Skip to Content
Online Banking Login Online Banking Login

Personal Finance

Home Blog Personal Finance

  • May 11, 2021

    Categories: Budgeting, Mortgage, Personal Finance, Savings

    Becoming a homeowner for the first time is no easy task! You’ve probably heard horror stories from friends about overpaying or missing a crucial piece of information before committing to an offer. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for buying your first (or next) home so you feel confident in the home you choose to buy!  Before You Buy  Start Saving Early – the earlier you start saving, the better! Many first-time homeowners assume they just need to save for

  • May 4, 2021

    Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings

    It’s the question that every household asks. What can I do to cut my monthly costs? And it’s a great question! No one wants to spend unnecessary money when there are mouths to feed and basketball uniforms to pay for. While you can tighten the budget by setting strict guidelines for yourself, your experts here at Bank of Louisiana have a few more realistic ways to lower monthly bills.  Plan Meals Ahead of Time  At first glance, planning meals ahead of time may not

  • April 29, 2021

    Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings

    Saving money over time is often one of the hardest things for a household to do. Between monthly bills, household essentials and daycare, you may ask yourself, ‘is there even anything left to save?’ If this sounds like you, read these tips to increase your savings game over time!  Stick to Your Monthly Budget  Sticking to a budget is a simple concept, but in reality, it can be very difficult. Try to plan your expenses a month in advance so

  • April 22, 2021

    Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings

    Have you recently fallen off the budget wagon? Have no fear, Bank of Louisiana is here to help! Creating a budget is one thing but sticking to it is often hard. If you’re someone who struggles sticking to their budget, read these tips to get back to budgeting.  Total Your Monthly Bills  If it’s been a while since you last followed a monthly budget, it’s a good idea to double check your monthly bills. Take a look at your monthly bank statement

  • April 9, 2021

    Categories: Budgeting, Mortgage, Personal Finance, Savings

    With rates continuing to be low, now is a great time to purchase a home! It may seem daunting at first, but it’s a great experience and can be fun if you are prepared. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or have purchased a home before, keep reading to see how much money you need to buy a home.  You may not need the full loan amount offered.  While you can get a loan for a large amount of money, you may not want to get that full amount. Think about all

  • March 25, 2021

    Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings

    We all make mistakes and experiencing financial hiccups is a normal part of life. With each month comes new financial temptations that can be difficult to turn from. The good news is you can learn from others’ mistakes to avoid making them yourself! Keep reading to learn some common money temptations most people run into as well as how you can avoid giving into them.  Temptation #1: Spending Unexpected Cash  Whether you received

  • March 11, 2021

    Categories: Budgeting, Business Banking, Community Banking, Personal Finance, Savings, Small Business

    With the flexibility and freedom of self-employment comes the tricky challenge of managing your finances properly. Whether you’re new to the freelancing field or already know your way around the ropes, a quick money refresher is always a good idea. Below are our top money management tips for the self-employed.  Have a Plan  Budgeting is just as important in your freelance business as it is in your personal life. This may be tricky with the inconsistencies in your income,

  • March 4, 2021

    Categories: Budgeting, General, Local, Personal Finance, Savings

    Believe it or not, giving back and donating doesn’t have to cost you a penny. Maybe you’re torn between two New Year's Resolutions: to save more money or to give back to those less fortunate. Good news – you can do both! Make 2021 extra special and try some of these ways you can donate without breaking the bank.   1. Donate Blood/Plasma  This is a win-win when it comes to donating while saving money. Donating plasma is actually a

  • February 25, 2021

    Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings

    We may all think we know a thing or two about finances, but do we really know it all? There’s always more you can learn to better yourself and that includes money management skills. Today, we’ll give you five challenges to test your money management in order to whip your finances into shape!  1. No Spend Challenge  We know this sounds scary, but you can still buy groceries and pay your recurring bills. Try not spending money on any unnecessary items

  • February 11, 2021

    Categories: Budgeting, Family, Personal Finance, Savings

    When it comes to big families, there is extra love and enjoyment to go around. There also comes more money that needs to be spent. Managing finances with a larger family can be stressful and difficult depending on the expenses you have. We’re here to offer some helpful financial advice for big families, so you don’t have to feel tight on cash!  Own Less Vehicles  Reduce transportation costs as much as possible by limiting the number of