When considering buying a home, the down payment you make up front plays a major role in your future housing expenses. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the down payment amount can greatly influence your mortgage interest rate, your monthly mortgage payment and your need for mortgage insurance. Typically, lenders require anywhere between five Read More »
It’s time for spring cleaning – time for cleaning, sorting and tidying up around the house. Spring is also a great time to do some financial organizing and tidying up as well. To help get you started, here are six tips for getting your financial house in order: #1 Review Your Budget A lot can Read More »
It’s summer, and you know what that means – vacation! Summer vacation is a time for fun, laughs, adventures, and new memories. But that doesn’t mean it has to hurt your wallet. Here are five tips on how you can save money and still have fun on your summer vacation: 1. Set a Budget When Read More »
For most of your adult life, you’ve had to deal with spending, budgeting, and saving. Now comes the fun part: teaching your children how important it is to be smart with their money! Starting to teach these lessons at a young age will help your children build smart money habits that will stick with them Read More »
Kids’ Banking 101 It’s never too early to learn about money and the importance of financial responsibility. Strong financial values now can lead to big dividends later in life. Use the information below to teach your children the basics of banking. Checking A checking account is the most common type of bank account. Unlike a Read More »
Just as your teen prepares for their drivers’ license, they need to prepare for their financial future. In the same manner that you carefully log their 40 hours of driving, some during the day, some at night, some highway, some city, you should also devote time to preparing your teen to be a financially successful Read More »
Your credit report tells the story of your financial history. Credit information is gathered from creditors and public records and maintained by the three major credit reporting bureaus – Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. It contains everything from your name, Social Security Number, address and employment status to credit card accounts, mortgages, car loans and student Read More »
Make Saving a Regular Habit Whether you dream of buying the car you’ve always wanted, purchasing your first home, taking a much-needed vacation, or saving for a rainy day, there are a number of reasons to save up, even if it’s just a small amount each month. No matter how large or modest your personal Read More »
The easiest and most effective way to save is automatically. This is how millions of employees save through 401(k) and other retirement programs at work. It’s also how millions of Americans save at their bank. How to Save Automatically The best automatic saving is when you make a decision to do so, then it just Read More »
