As teachers prepare to leave their classrooms to urge the state legislature to address teacher pay and education funding, thousands more also face potential financial hardship as a result. Teachers, school employees, parents and families all could feel the sting of missed paychecks, missed work to care for children, additional childcare expenses and loss of school meal programs.
TTCU Federal Credit Union reminds those affected that we here to help. “Call us before you get behind on payments or run up your credit card balances,” says Tim Lyons, CEO and President of TTCU Federal Credit Union. “Call us before you look elsewhere for quick-fixes that could end up hurting you in the long run. Let us help you make a plan to take control of your finances, not let your finances control you.”
Lyons says there are any number of options to look at before taking on greater debt than necessary or falling prey to predatory lenders. Options might include refinancing loans, a lower-interest home equity loan or credit card balance transfers, for example.
“The important thing is to reach out,” Lyons says. “Everyone’s situation is different and the earlier people call or come in to see us, the more likely it is that we’ll be able to help.”
Even those who are not TTCU members currently are encouraged to call or visit a TTCU branch to see what services might be available.