Financial Freedom is Your Independence Day

July has more than one Independence Day. National Financial Freedom Day observed on July 1 every year raises awareness about financial freedom and the steps to gaining yours with enough savings and passive income to afford the life you really want.

Becoming financially free starts with paying off outstanding debt or reducing loan costs, then building a savings safety net and creating passive income sources. This may look slightly different from person to person; some may want to retire early, and others may want to travel, but many people make across the financial freedom their aim.

Whatever it may look like for you, financial freedom is an attainable goal and at Heritage Valley, we have many products and services designed to help you get there. National Financial Freedom Day just helps people learn more about it. Take time out of your day to do some reading and improve your financial literacy and your changes of obtaining your own financial independence with these 10 steps:

1. Set Financial Goals: Define what “financial freedom” means to you, whether it’s early retirement, a specific lifestyle, or a comfortable savings goal. 
2. Create a Budget: Understand your income and expenses, and allocate funds for needs, wants, and savings. Analyze your expenses closely and look for ways to save.
3. Pay Off Debt: Focus on high-interest debt first and aim to become debt-free. 
4. Build an Emergency Fund: Set aside three to six months of living expenses to cover unexpected costs. 
5. Start Investing: Explore various investment options like stocks, bonds, and real estate, with the goal of growing your wealth. 
6. Increase Your Income: Seek opportunities to boost your earning power through promotions, side hustles, or new career paths. 
7. Automate Your Finances: Set up automatic transfers for savings, investments, and bills to streamline your financial management. 
8. Stay Disciplined and Patient: Consistency is key to achieving financial freedom, so resist impulsive spending and stay committed to your goals. 
9. Review and Adjust: Regularly assess your progress, make adjustments to your budget and investment strategy as needed, and stay informed about financial trends. 
10. Seek Professional Advice: Consider consulting a financial advisor for personalized guidance and support. At Heritage Valley, we have an education toolkit for financial independence and freedom >

Free Yourself by Lowering Your Bank Fees 

At Heritage Valley, we’re not a bank, that’s why we think outside the bank. As York’s oldest established credit union, we offer more banking services for free and some of the lowest loan rates around.

Here’s just a handful of the ways we can help you save every day:

Our Rewards Checking pays you back with no monthly service fees, refunded ATM fees and no charge for paper statements >

Our auto loan rates are some of the lowest in the Valley and you can buy new, used or refi with extended terms >

A great place to borrow is your place and our competitive Home Equity rates come with no closing costs >

We get it, Overdrafts happen but that’s why we offer Overdraft Transfers and low-cost Courtesy Pay services >

Finally, if you have high interest credit card debt, we can save you money on your monthly payments by consolidating your payments with a low-rate Personal Loan, and of course with no application fees >

Think outside the bank, bank with Heritage Valley to save more every day.

Find the Right Credit Union to Gain Your Right to Financial Independence 

The right financial institution can be your most important ally in reaching financial independence. A credit union like Heritage Valley always offers more tools, more advantages and less fees to help you reach this goal faster. Celebrate this July 1^st, as the start of your path to financial freedom.