You Paid Off Your Home: What’s Next? Paying off a home is a monumental financial and life achievement — but it’s not the end of the road for homeowners. While you may not have to worry about mortgage payments or losing your home for financial reasons, there are still factors to think about to ensure your home is working as hard for… Read More
60 Savings and Money-Making Tips You Didn’t Know Existed To celebrate FirstBank’s 60 years of “banking for good,” we’ve compiled a list of 60 ways to help you make money and save it. Check out 60 Things You Didn’t Know About FirstBank at efirstbankblog.com to learn more! Finances Side Gig Opportunities Groceries Personal Expenses *Subject to approval: FirstBank determines actual loan qualification only after… Read More
6 Ways to Fight Inflation and Rising Costs with A Look Back At the 1960s As FirstBank celebrates 60 years of “banking for good,” we’re looking back at our inception date, 1963. In the same year, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, and President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. While the culture has changed drastically, rising costs and inflation have made 1963 feel worlds… Read More
Love Don’t Cost a Thing: Plan a Romantic Valentine’s Day Without Breaking the Bank Americans spend an estimated 117.4 billion dollars per year on dating, but that number is coming down as high inflation takes its toll on love. With the cost of food, cocktails, gas, and personal care services skyrocketing, around 40% of people on dating apps are changing their dating habits or pressing pause on their search… Read More
Cash Stuffing: How Will This New Budgeting Trend Help You Save? One of the newest budgeting trends made popular by Generation Z is similar to one from a less digital world, about 20 to 30 years ago. Before the surge of plastic payment methods and virtual wallets, hoarding cash was the norm. However, the recent cash-stuffing trend has taken social media platforms by storm. If you’ve… Read More
How to Host Thanksgiving on a Budget While many of us are looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends, this year’s holiday feast could be more expensive than ever. Experts predict that your Thanksgiving meal will cost 13.5% more than last year, with a staggering 73% increase in the price per pound of turkey. The price of butter is also up 32% compared to 2021. Despite… Read More
8 More Ways To Save Money on Groceries During Rising Inflation According to the most recent Consumer Price Index report, food prices have risen 11.4 percent from August 2021 to August 2022. In the same year, common food items have drastically increased including eggs, which went up by 39.8 percent, and butter, which rose by 24.6 percent. As the cost of groceries continues to rise, we’ve… Read More
The Top Financial Takeaways from the COVID Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic offers us some valuable insights in making our finances more resilient. A few trends have emerged in saving, spending, and investment habits during this time, and today, we’re passing on some of the best lessons we’ve learned.… Read More
Find Your Financial Freedom This Fourth of July with These Four Tips If you feel a dollar short and constantly bogged down by debt, you’re not alone. According to reported data, consumer debt reached a record $14.88 trillion last year. In the spirit of Independence Day, we’re here to offer four tips to get you on the path to financial freedom. 1. Eliminate unproductive debt Not all… Read More
How to Overcome the Biggest Obstacle to Homeownership Raising enough cash for a down payment is often the biggest hurdle for homebuyers. According to some estimates, it can take up to 15 years for people to save towards the purchase of a home, especially with conventional mortgages, which require anywhere between 5 to 20 percent down. If you’re trying to buy a $400,000… Read More