More than 1 million Georgians have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent stay-at-home orders, leaving many families worried about the future. Unemployment benefits may help to a certain point, but families may only receive these benefits for a limited time. That means it’s important to stretch your dollar during the coronavirus pandemic in order to reduce expenses. If you are still employed but have been forced to work from home, that may mean you are already saving on gasoline expenses. The...
Dear Valued Members, In light of growing concern over the COVID-19 situation in the U.S. and Georgia and our concern for the well-being of our members, employees and communities, we are postponing our upcoming Annual Meeting which was scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at Carey Hilliard’s Banquet Hall on 11111 Abercorn Street, Savannah Georgia, 31419. Applicable laws require we hold an Annual Meeting. We encourage you to stay tuned to our website at www.gaheritagefcu.org and our social media channels to get the latest information...
If you are a young adult who has just begun to become financially independent, you may be wondering what the credit score ranges really mean. Following is a brief explanation of the numbers from two of the major credit scoring companies: FICO and VantageScore. The Differences Between FICO and VantageScore Let’s start with a simple explanation of the key differences between FICO and VantageScore. FICO – which originally stood for Fair, Isaac and Company – was founded in 1956 and has been the credit scoring...
It seems that every cellphone owner has been complaining about being bombarded with telemarketing or fraudulent calls in recent months. To protect yourself, you should take note of scams that some people may be falling for. The Social Security Administration scam is the number one scam reported to the Federal Trade Commission right now. It typically involves a caller or email sender claiming to be from the Social Security Administration, and the fraudster demands that you pay them with a gift card or by wiring...
As you gear up to file your 2019 taxes this year, make sure you understand the full range of tax deductions available. Here are a few you might not be aware of. 1. Health Insurance Premiums Deductible medical expenses must exceed 10 percent of your adjusted gross income to be claimed as an itemized deduction. However, if you’re self-employed and pay your own health coverage, you may be able to deduct 100 percent of your premium. 2. Teacher Tax Savings Qualified K-12 educators can deduct...
Payday loan options have existed for decades, and they may be helpful to some people. However, they can be costly, so other options exist that you may want to consider. It’s important to do your due diligence beforehand in order to determine the best choice for you. Payday Advances A payday loan adds debt upon the existing debt that you may already have. These loans, also known as cash advances and check loans, usually come with high fees and interest charges. Contact Georgia Heritage Federal...
The holiday season is the season of giving — giving to your loved ones, giving to your coworkers, and giving to charitable organizations. As you’re doing so, remember that your generous donations can mean money back in your pocket when tax season comes around. In order to make the most of charitable giving, these are a few things you may want to keep in mind. 1. Keep your receipts. You may need to prove the donation, and you may also refer to them as you’re...