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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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    • 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
    • Episode 89: Real Stories, Real Scams and Tips to Outsmart Identity Thieves

      Episode 89: Real Stories, Real Scams and Tips to Outsmart Identity Thieves
      Jan 22 2026

      With FTC and FBI reports showing billions lost to cybercrime in 2024, we stress the importance of vigilance, real‑time alerts, and identity protection tools. In this episode, we break down the rising threat of identity theft, from phone and email scams to crypto fraud and even AI-driven voice cloning. We also share personal experiences and practical advice to help listeners stay proactive and prevent fraud.

      Links:

      • Learn more about the identity theft protection benefits with Better Checking
      • Check out TCU University for financial education tips and resources!
      • Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
      • Learn more about Triangle Credit Union

      *Better Checking is not an insurance product
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      37 min
    • Kick off the New Year Safe from Tax Identity Theft - Money Tips Tuesday

      Kick off the New Year Safe from Tax Identity Theft - Money Tips Tuesday
      Jan 20 2026
      As we step into a new year, now is the perfect time to start fresh-and that includes safeguarding yourself against tax identity theft. Everyone is at risk of falling victim to tax identity theft, and thousands of Americans are impacted by this crime each year. Fraudsters often target taxpayers early in the year, hoping to take advantage of the busy tax season preparations. Links: Get started on this year's taxes, consider filing through IRS Free File Guided Tax SoftwareIRS tips for finding a trustworthy tax professionalCheck out TCU University for financial education tips and resources!Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!Learn more about Triangle Credit Union Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast. According to the IRS, tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses your stolen personal information, including your Social Security number (SSN), to file a tax return claiming a fraudulent refund. A successful scammer can create an online return using your SSN, even if they don’t spell your name right. Once the fraudulent account is established, they can not only use it to file taxes on your behalf and receive your refund but also to receive future payments from the federal government. The criminals are adept at using accounts that funnel money into prepaid debit cards so that it is untraceable and unrecoverable. Here are five tips to help you avoid becoming the next victim and help protect yourself against tax-related identity theft. Secure Your Personal Information. Keep your Social Security number (SSN) or individual tax identification number (ITIN) in a secure location. When asked for these numbers, be skeptical and verify that it is a legitimate need. Additionally, keep your home computer security software up to date, and run regular software updates on your connected devices, including the seemingly less risky ones like smartwatches. File Your Taxes Early and Securely. The sooner you submit your tax return, the harder it is for fraudsters to submit a fake one in your name. As soon as you have the necessary documentation, go ahead and take care of this right away. Always file taxes through a reputable service and use a secure internet connection if filing online; avoid transmitting such sensitive information through public Wi-Fi. You may consider filing through IRS Free File Guided Tax Software. If you feel more comfortable relying on a professional to prepare your tax return, choose your tax preparer with care. Monitor Your Financial Statements, Mail, and Email. Regularly check account statements for any unusual activity. Your first sign of tax identity theft this season will usually be a letter from the IRS after filing your return, informing you that one has already been filed using your SSN. Year-round, expected payments that are not received are another sign to watch for. Also be mindful of any tax reporting documents from employers you have never worked with. Rather than ignoring them, follow up to ensure someone else hasn’t stolen your identity and taken a job using your information. Communicate with Caution. Beware of unsolicited emails, phone calls, or text messages asking for personal information, and verify the source before you respond. Remember, the IRS will never initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text, or social media to request personal or financial information, including your taxpayer Identity Protection PIN, nor will they ever threaten lawsuits or arrest. Create an Online Account at the IRS Website. Visit the IRS online account website (www.irs.gov) to create your account now and monitor it regularly. While a lot of personal information is required to create the account, once you have done so, you can monitor your tax activity throughout the year, including if a return has been filed in your name. Through your online IRS account, you can then request an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN). Once established, the PIN must be included on your federal tax return in order for it to be processed as valid. Remember, even with all these precautions, tax-related identity theft can still happen. That’s why Triangle Credit Union offers Fully Managed Identity Theft Recovery services for Better Checking account holders. If you suspect your identity has been compromised or you suspect identity theft for any reason, Identity Theft Recovery Advocates will help you recover and mitigate any damage. Learn more about Better Checking at trianglecu.org or click the link in the show notes. 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 ...
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      5 min
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