Make a Payment Rates About Careers Contact Locations

Trying to Save Money During a Tough Week!

July 10, 2024 Hi everyone, welcome back to our blog! We want to share with you some of the things we’ve been doing to save money during a tough week. Matt works as an electrician apprentice, and he was recently laid off for two weeks. This was an unexpected blow to our income, especially since we had already had plans with our families. On top of that, we wanted to enjoy the summer with Oliver and do some fun activities around the holiday. So how did we manage to balance our finances, our family and our fun? Here are some of the strategies we used to save money and still have a great holiday week. Strategy #1: Cut down on unnecessary expensesThe first thing we did when we learned about Matt's layoff was to review our budget and see where we could cut down on unnecessary expenses. We decided to cancel some of our subscriptions, like our local carwash and a few apps, and use the free alternatives instead. We also reduced our eating out and ordering in and cooked more meals at home. We used sales and bulk buying to save on groceries and household items. These small changes added up to a big difference in our monthly expenses and helped us stretch our savings until Matt qualifies for unemployment benefits.Strategy #2: Plan ahead for the family visitThe next thing we did was plan ahead for the family visit. We knew that visiting our families would be expensive, so we tried to find ways to reduce the costs. We asked Matt’s family to chip in for some of the groceries and supplies, and they were happy to help. We also planned some low-cost or free activities for the weekend, like going to the park, having a picnic, swimming in the lake and watching fireworks. We avoided going to expensive places like restaurants and instead enjoyed each other's company at home or in nature. We used our grill to cook some delicious meals. We had a lot of fun and made some wonderful memories without breaking the bank.So that's how we saved money during a tough week. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. We learned to be more frugal, more resourceful and more grateful for what we have. We also realized that money isn't everything, and that happiness comes from spending time with the people we love and doing the things we enjoy. We hope you found some of these tips helpful and thanks for reading! You might also be interested in As we wrap up our last week on the money budget challenge, it's incredible to look back and see how much we've learned and grown. This journey has been... When it comes to managing investments, the importance of effective communication and trust cannot be overstated. Our recent experience with Summit Credit... We are thrilled to share some wonderful news—Matt has successfully graduated from his electrician apprenticeship! This major milestone not only signifies... Life often throws unexpected challenges our way, testing not only our resilience but also the flexibility of our financial planning. Recently, our family... As the holiday season approaches, many of us find ourselves excitedly planning for Thanksgiving gatherings and the subsequent Black Friday shopping spree... We find ourselves quickly approaching the end of our budget competition. The past few months have been an exciting journey of financial mindfulness and... Check engine light drama and a flat tire adventure with a sprinkle of gratitude and resilience... Life has a funny way of testing us, often all at once. As the old saying goes, "When it rains, it pours." Recently, we've been feeling the truth of this... Financially, Britt’s new job has brought additional income, which has offset Matt’s layoffs, and we are trying to use any leftover money wisely. Staying...
Featured Products Certificates Checking Accounts Home Equity Loans Home Loans Business Banking Certificates Checking Accounts Home Equity Loans Home Loans Business Banking Financial Education Upcoming Events Programs Tools & Calculators On-demand Webinars Podcasts Upcoming Events Programs Tools & Calculators On-demand Webinars Podcasts About Equity in Money™ About Summit Careers News Community Giving Equity in Money™ About Summit Careers News Community Giving Help & Support Contact Us Member Support Center Schedule an Appointment Find a Branch Contact Us Member Support Center Schedule an Appointment Find a Branch
Please read the following before proceeding to: The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site.
NCUA Insurance Estimator Privacy, Security & Accessibility Rates Terms and Fees Routing Number
* The Wisconsin's #1 Mortgage Lender designation is based on the number of loans in 2023, gathered from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data compiled annually by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The results of the data were obtained through the LEI: 254900NTAC4H10MGSU23 ** SBA Lender of the Year Award for Credit Unions as awarded by the Small Business Administration of Wisconsin in 2024. Copyright 2025 © Summit Credit Union. All rights reserved. If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call 608-243-5000 for assistance. Insured by NCUA