Monthly Archives: July 2019

8 Surprising Ways to Save on Baby Stuff

baby

Oh baby! Although they are small, babies can take up a significant amount of your budget. Many first time parents experience sticker shock with the numbers they see as they walk through the baby section at their favorite stores. Thankfully, there are ways to make these expenses easier to manage so you can focus on the excitement of the little one without the pain associated with the rising costs.

1. Sell What You Don’t Need

Because babies cost so much, it goes without saying that they often require a lot of things. This translates to your home being turned into an obstacle course with baby things now dominating your space. Stay ahead of the chaos by selling items you don’t need. You can use this money to buy things you know you will. This will give you extra space and some purchasing power.

2. Snip or Save Those Coupons

You might be surprised to find out not only how much coupons can save you on necessary items like diapers, but the amount of them available for babies is never-ending. Before going to stock up on baby basics, take a look to see how much you can save! Some stores may even price match brick and mortar or online deals.

3. Don’t Overindulge in Clothes

It might be one of the most fun things to buy, but you do not need as many clothes as you think you do! Consider what you think you need now. Split that amount in half. The first few months of their lives, something as simple as white onesies will suffice. Have a few favorites for them to wear when you leave the house. Additionally, babies grow incredibly quick, so often it’s best to wait to see what you will need before buying too many things in advance.

4. Question the “Necessary”

We want to get our children everything they could possibly need. Thankfully, babies actually need very little. So what about that wipe or bottle warmer you just added to the registry? Take it off, as things like these are in reality rarely used and take up wasted space. The wipe warmer will dry out your expensive wipes and bottles can be warmed with running hot water!

5. Consider the Green

When considering your money, think about going green. It may be unconventional in some ways, but some of the biggest expenses you may have are diapers and wipes. There are some start up costs to cloth diapers, but once you have the basics you are all set! To put it in perspective, diapers can cost about 1k a year, as opposed to the average $150 for cloth diapers. While your pockets become filled with green, so has the environment.

6. The Nursery: Keep It Simple

Getting the nursery decorated and set up like the influencers on social media can be a lofty and tiresome goal for any parent. We are here to tell you that it does not need to be that extravagant! It’s often safest for the little one, too.

7. Phone Your Insurance Company

Unfortunately, many are unfamiliar with what their policy will and will not cover. Don’t be afraid to give them a call to verify your coverage. Many companies offer additional services for first time parents such as weekly nurse check-ins, lactation consultants and free breast pumps.

8. Plan Ahead

The best thing you can do for your budget is to prepare for every expense this new baby will bring. For example, if you will be receiving maternity or paternity leave, you will want to calculate how much you need to save in order to be unpaid for that time (if your work does not offer paid leave). You’ll also want to factor in the additional health insurance costs that will be accrued. It is never too early to begin planning!

Save for your kiddo by using these nifty tips – then store the savings in an account with us!

A Six Step Small Business Cybersecurity Plan

cybersecurity

You have ventured out to achieve your dream of owning your own business. Unfortunately, there are criminals who aim to take what you have worked so hard for. These criminals aren’t what they used to be, they aren’t standing at your door, but likely anonymous and entering your business from a remote location. It can happen to anyone and this is why it’s important you have a cybersecurity plan for your business. If you are new to the cybersecurity realm, start with this simplified plan in order to protect your business.

1. Analyze Your Risks

It’s hard to know where you’re going if you don’t know where you are. You have a business to run and a hundred decisions that need to be made everyday. Either partner with a cybersecurity expert to analyze risks you currently have or educate yourself on the potential security pitfalls many business owners fall victim to.

2. Establish Security Protocols

Once you know where you are vulnerable, you have a better idea of what needs to change. Just as you have a list of protocols for the daily running of your business, so should you have a list of the best security practices your business will implement.

3. Limit Physical Access

The more hardware you have exposed, the more at risk you are for theft, employee misuse and hacking. This will help you to protect private business information and client data. Keep the hardware you have to the minimum and put physical locks on any vulnerable devices.

4. Train Employees

Your cybersecurity is only as strong as your employees. Unfortunately, they are often unintentionally the cause of security breaches. It could be from clicking on suspicious links or opening an email from an unknown source. It can happen quickly and to anyone, especially if they are not educated on cyber protection.

