Smishing messages are sneaky. They often disguise themselves as urgent alerts from banks, delivery services, government agencies, or even your boss. The goal is always the same: get you to act quickly before you think hard about the request. Learn more: hubs.ly/Q03zF9Cq0

One of the best tools to meet holiday savings goals is to automate deposits. Set an amount that you can comfortably put away each month and set an auto transfer. You would be surprised how much you can build up in the course of a year! #creditchat

There's no better time to start a holiday fund than the present (no pun intended). Open a savings account now at your financial institution, and start putting money away today. Everyone's targets are different, so use your past holiday spending to guide your goals. #CreditChat

Gifting doesn't have to be expensive. Think about what would be meaningful to the people you are gifting to. Sometimes, the best gifts don't cost money, but more time and consideration. #creditchat

Great advice, Jennifer!

Some of our favorite gift ideas: -DIY gifts that come from the heart -Sharing items we don't use at home (in good condition) -Investing time in our friends and family: Cleaning, pet sitting, or free babysitting. -Get everyone together for a fun (and frugal) outing #creditchat

The best habit to build now is to create a budget and stick to it. You can still get that Starbucks if it's built into your budget, and it doesn't take away from your long-term savings goals, emergency savings, and holiday funds. #creditchat

Use your budget to keep you disciplined and make a spending limit for gifts you may be getting. If it's not in the budget, or it exceeds how much you want to spend per person, do you really need to buy it? #CreditChat

Look at all your resources as you start planning. What do you have budgeted for travel? Do you have points (like SESLOC Rewards) to use towards travel? Is it cheaper to drive or fly? Doing the research early can help you save money on your family's get-together. #creditchat

A10. One big holiday spending mistake is charging everything to your credit card without a plan for how you will pay it off. If you need help paying off your credit card debt, you can learn more in this article from Ask Experian experian.com/blogs/ask-expe… #CreditChat

Thanks to everyone who participated in #creditchat today! We're always excited to hear your budgeting ideas and how you manage your money!

For over 35 years, Stacy Meko has served the community through the South County Youth Coalition. From volunteering to teach French to working on committees, she's dedicated her life to children. We are honored to name Stacy the August 2025 Cares for Community award winner.

Gear up for college savings with Change it Up! 🎒💻📓When you enroll, your SESLOC debit card purchases are rounded up to the nearest dollar, and the change is automatically deposited into your savings account. ➡️ Learn more or enroll today at sesloc.org/change-it-up.

On Field Trip Friday, we're off to California Fresh Markets for groceries. 🛒 Earn bonus rewards points on purchases at California Fresh Markets when using your SESLOC HomeFREE Checking™ debit card or Visa Signature Rewards® credit card. Learn more: sesloc.org/local-rewards

Heading back to college? Start by creating a budget for your costs across the term. Write down what you expect earning, then subtract expenses including housing, car payments, and grocery bills. Dedicate a portion of the rest to long-term savings. #MoneyMonday

Did you sign up for an online service trial and didn't cancel it in time? There's a chance that you're still paying for it from your accounts without even knowing it. Be sure to check your expenses monthly to make sure you're not paying for anything you don't use. #TechTipTuesday

Rae Odom, a teacher at Santa Lucia School, recently used a SESLOC Education Grant to buy supplies for students to learn knitting to make hats and scarves to donate to ECHO Homeless Shelter. Learn more or apply today at sesloc.org.

Need urgent vet care?🐴 Turn to SESLOC Instant Funds loans! If approved you can get funds in your SESLOC checking account in under 60 seconds,* See how it works: sesloc.org/instant-funds *See complete terms, conditions, restrictions and requirements via our website or any branch.

This Field Trip Friday, we're stopping by The Fitting Image👗 in San Luis Obispo. 🤵 Earn bonus rewards points on purchases at The Fitting Image when using your SESLOC HomeFREE Checking™ debit card or Visa Signature Rewards® credit card. Learn more: sesloc.org/local-rewards

Ready to tackle home improvement projects? Get at least three quotes to see how much it would cost and take inventory list to see how much it would cost to do it yourself. If you need to extend your budget, a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) may be an option.