This week we’re sharing ways to build credit without credit cards, what you should avoid at wholesale stores, and how to financially prepare for baby number two. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Building credit is tough, especially when you have no credit to begin with. But according to Geoff Williams of U.S. News & World Report, there are plenty of other ways to build credit besides taking the plastic route.  Geoff suggests taking out a car, student or bank loans, and paying monthly bills on time.
  • Families across the country save money every day by shopping at warehouse clubs that offer low per-unit prices like Costco and Sam’s Club. However, these deals aren’t always worth the money and can lead to costly mistakes. According to Cameron Huddleston and Andrea N. Browne of Kiplinger you should avoid purchasing books, DVDs and electronics no matter how good the deal is. In addition to those items Cameron and Andrea suggest refraining from produce unless you and your family can consume them quickly. So next time you’re in Costco considering that eight-pound bag of grapes, think again.
  • Considering baby number two? Before you make the jump, it’s wise to know what to expect when it comes to the added expenses parenthood creates. Taylor Tepper of Time shares five ways you can prepare your finances for the next little one. He recommends knowing your budget, adjusting your employer benefits, ramping up your savings, funding another college account and planning for retirement.

2 comments on “Money Saving Tips: August 31st – September 4th

  • Yes, babies should be budgeted for, but not regarded as a “burden”, rather a blessing. Our culture, especially in light of recent investigative journalism, too often views children as an inconvenience. Based on your photo, I am assuming you are a parent, and I know your blog link was done with good intentions. However, the way we use adjectives can change our collective conscience. Thank you for encouraging responsible parenthood, but next time, please be careful to not label blessings as burdens.

    Thank you,
    a long-time First Bank customer with multiple CSAs for our blessings

    • Hello Christina. Thank you for being a long-time FirstBank customer! We sincerely appreciate your loyalty. 🙂

      Than you for your interest and feedback on this blog post. We were simply trying to pointing out that having a second child can create a financial burden on a household. We were not implying that a new baby is a burden altogether. Our apologies for the unclear wording. We’ve adjusted that sentence based on your feedback. Have a wonderful rest of your week.

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