Budget Best with the 50/30/20 Rule

A simple, practical rule of thumb for individuals who want a budget that is easy to implement.

Posted in Financial Wellness

How to Spot the Email Spoof

As email communication increases, so do the malicious efforts of scammers looking to steal your identity. Here are some tips to help you spot email and website spoofs.

Posted in Online Security

9 Money Tips for College Grads Anticipating Their First Paychecks

When you’ve been living on a college budget, the first real paychecks from your post-graduation job can feel like more money than you know what to do with. Here’s how to spend, save and invest that income while paying down debt and splurging a bit, too.

Posted in Youth Savings Tips

7 Helpful Tips to Make Saving Money Easier

Saving money is like eating healthy. We all know it’s good for us, but many of us just don’t do it. And, if you aren’t already used to doing it, you will find it difficult to start because you’re so used to your unhealthy routine. Below are 7 tips to make the habit of saving money an easier one to develop.

Posted in Other News

It’s Still a Good Time to Become Financially Fit

New Year, New Me, right? We’re a few weeks into the new year and you may have dropped your New Year’s Resolution to become financially fit. Don’t despair. It’s still early in the new year and a great time to clean up your financials, adopt better spending habits, and start saving more. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Posted in Financial Wellness

How To Build A Budget

The word “budgeting” may sound a bit ominous if you’ve just been winging it with finances. The rewards are significant, though, and it’s really not all that difficult. Here’s how to build and stick with a budget without cramping your style.

Posted in Consumer Tips

Three Reasons to Pay with a Credit Card

Credit cards aren’t evil and they don’t automatically trap the people that use them under a mountain of debt. When used properly, there are many financial advantages to using credit cards to pay for day-to-day expenses. Here are three of the best reasons to prefer plastic:

Posted in Consumer Tips

Online Information Security Tips

There’s no question that the Internet makes life easier in many ways. Shopping, communicating and storing information are just a few of the ways we all use the web. However, it also comes with risks. To keep your financial information safe online, follow these tips:

Posted in Online Security

Build Your Nest Egg with 4 Keys to Retirement Savings

Saving for retirement can seem like a daunting task. How do you know how much you need? What are the best ways to save money? When should you start withdrawing those savings? While the path to a comfortable retirement differs from person to person, there are four key steps to take, no matter where you are in your retirement savings journey.

Posted in Retirement

Four Tips for First Time Homebuyers

In many areas of Wisconsin, the housing market is still going strong from the active summer months, interest rates are still at historic lows, and real estate prices are competitive. You might be wondering if it’s time to take the plunge into homeownership. If you decide that now is the right time for you, here are four tips for first-time home buyers that will help your transition from renter to owner go smoothly:

Posted in Buying A Home

The FDIC Offers Tips on Choosing and Using the Right Bank Account

Having a bank account brings important benefits, including deposit insurance and access to a variety of financial services. The latest FDIC Consumer News features simple tips on how to choose and manage a checking or savings account wisely. The Summer 2016 edition also has articles on depositing a check using a smartphone or tablet, avoiding credit and debit card frauds, and preparing financially for a flood, fire or other disaster. Here is an overview of what is in this issue.

Posted in Consumer Tips

Three Tips to Raise Your Credit Score and Keep it High

Your credit score affects many aspects of your life, including making large purchases, obtaining loans, renting an apartment and even applying for a job! Do you know your current credit score? When was the last time you checked your credit report? Here are a few simple steps you can take to help improve your credit score and keep it working for you, not against you.

Posted in Consumer Tips

Financial Tips for College Students

With college move-in days right around the corner, students living away from home for the first time may need to brush up on some financial dos and don’ts as they prepare for the college experience. Here are some basic reminders on how to avoid financial pitfalls during the transition from high school to college.

Posted in Youth Savings Tips

Tips for Back to School Savings

Summer may be in full swing, but fall will be here before you know it. That means back to school shopping is on its way. Have you budgeted for school supplies and new clothes yet? The average family will spend an estimated $673 on back to school expenses, according to a recent survey from the National Retail Federation. However, creating a strategic budget and planning ahead can help you keep your family’s costs down. Here are a few simple tips to help you stick to your budget during this year’s trip through the “back to school” aisles.

Posted in Consumer Tips

Tips to Save Money at Home this Summer

When the temperature goes up, so do energy bills, water bills and a host of other home-related costs. Here are a few tips on how to stretch your household budget this summer and still stay cool.

Posted in Consumer Tips

5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Credit

Having a tidy credit report and a high credit score will make your life easier. How? The higher your credit score, the lower your interest rates will be, so you’ll save money on loans. And you want your credit report to be as clean as possible for potential employers, landlords, even your insurance company.

Posted in Consumer Tips

Start Off on the Right Foot: Early Financial Mistakes to Avoid

Over the next two months, many young adults will graduate from college or a technical school with hopes of entering the workforce soon afterward. Once they do, it will be the first time many of them enjoy a regular paycheck. Here are a few mistakes to avoid when income starts rolling in:

Posted in Youth Savings Tips

Budgeting for Homebuying

The Federal Reserve may have raised interest rates slightly, but mortgage rates are still near historic lows. It’s still a great time to buy if you’ve been considering a new home! But how much house can you really afford? This is a difficult question, particularly for first-time homebuyers. Here are a few important points to consider when setting your house-hunting budget:

Posted in Buying A Home, Consumer Tips

Shopping Tips for Loans and Credit Cards

Posted in Consumer Tips

Avoid Holiday Season Scams with These Essential Tips

Now that Black Friday has come and gone, the holiday shopping season is in full swing. As millions of shoppers are making their lists and checking them twice, so are criminals looking to take advantage of the holiday rush, preying on consumers who are looking to score a deal and avoid the stress of waiting until the last minute to find that perfect gift, especially online shoppers. Consider the following tips before making a purchase to avoid falling victim to a scam.

Posted in Consumer Tips

Give Your Retirement Savings Plan a Check-Up

You opened an IRA or 401k account shortly after joining the workforce. You’ve contributed regularly, a percentage of every paycheck going toward that nest egg… but you haven’t touched it since. Saving for retirement is not a “set it and forget it” endeavor. It is a process that requires periodic re-evaluation and adjustments. Here are a few questions to consider when you stop to give your retirement savings plan a check-up.

Posted in Retirement

Keep Your Information Safe Online

There’s no question that the Internet makes life easier in many ways. Shopping, communicating and storing information are just a few of the ways we all use the web. However, it also comes with risks. To keep your financial information safe online, follow these tips:

Posted in Online Security