Here at Jolt Credit Union, we hate to see your money go to waste, so we've put together a list of misleading advertising schemes you may come across when hunting for deals this Black Friday.

Be an informed consumer and shop smartly!

That $200-off supersized TV screen on the front page of the big-box circular that just landed in your mailbox looks like an incredible deal-until you show up at the store on Black Friday, only to find it's sold out. Of course, no deal lasts forever, but when a store that has only been open for the day a few hours claims it's already run out of an item, you can assume it only stocked a very limited quantity. The heavily marked-down and heavily advertised item was a ploy to get you into the store to shop.

Thanksgiving prep stressing you out? Wondering how you're going to get everything done in time for the big day and stick to your budget at the same time?

We're here to help! Whether you're travelling home for the holiday or hosting a houseful of guests, we've got you covered. Jolt Credit Union is proud to present clever Thanksgiving hacks to save you time, stress and money as you prepare for Turkey Day.

If you're hosting, this should be your first step - even before you start thinking menus and recipes. Find out exactly how many guests you're expecting for Thanksgiving dinner so you don't overcook or need to run out at the last minute for more groceries.

Draw up an exact menu as early as possible before you start stocking up on ingredients. This way, you won't pick up random food items just in case you may end up needing them.

Q: I love browsing my local dollar store, but I often end up spending more than I planned or regretting my purchases. Are dollar stores worth the price?

A: Dollar stores can be tremendous spending traps, but they can also be a great way to snag a bargain. It's all in how you plan your visit.

Read on to learn how to get the best deal at the dollar store.

We all grow up hearing the same financial advice: Spend less, save more and invest early. While most of these words of wisdom ring true, there are lots of widespread money management tips that are actually false.

Read on for 7 money myths that might be causing you more financial stress than benefit.  

Myth #1: Debit is always better than credit.

Do you automatically reach for your debit card when making a purchase? While it's true that paying for your expenses with money you already have in your account is often the best choice, there is a time and a place for credit cards as well.  

The real deal: Credit cards get a bad rap for the debt trap they represent, but they should be your payment method of choice on occasion. Building and maintaining a strong credit history is crucial for your financial wellness; one way to achieve this is by using a credit card and paying the bill on time. Some credit cards offer purchase protection, which makes them the smarter payment method for big-ticket items.

Did you know there were 14.4 million victims of identity theft in 2018? According to Javelin Strategy, each case cost the victim an average of $1,050 - and that's only the cost in dollars. When an individual's identity is stolen, the thief wreaks major havoc on the victim's financial health, which can take months, or even years, to recover from.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent yourself from becoming the next victim. Here is your complete guide to identity theft protection.

1. Monitor your credit

One of the best preventative measures you can take against identity theft is monitoring your credit. You can check your credit score for free on sites like CreditKarma.com and order an annual report once a year from each of the three credit reporting agencies at AnnualCreditreport.com. Check your score for any sudden hits and look through your reports for suspicious activity. It's also a good idea to review your monthly credit card bills for any charges you don't remember making.

It's back-to-school season and you're just about ready to zip that backpack closed before tossing that supply list into the trash. You've been shopping for weeks to get the right pencils and pens, binders and the dozens of other must-haves. This, of course, is in addition to the perfect school shoes and autumn wardrobe. But now you're done, done, done! Your sanity and your budget are ready for a breather - at least until the Christmas shopping season starts.

But then your daughter comes home breathless from school telling you they've made it onto the school's pom pom team. She's thrilled and can't wait to start attending practices and games! Oh, and did she mention she'll need some money for her uniform and equipment?

Before you can finish digesting this piece of news, your son barrels through the door and announces he's decided to take drum lessons. It'll only be, say, $600 for the drum set, plus the price of lessons. But that's not a big deal for you, is it?

Ah, summer! It's the season of fireworks and fireflies, road trips and rocky road ice cream, baseball and beach balls, flip-flops and ice pops.

But, just as you're settling into the laid-back summer routine, retailers start rolling out their back-to-school displays, which may open that pit of dread into your stomach. Supply lists. New clothing. Backpacks, jeans, laptops and school shoes: It's endless. And it's so expensive!

In fact, according to the National Retail Federation, the average American parent will spend upward of $700 per child this shopping season.   

If that's enough to put a damper on your summer plans, take a deep breath and relax. You don't need to spend yourself into debt just because everyone else seems to be doing it. Instead, take a proactive, mindful approach when shopping for the new school year and spend hundreds less than the national average. Let Jolt Credit Union show you how!

Q:  I'm planning a camping trip for the summer, and I'd love to keep the trip as low-cost as possible. How can I cut down on camping costs?       

A:  It's great that you're looking for ways to trim your vacation expenses. We can help! Read on for seven ways to save on camping costs.   

1. Save on location

Each year, the IRS publishes the “Dirty Dozen,” a list of 12 scams that are rampant during that year’s tax season. 

This year, the IRS is cautioning taxpayers to be extra vigilant because of a 60% increase in email phishing scams over the past year. This is particularly disheartening, since it comes on the heels of a steady decline in phishing scams over the previous three years. 

Typically, an email phishing scam will appear to be from the IRS. Once the victim has opened the email, the scammer will use one of several methods to get at the victim’s personal information, including their financial data, tax details, usernames and passwords. They will then use this information to steal the victim’s identity, empty their accounts or file taxes in the victim’s name and then make off with their refund. 

According to StatisticBrain.com, teens spend more than $258 billion annually, yet many young adults enter college without any practical financial guidance or accountability. It’s now more important than ever for young adults to arm themselves with information on how to manage their money. And that’s why it is also important to educate students about their most important personal financial tool: the checking account.