Monthly Archives: June 2015

Inexpensive Date Ideas for the Summer

Have fun this summer with inexpensive dates and activities.

Have fun this summer with inexpensive dates and activities.

 

At Timberwood Bank, we are always looking for ways to help save you money.  Now that it is summertime, we want you and your special someone to get out and enjoy the warm summer months without spending lots of extra cash.  Here are few inexpensive date ideas that we put together to help you enjoy dating in the summertime while on a budget:

Have a picnic!  Tomah is fortunate enough to offer multiple beautiful parks.  Take a walk with your sweetie through one of Tomah’s many parks and have yourself a picnic!  Not only will you be able to get out and enjoy the weather, but preparing and having a meal with your significant other is always a great bonding experience.

Game night!  Whether you two are avid card players or board gamers, set up a night with your favorite games.  Make a wager and whoever loses has to clean the dishes!

Hit the lake!  Here in Wisconsin, we are fortunate enough to have lakes all around us.  Spend a day out fishing or floating on any available and safe lake near you.

Go for a ride! Take to the trails throughout Tomah on your bike, roller blades, or simply go for a walk.  Taking in the sites together will be a fun way to get some exercise and enjoy the summer sights.

Check for local fairs and events!  Summer is the time for fairs, parades and all sorts of events.  Check in your surrounding areas for event dates and schedules.

There is nothing better than a Wisconsin summer filled with fun activities spent with the one you love. These ideas are opportunities for having a great time without spending a lot of money on entertainment. Timberwood Bank wants your summertime to be cost effective, yet unforgettable with inexpensive dates and enjoyable outings.

 

Timberwood Bank

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

Outside the Box Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Get your Dad a gift this Father's Day that he will love and won't be expecting!

Get your Dad a gift this Father’s Day that he will love and won’t be expecting!

 

Father’s Day is coming up on June 21 and you still need to get your dad that perfect gift.  We know you don’t want to break the bank getting your dad his gift, so it would be great if you could find him something he would love that is reasonable and unexpected.

Timberwood Bank wants to help you find that perfect gift for your dad.  From the “game-day” dad to the outdoorsman, we have a few ideas that any dad would enjoy receiving this Father’s Day:

  • It is safe to say that most dads have a passion for a certain sport or certain sports team. No matter what sport or team he loves, dads always appreciate receiving new fan apparel.  With football season only two months away, how about a new cheesehead for our all Packer fan dads out there?  If you and your dad share the same favorite team, you could get matching shirts to wear together on the next game day.
  • For the high-tech dad, think about some gadgets or games that he has been eyeing or has never heard of before. Perhaps you could find him a game from his past – from Pac Man to jacks, many dads have a childhood game that is near and dear to their heart.
  • For the outdoorsman, consider some of his favorite summer time activities such as fishing or grilling – is there anything that needs to be replaced? This would be a great time to get him some new grilling/meat rubs or some new fishing lures.  For the die-hard fisherman dad, consider some new gadgets for his fishing boat such as a depth finder or new anchor.

At Timberwood Bank, we hope that you and your family have a great Father’s Day.  As your friend and neighbor, we are always here to help you and your family with your banking needs!

Timberwood Bank

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

Securing Your Smartphone

Practicing safe smartphone security habits can protect you and your personal mobile information.

Practicing safe smartphone security habits can protect you and your personal mobile information.

 

Whether we like it or not, Americans and people all across the world are becoming more and more dependent on smartphones every day.  With an app for just about anything you could ever need, from online banking and to shopping, smartphones are here to stay.

For many folks, with the ease of smartphone use brings the fear of smartphone security.  Many companies build in multiple security features with their online services and apps, but there are a few things you can do to protect yourself from smartphone criminals as well.

Do’s and Don’ts of Smartphone Security:

  1. Do set PINs and passwords- take advantage of your security setting that allows you to set up a passcode. You should also enable any settings that lock your phone after a certain period of idle time.
  2. Do backup and secure all data- whether it’s to your computer, the cloud(if you understand how it works!) or an external hard drive, be sure to backup all of your data in the event you lose your phone or it is stolen.
  3. Don’t buy or download questionable apps- read reviews and confirm that the app is legitimate before downloading. Criminals can create apps that contain malware to steal information, plant viruses and cause harm to your phone.
  4. Do understand app permissions- many apps may request access to your privacy settings to get your location or to send you notifications. Be sure you know full well what each app is doing, and change the apps security settings to what you feel most comfortable with.
  5. Don’t ignore your phones software updates- this ensures security patches are in in place to cover any spots that could be vulnerable.
  6. Do look for apps that allow wiping and remote location- such as Find my iPhone, these apps allow you to either completely wipe data from your smartphone if it is stolen, or locate your phone if you lost it.
  7. Don’t always be checking to use public Wi-Fi- use public Wi-Fi as little as possible. When you do, be wary of doing tasks that require personal information, such as logging in to Online Banking or submitting applications.

While these aren’t “fail-safes,” the above items will reduce the chances of your smartphone being compromised.  When it comes down to it, if you aren’t sure if you should download or do something unfamiliar with your smartphone, don’t do it!  Here at Timberwood Bank, we are always ready to provide you with more information regarding online and mobile banking security.

 

Timberwood Bank

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

Curbing Summer Spending

Follow these tips to keep your family happy and fiscally sound throughout the summer months.

Follow these tips to keep your family happy and fiscally sound throughout the summer months.

 

The warm summer months bring lighter days, busier schedules and maybe even a summer vacation or two. With your summer calendar filling up, it’s hard to not get excited for all of the season’s fun activities!

However, all these great things about summer can work against your wallet. In addition to bigger expenses like a summer vacation and increased utility bills, evenings out, entertainment and spur-of-the-moment spending can add up quickly. The best way to get ahead of the spending curve is to focus on saving money and reducing spending.

Here are some tips to keep your family fiscally sound throughout the summer:

  1. Clear out your mind and your home- kick off your savings quest with a spring cleaning session, recommends financial writer Kali Hawlk. Not only will this help you in selling things you need and finding things you forgot you had, but it will also help you re-tune your wants.
  2. Do more cooking at home- it’s so easy to “grab a quick bite to eat” somewhere or to take the kids out for dessert on long summer evenings. Instead, produce more meals at home. They are generally healthier, in smaller portions and more satisfying than a pricey a restaurant.
  3. Look for budget-friendly activities- church camps, library events and other activities put on by community organizations are often low in cost, so be on the watch for those. There are also plenty of festivals, markets, outdoor parties and other events during the summer that may cost little or nothing for an evening of family fun.
  4. Try out “no-spends”- build up your savings account by trying out a days, weeks, or, if you can, months of no spending. While you may not hit your goal of spending nothing, focusing on spending less will help.

Don’t let the costs of the season ruin your summer fun. Keep control of your finances throughout the summer to enjoy all that the season has to offer. If you do these things, your summer should be full of fun and financial freedom!

Timberwood Bank, Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender