We’ve all heard of a family member or friend who swears keeping cash at home is safer than in a bank or credit union, especially during times of inflation. While it may be tempting to hide away your nest egg in your sock drawer or stuffed under the mattress, keeping large amounts of money at home is one of the riskiest ways to keep your cash.

To safeguard your funds and your peace of mind, Community Financial is here to answer all of your questions about handling cash during times of inflation.

Why is it a bad idea to keep cash at home?

While it’s perfectly OK to keep some cash at home, storing a large amount of funds in your house has two significant disadvantages:

• The money can be lost or stolen. Hiding cash under the mattress, behind a picture frame, or anywhere else in your house always carries the risk of it being misplaced, damaged, or stolen. As careful as you may be, circumstances beyond your control may cause you to lose that money.

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Survey scams are almost as old as the internet. They’re so prevalent that you can hardly spend an hour online without running into an ad for a “super quick” survey promising a reward for just a few minutes of your time. What actually happens, though, is that the scammer walks away with a free survey, or worse, your information and/or your money. While an alert consumer can spot a survey scam easily, fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated at making them look legitimate.

Don’t get caught up in a survey scam! Here are eight ways to spot a fake survey and what steps to take if you’ve been tricked:

1. You’re asked to pay to participate in a survey

Authentic survey companies need you – you don’t need them. There’s absolutely no reason to pay to take a survey of any kind. If you’re targeted by an ad asking you to take a survey and to pay for the privilege of doing so, don’t respond.

2. You’re asked to share sensitive information before you can take the survey

They’d really appreciate it if you could take this quick survey for them. They just need some information from you first, like your Social Security number, date of birth and maybe even your checking account number. If a survey company asks for anything more than basic information from you, sign out as quickly as you can.

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While it might be tempting to approach student loans the same way you would a venomous spider—that is to say, by not approaching it—that’s not exactly the best tactic. Unfortunately, just like term papers or finals, student loans are a necessity that allow you to continue your higher education when funds are tight.

If you have already borrowed funds from a private lender, you will likely need to start making payments toward your loan before you graduate from your chosen college, university, or trade school. Fortunately, Community Financial and many Federal loan options don’t have this requirement, and alternatively offer in-school deferment options. However, it’s still a good idea to start making headway on any loans as soon as you’re financially able.

Here’s all you need to know about managing your student loan debt and transforming something daunting into a breeze:

1. Set It and Forget It

The best way to make sure you never miss a payment is to set up an automatic payment plan. With this in mind, it’s always a good idea to check and see if your lender offers discounts for auto-payments. Community Financial, for example, can potentially reduce your rate by 0.25% by enrolling in automatic, electronic payments during repayment from your account. Just make sure your account is ready for the auto-withdrawals so you don’t end up with an overdrawn account!

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Wellness comes in many forms: physical, mental, emotional, financial, and more. Staying on the top of your wellness game may seem like an easy task, but it’s one that requires dedication and persistence. We’ve compiled some of our favorite wellness activities below to help jumpstart your journey.

Mental Wellness:

Considering that 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness each year, mental wellness techniques are at the top of the list. While public awareness on this topic has expanded, stigma can still create a barrier to reaching out for help. Let’s work together to break down that barrier and provide helpful tips on mental wellness:

• You Are NOT Alone. 9-8-8 is available anytime. By texting or calling 988, you can reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24 hours a day, without hearing a busy tone. No judgement, no requirements, just trained crisis counselors waiting to help. All help is both free and confidential!

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