September 26, 2025 • 13 mins
The financial decisions we make daily might seem small, but they compound over time to shape our future. When Haley Murphy joins us to discuss strategic credit card usage, she brings years of practical wisdom earned through disciplined financial management.
Most people view credit cards with suspicion, but Haley reveals how they can become powerful tools rather than debt traps. By charging planned expenses like vehicle payments, daycare costs, and groceries to her rewards card, she accumulates valuable points without spending an extra dollar. "We've worked our whole life for our money," she explains. "I want it to work for me a little bit."
The secret lies in her approach: never using credit cards as additional income, closely monitoring spending through budgeting apps, and paying the balance in full each month. This strategy allows her to build credit while earning rewards and maintaining the additional security credit cards provide for online purchases. Simultaneously, she strategically uses her checking account enough to earn the high-yield interest rate of 4.15% on balances up to $20,000.
Haley's financial success speaks for itself. Through consistent habits, hard work (including years where she and her husband both worked multiple jobs), and disciplined spending, they've purchased three homes, each an upgrade from the last. Her story embodies the principle that slow and steady truly wins the financial race.
Whether you're looking to maximize rewards, build credit responsibly, or simply make smarter financial choices, this episode offers practical strategies you can implement immediately. Ready to make your money work as hard as you do? Listen, subscribe, and take your first step toward financial confidence today.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kelli Green (00:00):
Welcome back to the Live Better Podcast, where we
share tips and insights to helpyou take control of your
finances and live your bestlife.
I'm excited to introducetoday's guest, Haleigh Murphy.
Haleigh is joining us to talkabout a topic that affects just
about everyone.
We're going to talk aboutcredit card usage.
We'll be diving into how usinga credit card for your everyday
(00:22):
monthly expenses can not onlymake life more convenient, but
also help you earn valuablepoints and rewards along the
way.
Haleigh will walk us throughsmart strategies, common
pitfalls to avoid, and how tomake sure your credit card is
working for you, not the otherway around.
So grab your coffee, settle in,and let's welcome Haleigh
(00:42):
Murphy to the Live BetterPodcast.
So grab your coffee, folks,settle in.
We are welcoming Haleigh Murphyto the Live Better Podcast.
Good morning, Haleigh.
How are you?
Good morning.
Thank you.
Haleigh Murphy (00:53):
I'm good.
I'm so glad you're here.
Yeah, me too.
I'm excited.
I always like to join in thepodcast.
Kelli Green (00:57):
So yes.
So this is your testimony ofyour everyday expenses.
So you kind of do things alittle different.
I think you play both sides,though, not only just the credit
card expenses or using a creditcard for everyday expenses, but
you also too kind of dive intousing your checking account and
leveraging those rewards aswell.
(01:18):
Is that true?
Haleigh Murphy (01:19):
Yes, 100%.
So for the majority of ourtransactions, we use our credit
card, but we try to monitor howmany swipes we're also getting
on our checking account just sothat we can make sure we're
getting those 12 swipes so thatwe're also earning rewards on
our checking account.
Kelli Green (01:34):
That's nice.
Yeah.
You don't want to miss out onthe credit card.
Yes, not at all.
You don't want to miss out onyour checking account.
And so something that's reallycool too, just so for our
listeners to know, you want tokind of lean in and tell us
about.
So when you earn in yourchecking account, if you have an
Earn Better checking account,you're earning 4.15% up to
$20,000.
(01:54):
And your dividends that youearn throughout the month will
be transferred overautomatically into your savings
account.
So do you have your account setup that way?
Haleigh Murphy (02:04):
Yes, 100%.
So and then the other point ofthat is once those funds roll
into your savings account, thenyou're also earning 4.1% on
balances up to $50,000.
So you're earning in yourchecking account, and then once
it swaps over to your savingsaccount, then you're still
earning money on those funds.
Kelli Green (02:20):
So yeah, so 4.15 in your checking and 4.01 in your
savings.
That is so cool.
I love it.
Okay, so take us throughbecause there are some
interesting conversations, Ithink, around credit cards and
how to use them.
Um, many people, you know, willuse a debit card, you know, for
it.
We hear a lot of folks saythat's just kind of what I use
(02:42):
from day to day.
