Category: Family

Get the Most Out of Your Rewards

Getting the Most Out of Your Rewards: Christmas Shopping Edition

The holiday season is upon us! As we gear up for the most wonderful time of the year, it’s not just the spirit of giving that warms our hearts; it’s also the excitement of receiving rewards and making the most out of our Christmas shopping endeavors. In today’s festive guide, we delve into the art of maximizing rewards during the holiday season – a time when every purchase can bring a little extra sparkle to your holiday celebrations. 

Santa’s Secret: Plan Ahead

  • When it comes to getting the most out of your rewards while Christmas shopping, the early bird gets the best deals! Create a plan ahead of time including reviewing your rewards program, creating a shopping list, and setting a budget! 

Discover the Power of Points Perks 

  • Many credit cards offer exclusive discounts, deals, and bonus rewards during the holiday season. Check for partnerships with retailers and online stores to get the most out of your rewards. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to multiply your festive joy! 

Cashback Wonderland 

  • Many credit cards offer the option to earn cashback on your everyday expenses. During the holiday season, use your cashback rewards to replenish your budget or treat yourself! Every swipe is like getting a little extra Santa surprise! 

When In Doubt, Get a Gift Card

  • If you are struggling to find the perfect present, consider giving a gift card. Gift cards are versatile, and some rewards programs allow you to redeem points on gift cards! 

Spread Christmas Cheer with Travel Rewards 

  • If your credit card rewards include travel miles, the holiday season is the perfect time to explore magical travel options. You can turn your rewards into an unforgettable holiday experience by using your travel rewards this holiday season. 

Safeguard Your Information 

  • As you begin Christmas shopping, whether online or in-store, it’s crucial to prioritize security. Use your credit card’s security features such as contactless payments to help protect your financial information and regularly review your credit card statements for any unauthorized transactions. 

Leverage Online Rewards

  • Christmas shopping is now easier than ever with online options and your credit card can make the experience even sweeter! Some credit cards offer bonus rewards for online purchases, so be sure to review your credit card’s offerings to find out if you can earn more by Christmas shopping online! 

Earn Rewards Responsibly 

  • With the excitement of the holiday season and the multitude of reward options, don’t forget to set budgets and stick to them. You can maximize your rewards without losing sight of your financial goals by staying within your budget and not overspending. 

Make this holiday season more festive than ever by unleashing the potential of your credit card rewards! To learn more about our credit card options at Peoples Bank & Trust, head on over to our website or contact us. We hope that you have a joyful and rewarding holiday season! 

Start Budgeting for Vacation

Start Budgeting for Vacation – What to Keep in Mind

One of the most important steps to pre-planning a successful vacation is your budget. There are many costs to manage and coordinate when booking a vacation. Keep reading for top tips on beginning your vacation budget now!

Step 1: Determine the Destination

A big factor in budgeting for vacation is getting an idea of the cost. Some may say you should set your budget in advance, which you absolutely can set a range, but your destination will be the main determinant for your budget. Depending on where you go can really change what you are willing to spend on what. Your budget can range depending on who is going, the type of trip, and your travel style. 

Step 2: Plan a Price 

Now that we have narrowed down the type of vacation you are planning and an idea of where you can begin nailing down a price point for what it will potentially cost so you can delve into the budget planning portion. As mentioned, your budget can really depend on your travel style, some people want to save money on where to stay and others are willing to splurge more in that category. Be honest with yourself and your idea of what you want out of your vacation to plan a budget range that you will not surpass. 

Step 3: Pick Your Priorities

As you nail down a budget, it is time to start picking your priorities for your trip. Everything will be included in a budget category such as food, activities, housing, travel, transportation, shopping, and really anything you intend to spend money on should have a budget within a category. Don’t forget to plan for the unplannable – it happens!

When you pick your priorities, identify your big-ticket items to ensure they are within budget and attainable. Typically, flights can be a huge expense especially if you are planning a family vacation. The more flexible you can be with your date and destination, the more you will most likely save. 

Step 4: Estimate Expenses

As we have picked our priorities, it is extremely important, to be honest with ourselves on estimating any and all expenses. Once your destination and travel plans are figured out it is important to look into a hotel on Airbnb rates and options for transportation as both of those can take a huge chunk out of your budget just so you can enjoy your time. 

It is important to think about your meals throughout the trip to weigh the cost of the hotel vs. Airbnb. If you have a large group, it may be more cost-effective to get an Airbnb and cook your own meals as you can more easily budget for groceries than meals out. 

Step 5: Start Saving Soon

By start saving soon, we mean begin saving NOW! Anything you can begin to set aside for your vacation budget will be a huge help in reaching your goal. Once you’ve worked out what you need, you can begin figuring out a map of how you need to save to be on track. To keep your motivation up, set a countdown on your phone or on your fridge so you see it daily and are reminded to save and not spend. 

