NEW! Financial Wellness Program

Alive cares about your financial health.  That's why we've partnered with GreenPath Financial Wellness to provide you with access to free, one-on-one financial counseling, debt management services and financial education tools.

GreenPath is a non-profit company that equips people with knowledge and tools to lead financially healthy lives.  They can partner with you to ease financial stress, manage debt, save for the future, make informed financial decisions, and achieve your financial goals.

Spring wedding season is around the corner! Are you tying the knot?

The average American wedding cost has eclipsed $35,000. That’s more than half the yearly median income! Most of this growth in cost comes from the guest list.

If you’re tying the knot this year, read on for four ways to save on the cost of your big day!

1.) Schedule smart

Saturday is the most common date for weddings, since everyone has the day off and most churches aren’t available on Sundays. Consequently, venues are often more expensive on Saturdays.

Instead, pick another date that offers those benefits. Your special day can be the day before a holiday, or on the Sunday of a long weekend, like Labor Day. Your guests will still have time to enjoy themselves, and you’ll save as much as 15% on the cost of your venue.

2.) Untether yourself

When picking a venue, look for a place (or negotiate with your selected venue) that allows outside vendors to handle food, music and photography. Places that host weddings often may have existing relationships with businesses who can charge more because they’re not competing with anyone else.

3.) Keep the “W” word to yourself

Every vendor has a “special” wedding price. Often, this means they charge more for any wedding-related service. You can save as much as 30% by keeping the occasion to yourself.

4.) Spread out the cost with a club account

A tremendous challenge for newlyweds is coming up with all that money, because all the wedding bills come due at the same time. For many couples, that means using consumer debt to finance the whole cost of their wedding. The ensuing interest and financing charges can make your wedding even more unaffordable.

Instead, consider opening a club account: Set up an automatic withdrawal from your checking account into an interest-bearing savings account. When the wedding bills come in, you’ll have money set aside to defray the costs and you’ll be able to borrow less.
Member Opinion Poll!
What's your ideal type of vacation?
A whirlwind tour of 10 cities in eight days.
A quiet, no-pressure-to-go-anywhere stay at the beach.
Camping and connecting with nature.
A staycation where no travel is involved.
Going somewhere new and exciting.

2017 Betty M. Collins Memorial Scholarship 

*Submission Deadline March 24!*

Given in memory of a founding Alive Credit Union Board Member, the Betty M. Collins Memorial Scholarship recognizes and offers $2,000 of financial assistance to a student currently pursuing a career in healthcare from an accredited institution.
   Connect with us  
  Download the Alive app on the
App Store® and Google Play®
Alive Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. You are receiving this email because you requested to receive electronic statements. If you received this email in error or wish to stop receiving this notification from Alive Credit Union, please use the SafeUnsubscribe link below. Copyright 2016 Credit Union National Association Inc. Information subject to change without notice. For use with members of of a single credit union. All other right reserved below.
NMLS #422880