But I'm curious, you know, whatare some benefits really if you
switch your everydaytransactions from using a debit
card to a credit card?
Haleigh Murphy (02:54):
So for me, the main thing is the rewards that I
earn.
So with Centric's Credit Card,I earn one point for every
dollar that I spend, and thenthere's certain times throughout
the year that they'll actuallypay you two points for every
dollar that you spend.
So it's double rewards.
Um, and for me, I just I feellike you know, we worked our
whole life for our money.
I want it to work for me alittle bit, and so um that's one
(03:15):
of the main reasons.
And then also I feel like it'sa little bit more secure using
my credit card.
I feel like those, you know,those funds are a little bit um
more protected as far as beingfrom like a credit card.
Um, and then um, you know, andthen just having all as far as
security purposes, having thatsaved in all of my um, like on
my apps and like differentproducts that I use, having it
(03:38):
saved with my credit cardpurchase, my debit card
information.
Kelli Green (03:41):
So that's a really good segue into the next thing I
want to talk about.
So when you think about yourdifferent expenses, things like
you know, fuel for your vehicleor groceries or little stops
here and there, you know, atarget run or something.
Do you have your credit cardset up for things like your
recurring expenses, likesubscriptions and online
purchases?
Haleigh Murphy (04:01):
Yes.
So I think when we kind of havethe conversation about credit
cards, there's kind of like anegative connotation of like you
have to be really careful whenyou're using your credit card.
And I definitely agree withthat.
So what my family have we'vedone, um, we've found that like
I only use my credit card onthings that I know that I'm
gonna be using, I'm gonna bespending anyway.
(04:21):
So I'm not using it asadditional income because that's
where I feel like you couldreally get in a bond.
Um, but like on things that Iknow that I'm gonna be paying
anyway, I just use my creditcard so that I'm earning those
rewards.
So for example, um ourvehicles, like we have it set up
to where um my notes come offof my credit card versus out of
my account.
So then it's just stuff thatI'm already earning.
(04:42):
Like my daycare automaticallydrafts off of my credit card
because that's a verysignificant chunk that I'm
earning rewards off of umgroceries.
So um I have my groceriesdelivered.
I know that's terrible, butterrible.
Kelli Green (04:57):
It's very efficient for working mobile.
Haleigh Murphy (05:00):
So um my credit card is connected to my Walmart
app so that all of the groceriesthat I buy is automatically I'm
earning rewards on.
So anything that I know thatI'm gonna be spending that I'm
already accounted for within mybudget, sure, is what I'm using
my credit card for.
Um, I definitely don'trecommend using your credit card
for things that we wouldn't buyin off of your checking account
(05:23):
anyway.
You know, like we don't youwon't want to go in and say, um,
well, I need a whole newwardrobe.
I'm just gonna put it on mycredit card.
That's definitely not what youwant to do.
There you go.
But just things that you'realready gonna be spending money
on.
Kelli Green (05:35):
Um it's kind of how we utilize that.
I love it because that you'reexactly right, Haleigh, in
saying this.
You're maximizing thoserewards, those are large
expenses that you have that youknow that are going to happen
every single month.
And what a way for you toreally maximize and leverage
that, you know.
You think about the amount ofpoints that you get every single
(05:55):
month just from those verylarge expenses.
And another point that I thinkis so great, which I think is
very telling for what you do inyour professional career,
teaching people how to reallylive better through managing
their finances, through everydayexpenses.
So I love that you've said wedon't want to allow that credit
card to say, hey, here'sadditional income.
(06:17):
Right.
You know, here's another, youknow, here's something else that
you can do to just leveragethis because you're interested
in, you know, a shopping spreeor there's a big sell somewhere.
Um, yes, for emergencies, Ithink they're great.
Kind of take me through that,you know, every month, ensuring
that your is your credit cardpaid off every month.
If it's not, what does thatlook like for you?
Haleigh Murphy (06:39):
Yes, so for us, we were our budget is pretty
spot on with how I monitor.
So I really recommend that A,that you have an app that you're
monitoring weekly, if notdaily.
Yes.
Um, so that you can, as you'respending those transactions,
you're also looking at yourchecking account and saying,
okay, well, I know that I havethe funds in the in my checking
(06:59):
account to pay off my creditcard because, like I said, we're
monitoring to make sure thatwe're not spending anything that
we wouldn't spend anyway.
