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.

You probably already know water is the best beverage choice for your health and for your money. But did you know bottled water may be costing you a fortune? 

It’s true: Many people pay exorbitant amounts of money for bottled water without even realizing how inflated the price is. 

So, let’s take a look at the costs of bottled water when compared to ordinary tap water. 

For 1,000 gallons of tap water, it will cost you approximately $11. With that amount of water, you could fill 7,570 bottles of water at 16.9 fluid ounces each, with each bottle costing you just $0.0014! 

Assuming you drink three 20-oz bottles of water a day, you’ll need 1,095 bottles a year. If you’d fill those bottles with tap water, you’ll only pay $1.53 a year! 

Everyone has their own version of a dream vacation. But, for most of us, it never becomes a reality. Read on for six ways to make that dream vacation come true.

1.) Start saving 

Give your getaway a jumpstart by planning for it all year long. 

• Set up a “Trip jar.” Whenever you’ve got loose change, plunk it in a jar earmarked for your vacation. Use the money you’ve saved to fund one part of your vacation.
• Brown-bag it. The average American buys lunch twice a week. By brown-bagging it just one more day a week, you can save hundreds of dollars a year for your vacation.
• Open a vacation club account. Here at Catholic Federal, we’re all about making dreams come true. Call, click or stop by today to learn how to painlessly save for vacation all year.