--- title: Access Credit Union Blog (9) description: "Empower yourself with the knowledge you need to control your finances. Access Credit Union is where you need us to be, with sound advice on any device. \n (9)" --- #003B49 [![AccessCU\_Horizontal\_Colour\_pws-1](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/AccessCU_Horizontal_Colour_pws-1.png?width=199&height=50&name=AccessCU_Horizontal_Colour_pws-1.png "AccessCU_Horizontal_Colour_pws-1")](https://www.accesscu.ca/) Open main menu Close main menu Select Category Budgeting Education Savings Finances Financial Literacy Fraud Investing Lending Mortgage Retirement Savings Saving Security Spending TFSA Tips & Advice This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ![Older couple packing a box](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hubfs/iStock-1324436366.jpg) [Retirement Savings,](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/retirement-savings) [Tips & Advice](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/tips-advice) ### [Five Things to Consider When Downsizing Your Home](https://blog.accesscu.ca/five-things-to-consider-when-downsizing-your-home) ### Follow these tips to help determine when it’s the right time to downsize. [Read More](https://blog.accesscu.ca/five-things-to-consider-when-downsizing-your-home) ![](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hubfs/iStock-1351204753.jpg) [Mortgage](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/mortgage) ### [Why You Should Get Pre-Approved For A Mortgage](https://blog.accesscu.ca/why-you-should-get-pre-approved-for-a-mortgage) Whether you’re buying your first home or your fifth, getting a [mortgage pre-approval](https://blog.accesscu.ca/what-you-need-to-have-ready-for-a-mortgage-pre-approval) is the first step you should take before shopping for your new home. A pre-approval is a commitment from your financial institution to lend you a certain amount for your mortgage at a particular interest rate. [Read More](https://blog.accesscu.ca/why-you-should-get-pre-approved-for-a-mortgage) ![](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hubfs/iStock-1342227172.jpg) [Tips & Advice,](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/tips-advice) [Lending](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/lending) ### [What You Need to Know About Vehicle Loan Rates](https://blog.accesscu.ca/what-you-need-to-know-about-vehicle-loan-rates) # Whether you are buying a new or used vehicle, a loan offers flexible payment options and your choice of a variable or fixed interest rate. [Read More](https://blog.accesscu.ca/what-you-need-to-know-about-vehicle-loan-rates) ![](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hubfs/iStock-514381586.jpg) [Saving,](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/saving) [Tips & Advice,](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/tips-advice) [Lending](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/lending) ### [Consolidating Your Loans](https://blog.accesscu.ca/consolidating-your-loans) ### A consolidation [loan](https://www.accesscu.ca/en/personal/borrowing/loans-lines-of-credit#loans) can make your payments easier to manage. [Read More](https://blog.accesscu.ca/consolidating-your-loans) ![](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hubfs/Ring-in-the-new-year.jpg) [Saving,](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/saving) [Tips & Advice,](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/tips-advice) [Budgeting,](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/budgeting) [Finances](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/finances) ### [Ring in the New Year with Good Financial Health](https://blog.accesscu.ca/ring-in-the-new-year-with-good-financial-health) It’s a new year, which means it’s time to set your New Year’s resolutions! [Read More](https://blog.accesscu.ca/ring-in-the-new-year-with-good-financial-health) ![couple in the kitchen with bills ](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hubfs/iStock-1294509749.jpg) [Tips & Advice,](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/tips-advice) [Financial Literacy](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/financial-literacy) ### [How to Organize Your Financial Documents like a Professional](https://blog.accesscu.ca/how-to-organize-your-financial-documents-like-a-professional) Staying organized is easier said than done, especially when it comes to financial documents. [Read More](https://blog.accesscu.ca/how-to-organize-your-financial-documents-like-a-professional) ![jar of coins with emergency label](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hubfs/iStock-1142149264.jpg) [Saving,](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/saving) [Tips & Advice,](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/tips-advice) [Budgeting](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/budgeting) ### [Building Your Emergency Fund](https://blog.accesscu.ca/building-your-emergency-fund) Creating an emergency fund may sound difficult, but it is worth it when an emergency arises. [Read More](https://blog.accesscu.ca/building-your-emergency-fund) ![](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hubfs/Debt%20Consolidation.jpg) [Financial Literacy,](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/financial-literacy) [Lending,](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/lending) [Spending](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/spending) ### [How consolidation can help you get out of debt](https://blog.accesscu.ca/how-consolidation-can-help-you-get-out-of-debt) ### You don't have to deal with debt on your own. We're here to help you manage it, provide solutions, and get you back on track. [Read More](https://blog.accesscu.ca/how-consolidation-can-help-you-get-out-of-debt) ![](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hubfs/Budgeting-for-more-free-time.jpg) [Tips & Advice,](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/tips-advice) [Budgeting](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/budgeting) ### [Budgeting for More Free Time](https://blog.accesscu.ca/budgeting-for-more-free-time) Life can get busy, especially during the holiday season. When we take on more responsibility, we feel like we are stretched past our limits. So how do we *budget* for more free time? [Read More](https://blog.accesscu.ca/budgeting-for-more-free-time) ![Gift wrapping supplies surrounding stressed woman in Santa hat](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hubfs/iStock-1288724003.jpg) [Saving,](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/saving) [Tips & Advice](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/tips-advice) ### [Save Money During the Holidays](https://blog.accesscu.ca/save-money-during-the-holidays) When shopping during the holidays seems more like ho ho, oh no and less like rockin’ around the Christmas tree, it’s hard to stay cheery and bright during the ‘most wonderful time of the year’. [Read More](https://blog.accesscu.ca/save-money-during-the-holidays) [7](https://blog.accesscu.ca/page/7) [8](https://blog.accesscu.ca/page/8) [9](https://blog.accesscu.ca/page/9) [10](https://blog.accesscu.ca/page/10) [11](https://blog.accesscu.ca/page/11) #### Connect with Access Credit Union Follow Access Credit Union on social media for financial advice and news from our member community.  [![facebookwhite\_64x64](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/facebookwhite_64x64.png?width=45&height=45&name=facebookwhite_64x64.png)](https://www.facebook.com/AccessCreditUnion) [![linkedin](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/linkedin-6-64.png?width=45&name=linkedin-6-64.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/access-credit-union)[![instagramwhite\_64x64](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/instagramwhite_64x64.png?width=45&height=45&name=instagramwhite_64x64.png)](https://www.instagram.com/accesscreditunion/)