CCCS of Nebraska

How Can You Make this Holiday Season a Happy One?

Get back on track with our Debt Management Program that helps you pay your debts by negotiating monthly payments to your creditors. Work your way back to credit health by contacting us today!

With October past us and November flying by, it's about time to start planning a budget for the Christmas season. Ideally, you created a budget at the beginning of the year and are already prepared for the holidays. Unfortunately, many of us have a tough time sticking to a budget as the year goes on, which often makes the Christmas season, and all the spending that comes with it, more stressful than it needs to be.

In order to get through the holidays in good spirits, you need to spend responsibly. Here are a few tips:

Start with a budget: Now is a good time to sit down and draw out a budget before the shopping season really begins.
Separate needs from wants: It's natural to want to give fantastic gifts to those you love, but you should only do so within a sustainable budget. Make a list of who you need to spend money on, and how much you can afford to spend on each.
Go in with someone else: If you want to give someone a large gift, see if friends or family want to go in on it together. This can achieve the same goal without having to foot an insurmountable bill.
Don't buy all your gifts at once: Take your shopping one paycheck at a time. There's no reason to buy all your gifts at once - budget what you'll spend on gifts out of each paycheck.
Make it personal: If you can't spend a lot of money because of budget restrictions, add a personal touch to something smaller. For example, if you can only afford to purchase a gift card for a loved one, bake some cookies to add a thoughtful gesture to the gift.

We hope you find these strategies helpful. Of course, we're always here if you have questions about this topic, or if you would like assistance in keeping your finances in order this holiday season. Give us a call - we would love to help make your holiday season as stress-free as possible!

What Are We Thankful for this Season?

Over the last 34 years, it's been my pleasure to be the president and CEO of this fine company. During those years I've had a lot of excellent ladies and gentlemen work for me, who were great employees and even better counselors.

Part of our job here is to help families and individuals by teaching them better money habits, providing educational information, and helping them get out of debt. We've literally returned millions and millions of dollars back to the community on behalf of those hardworking families who have gone to their jobs every day and paid off their debt. We've provided educational programs and have had a great deal of success over the years.

I want to say a big THANKS to my staff and all the people who have worked for Consumer Credit Counseling in the past. The many long hours and the dedication these people have put into helping community families and to do the right things to help people improve their lives and make better economic sense of what they have to work with.

Most importantly, thanks to all of you who have worked with us in the past and continue to support us. It's because of you that we're able to continuing assisting people in our area.

Best wishes to you and your family this Thanksgiving season!

How Can You Manage Your Money Better When You're a Student?

Whether you're an 18-year-old freshman or a 30-year-old looking to further your education, it can be difficult to manage your finances when attending college. This is a great time of year to sit down and take a look at your expenses and begin budgeting for the school year. Because college is an expensive endeavor, it's crucial you get your personal budget worked out before the hustle and bustle of school becomes overwhelming.

Here are some basic tips:

Know your credit situation: You should be well-aware of your available credit. Set a limit to what you're willing to charge to your credit card. Maxing out your card now will negatively affect your ability to get a loan in the future.
Know what books will cost: Books can be incredibly expensive - you need to budget accordingly.
Know your living/commuting expenses: Are you living off campus? Will you be spending money on gas or paying for public transportation? These are expenses you need to be aware of because they're a necessary part of going to school.

Attending college can make it difficult to keep your finances in line. Luckily, here at Consumer Credit Counselor Service, we have counselors who have worked with many students over the years. Our goal is to help you set up a flexible budget - one that works for you. It's crucial you stay out of credit trouble - but if you do need help, don't hesitate to call your parents, a credit counselor, or even your creditors to try to form a strategy to solve the problem. The worst thing you can do is set your credit problems aside and think you'll be able to fix them later.

Now is a great time to start learning some things about your money management habits. There are a lot of great apps out there you can download, or you can simply carry around a small notebook to record your expenses. Find out how you're spending money, add it all up at the end of the month, and determine whether you need everything you buy. Is there something you buy regularly that you don't really need? Making smarter spending decisions will help you get the best value for your hard-earned dollars.

If you are interested in getting help with your finances, don't hesitate to give us a call or stop by our website. We'd love to help make your life a little easier while you're in school!

Are You on Pace to Meet Your Financial Goals?

With summer winding down and school starting up, there is no better time to take a good hard look at your personal finances. Most people set their budgetary goals at the beginning of the year - while around this time, many people realize they may not achieve them. It's important to remember it's never too late to start making improvements.

