Monthly Archives: July 2020

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I’m in Debt – What Should I Do?

While struggling with debt isn’t uncommon, getting out of it as soon as possible is important. Student loans, car loans, credit cards and other payments can lead to your pile of debt getting bigger and bigger. So, what steps should you take if you are in debt? Keep reading to find out. 

1. Clean Out Your House & Sell What You Don’t Use 

Start small and simply sell the things you don’t need. You’d be surprised how many things you have around the house that you never use. While doing this won’t erase your debt, it will give you some extra money to put towards paying it off and help you recognize some of the unnecessary purchases you’ve made. 

2. Find a Side Job 

If you have a full-time job but have weekends open, finding a part-time job to fill that time would be extremely beneficial. Working on your days off might not seem ideal, but if you’re serious about paying off your debt, it’s a great step in the right direction. Just remember these circumstances are temporary and the bigger your steps towards erasing your debt are, the quicker you can get it done. 

3. Analyze Your Spending Habits 

The best way to understand your spending habits is to write all of your payments from the last month or two down on paper. Once you see everything in front of you, try dividing that into categories – necessary expenses (like rent, utilities, groceries, etc.) and unnecessary expenses (coffee trips, clothes, video games, etc.). Now that you see how much you’ve spend on things that aren’t necessary, start rethinking the way you handle your money every day. Next time you think of buying that cute shirt, ask yourself if you need it. These small purchases add up and the money could be put towards your debt, instead! 

4. Never Spend More Than You Make 

How do people get into debt? They spend more money than they’re bringing in. If you’re trying to get rid of debt, you definitely can’t be adding more money to that pile. Trim down your budget so you know you’re making more than you’re spending. The best way to know if you’re doing this is to simply track everything you spend and everything you make. At the end of your pay period, make sure the money earned is higher than the money spent. 

Paying off the debt you owe might seem like a big job, but freedom from debt starts with taking the first step. Start by implementing these effective tips into your daily life, stay organized and keep a positive mindset. Debt is temporary if you work hard and stay motivated! 

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

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Most Common Money Mistakes to Avoid in Your 30s

Welcome to your 30s! This time of life is exciting, eventful and often comes with many financial decisions. These decisions have a big impact on your future as well as the future of your family. We hope you can learn from others’ mistakes and make smart money choices for a bright and less stressful future. 

Avoiding the Retirement Planning 

No matter what age you are, retirement often seems too far off to even imagine. In reality, it will sneak up faster than you think and the earlier you start preparing, the better off you’ll be. Talk to a financial advisor and get planning – your future self will be thankful you did! 

Living Beyond Your Means 

Comparison is dangerous and you might find yourself comparing your financial situation to others’. Doing this causes many people to make purchases they can’t afford, accumulate debt and end up regretting it. Now is the perfect time to build your wealth, so stick to a budget and make sure you’re living within your means. 

Breaking the Bank for Your First Baby 

Whether you have your first child in your early 20s or later in life, this is a common mistake so many first-time parents make. The medical expenses are one thing, but when excitement takes over, you may find yourself making big and often unnecessary purchases for your new arrival. Enjoy these times while you can, but remember to invest in your child’s future, too. 

Money Planning Before the Wedding 

If you plan on getting married soon, don’t forget about having the money conversation. It might not be appealing to discuss finances with your partner, but planning your financial future will help you avoid the common arguments and conflict that money can bring about in marriage. It’s also important to have a common financial goal when you’re married so you can be on the same page and both work towards achieving it. 

Whether you get married and have kids or not, this decade of your life will hold many important moments and decisions. We hope you can enjoy these moments while still making smart choices for you and your family’s future.  

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

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How to Start Building Your Emergency Fund

Not only does having an emergency fund give you a peace of mind, but it can help you avoid the stress of being in debt. The best time to start building your emergency fund is now! If you’ve heard all about the importance of having this fund but aren’t sure how to get started, keep reading. 

Set a Goal 

The first step to building your emergency fund is figuring out how much you want to save. There are emergency savings calculators online that can help you figure out a smart amount to aim for. This amount will vary depending on many factors like how many people you’re providing for, what you pay for monthly, if you’re paying off debt, etc. 

Break Down Your Goal 

Many times your total emergency fund goal can be a large and intimidating number. Breaking the total down into monthly goals is a great way to ease the pressure while still accomplishing your goal on time.  

Set Up an Automatic Transfer 

The easiest way to make sure your monthly goals are being met is to have a designated amount transfer to your savings account. Your bank can set this up so you don’t have to worry about setting aside money since it does it automatically. Having an automatic transfer set up will make it feel like you’re not losing any money at all. 

Save the Change 

You might not think keeping your change for your emergency fund would make a big difference, but it sure adds up. Start keeping the $1 and $5 bills you get back when making purchases and putting them in a jar to add to your emergency fund. 

Make Adjustments 

As time goes on and your emergency fund grows, you might need to make some adjustments to how much you save every month or your goal amount. These things may need to change over time as your financial situation changes, so don’t be afraid to make proper adjustments. 

Having an emergency fund can be a life-saver when issues you weren’t expecting come up. Give yourself some peace of mind by starting to build your fund today. Contact Peoples Bank & Trust with any questions you have or if you’d like to learn more about our services. 

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender