Personal Finance
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5 Best-Kept Secrets for Buying a Home
June 12, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Mortgage, Personal Finance, Savings
Buying a home may be a common practice for the average American, but it is not a simple one. This is especially true if you are new to the game and have yet to learn the ins and outs of the process. No need to worry, we have plenty of experience from our years in the home buying business and are willing to share the best-kept secrets on the market! 1. Start Today If buying a new home seems far into your future, that means you are in the perfect position to prepare. Often, many have dreams of
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Five Secret Ways to Raise Your Credit Score
June 5, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings
Raising your credit score can seem like a daunting task, or you may not really care what your score is. However, a credit score affects more than you may realize, which is why we find it important to share our knowledge. Develop consistently strong credit habits with these secret keys of advice from Bank of Louisiana. 1. Show you can handle all types of debt. Debt comes in all different forms, from car loans and mortgages to credit card bills. Instead of paying for an item in full, consider
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5 Commonly Missed Items In A Budget
May 22, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings
If you’ve crafted a budget for your household, you are already off to a great start to taking control of your finances in the most useful way possible! There are two things that can hinder a budget and your overall financial goals. They are first, not sticking to the budget and second, missing essential budget limits. Be sure to include these items in your budget now! Medical Bills Your health is never guaranteed. Because of this, it can be challenging to plan for the unexpected.
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How to Set and Reach Your Financial Goals
May 15, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings
A dream is just a dream until a plan is created and executed. It can be a challenge to know where to start, as some days the expenses seem to come in faster than you can keep up. It’s time to take a step back, think about what you want for your life and begin building that future today. How to Set You are probably familiar with the concept of goal setting in your everyday life. Often, they take on the form of dreams, like someday having a vacation home in Hawaii or being able to complete
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7 House Buying Tips to Save Money
May 8, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Mortgage, Personal Finance, Savings
It’s finally house hunting season and you could not be more excited to get the ball rolling on your big purchase! Before you hit the road or the search bar, take these 7 tips into consideration. 1. Know Your Limits Before signing the papers or falling in love with the first home you see be realistic about what is in your budget. We recommend spending no more than 25 percent of your monthly income on the mortgage. When you know what this number is, be sure to stick with homes in that price
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3 Questions to Ask Before Using Your Emergency Fund
April 17, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings
When is a financial emergency, truly an emergency? Establishing an emergency fund is an incredibly important part of your budget, but knowing when to use it is just as important. Ask yourself these three questions before dipping into the pot. Emergency Fund If you’re new to budgeting, we recommend having a $1,000 cushion to help offset the cost of an emergency expense without it derailing the rest of your budget. If you aren’t able to put the $1,000 aside now, start small and work
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4 Steps to Buying a Home That Won't Bust Your Budget
April 10, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Mortgage, Personal Finance, Savings
It’s that time of year when you’re likely to see ‘for sale’ signs on every block. Maybe you already have your eye on one and go out of your way to drive past it on your way home from work. Before you leap into purchasing a home, be sure to take these four steps before signing the bottom line. 1. Understand Your Monthly Expenses Alarmingly, many Americans don’t have a true understanding about what money they have coming out each month. This can be a dangerous territory
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Spring Into Cash With These Top Savings Tips
April 3, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings
The grass is always greener on the other side of winter, but is your bank account? Make the most out of your spring by boosting your savings. All it takes is an idea and some creativity to make some green this spring! Skip the Gym Of course your health should take top priority in all seasons. However, it’s great to switch up your routine, not only for your health but potentially for your wallet! Now that the weather is warming up, you can look for some alternatives for working out. A
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6 Simple Ways To Save
March 13, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings
Finding new and exciting ways to save can prove tricky. We’ve all heard of making a list before grocery shopping and sticking to it, as well as cutting cable and dropping unused gym memberships. Bank of Louisiana has put together some tried, trusted and simple ways to save to get your financial game back on track! Sign Up for Rewards There are rewards for just about everything these days. For example, gas, groceries, movies and clothing stores all offer different rewards programs. Credit
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5 To-Dos Before Buying a Home
February 20, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Mortgage, Personal Finance, Savings
Are you about to begin the hunt for your future home? We understand that the home buying process can become overwhelming, which is why we’d like to offer you a little insight. Start your home buying journey off right by completing this checklist! Strengthen your credit. A 620 FICO score means you can get a mortgage, but that doesn’t mean you’ll want to. According to recent data from myFICO.com, someone with the minimum credit score can expect to pay over $82,000
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