5. Backup Data

Some criminals may hold your data hostage unless you pay them. This is called ransomware and is one of the many reasons why it’s important to backup your data. The average cost of a cybersecurity breach for a small business is $34,000. Preemptively avoid this in order to avoid being included in this number.

6. Build a Wall of Protection

Cyber criminals will do anything they can do breach your business. Some options would be to invest in anti-virus, firewall, anti-malware and encryption software. Keeping these protection systems up to date will do wonders in keeping your business protected.

Utilize this cybersecurity plan to keep your small business safe. Did you know we offer tons of secure banking products for your business? Visit our site for more info!

4 Frugal Ways To Save On School Supplies

school-supplies

School is back! While you’re working on gathering those school supplies, be sure you aren’t overspending on some of the essentials. We’re here to give a little advice on ways you can save on supplies, while making sure you still get everything on the list.

Re-use

Start by shopping at home. You have drawers full of unused highlighters and almost-new pencils. Yes, your child may whine that they NEED the new 144 pack of crayons, but they will be just fine with the boxes you’ve accumulated over the years. Search through your crayons and find the newest ones and make your own box. Then find the notebooks, scissors and pencil bag from the year before to add to the pile.

Coupon It

Coupons are everything! Find the best deals online by adding a store’s app to your phone or simply search the web. Know when the best time to go shopping is for those supplies and grab your coupons. You can also bring your child along to teach them the value of saving and how those 2 for 1 deals work!

Go Generic

You don’t need to buy the $2.50 folder when you can buy almost the same one that’s a generic brand for $0.49. Knowing what items don’t need to be splurged on can save you some cash here and there – and quickly build up if you have more than one kid!

Follow Stores Online

Following stores online and subscribing to their email list may let you get ahead of the game. Stores sometimes have flash sales or extra coupons on their social platforms for devoted customers, so scoping it out won’t hurt! If you plan to bargain-hunt this year, monitor your favorite stores’ Twitter and Facebook feeds to find deals.

You can follow these stores on Twitter, for example:

  • Amazon Deals: @amazondeals
  • Coupons.com: @Coupons
  • Staples: @Staples
  • Office Max: @OfficeMax
  • TJ Maxx: @tjmaxx
  • Marshalls: @marshalls
  • Best Buy: @BestBuy
  • Target: @Target 
  • Kohl’s: @Kohls
  • RetailMeNot: @RetailMeNot

We hope these simple solutions allow you to save a little here and there. Those small savings add up in a hurry, so take saving for school supplies seriously! Then, put those savings into an account for your child, so they can use it for college later.

Budgeting Checklist for Buying Your First Home

first-home

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 rates! Look for any issues with your report and contact the credit bureau to get them fixed.

Gather Your Documentation

You’ll need to get your documents in order when coming to the bank to discuss a pre-approval letter and loan. To help you get started, you should plan to have the following documents when applying – but contact us to find out if there’s anything else you’ll need in advance: 

  • Income verification/employment – Last two years’ tax returns, W-2s, 1099s and your last few pay stubs
  • Credit/ID – Drivers’ license, Social Security card or acceptable alternatives
  • Financial condition – Bank and brokerage account statements including retirement accounts, proof of funds to close or a gift letter (if your down payment is coming from a gift)

Secure Pre-approval

Having a pre-approval letter shows a buyer you are serious and have the funds to afford the home. This also lets you know how much home you can afford, so you don’t start hunting for houses that are out of your budget.

Decide On Your Max

Even if you can afford a certain amount, not spending it all may be wise. Scale back a little and decide on the price you’re willing to spend and hold yourself accountable to not pass that limit.

Think Of Additional Expenses

Repairs, maintenance, monthly bills, moving costs and closing costs will all factor into your budget. Know how much income you are making each month and subtract all of these costs, as well as other items like gas, groceries, loans and so forth. This will show you how much you’ll actually have left over to put towards your mortgage payments. Deciding on your max budget will only help you – instead of spending the full amount you may actually be able to afford.

We hope this checklist reminds you of the items you need to complete and think of to help you stay within your budget. If you’re looking for a great place to get your mortgage, we’re here for you! Contact us or stop on in to allow us to help you on the path to buying your dream home!