Tag Archives: savings plan

Holiday Savings Plan

holiday

The holidays are among us, but have you put together a savings plan? With all of the expenses hitting you at once, it’s important to have a plan of action. With the below tips and tricks, we believe you can keep your holiday shopping merry and bright.

Make a List

Create an entire list of every single expense you will have over the holidays. This can include presents, envelopes, stamps, cards, wrapping paper, bows, name tags, food, a tree, decorations and so forth. Once you create that list, see if there are any items you can take off or substitute with cheaper options. Many dollar stores offer all different types of wrapping paper for a quarter of the cost you may pay at a department store.

Set a Budget

It is okay to be a Grinch during the holidays when it comes to your budget. Saying no will help you keep your funds on track instead of having a dry bank account in January. Be realistic when creating your budget – don’t leave any little expenses out or your whole budget will be thrown off. From different ads to online shopping that offers free shipping and other holiday deals, do your research and create a plan of attack with your budget to help your money work harder for you.

Utilize Free Shipping

Free shipping is your best friend over the holidays. Some companies take part in Free Shipping Day in the middle of December, so it could be well worth your while. You can also sign up for a free trial on Amazon Prime. This can get you your items quicker and offers free shipping as well!

Download Apps

Many store apps offer discounts you may not be able to find online. Look at your favorite stores and download their apps onto your phone. Be sure to sign up for emails during the holidays as well. This will help tell you if a new 24-hour deal is taking place – then just unsubscribe once the holidays are over.

Mail Postcards

Instead of paying for special paper, a printed family picture, ink, envelopes and so on, find a deal online to purchase postcards. You can get all the information you wanted along with having the company ship it for you! Or create your card yourself for FREE with a design site such as Canva.com.

DIY It

Get creative with gifts by making them on your own. The Web holds unlimited amounts of ideas for homemade presents of any genre. Simply pull up Google and search away! Make fun little gift baskets for a great bonding activity to do with your kids and provide a special present for a loved one.

Have you been saving for the holidays? Ramp up your plan by putting into action of few of these easy ideas. These tips will help you slow down and enjoy the holidays for what they’re meant to be – a special time with friends and family. Avoid holiday hassle by banking with us, as we offer the flexibility you need to help keep all of your finances in order – during the holidays and the rest of the year!

Dreamin’ of Summer- Saving for Your Next Vacation

The monotony of the day to day can get you down in the season of cold and gray. However, that beach on your screensaver doesn’t have to be an esteemed fantasy if you are ready to take some action. You can turn your ideal vacation into a reality by starting to save and plan that getaway now, before travel season hits in full.

Create a Budget

If you are thinking about a vacation, you are definitely going to need to establish a budget to keep your spending in check. Some budgeters swear by the 50/30/20 rule. This is a simplified budget where you allot 50% of your after-tax income to necessities, 30% for wants and 20% for savings. Adjust this as you need. We all know that adding kids into the mixture of vacations increases prices exponentially, so you may want to increase savings, and see what you can go without.  See if you can even tap into a Grandparents Travel Grant.

Set Up an Account

Stop by Timberwood Bank to speak with one of our Personal Bankers about options for savings accounts. We recommend setting up an automatic withdrawal to come from your account each month, or asking your employer to put a portion of your paycheck into a different account. For a majority of people, if the money is there, it will get spent, so having an automatic savings will keep you on track of your goals.

Decide How Much You Need

Get a grasp of how much your vacation will cost you. That means calculating hotels, food and flight. However, don’t forget the expenses you will still have while traveling. You will still have your normal bills and you may need to pay a local kid to get your mail or a business to board Fido. Divide this amount by the number of weeks until your desired vacation date.

Go the Extra Mile

When calculating this all out, don’t be dismayed. This vacation can be attainable for you, as long as you stick to the process. It just may not be in the exact time frame you desire. Keep yourself motivated by listening to music, looking at pictures and eating food reminiscent of your destination. Go the extra mile to scrap for savings everywhere you can. Clean out your closets and post them for sale. Start a change jar or carpool to work. You will be surprised that by putting in the extra effort your savings can increase fairly quickly as your spending depletes and scrappiness grows. Best of luck, and please let us know how we can help you reach your goals at Timberwood Bank!

The 5 Most Important Elements of Savings Plans

savings plan

Hearing the call to start a savings plan? Answer it! But first – do you know what’s pushing you to do it, how to get there, and what obstacles could deter your path to financial success? Timberwood Bank breaks down the five keys to keeping you on track as you save.  

#1: How You Think Affects What You Save

Say you’re aiming to save $10,000 for your child’s college tuition. That’s no chump change. Savings plans often fail because they seem too daunting of a task. The key? View it in smaller, manageable chunks and not one large lump sum.

#2: It Takes Time

It’s an unavoidable truth. Unless you land a bonus or secure funds elsewhere, recurring bills won’t allow you to squirrel away $1,000 all at once. Bit by bit, $25, $30 or $50 at a time is what makes it possible. Saving is about delayed gratification. Save now to savor the gain later.

#3: Consistency is Crucial

Saving money thrives on consistency. It can be as easy as automatically transferring a set amount from your checking account to your savings account every week. However you go about saving money, try to keep it as simple and routine as possible.

#4: You Need to Be Real with Yourself

Living a responsible life and saving what you can = good. Starving yourself and living desperately = bad. Be realistic about your saving, both in what your target is and how you’re going to get there. Food, housing and health take up a serious chunk of your income. Set an attainable amount per month to achieve in small increments.

#5: Cutting Loose Can Save You Big

All savings and no play makes your budget a pain to follow. Depriving yourself of any little purchases here and there makes you more at risk to snap and drop $200 on an impulse buy. Budgeting in a little wiggle room makes it easier to spend responsibly and keeps you from feeling weighted down your obligation. Just remember to keep track of your small expenses; they add up fast.

No matter how much you’re aiming to save, Timberwood Bank is ready to help. Contact one of our personal bankers to start your journey today!