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[MUSIC PLAYING]
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A woman sits at a desk typing on a laptop. A man behind her frowns at a book. Both wear blue polo shirts.
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AMBER: Well, Bryan, it finally happened. Amber, your ace here at Navy Federal, I have my budget under control enough to start helping other people manage their-- Bryan, are you OK?
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Text, Navy Federal Credit Union. Making Cents.
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NARRATOR: Relief options when you're living paycheck to paycheck.
BRYAN:
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Brian talks to Amber while waving his car manual.
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So remember I was excited about buying and owning my first car? This week the check engine light came on. I know the car manual says do not ignore this light. But it's probably fine, right?
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Amber cringes and frowns.
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I'll just ignore it and deal with it later. No, no, delaying the inevitable can only make it worse.
AMBER: OK, breathe. Believe me. I know how tough it is to get up and face the music, especially when it comes to financial problems.
BRYAN: What happened to your tires?
AMBER: My tires are fine, Bryan. But for a while there, things wouldn't stop happening. And I was getting hit with bills left and right. I avoided my financial problems just like you're doing now with your car. And they only got worse.
(DESCRIPTION)
Brian swallows.
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[GULPS]
These three things helped me when I needed some financial relief. Protect your credit.
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A meter shows a number of 750. A second meter falls to 240.
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When you need financial relief, protecting your credit is super important because recovering from poor credit can take a while. So talk to your creditors. Ask
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Illustrations of a person, bank, and calendar appears. Dollars flow into the bank.
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for a different due date that better aligns with your pay schedule. Or see if you can negotiate a payment plan. Ask if they offer any assistance programs to help you get back on track.
Prioritize your bills, too. Keep
(DESCRIPTION)
Illustrations of a credit card, house, and tools appear in circles. Dollars stack up on top of each.
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what's essential. And think hard about what you can get rid of.
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The tools disappears. Text, Avoid risky solutions. A magnifying glass scans a page and sees the face of a masked burglar.
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Don't fall for risky or predatory solutions. Loans that seem too good to be true usually are.
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An exclamation mark appears next to a pile of dollars. A clock's hands spin over a calendar.
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Payday loans or small, short-term loans due on your next payday might be tempting, but these loans can charge more than 500% APR if you don't pay them off.
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An exclamation mark appears next to a folder of loan documents.
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And remember, loans that don't require a credit check could come with predatory terms that end up costing you more money.
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Question marks pop up around a symbol of a person. Text, Seek assistance.
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Seek out federal or local assistance. Depending on where you live and your specific circumstances, you could ask for cash or rent assistance, food, or Supplemental Nutrition Assurance Program benefits, unemployment, or even veteran or disaster relief.
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Symbols appear in circles, a fork and knife on a plate, documents, a military badge, and lightning over a house.
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Talk to local and federal government reps to learn what's available and what you qualify for.
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A symbol of a person appears between buildings representing federal and local government reps. Dollars flow to the person from the buildings.
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So let's recap. If you're ever struggling to make ends meet like I was, be sure to protect your credit, avoid risky loans, and seek out federal assistance. Future you will thank you for not avoiding the problem any longer, including you, Bryan.
BRYAN: OK, OK, I get it. I'll fix my tires.
(DESCRIPTION)
Amber raises her brows and smiles with closed lips.
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AMBER: Here's to MakingCents of your money and your tires together.
NARRATOR: For more smart money strategies, visit navyfederal.org/makingcents. Navy Federal is federally insured by NCUA.
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Text, Navy Federal Credit Union. Making Cents. This information is not legal or financial advice. Instead, it is provided for general informational purposes only. You should consult your own attorney or financial advisor regarding your particular situation.
