VSECU Blog
In the VSECU Blog you'll find financial and lifestyle resources to help empower possibilities for your personal success.
Oliver is VSECU's social media strategist and spends most of his day engaging with members through our Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram profiles. He has a background in science education, non-profit fundraising, business communication, media production, and membership-based organizations. When not at work, Oliver spends much of his time with his wife and their little dog Butterscotch at their home in Montpelier.
By: Oliver Ames
December 29th, 2020
Credit and Debt | Learn Something New
The latest $900 billion relief package includes a second stimulus check for Americans. Here’s what you need to know!
By: Oliver Ames
December 16th, 2020
Credit and Debt | Identity and Fraud Protection
The modern world is filled with convenience that would have been nearly unimaginable twenty years ago. From where I sit in Montpelier, I can have food delivered from five different grocery stores within two hours. I can place an order online at a local store, have my items gift wrapped, and sent to my family on the other side of the country in only two clicks. Unfortunately, our modern world can also have its drawbacks. Much of the convenience we experience every day relies on putting our personal information on countless websites, order forms, phone trees, social networks, and mobile apps. The more places our information is stored, the more we open ourselves up to fraudulent activity. Luckily, there are some simple ways to reduce risk and keep your information private without sacrificing convenience.
By: Oliver Ames
November 25th, 2020
This holiday season looks a little different from years past and that includes shopping days like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. Rather than offering different deals on different days, many local Vermont retailers have modified their holiday plans and are offering sales online instead. It’s easier, faster, and safer, especially during COVID-19! We rounded up a list of deals to some of our favorite local businesses for your convenience.
By: Oliver Ames
September 24th, 2020
Saving and Budgeting | Lifestyle
Money can be one of the most stressful aspects of sharing your life with someone, especially in the early days of a relationship. So far, my wife and I have successfully navigated our finances through three different times in our lives: dating as students, living together, and getting married. These are the three ways we tackled the “money conversation.”
Sign up for our blog and get Six Tips for Improving Your Credit Score free!
By: Oliver Ames
September 4th, 2020
Homebuying and Mortgages | Credit and Debt
Starting September 4, tenants will be protected from eviction until the end of 2020. This new government order comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and applies to renters who make less than $99,000 (or $198,000 for joint filers).
By: Oliver Ames
July 2nd, 2020
Learn Something New | Lifestyle
When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended in April that everyone wear cloth coverings to protect themselves and others from COVID-19, many Vermonters dusted off their sewing machines to make their own or pulled out their winter balaclavas. If your homemade mask is looking a little ragged and you are hoping to buy something professionally made, several Vermont businesses have stepped up to the challenge and are make comfortable, long-lasting face masks! With COVID-19 very much an ongoing public health crisis and the Vermont Department of Health recommending all Vermonters wear cloth face coverings when outside of the home, now might be the perfect time to buy yourself a new mask.
By: Oliver Ames
May 21st, 2020
If you receive a debit card in the mail claiming to be your COVID-19 stimulus payment, don’t throw it out! While over 140 million Americans have received their Economic Impact Payment from the federal government by direct deposit or as a check in the mail, a third form of payment may be arriving for those of you still waiting. On May 18, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS announced that roughly four million Economic Impact Payments will be sent in the mail as a prepaid debit card, often referred to as an EIP card.
By: Oliver Ames
May 6th, 2020
Credit and Debt | Saving and Budgeting | Identity and Fraud Protection | Lifestyle
COVID-19 has brought financial uncertainty to many, and even as we edge closer to recovery, the impacts of COVID-19 will be felt by many Vermonters for months to come. I sat down with Yvonne Garand, our senior vice president of marketing and business development, to talk about personal finance in the age of COVID-19.