Personal Finance
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6 Ways to Ditch Your Bad Money Habits
October 16, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, General, Personal Finance, Savings
Too many Americans have poor money habits. Do you resonate with this in the way you spend and think about money? Perhaps you were never taught financial literacy in school like many others. However, there’s no time better than the present to start learning and why not learn it from the experts at Bank of Louisiana? These are tried and true ways to say goodbye to bad money habits. Track Your Spending It’s easy to overspend if we don’t really know that we are overspending.
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Stop Spending Money With These Strategies
October 9, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings
Do you feel like you have a sufficient income, but never any money? You’re likely spending more than you realize on non-essential items. This often happens to those who don’t have a budget established. If you’re guilty of too easily swiping your card, these strategies can help keep you in check. Know Your Triggers Spending money thoughtlessly is what gets too many people into trouble and in financial positions they do not want to be in. If you seem to have
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How To Set Up Your Holiday Budget
October 2, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Holiday, Personal Finance, Savings, Seasonal
The holidays set back many Americans into debt every year. Last year, the average incurred per person was around $1,000. It’s never too early to start deciding what your holiday budget will be so that you aren’t fretting over overwhelming debt in the new year. If you haven’t set up a budget before, the holidays are a perfect place to start. 1. Start with what you have. Every budget should begin by calculating what you have. This means having an exact tally on what
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4 Ways to Stay Within Your Budget When Buying a Home
September 18, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Mortgage, Personal Finance, Savings
The weather is beautiful and homes are popping up for sale everywhere! If you’re on the hunt for your next house, it’s important not to bust your budget. Luckily, we’ve compiled some great ways that can help you stay within your budget when buying a home. Have 20% Saved for the Down Payment While you don’t need 20% saved in order to actually buy a home, there are plenty of benefits that come along with it. In total, you’ll pay less for your home since you’re
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How to Save for Your Baby's Future
September 11, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Family, Personal Finance, Savings
Blankets, gliders and toys galore - the list of items you need for your baby’s arrival seem like a mile long. The good news is that while some items like diapers and wipes are essential, baby can get along just fine without the matching crib and dresser set. What’s more important is planning for the days ahead. From braces to college, you can give your child a head start in life by saving for their future now. Here are some ways to start bulking up the savings! Get Insured Insurance
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How to Meet Your Retirement Saving Goals
August 28, 2019
Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Retirement, Savings
No matter your age, every day you work is a step closer to retirement. When you think of driving off into the golden years, where are you headed? You likely have a picture in mind whether it be having a house in your dream location or an RV to explore the National Parks. Whatever that goal is, the steps to get there are going to be similar. Here’s some great money moves you can make in order to reach your retirement savings goals. Start Where You Are Many are under the impression that
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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
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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
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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
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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
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