Monthly Archives: July 2019

How to Buy a Car – and Actually Save Money

Is your current car on the fritz or have you been eyeing that shiny new Jeep you see parked at a dealership on your way to work every morning? If you’ve been hesitant to buy a new vehicle because you’re worried about it costing too much, here are some ways that you can get the car you’ve had your eye on while still saving money.

Get Pre-Approved

Before starting your search, you should get pre-approved for a loan. It’s important to know what limit you qualify for and align that with your monthly budget. It has been estimated that your total auto expenses should not exceed more than 10 percent of your yearly income. This includes the loan, interest, insurance, and maintenance. When you know your limit, you can stop yourself from gazing at cars out of your price range that you may have otherwise talked yourself into buying.

Sell Your Current Car

Many times the dealerships will ask you to trade in your vehicle in order to get a “better deal” on the new car. However, you can typically get more for the auto if you sell it privately. This may cost you some additional time to fix anything major with the car, as well as listing it in the local classifieds. The dealership will turn around and sell the car for a profit anyway. Shouldn’t that extra money be yours to put toward your new wheels?

Shop Around

You are your best advocate when it comes to finding and buying your new car. Don’t make any decisions right away. A smart way to start looking is searching at the average value of the car you are wanting. Look at reputable sellers online to see what the cars are typically going for, so you don’t find yourself getting swindled by a dealership transaction.

New-to-You is Often More Valuable

The minute a car is driven off of the lot, it loses a significant amount of value. Often, the features in brand new vehicles aren’t much different than vehicles from a few years prior. Consider buying Certified Pre-Owned vehicles to save yourself hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Be Wary of Extended Warranties

Many dealerships will push heavily for you to have an extended warranty because it makes them more money. It is, of course, your choice whether or not declining the warranty is worth the risk. However, these extended warranties may be moot in comparison to the manufacturer warranty. They are usually very expensive and do not make it worth your dollar in the long run.

We want to help you get a new set of wheels! Contact a Personal Banker today to find out about our affordable auto loan options.

Cybersecurity for Beginners

Let’s get back to the basics! Cybersecurity is important for everyone, whether you use the Internet daily or weekly. If you’ve never considered the best security tactics for the cyber world, hold on tight and pay close attention as we run through the biggest pillars of cybersecurity.

What is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is the act or process of protecting devices, networks, and programs from theft or damage. Everyone has something to lose, whether it be their identity, money, or hardware. Cybercrime can happen to anyone. It’s important to be aware and prepared.

Start with the Physical

In addition to protecting yourself in cyberspace, protecting your physical space is also important. Keep all of your devices secured with password protection, so that if your device is taken, your sensitive documents cannot be accessed. This also goes for being cautious on the flash drives or hard drives you plug into your computer. Unknown drives may be infected with malware seeking to steal your information. Never leave your devices unattended in public spaces.

Create a Tight Password

The first line of defense against a cyber-criminal is your password. It’s tempting for many to choose something that is short and easy to remember. However, your password should be complicated enough to keep a hacker out. It’s suggested to use a sentence for a password. For example, instead of choosing your pet’s name as a password, create a sentence about your animal. It could be something like: ”Mydogspotlikestonap.” Get creative!

Avoid Public Wi-Fi

While we believe it’s fantastic to make use of public libraries and coffee shops, using public Wi-Fi can put you at risk. There are two types of public Wi-Fi: secured and unsecured. One is safer than the other. A secured network will require you to enter a password, or register an account, in order to access the service. This is the safer option. Unsecured networks do not require a password or any login information. If you want to use an unsecured network, be careful not to access any personal information, as the line can be easily hacked.

Be Social Media Conscious

Social media is a great tool to stay connected with friends and family. However, be sure that you are not posting sensitive information about your identity, such as your birth date and current location. It’s also important to keep your settings private so only your close friends can view your account.

Welcome Updates

Software updates may seem tedious, but they keep your device secure by patching any areas that are prone to hacking. Most software will alert you when updates are available, and your computer will often ask you to restart to complete the installation of updates.

Be Suspicious

Always be suspicious of anyone asking for your personal information or money online, whether it’s an unsolicited advertisement or an email from an unknown source. It’s often the best course of action to not interact with any unknown sources.

Stay safe and secure by utilizing these cybersecurity tips! You can also open an Online or Mobile Banking account with us – so you can securely view your account balance, transactions, and make transfers between accounts.

Top Tips to Save Money on Back-to-School Supplies

Whether you are taking your little ones for their very first school supplies shopping trip or perhaps gathering items you need as you continue your education this fall, there’s no need to empty your wallet. Here are some great ways to save money on school supplies, while still getting everything that’s on the list!

1. Ask a Friend

If you have a friend who has taken that class before or whose child has had the same teacher, it’s time to give them a call. Ask them what supplies were truly needed and what items you can do without. Sometimes lists have a lot of excess supplies, so be sure everything you purchase will be used!

2. Skip the Extras

Think carefully about the list. Does it seem like there are unnecessary items? For example, if the list says to buy pencils, there likely isn’t a reason to buy separate rubber erasers. You may be doubling up on supplies if you don’t examine the list carefully before buying.

3. Scour Your Home

You know that junk drawer you’ve been wanting to clean out for some time? Now is your chance! There are likely many items like pens and pencils laying around the house already.

4. Online Shop, but Don’t Buy

One trick to online shopping is placing items in your shopping cart, but not purchasing. Leave those items there and often, you will be offered a coupon to convince you to complete the purchase. A penny saved is a penny earned!

5. Stock Up

There are often many back-to-school sales that won’t come around again throughout the year. If there are supplies like glue sticks or folders you are sure will need replaced at some point this school year, go ahead and buy extra at the lower cost. This will save you money during the year and if you don’t end up using it this term, you’ll have part of your shopping already finished for next year.

6. Know the Stores

Social media can be your best friend when it comes to back-to-school shopping. Either sign up for email sales alerts or “like” your favorite retailers’ Facebook pages. This will keep you updated on the latest school sales and which stores have the best deals on each item.

7. Don’t be Fooled

Often, places like dollar stores or general retailers will make items seem significantly cheaper by decreasing the size of the item. They may have folders listed for 50 cents each, but in reality you could buy a pack of three folders for a dollar. Be sure to calculate the cost per unit to verify if this “deal” truly is a deal.

8. Consider Alternatives

Not all items need to be purchased new. You’d be surprised at what you can find at garage sales and consignment shops. Many people have too many school supplies already laying around their house and are ready to get rid of them and sell them for a fraction of the price.

If you’re looking to save on more than school supplies, we offer a variety of different accounts to help you do so!