Saving Tips 

  • Prioritize what you are spending money on. Clothing and items purchased leading up to the trip can add up, don’t let these offset your budget, plan for them. 
  • Try a budgeting app to stay on track.
  • Open a savings account for your trip so you can deposit it away and not touch it. 
  • Create a spreadsheet and track everything to map out your savings plan.
  • Find ways to save extra, whether that be a garage sale, side hustle, lightening some subscriptions – get creative. 
  • Change up your lifestyle. Challenge yourself to eat out less or spend less on costly activities.

You are going to thank yourself later if you began planning as soon as you could. How much you save will determine your travel plans and vacation priorities. Don’t let your vacation be financial stress, save now so you can relax and enjoy!

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.  

Member FDIC  

Equal Housing Lender  

Host For Less

Host for Less and Without Stress This Holiday Season 

Hosting is what many look forward to during the holiday season, but with the excitement, it can also bring stress. Whether you’re hosting Christmas or a small gathering, these tips will ensure your event is a blast. Take the stress out of hosting with these effortless tips for entertaining! 

Coordinate Schedules and Plans Early On 

When it comes to getting a holiday party on the calendar, it can often be extremely difficult. Before you get to planning dishes, décor, and more consider whom you plan to invite and a realistic budget you’d like to stick to. You are better off sending invitations early on and requesting RSVPs by a set date. Doing this will get your party on everyone’s calendar and give you a ballpark idea of guests attending. 

Create Your Own Invitations

Invitations are great; however, they are an additional cost. To lower this expense, consider creating your own invitation. You could utilize a Christmas Card as your invitation as well to knock out two birds with one stone. If you’d like to ditch the invitation altogether, consider sending out a virtual invitation or creating an event on Facebook with your friends. 

Plan Out Your Menu 

One of the best parts about the holidays is all of the wonderful seasonal dishes. When you get your RSVPs start considering the easiest and most budget-friendly options. If you plan to have cocktails, consider a few signature holiday cocktails or stick to the basics rather than having too many options or overcomplicating!

If cooking is not your favorite, consider catering or hosting a potluck-style party. A potluck can be an easy option for everyone attending to each bring a dish or side. If you’re looking for some ideas on food, consider:

  • Charcuterie night (each brings an item)
  • Themed charcuterie board night (assign a themed board to each attendee – cheese, Italian, desserts, dips, fruits, etc.) 
  • Dip night 
  • Traditional potluck
  • Nacho bar
  • Make your own pizza

Stop Doing Dishes

To keep it simple for you and your guests, stop doing the dishes. No one wants to be preoccupied at your party. It’s natural to want things to look beautiful and taste delicious, but you will be more likely to enjoy your time and avoid the hassle with dishes you can toss. There are great options you can toss that look identical to real tableware. A top holiday hosting tip is to get Tupperware or to-go boxes for guests to take home food. This is a great option for less cleanup and less food taking up space in your fridge. 

Utilize Transitional Décor 

Décor is so much fun to fancy up your event, but it can also eat up your budget if you allow it. When it comes to holiday décor, use items you already own or buy items you can religiously reuse. If you are thinking of creating a theme, go with a theme you already have décor for. Consider doing some DIY projects for décor options, a craft, and a table setting – bonus!

Make entertaining this holiday season effortless with these tips for less money and less stress. Happy Holidays! 

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

How to Save Energy in the Fall

How to Save Energy in the Fall

The warm days are slowly fading away. After a hot summer, it’s exciting to welcome Fall and Winter weather. As the weather begins to transition, here are some tips to incorporate in your home to save energy and some money! If you aren’t careful higher energy consumption can creep into the cooler months as well. 

Use Natural Light to Your Advantage 

Use the sun’s energy and warmth to your advantage! During the day you can finally open those blinds up for natural lighting and to heat your home. South-facing windows will help warm your home without using any energy at all. This is a great hack as you phase out the air conditioner and are not quite ready to turn on the heat. 

Seal Up the Cracks, Leaks, and Drafts

This is a big tip year-round to save energy, but after a hot summer, be sure to check for any new cracks, leaks, or drafts. Early fall is a great time to check for these things as well as doors and windows for any gaps letting heat out or cold air in. Catch the drafts early before you’re in the thick of winter – it will save you significantly. Another commonly missed area to check would be cut-throughs for pipe access, recess lighting, and entries to unfinished spaces for gaps affecting the insulation. 

Don’t Forget to Reprogram Your Thermostat

Strategically programming your thermostat can reduce energy use and save you quite a bit on the energy bill. Before the weather gets too cold. Make sure your heating system is working properly for the size of your home. This is a great time to change your air filter if you have not done so – this should be done monthly. 

