Personal Finance
-
Budgeting Checklist for Buying Your First Home
August 14, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Mortgage, Personal Finance, Savings
Buying your first home can be an exciting, but overwhelming experience. With the right bank and agent, most of the hassle should be taken off your shoulders. So now, it’s time to make sure you’re checking these items off your list to allow for a smooth house buying journey - without breaking the bank. Check Your Credit Score This is always one of the top points on anyone’s list. Making sure your credit score is high and on the rise will allow you the opportunity for better
Read More -
Best Retirement Strategies for Your 20s
July 31, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Retirement, Savings
If you’re in your twenties and thinking about retirement, you are light-years away from your peers who wait until it’s too late. You’ll be so glad you started to take serious steps towards your golden years with these straightforward strategies. 1. Negotiate More Your first job isn’t typically known to be a real money maker. You’ve been told to “pay your dues” and take the work for little pay. However, it is especially important for college graduates
Read More -
8 Surprising Costs of Buying a Home You Need to Budget For
July 10, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Mortgage, Personal Finance, Savings
Buying your first home is so exciting. It can also be a little nerve wracking the first time around if you don’t have any guidance. Here’s what you should know about the home buying process before you sign a contract, so you aren’t shocked by the expenses that come along. The Appraisal An appraisal is when you have a home expert come and determine the value of a home. They have no stake in the outcome of their conclusion, so you can expect an honest answer. You will want to
Read More -
Rainy Day Fund: 5 Ways to Save For Unexpected Events
July 3, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings
You can’t plan on what bad times will come your way, but you can unfortunately count on the fact that there will be a bad day in your future that can impact your bottom line. Make it a little less painful by preparing for the costs ahead of time! Here are some creative ways you can start saving today for unexpected events. 1. Know What The Fund Is For Don’t start a big life adjustment if you don’t really understand the purpose behind it. This is true of just about every big
Read More -
4 Ways to Save On Big Purchases
June 26, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings
Are you known to be “tight” with your money? Do your friends and family ever make jokes about your thrifty ways? Consider this a compliment! But what do you do when it comes time to replace a big ticket item or something beyond your spending limit catches your eye? You save! Here are some great ways to save on big purchases! 1. Know The Actual Costs Have you ever made a large purchase, only to find out that you also need to spend extra money on accessories, hidden fees and installation
Read More -
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
Read More -
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
Read More -
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.
Read More -
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
Read More -
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
Read More