So at the end of the month, wepay our card off completely.
Um I love it.
And that that's what we havefound that works best for us.
That way, you know, we're stillwe're still growing our credit.
Um, we're not hindering that inany capacity, we're not um
(07:20):
getting any kind of negativeremarks on our credit by
utilizing our credit cards asour debit card basically.
Um, and then just making surethat our budget is still on
point with throughout the month.
Kelli Green (07:30):
I love that.
That is so great, and that issuch great advice.
You know, and Haley, I want, Iknow I've known you for nearly a
decade now, and I count myselfas very honored, and and it's
just an honor to know you.
I love and admired what you dowith your family from a
financial standpoint, the waythat you have um, the way that
(07:52):
you have set a standard, you andyour husband have set a
standard because you know you'vegot a very lovely story.
I love to hear you share thisinformation and the way that you
have, you know, you have paidcash, but you have worked
sometimes two, three jobs whenyou were a lot younger, you
know.
But you establish a savingsbecause that was critical to
you.
Oh, yes, ma'am, 100%.
(08:12):
And I think you continue onwith that same mindset which has
led you to today.
Haleigh Murphy (08:16):
Oh, yes, ma'am.
100% I definitely accredit allof that just to kind of my youth
and you know, growing up withthings, growing up a certain way
that I never want to liveagain, you know.
So um kind of attributed all ofthat to our financial goals and
just our strategies of how howwe live day to day, 100%.
Kelli Green (08:34):
So, listeners, I know that she would not she
would definitely not brag andsay this, but I'm gonna do it
for her.
But just in in talking about,you know, she's she's sharing
with you guys the things thatshe and her husband do that has
has proven itself very you'vebeen very lucrative, you've been
very successful from afinancial standpoint.
(08:54):
Um, I think that you because ofthe choices that you make day
in and day out, um, you're verymindful of saving for tomorrow.
Um, we don't know what comesfor tomorrow, even if tomorrow
will come, but you're veryresponsible from a financial
standpoint and really makingyour finances work for you.
One of the things you said thatyou work hard for your money
and you want your your money towork hard for you.
(09:16):
That's right.
So kind of I just want tocelebrate as we're kind of
wrapping up this information toofor you, is it's just you know,
looking at what you've whatyou've accomplished, you know,
just here in the most recentcouple weeks, you know, you've
purchased a new home.
Haleigh Murphy (09:30):
Yes, yep.
Kelli Green (09:30):
You know, so you've moved up in home.
This is your second home thatyou've purchased.
Haleigh Murphy (09:34):
Well, yes, it's actually our third home.
Oh we've purchased think aboutthat.
But that's a wonderful.
So we've just kind of moved upslowly but surely, um, you know,
with the size and land anddifferent things like that.
But 100% I attribute that justto hard work and dedication,
especially like with my husbandand I, you know, like you
mentioned earlier, we've when wefirst got married, we worked,
(09:56):
we both worked two jobs forthree years.
Um, so it's just kind ofputting in that that work
towards your goals and justhaving your goals in mind and
knowing what you're wanting, andthen really sticking to that.
Um, I tell people all the timeit's okay to pivot a little bit,
you know, like life happens.
Yes.
So that's you know,understandable if you if you're
like, you know, I'm workingtowards this goal, but then my
car breaks down.
(10:17):
Okay, well, we need to fix thatfirst before we continue on our
goal of whatever our largepurchase was.
But just knowing what your goalis and then just sticking to
that um as best as possible isreally absolutely because life's
gonna hit you in so manydifferent ways, right?
Kelli Green (10:30):
So, I mean, there could be emergencies that come
up, children are sick, or youjust never know what's gonna
happen, and that can kind ofwreck your budget.
But that's why I think it's soimportant to have like an
emergency saving set aside soyou can kind of lean into that
versus a credit card whereyou're gonna be charged interest
if you're not paying that offevery month.
So I love your story.
I think it's so great.
(10:52):
I want our listeners to reallylean into it's slow and steady,
wins the race every time.
Haleigh Murphy (10:58):
100%.
Yes.
Kelli Green (10:59):
Be consistent, pay yourself first every month,
ensuring that you know that youcover that debt.