This is the perfect time to sit down with a professional and review your progress. We can take a look at your checkbook and help you balance it. We can also take a look at your yearly expenses. If you made any donations that are tax deductible, now is the time to start collecting the receipts and organizing them, so you can save some money on your taxes when the time comes. It is also a time to get rid of some of the financial items that may have built up over the year that are no longer useful. You want to shred anything with information that may lead to your identity being stolen.

It's not too late to reassess the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the year. Now is the ideal time to take a good look at your financial situation and work on a course of action for the future. If you can't meet the lofty goals you set at the beginning of the year, now is the time to set new ones. On the other hand, if there is a shot you can meet your budgetary goals, we will help you get there. We want to help make your financial situation a lot less stressful, so give us a call at (402) 333-2227 or visit us on the web at CCCSN.org.

Learn How You Can Set Yourself Up to Purchase Your First Home

There's a lot to be worried about when you are a first time home buyer, especially if you are a young adult. College is over and the pressure is on - now it's time to figure out how to make things work. Luckily, there are many people who have been in the same spot who would love to help. That's why today we'll be answering some common questions we get from young people who need financial advice.

What's your advice for first time home buyers?

If you are thinking about buying a home for the first time, you need to sit down and have a serious talk with a financial expert. You need to get ahead of the game - look at your personal finances and educate yourself.
You have to make smart, common sense decisions. If a house is your top priority, forego the new car or any other expensive item you may want but don't need.

What should I do about my student loans?

Many recent graduates that are having trouble finding a job are struggling to pay back their student loans. Most federal loans are are difficult to deal with unless you can consolidate them. A credit counselor can help you organize a budget and pay off credit debt as well as suggest other ways to help you free up money and pay off student loans.

How can CCCS help?

There is currently a bill in congress that will help you with your student debt - if it passes. We keep an eye on the bigger picture for you and keep you informed.
We can sit down with you and work out a budget. We can help you expand it or decide what you can live without.
If you've driven up some loans or are having trouble making ends meet, now is a good time to come in and see a credit counselor. We give you options when it may seem you don't have any.

If you've thought about making a big financial decision for the first time, don't be afraid to seek help. We can help you choose priorities and make good decisions, simply give us a call or contact us on our website and we'll help make this new stage in life an exciting one!

Take a Swing for Financial Literacy

Take a Swing with Us

Since 1976, Consumer Credit Counseling Services has been working in Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa providing education to young adults as well as senior citizens.

To continue our mission we would like to cordially invite you to our 9th annual 'Swing for Financial Literacy' golf fundraiser.

This tournament will be held on August 27th at the Iron Horse Golf Club and registration will begin at 10:30 AM followed by a shotgun start at noon.

Everyone is welcome to participate, and there will be many different activities throughout the day. Last year we had nearly 100 golfers, so you can expect some stiff competition!

Subway will be providing boxed lunches, and the evening features a formal dinner.

We would love to see you come out and show your support!

8 Things to Look for in a Great Credit Counselor

What to Look For in a Credit Counselor

If you're in financial trouble, you're not alone. When you select a credit counseling agency, you should try to include the following items:

National Body Affiliation: Being affiliated with a national body will help to ensure that the agency is abiding by the standards and guidelines of a national body. This gives more credibility to the agency.
Licensed: Is this agency licensed to practice in the state that you live in?
Better Business Bureau Rating: What sort of rating do they have from this bureau? This adds more credibility to an agency if they have a high rating with the BBB.
Certified: You need a credit counselor that has gone through the various tests and certifications in order to help you climb out of debt. An experienced, knowledgeable counselor is always best, but at the very least, they need to be certified.
Accredited: An accredited organization will come in and look at all the procedures and standards of the business and also take into account how they treat the public and how they work with their books. They will also rveiew their ethical conducts and just bring another element of credibility to the organization.
Services Offered: There is no cookie-cutter approach to helping someone settle their financial debt. Every person should be treated on an individual basis, and that means the counselor really needs to dive in to your personal situation.
Additional Education: Do they offer you continued education through books, DVD's or manuals? Are they free or inexpensive?
Fees: Your fees should be reasonable and affordable, and they should also be within your personal budget.

These criteria should help you greatly when searching for a credit counselor. If you have any questions about this information or would like to contact me to speak about your finances, then please do not hesitate to contact me via phone or email.

Safeguarding your finances against identity thieves

Get back on track with our Debt Management Program that helps you pay your debts by negotiating monthly payments to your creditors. Work your way back to credit health by contacting us today!

Being aware of identity theft
Moving into spring with tax season behind us, now is an ideal time to go through your budget and make sure everything is on order with no discrepancies. One of the main reasons I place so much emphasis on this comes from the growing threat of identity theft that is impacting people all over the world.

