union. For details about the application procedure, you can call at (254) 690 – 2274 or visit 3305 E. Elms Rd., Killeen, TX  76542.
Comments are closed