If not, there is usually one in the community you can link up with. Credit unions offer car, home, and personal loans, and often a credit card at a reasonable rate. Don t do much saving with them, though, as their rate of return is low. You ll need a personal checking account for household business and to establish a credit base, which is necessary if you plan to purchase a home or a car. Shop around, though.
Bank charges can vary a great deal, even in the same community.
Get a low-cost Visa or Gold MasterCard, and be sure to pay off the balance each month. Alternately, get a card from a major airline that offers one free mile of travel for every dollar charged on the card. These cards cost more, but the occasional free air trip is an advantage, especially if the charges on the card are purchases you would make anyway. Several significant insurance purchases will help protect you from heavy financial pressure in case of injury, accident, or death. Disability insurance is the most important insurance and the one least talked about.