Meet Our Members

Meet Our Members: Ciara’s Story

In their own words, our members share how Comhar Linn INTO Credit Union
has supported them in their teaching careers and financial wellness journeys.

In this article we meet primary school teacher Ciara Leddy from Dublin who used
Comhar Linn Credit Union's free Deduction @ Source service to quickly save for the deposit on her lovely new home.

''When I qualified as a teacher, I was excited to get started in my career, but I also knew I needed to start thinking about my finances. Teaching can be unpredictable, especially at the beginning, and I wanted to make sure I was in a good place financially.

Luckily, a colleague introduced me to Comhar Linn Credit Union, and I haven’t looked back since!

One of the first things I did when I joined was to set up Deduction at Source - a free service from Comhar Linn which allowed me to have money deducted from my fortnightly pay and transferred directly to my Comhar Linn savings account.

It was so easy! My savings came straight out of my salary before I even saw it, so I never had to think twice about putting money aside, and I never missed the money. The credit union handled everything, which meant I didn’t have to deal with the Department of Education to arrange the deductions myself.

Knowing that my savings were building every fortnight gave me real peace of mind.

As I settled into teaching, I started using Comhar Linn’s APP and free online banking facility to top up my savings whenever I had a little extra, especially during COVID, when my spending was lower. The combination of Deduction at Source and these extra contributions meant I was able to save for a house deposit much faster than I ever expected.

Having the ability to adjust my deductions whenever I needed, with the help of Comhar Linn’s friendly team, made it all feel so manageable.

If I could give one piece of advice to any teacher who hasn’t set up Deduction at Source yet, it would be: start today! It’s never too late…. and I wish I had started even earlier.

Saving automatically makes such a difference; it’s like building a financial habit without even thinking about it. The savings build up so quickly and it gives you financial freedom to do what you want to do – whether that’s buying a car, or saving for a house deposit.

I always tell my friends and peers in the teaching community: this isn’t just a financial institution; it’s a support system. Whether you’re studying to become a teacher or you’re just starting out in your teaching career, even if you’ve been teaching for many years, Comhar Linn is there every step of the way.’’

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Thank you Ciara, we're glad we could help you on your home-buying journey! 

There’s no time like the present to start saving! If you haven’t set up deduction at source yet, now is the perfect time. Already saving? Increase your deduction today and take another step toward your financial goals! Contact us today to get started!

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