Financial and Lifestyle Resources for Vermont

This Saturday, November 28, is Small Business Saturday. Started in response to the Great Recession, the annual event invites communities to buy from small, local businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Ten years later, our local business owners are facing an even greater challenge. As of August 2020, 163,735 United States businesses listed on Yelp were reported as closed, with 97,966 reported as permanently closed due to the pandemic. If there was ever a time to participate in Small Business Saturday, the time is now.

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.

“Where money goes, so goes the future.” More and more, people are realizing that what they choose to do with their hard-earned money, and how it is managed by their bank, credit union, or investment broker, makes a difference in their communities and the world around them. There is a choice to be part of an economy that supports you, and help create a more resilient and prosperous community around you. So today, in the midst of a global pandemic, we are celebrating Banking on Values Day by talking to four of our many VSECU members who choose this way of banking and exchange every day. Their businesses are built to create benefit for their community, preserve and care for the environment where they live and work, and provide profit to support their livelihood.

It’s that time of year again when we try to find the perfect gifts for our friends and loved ones. We’ll probably be doing most of our holiday shopping online this year to avoid crowded stores. In addition to taking care of your physical health and safety, it is important to be careful with your personal information so that you do not become a victim of cybercrime. Cyber criminals are working overtime during the holiday season when consumers are making more purchases and providing their personal information more frequently. Your information can be stolen from your computer or from the company that you are buying goods from through viruses, malware, and ransomware. Be street smart on the web and use the tools at your disposal to protect yourself from cybercrime. Here are a few tips to help you shop online safely.

With consumers becoming more reluctant to visit businesses in person and many businesses operating at least partially remotely, many brick-and-mortar businesses are now turning to the digital space for help with everything from their own operations to marketing efforts. And with much of today’s work itself happening remotely, there are now more people online than ever before, creating an opportunity for businesses to leverage their web presence and market themselves online right at the point of purchase of today’s consumers.

The holidays are coming and no matter what religion or philosophy you embrace, you probably have traditions you look forward to year after year. Large family gatherings aren’t safe right now and travel is highly discouraged, so you may wonder how you’ll make it through what could seem like a bleak holiday season.

Having a healthy relationship with money isn’t all about how we manage dollars and cents. Beliefs, assumptions, and feelings make up substantial parts of our relationship with money. Our money-related behaviors and the factors that influence them are referred to as the psychology of money.

Thinking about your financial future can be difficult when you're faced with short-term needs such as rent, groceries, and other bills. Difficult, but not impossible. Your financial plan may seem modest to begin with, but even if you don't have a lot of money, there are ways you can continue to invest in your future. Once you've taken care of your immediate needs, every dollar can make a difference when it comes to your long-term finances. Here's how you can save money to invest on a low budget and start setting yourself up for a more certain financial future.