The first step to revamping your finances is to plan. We’ve compiled a few practical, manageable tips to help grow your savings and work towards financial stability.   Start an Emergency Fund  Hope for the best, but plan for the worst- that’s where an emergency fund comes in. Even if it’s just a few dollars a week, set money aside for any larger expenses that may come up in the future. Ideally, you want your Emergency Fund to have three to six months’ worth Read More

Living paycheck to paycheck is more common than you may think. According to this website, over 65% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and would struggle to get by if their paycheck was delayed by a week. Why is living this way dangerous? And if it’s so bad, how do we stay away from it? Keep reading to find out. Why is living paycheck to paycheck so bad? If relying on your paycheck gets you by, some may wonder what the big deal is. Sure, it can be stressful, but it works, right? Read More

You’ve heard big banks advertise their services all over the world, but most consumers don’t realize all of the benefits that come with banking local. When it comes to customer service, banking fees and ethical choices, banking local is the smart choice, and we’ll tell you why. Great Customer Service Because local banks have less customers than your average megabank, the employees have the chance to form deeper relationships with the people they serve. Tailored Programs Community Read More

Maybe you’ve started a budget but have found it complicated, time-consuming and not worth it. In the spirit of springtime, consider cleaning up your budget and starting fresh. A new season means a new and improved budget! Find A Purpose What’s the reason you started a budget? Maybe you are saving for your wedding, or possibly wanting to reduce your debt. Whatever the purpose is, make it clear and remind yourself of the reason you started. This will give you motivation to continue Read More

Retirement may seem far away or coming soon to you. Either way, you likely have some questions as many people do. Today, we will tackle some of the most common questions.  What is an IRA? IRA stands for Individual Retirement Account. The purpose of it is to help people save for retirement through their paychecks. The two types of IRAs are Traditional and Roth.  Traditional: With a Traditional IRA, you are able to put pre-tax dollars away for retirement, which will later be taxed Read More

The new year is full of hope and imagination for the future. It can be challenging for anyone to stick with these goals, especially financial ones. We’re happy to tell you that there is a way to make these goals a reality by sticking to these wise practices. Be Realistic In order to make your goals a reality, you should set realistic goals. While a beach house on Maui would definitely be an attractive prospect to most people, it’s not in the cards for everyone. Maybe something like Read More

While it’s not a good idea to go after any “get rich quick” schemes, there are some ways that you can quickly get more money than you have had on a typical month. The secret is to be cautious with your spending. This is obviously easier said than done, but it’s a way to “make” money without having to spend money. Follow your favorite one or challenge yourself to all five! Sell Your Skills Do you have a hobby that people would be willing to pay you for? Are Read More

Start the year out strong so you can finish the end of next year with a bang! These are some of our favorite savings resolutions that are great for novice savers or experts! 1. Start with the emergency fund. The first step you should take this year is to make steps to build up an emergency fund. Don’t let the unexpected set you painfully back in your budget and even from your ability to pay bills. Seventy eight percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford to have a Read More

Looking to boost your retirement savings? Look no further! Here are some tips on how to do just that! Step Up the 401(k) If your company is matching your 401(k), make sure you take advantage of this now! Once you have established this for a year, consider ramping up your percentage by 1. Every other year or so, increase the percentage. Because you are increasing it at a slow rate, it’s unlikely that you will really notice it month to month, but you’ll love seeing your account grow.  Don’t Read More

2020 is here and here are our favorite savings tips to help you kick off the new year! Start saving for retirement. Starting to save for retirement now will be crucial in how much money you’re able to spend in the following years. The closer you get to retirement, the more you’ll have to put away if you haven’t started saving in earlier years. Making sure you find other ways to help your retirement fund grow will be in your best interest. If your employer will match up to Read More