Most of us remember when “foreclosure” wasn’t a household word. It has always been a painful reality, but until a few years ago it wasn’t one that impacted so many of our friends and families. I don’t own a home, but many of my friends and acquaintances do, and two of my closest friends have lost their homes in the last five years. The process of losing your home and your good credit is difficult, scary, and embarrassing at best.

My job is to generate loans at Greater Nevada Credit Union, which means helping Nevada consumers borrow more money. You might not think that borrowing more money and getting richer are two things that go together, because building wealth is all about saving and investing, right?

I just got back from a two week road trip, which was incredible but cost me about $800 in gas. It got me thinking though, about ways to save money on transportation in general. I planned to talk to you about whether buying more expensive gas really makes a difference to your engine or your fuel efficiency, but no one seems to agree (except that your engine is probably not in danger, even if you buy less expensive gas). So I thought I’d look at some alternative ways to save money on getting to and fro. None of the following tips for cutting down transportation costs include the purchase of a donkey-cart.

It’s happened to all of us. There’s a long line of people watching you swipe your debit card at the grocery store – our purchases are bagged and carted – and the cashier says, “I’m sorry ma’am, it says it’s declined.” If they’re nice, they don’t shout it. You make sure to state loudly that you have plenty of money in your account, and it must be a problem with the debit machine or the bank (which, to be fair, it sometimes is) but whether it’s true or not, you know everyone else in line is silently judging your poor money management skills.

Greater Nevada Credit Union We’ve all been there: you need access to some quick cash and the only ATM around has a $4 fee. It’s the worst! Banks charge on average $2.60 for using an ATM out of your network. Sometimes even your own financial institution charges an additional fee, an average of $1.53. At $4.13 a pop, these little fees can become a monster headache in a big hurry. Don’t worry; there are some easy ways to avoid ATM Fees.

Buying a new car can be stressful! For most people, their vehicles are their second most valuable possession after their homes. In order to make sure you buy the car that’s right for you and your family, you must consider many factors, but it is most important to find a vehicle you can realistically afford.

I’m the first person to admit that I have a brown thumb. I do however turn green with envy when I visit a friend of mine who has every variety of tomato known to man, growing in abundance all over her back yard. Luckily she shares her bounty with me, which is great because the cost of produce has skyrocketed due to the 3-year draught in California. The cost of lettuce is up 34%, grapes 21%, (wait did I just read that right? Grapes are up 21%....what is that doing to the wine market?). Before we panic…let’s take a look at some money saving ideas to calm our nerves.

Father’s Day is around the corner. It’s a day to honor and celebrate the men who raised us – and for some of us it’s a bittersweet holiday. My dad left this earth 5 years ago this July, and I miss him every day. I was lucky to have such an amazing role model and confidant for 41 years. It’s never long enough; I never stop needing my father’s wisdom.

My husband and I moved to Reno a little over a year and a half ago from Independence, Kentucky which is a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. Summertime in the Midwest is primarily hot with a side of humid, and the occasional thunderstorm and/or tornado. We didn’t really hear much about wild fires in our neck of the woods.

Growing up in a large family, vacations were short and rare, as my parents often struggled to make ends meet. But I do remember a few – my parents went out of their way to invest in making memories with the family, even if they couldn’t afford much. As an adult, what stands out to me most is not the quality of hotels or price of the vacation package, but the sense of fun an adventure. Taking a break from busyness and demands on your time to escape with your family is an important part of life. It benefits your health and enriches your relationships.