Recent statistics from the IRS have highlighted the severity of this problem and just how pervasive it has become within our society, targeting virtually anyone who shows the slightest sign of vulnerability. According to new data from the IRS, there are currently 300 active cases of identity theft that the agency is reviewing, while the state of Florida has had over 33,000 people affected in one way or another.

How are victims of identity theft targeted?
Anyone with crucial information pertaining to their finances (account numbers, credit card numbers, social security, etc.) that has the potential to be exposed will be prime targets for criminals looking specifically for individuals with some form of financial susceptibility.

How can we protect our identities?
There are three main steps that you can take in order to make your identity more secure and impenetrable to prospective “identity thieves”:

Organize – Any paper statements or financial information you receive via mail should be processed and itemized, with any corresponding receipts being compared to make sure your purchase amounts match between your statements and receipts.

When disposing of any financial information, ALWAYS SHRED! Whether you want to utilize certain locations designated for shredding, or if you have a personal shredder for yourself, make sure that you always dispose of your financial documents through shredding. Don’t ever let your guard down and resort to a trash bag; this is not safe!
Another avenue to explore, depending on your level of comfort with technology, involves going paperless and receiving all your bills and statements via email. For many people, e-statements allow them to manage their finances more efficiently while still maintaining their security.

USPS Mailboxes – When sending out any sensitive information regarding your finances, it’s definitely worthwhile to go out of your way and deposit them in a secure USPS mailbox. This way you can ensure their safety, since only postal workers will have access to them.

Check your Credit Report – Make a habit out of consistently checking your credit report for things that may seem incorrect or fraudulent. At www.cccsn.org, under the Tools tab, you’ll find a link to www.annualcreditreport.com, which will provide further information on how to contest items that appear suspicious or wrong.

Give us a call!
Again I cannot place enough emphasis on taking as many precautionary measures as possible, as this is the most effective way to combat identity theft.

Once again thank you for visiting my blog and always feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

Know Where Your Tax Refund Is Going!

Get back on track with our Debt Management Program that helps you pay your debts by negotiating monthly payments to your creditors. Work your way back to credit health by contacting us today!

April is tax season and the deadline for filing is just around the corner! Since we should have our taxes filed within the next few weeks, keep in mind that it is important to set goals if you are going to receive a tax refund. It can be very easy to reward yourself and spend the money quickly; Consumer Credit Counseling Services would like to meet with you, free of charge! We offer a program that is called “Sharpen Your Financial Focus” and would love to offer you some great suggestions.

If you need any assistance with taxes, for example filling out your forms, please feel free to give us a call. Remember, we are a local community service agency that has the experience to help you! Thanks and have a great day!

Stephanie Block is here to ensure your financial education!

Get back on track with our Debt Management Program that helps you pay your debts by negotiating monthly payments to your creditors. Work your way back to credit health by contacting us today!

Today I wanted to introduce our new Community Educator, Stephanie Block, and allow you to get to know her! Stephanie has been with Consumer Credit Counselling Services for about five and a half years and previously served as a Housing Counsellor where she counselled people with mortgage distress. She is very excited to become our newest Community Educator and we are just as excited to have her!

When Stephanie offers a Home Buyer Education course, she typically offers them during the day. Stephanie begins the course with a pretest. This is the first step in the course and it gives Stephanie an idea of what people know about purchasing a home and also what they need to know. Often times a lender may require this type of education. From there, Stephanie incorporates a PowerPoint presentation to create an interactive atmosphere with her students. She also loves being asked questions!

There are also a variety of different courses that we offer – everything from budget planning, financial fitness to credit repair! If you have an interest in any of these courses, Stephanie would love to get you in touch with a counsellor. Simply register directly with Stephanie at extension 312.

It is always important to reassess your finances at any time, especially before tax season! This would also allow you to know how to best allocate your tax return within your budget. Thanks and have a great day!

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Why work with us?

Donald A. Leu
President and Chief Executive Officer
402-333-2227 Ext. 305
dleu@cccsnebr.org

Sharon L. Hershberger-Taubert
Vice President of Housing and Education
402-333-8609 Ext. 315
staubert@cccsnebr.org

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Nebraska is a non-profit community service organization, dedicated to delivering professional consumer credit education, confidential counseling, and debt management to all segments of society regardless of their ability to pay. CCCSN was established in 1976 in Omaha, Nebraska and has served the states of Nebraska and Iowa since.

When you call CCSN, one of our certified counselors will review your financial history, income, and living expenses to assist you in developing a budget and forming an action plan tailored for your circumstances. Whether you simply need assistance with developing a family budget ,or if the "buy now-pay later" way of life has you facing a pile of bills each month, our counselors will work to help you find a solution to your needs.

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