Affinity Federal Credit Union presents the Wellbeing And Your Wallet podcast! In the twenty-fourth episode, expert hosts Shawn Lubitz and Grant Gallagher discuss spending and budgeting during the holiday season.

Grant and Shawn kick-off the discussion by sharing insights on effectively setting and sticking to your budget during the holiday season. They discuss tips for saving money on travel during the holidays, and how to manage food and entertainment costs at family gatherings.

Some additional topics included:

• How consumers can be more informed shoppers
• Ways to protect yourself against financial scams
• How you can get back on track financially after the holiday season

Following the main discussion, Grant pulled a submitted question from the member mailbag, and the team shared their responses: Every holiday season, I find myself getting stressed out, not just about money, but also about making sure everyone is happy, buying the right gifts, and meeting all the holiday expectations. It sometimes feels overwhelming and takes away from the joy of the season. How can I manage this financial and emotional stress better, and actually enjoy the holidays without feeling like I'm constantly on the edge?

Finally, Grant concludes the discussion by highlighting Affinity’s Cash Back Debit card, a great checking account where you can earn 1% cashback on purchases for up to $1,000 a month to help you earn more toward your financial goals.

Just a reminder if you have a question or comment for a future Member Mailbag segment, please send it to @affinityfcu on Facebook or X/Twitter with #MemberMailbag.

Rate, like, and subscribe for more from the Wellbeing and Your Wallet podcast. Visit www.affinityfcu.com for additional information about financial wellbeing and Affinity products.

Thanks for listening and be well.