Programing your thermostat for the warmer and cooler months is a top tip that if not done at all or done correctly can easily bust your budget and energy efficiency. As fall and winter weather moves in, it is recommended to set your heat at 68 degrees. This is to help the heat run systematically and not be overworked if it falls below 68 degrees. Programming your thermostat to a temperature you can leave for days is the best place for it to be to avoid using too much power. If you are going to be gone during the cooler months, you can turn the heat a little lower – 65 or lower – to save on energy while you are gone and increase incrementally a few degrees as you return. 

Prepare the Inside of Your Home

Not only does sealing any cracks, leaks or drafts improve your energy efficiency. A few other things you can do to reduce energy consumption and get your home cozy for winter are reversing ceiling vans, sealing your fireplace correctly, and replacing your indoor air filter. 

Ceiling fans can be a tool to keep you warm if properly set clockwise during the cooler months. Doing this pushes warm air down and cold air to redistribute the air coming out of vents to all areas of your home. As for the fireplace, be sure you are not letting warm air escape. Properly seal the damper as tightly as possible you may also consider adding an energy-efficient grate. Lastly, don’t forget to replace your indoor AND outdoor air filters – this is so important for energy efficiency and your health.

Incorporate these tips to reduce energy consumption this fall and winter! 

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

NMLS# 407724

At Home Activities to Keep Your Kids Busy in the Fall

At-Home Activities to Keep Your Kids Busy in the Fall

Fall is here and that means it is time to start planning out those seasonal activities. If you haven’t started brainstorming or are stuck on ideas for your fall fun, no worries – we’ve got you covered with these tips to keep your kids busy! Whether you’re planning for the sitter, your own kids, grandkids, or just need something fun to do, take a few minutes to add some activities to your fall to-do list.

Fall Slime 

With the unpredictable fall weather, the best activities can be done in or outside. Slime is a kid favorite, so why not make it fall-themed! This slime recipe will keep them engaged for hours!

How to create Fall Slime: https://bit.ly/3B1HhNH

Sidewalk Chalk Murals

If you get a nice fall day, be sure to craft your very own sidewalk mural before they are covered with snow! Whether you create designs or some games with chalk, you are bound to have a fun time. Sidewalk chalk is a good way to not only have a blast coloring but incorporating some learning. Encourage your kids to write letters, words, and names, as well as draw items to count!

Pumpkin Sensory Bag 

Sensory bags are a blast! Create your own sensory bag by adding in the guts of a pumpkin and allowing your kiddos to engage in sensory play! To create yours add squishy pulp, juice, and pumpkin seeds into a plastic bag. You can even dye your pumpkin seeds with food coloring for additional fun!

Homemade Autumn Playdough

Kids love playdough so you’ll most definitely want to try out making your own – especially when it smells like fall! Check out this helpful recipe to get you started. Don’t wait until Halloween to decorate your pumpkins, use your playdough to craft pumpkins, ghosts, apples, and more!

Milk Carton Boats 

Milk carton boats are a fun craft that gives your kids an opportunity to brainstorm. Use an old milk carton and craft a boat. You can even go as far as painting and decorating it! Once your boat is crafted, pick a nice fall day to put it in water to see how it floats. You can even have a competition and add weight to see who’s stays afloat longest.

Paint Kindness Rocks

Painting rocks can be a colorful craft and an act of kindness. This idea is as easy as finding some rocks and painting them. Paint inspiring words, quotes, or designs so once they are dry you can deliver them to family or place them around your community. Add a fall twist to your rocks or even decorate pumpkins instead to deliver around your town!

Glow in the Dark Mason Jars

Crafting your own glow in the dark mason jars is a must! They are great to keep in the backyard throughout the fall to enjoy.  Here’s what you need to know about this craft to light up your backyard.

Organize Your Own Nature Scavenger Hunt

Get out and about to soak up the fall with your very own nature scavenger hunt. This can be as easy as creating a fall themed list for your kids to get out and find. From leaves to pinecones, this scavenger hunt will keep your kids busy! Keep your fall findings and incorporate them into your next craft!

Bob for Apples

Keep your kids cool and engaged by bobbing for apples. This activity is as easy as filling up a bowl with apples and water and let them bob away! Use this activity to work on counting and sorting. For young kids use this as an activity to improve their motor skills – here’s how. 

Pumpkin Potions

Put on your aprons it’s pumpkin potion time! This wouldn’t be a fun fall activity list if there wasn’t at least one messy idea. To create this messy fun start with the first potion – a typical baking soda and vinegar experiment, which is always a big hit with the kids. Then add shaving cream for an added squishy element.

These ideas are easy to achieve and budget-friendly to keep the kids having fun and engaged this fall!

Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender