personal finance
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The Latte Factor 101
May 10, 2017
Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings
Making your way thru the drive through every morning before 7:30 may give you a refreshing start to your day, but at what cost? The ideology that coffee shops and other retailers capitalize on is the notion that these small expenditures add a little excitement to your day without a hefty bill. However, when you enjoy perks like these on a daily basis, they add up, and quick! Financial author, David Bach, is the mastermind behind the Latte Factor. This helpful calculator enables shoppers
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Red Flags to Look for on Your Credit Score
April 19, 2017
Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings
Everyone and their brother seem to be sharing the importance of checking your credit score, but once you have the information, how do you actually know what it means? At Bank of Louisiana, we want you to not only have the information about your personal finances but be able to understand and act upon it as well. If you see any of the following red flags while viewing your report, you may want to look into the appropriate remedies as quickly as possible. Missed or Late Payments Your
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Basketball Quotes to Inspire Your Money Management
March 8, 2017
Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings
“Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up!” Jim Valvano’s powerful words continually remind us to strive for success and continue working towards our financial goals. Whether your next opponent is saving for retirement, creating an emergency fund, or learning how to develop a budget, our experienced line-up of financial providers are here to offer the best exercises and advice: “If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m
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Fix-Up Your Budget
January 18, 2017
Categories: Budgeting, General, Personal Finance
HGTV’s latest hit show, Fixer Upper, has fans and home buyers looking for new ways to save and restore old homes. While Chip and Joanna have become experts in home renovation, they’re not too shabby when it comes to finances either. Using their home building skills and our banking knowledge we offer these top tips to help fix up your budget in 2017: Build a Strong Foundation Just as a home cannot stand without a solid base, neither can your personal finances. To begin
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The Dos and Don’ts to Saving for the Holidays
December 21, 2016
Categories: Budgeting, Holiday, Savings
Making the holidays happen is no easy feat. When you add up the costs for food, presents, decorations, and more, you’re faced with a mountain of expenses come December. To help you plan for next year’s celebration, the Bank of Louisiana offers these coveted savings tips: DO: Start saving as soon as the holidays are over. DON’T: Procrastinate saving until December. In order to save year round, we recommend opening a separate savings account
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8 Ways You can Decrease Your Surplus Spending
November 10, 2016
Categories: Budgeting, Personal Finance, Savings
Simple changes in your spending habits can mean hundreds of dollars in savings! One of the easiest ways to implement these changes is to make it into a game for you and your family. Who can find the best deal on groceries? Which store offers the best prices on household items? See how you and your loved ones can cut down on your spending this month with these eight game-winning strategies courtesy of Bank of Louisiana: Only use cash for your monthly expenses. This strategy can take
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Don’t Scare Away Your Savings
October 26, 2016
Categories: Personal Finance, Retirement, Savings
Every Halloween you hear concerned parents telling their children, “Don’t eat all that candy at once or you’ll give yourself a belly ache.” Just like candy, your personal finances can leave you feeling distressed if you’re spending more than you save. At Bank of Louisiana we want to help you achieve your next spooctacular savings goal! With a strategic savings plan you can accumulate the funds to purchase a car, home, or even a seasonal pumpkin patch! Here’s how: IRA
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The DOS and DON’TS of Mobile Check Deposit
October 19, 2016
Categories: Online Banking, Personal Finance
Mobile check deposit, also known as remote deposit capture, is a growing service among community banks nationwide. At Bank of Louisiana we want our customers to have all the benefits of the newest financial technology, and all the convenience that comes with it! As you begin to work with this new mobile banking feature, be sure to keep an eye on these key DO’s and DON’Ts to depositing your funds. DO: Endorse your checks before using mobile check deposit. DON’T: Sign
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The Top 5 Ways to Maximize Your Savings
September 29, 2016
Categories: Personal Finance, Retirement, Savings
Saving is one of the fundamental pillars to proper money management. Saving can represent a vacation, a new home, or a long awaited retirement for two. Whatever you are saving for, there are some simple steps you can take to maximize each type of account you use to save: IRA or Roth IRA: An Individual Retirement Account, or IRA, allows individuals to contribute earnings either before or after tax. In each of these accounts you can accumulate funds that can then be further invested to help generate
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