If you are charging somethingon your credit card and you're
not 100% positive that you couldpay it off, that's a no.
You agree or disagree withthat?
Haleigh Murphy (11:13):
Well, 100% agree.
Yes, yeah.
Kelli Green (11:16):
I think we see members a lot of times that get
into a bond with that where theymaybe overspend and then it
just kind of starts from thereand it just kind of melted, just
creates this huge mountain ofdebt.
Haleigh Murphy (11:27):
Yep, 100%.
And I think people sometimesget in the mindset of like, once
that first mistake is made,they're like, well, I've already
got the debt, you know, it iswhat it is.
When that's the opposite of howwe should think and look, we
should really focus on the debtthat we have and try to pay that
off prior to making anyadditional commitments.
Kelli Green (11:42):
Absolutely.
I love it.
So, something I really want tolean into about our credit card
program that we have here atCentric is that this is
something that there's no annualfee.
Oh, yeah.
I'm a huge fan of that.
I think that's great.
We're one of the only creditcards that offers rewards at no
annual fee.
And so it's very easy to apply.
You can apply online or you canvisit any of our centers.
(12:04):
Um, we have instant issuecredit cards.
So the day that you apply andare approved, if you are
approved, then you will receiveyour credit card the same day.
So that is cool.
Haleigh Murphy (12:12):
Yep, I love that because I so I've gotten in a
very bad habit of uh when I getout of my car, I just get my
keys and my credit card.
Yes.
And then I stick it in mypocket, and then I'm like, okay,
well, I know that it'ssomewhere in my house.
Yeah.
And so that's I love that I'mjust able to go to a center and
be like, can you print me a newcard, please?
Kelli Green (12:29):
Yes, that is wonderful.
And you upload it to your phoneso you can just tap to pay to.
So that's incrediblyconvenient.
So, Haleigh, any final words?
Haleigh Murphy (12:37):
No, I don't think so.
I feel like we've kind ofcovered everything.
Just thank you so much forletting me join you today.
I've really enjoyed it.
Kelli Green (12:43):
It's an honor to have you.
It's an honor to know you, andit's an honor to work with you.
Most importantly, I value youas a member.
Without members like you, wewouldn't make it.
And so we're just so grateful.
Thanks so much for helping ourlisteners live better.
Thank you.
Thanks so much to Haley forjoining us today and sharing her
experience with using a creditcard for monthly expenses.
We love hearing how our membersare making smart money moves in
(13:06):
their everyday lives.
Remember, these are personalopinions and experiences, not
official advice from Centric.
If you'd like to learn moreabout managing credit cards
wisely or exploring Centric'scredit card options, be sure to
check out the resources on ourwebsite at mycentric.org.
Thanks again for listening tothe Live Better Podcast.
Until next time, keep takingsmall steps towards living
(13:28):
better every day.
Centric is federally insured bythe NCUA.
Welcome back to the Live Better Podcast, where we
share tips and insights to helpyou take control of your
finances and live your bestlife.
I'm excited to introducetoday's guest, Haleigh Murphy.
Haleigh is joining us to talkabout a topic that affects just
about everyone.
We're going to talk aboutcredit card usage.
We'll be diving into how usinga credit card for your everyday
(00:22):
monthly expenses can not onlymake life more convenient, but
also help you earn valuablepoints and rewards along the
way.
Haleigh will walk us throughsmart strategies, common
pitfalls to avoid, and how tomake sure your credit card is
working for you, not the otherway around.
So grab your coffee, settle in,and let's welcome Haleigh
(00:42):
Murphy to the Live BetterPodcast.
So grab your coffee, folks,settle in.
We are welcoming Haleigh Murphyto the Live Better Podcast.
Good morning, Haleigh.
How are you?
Good morning.
Thank you.
Haleigh Murphy (00:53):
I'm good.
I'm so glad you're here.
Yeah, me too.
I'm excited.
I always like to join in thepodcast.
Kelli Green (00:57):
So yes.
So this is your testimony ofyour everyday expenses.
So you kind of do things alittle different.
I think you play both sides,though, not only just the credit
card expenses or using a creditcard for everyday expenses, but
you also too kind of dive intousing your checking account and
leveraging those rewards aswell.
(01:18):
Is that true?
Haleigh Murphy (01:19):
Yes, 100%.
So for the majority of ourtransactions, we use our credit
card, but we try to monitor howmany swipes we're also getting
on our checking account just sothat we can make sure we're
getting those 12 swipes so thatwe're also earning rewards on
our checking account.
Kelli Green (01:34):
That's nice.
Yeah.
You don't want to miss out onthe credit card.
Yes, not at all.
You don't want to miss out onyour checking account.
And so something that's reallycool too, just so for our
listeners to know, you want tokind of lean in and tell us
about.
So when you earn in yourchecking account, if you have an
Earn Better checking account,you're earning 4.15% up to
$20,000.
(01:54):
And your dividends that youearn throughout the month will
be transferred overautomatically into your savings
account.
So do you have your account setup that way?
Haleigh Murphy (02:04):
Yes, 100%.
So and then the other point ofthat is once those funds roll
into your savings account, thenyou're also earning 4.1% on
balances up to $50,000.
So you're earning in yourchecking account, and then once
it swaps over to your savingsaccount, then you're still
earning money on those funds.
Kelli Green (02:20):
So yeah, so 4.15 in your checking and 4.01 in your
savings.
That is so cool.
I love it.
Okay, so take us throughbecause there are some
interesting conversations, Ithink, around credit cards and
how to use them.
Um, many people, you know, willuse a debit card, you know, for
it.
We hear a lot of folks saythat's just kind of what I use
(02:42):
from day to day.
But I'm curious, you know, whatare some benefits really if you
switch your everydaytransactions from using a debit
card to a credit card?
Haleigh Murphy (02:54):
So for me, the main thing is the rewards that I
earn.
So with Centric's Credit Card,I earn one point for every
dollar that I spend, and thenthere's certain times throughout
the year that they'll actuallypay you two points for every
dollar that you spend.
So it's double rewards.
Um, and for me, I just I feellike you know, we worked our
whole life for our money.
I want it to work for me alittle bit, and so um that's one
(03:15):
of the main reasons.
And then also I feel like it'sa little bit more secure using
my credit card.
I feel like those, you know,those funds are a little bit um
more protected as far as beingfrom like a credit card.
Um, and then um, you know, andthen just having all as far as
security purposes, having thatsaved in all of my um, like on
my apps and like differentproducts that I use, having it
(03:38):
saved with my credit cardpurchase, my debit card
information.
Kelli Green (03:41):
So that's a really good segue into the next thing I
want to talk about.
So when you think about yourdifferent expenses, things like
you know, fuel for your vehicleor groceries or little stops
here and there, you know, atarget run or something.
Do you have your credit cardset up for things like your
recurring expenses, likesubscriptions and online
purchases?
Haleigh Murphy (04:01):
Yes.
So I think when we kind of havethe conversation about credit
cards, there's kind of like anegative connotation of like you
have to be really careful whenyou're using your credit card.
And I definitely agree withthat.
So what my family have we'vedone, um, we've found that like
I only use my credit card onthings that I know that I'm
gonna be using, I'm gonna bespending anyway.
(04:21):
So I'm not using it asadditional income because that's
where I feel like you couldreally get in a bond.
Um, but like on things that Iknow that I'm gonna be paying
anyway, I just use my creditcard so that I'm earning those
rewards.
So for example, um ourvehicles, like we have it set up
to where um my notes come offof my credit card versus out of
my account.
So then it's just stuff thatI'm already earning.
(04:42):
Like my daycare automaticallydrafts off of my credit card
because that's a verysignificant chunk that I'm
earning rewards off of umgroceries.
So um I have my groceriesdelivered.
I know that's terrible, butterrible.
Kelli Green (04:57):
It's very efficient for working mobile.
Haleigh Murphy (05:00):
So um my credit card is connected to my Walmart
app so that all of the groceriesthat I buy is automatically I'm
earning rewards on.
So anything that I know thatI'm gonna be spending that I'm
already accounted for within mybudget, sure, is what I'm using
my credit card for.
Um, I definitely don'trecommend using your credit card
for things that we wouldn't buyin off of your checking account
(05:23):
anyway.
You know, like we don't youwon't want to go in and say, um,
well, I need a whole newwardrobe.
I'm just gonna put it on mycredit card.
That's definitely not what youwant to do.
There you go.
But just things that you'realready gonna be spending money
on.
Kelli Green (05:35):
Um it's kind of how we utilize that.
I love it because that you'reexactly right, Haleigh, in
saying this.
You're maximizing thoserewards, those are large
expenses that you have that youknow that are going to happen
every single month.
And what a way for you toreally maximize and leverage
that, you know.
You think about the amount ofpoints that you get every single
(05:55):
month just from those verylarge expenses.
And another point that I thinkis so great, which I think is
very telling for what you do inyour professional career,
teaching people how to reallylive better through managing
their finances, through everydayexpenses.
So I love that you've said wedon't want to allow that credit
card to say, hey, here'sadditional income.
(06:17):
Right.
You know, here's another, youknow, here's something else that
you can do to just leveragethis because you're interested
in, you know, a shopping spreeor there's a big sell somewhere.
Um, yes, for emergencies, Ithink they're great.
Kind of take me through that,you know, every month, ensuring
that your is your credit cardpaid off every month.
If it's not, what does thatlook like for you?
Haleigh Murphy (06:39):
Yes, so for us, we were our budget is pretty
spot on with how I monitor.
So I really recommend that A,that you have an app that you're
monitoring weekly, if notdaily.
Yes.
Um, so that you can, as you'respending those transactions,
you're also looking at yourchecking account and saying,
okay, well, I know that I havethe funds in the in my checking
(06:59):
account to pay off my creditcard because, like I said, we're
monitoring to make sure thatwe're not spending anything that
we wouldn't spend anyway.
So at the end of the month, wepay our card off completely.
Um I love it.
And that that's what we havefound that works best for us.
That way, you know, we're stillwe're still growing our credit.
Um, we're not hindering that inany capacity, we're not um
(07:20):
getting any kind of negativeremarks on our credit by
utilizing our credit cards asour debit card basically.
Um, and then just making surethat our budget is still on
point with throughout the month.
Kelli Green (07:30):
I love that.
That is so great, and that issuch great advice.
You know, and Haley, I want, Iknow I've known you for nearly a
decade now, and I count myselfas very honored, and and it's
just an honor to know you.
I love and admired what you dowith your family from a
financial standpoint, the waythat you have um, the way that
(07:52):
you have set a standard, you andyour husband have set a
standard because you know you'vegot a very lovely story.
I love to hear you share thisinformation and the way that you
have, you know, you have paidcash, but you have worked
sometimes two, three jobs whenyou were a lot younger, you
know.
But you establish a savingsbecause that was critical to
you.
Oh, yes, ma'am, 100%.
(08:12):
And I think you continue onwith that same mindset which has
led you to today.
Haleigh Murphy (08:16):
Oh, yes, ma'am.
100% I definitely accredit allof that just to kind of my youth
and you know, growing up withthings, growing up a certain way
that I never want to liveagain, you know.
So um kind of attributed all ofthat to our financial goals and
just our strategies of how howwe live day to day, 100%.
Kelli Green (08:34):
So, listeners, I know that she would not she
would definitely not brag andsay this, but I'm gonna do it
for her.
But just in in talking about,you know, she's she's sharing
with you guys the things thatshe and her husband do that has
has proven itself very you'vebeen very lucrative, you've been
very successful from afinancial standpoint.
(08:54):
Um, I think that you because ofthe choices that you make day
in and day out, um, you're verymindful of saving for tomorrow.
Um, we don't know what comesfor tomorrow, even if tomorrow
will come, but you're veryresponsible from a financial
standpoint and really makingyour finances work for you.
One of the things you said thatyou work hard for your money
and you want your your money towork hard for you.
(09:16):
That's right.
So kind of I just want tocelebrate as we're kind of
wrapping up this information toofor you, is it's just you know,
looking at what you've whatyou've accomplished, you know,
just here in the most recentcouple weeks, you know, you've
purchased a new home.
Haleigh Murphy (09:30):
Yes, yep.
Kelli Green (09:30):
You know, so you've moved up in home.
This is your second home thatyou've purchased.
Haleigh Murphy (09:34):
Well, yes, it's actually our third home.
Oh we've purchased think aboutthat.
But that's a wonderful.
So we've just kind of moved upslowly but surely, um, you know,
with the size and land anddifferent things like that.
But 100% I attribute that justto hard work and dedication,
especially like with my husbandand I, you know, like you
mentioned earlier, we've when wefirst got married, we worked,
(09:56):
we both worked two jobs forthree years.
Um, so it's just kind ofputting in that that work
towards your goals and justhaving your goals in mind and
knowing what you're wanting, andthen really sticking to that.
Um, I tell people all the timeit's okay to pivot a little bit,
you know, like life happens.
Yes.
So that's you know,understandable if you if you're
like, you know, I'm workingtowards this goal, but then my
car breaks down.
(10:17):
Okay, well, we need to fix thatfirst before we continue on our
goal of whatever our largepurchase was.
But just knowing what your goalis and then just sticking to
that um as best as possible isreally absolutely because life's
gonna hit you in so manydifferent ways, right?
Kelli Green (10:30):
So, I mean, there could be emergencies that come
up, children are sick, or youjust never know what's gonna
happen, and that can kind ofwreck your budget.
But that's why I think it's soimportant to have like an
emergency saving set aside soyou can kind of lean into that
versus a credit card whereyou're gonna be charged interest
if you're not paying that offevery month.
So I love your story.
I think it's so great.
(10:52):
I want our listeners to reallylean into it's slow and steady,
wins the race every time.
Haleigh Murphy (10:58):
100%.
Yes.
Kelli Green (10:59):
Be consistent, pay yourself first every month,
ensuring that you know that youcover that debt.
If you are charging somethingon your credit card and you're
not 100% positive that you couldpay it off, that's a no.
You agree or disagree withthat?
Haleigh Murphy (11:13):
Well, 100% agree.
Yes, yeah.
Kelli Green (11:16):
I think we see members a lot of times that get
into a bond with that where theymaybe overspend and then it
just kind of starts from thereand it just kind of melted, just
creates this huge mountain ofdebt.
Haleigh Murphy (11:27):
Yep, 100%.
And I think people sometimesget in the mindset of like, once
that first mistake is made,they're like, well, I've already
got the debt, you know, it iswhat it is.
When that's the opposite of howwe should think and look, we
should really focus on the debtthat we have and try to pay that
off prior to making anyadditional commitments.
Kelli Green (11:42):
Absolutely.
I love it.
So, something I really want tolean into about our credit card
program that we have here atCentric is that this is
something that there's no annualfee.
Oh, yeah.
I'm a huge fan of that.
I think that's great.
We're one of the only creditcards that offers rewards at no
annual fee.
And so it's very easy to apply.
You can apply online or you canvisit any of our centers.
(12:04):
Um, we have instant issuecredit cards.
So the day that you apply andare approved, if you are
approved, then you will receiveyour credit card the same day.
So that is cool.
Haleigh Murphy (12:12):
Yep, I love that because I so I've gotten in a
very bad habit of uh when I getout of my car, I just get my
keys and my credit card.
Yes.
And then I stick it in mypocket, and then I'm like, okay,
well, I know that it'ssomewhere in my house.
Yeah.
And so that's I love that I'mjust able to go to a center and
be like, can you print me a newcard, please?
Kelli Green (12:29):
Yes, that is wonderful.
And you upload it to your phoneso you can just tap to pay to.
So that's incrediblyconvenient.
So, Haleigh, any final words?
Haleigh Murphy (12:37):
No, I don't think so.
I feel like we've kind ofcovered everything.
Just thank you so much forletting me join you today.
I've really enjoyed it.
Kelli Green (12:43):
It's an honor to have you.
It's an honor to know you, andit's an honor to work with you.
Most importantly, I value youas a member.
Without members like you, wewouldn't make it.
And so we're just so grateful.
Thanks so much for helping ourlisteners live better.
Thank you.
Thanks so much to Haley forjoining us today and sharing her
experience with using a creditcard for monthly expenses.
We love hearing how our membersare making smart money moves in
(13:06):
their everyday lives.
Remember, these are personalopinions and experiences, not
official advice from Centric.
If you'd like to learn moreabout managing credit cards
wisely or exploring Centric'scredit card options, be sure to
check out the resources on ourwebsite at mycentric.org.
Thanks again for listening tothe Live Better Podcast.
Until next time, keep takingsmall steps towards living
(13:28):
better every day.
Centric is federally insured bythe NCUA.
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