Personal Finances

How much can I reasonably spend on a home? This is a question every single prospective homeowner asks before purchasing a house, and this is exactly what we want them to be asking! While buying a home is a great financial investment to start building equity and wealth, no one wants to be house poor. Create a budget for yourself by using the tips below or jump straight to our mortgage calculator.  Save for a Down Payment and Closing Costs  A Read More

The elusive credit score... you know it’s important, but what actually is it and how does it affect you? We’re here to explain how you can build a good credit score from scratch!  Become an Authorized User  Before you open your own credit card, becoming an authorized user on a family member’s card is a great place to start! As an authorized user, your name is attached to their credit card and their payment history is added to your credit Read More

Congratulations on your engagement and wedding! Whether you are recently engaged or have already tied the knot, talking about finances is extremely important in order to set you both up for success. Exchange Bank of Northeast Missouri wants to offer a married couple’s guide to finances, so you can live happily ever after.  How will bills be split?  There are many day-to-day and monthly expenses that arise. You’ll want to talk about how these will be shared so both Read More

If you can’t seem to get a handle on your finances, it may be time to reevaluate your spending and learn to budget. Budgeting is essential for those looking to be financially successful. You need to know where your money is going and make sure that it makes sense. Here are our tips on how to take control of your finances with a budget.  Look at your overall monthly expenses.  You will want to review what you are spending money on each month. Add up your Read More

Saving money over time is often one of the hardest things for a household to do. Between monthly bills, household essentials and daycare, you may ask yourself, ‘is there even anything left to save?’ If this sounds like you, read these tips to increase your savings game over time!  Stick to Your Monthly Budget  Sticking to a budget is a simple concept, but in reality, it can be very difficult. Try to plan your expenses a month in advance so Read More

Have you recently fallen off the budget wagon? Have no fear, Exchange Bank of Northeast Missouri is here to help! Creating a budget is one thing but sticking to it is often hard. If you’re someone who struggles with sticking to a budget, read these tips to get back on track.  Total Your Monthly Bills  If it’s been a while since you last followed a monthly budget, it’s a good idea to double check your monthly bills. Take a look at your monthly Read More

With rates continuing to be low, now is a great time to purchase a home! It may seem daunting at first, but it’s a great experience and can be fun if you are prepared. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or have purchased a home before, keep reading to see how much money you need to buy a home.  You may not need the full loan amount offered.  While you can get a loan for a large amount of money, you may not want to get that full amount. Think about all Read More

Being prepared for a financial crisis or hiccup can take time. Building up your emergency fund isn’t something you can do overnight, but working at it day by day or month by month is an easy way to become prepared without seeing a huge decrease in your funds. But how much is enough? We’re here to let you know!  How much should I save for an emergency fund?  How much you can save will depend on where you are at in life. You will have debts, monthly expenses, insurance, Read More

Nerdwallet states, “A financial plan is a comprehensive picture of your current finances, your financial goals and any strategies you've set to achieve those goals. Good financial planning should include details about your cash flow, savings, debt, investments, insurance and any other elements of your financial life.” But where do you start? We’re here to help give you the basics of financial planning so you can begin bettering your financial future.  What Read More

Its Spring! With the new season comes a new energy and attitude which we want to take full advantage of! Over the last year and this winter, it’s been easy to get into a financial rut or overspend on subscriptions which is why it's time to purge your finances. Keep reading to see our top tips to help you spring clean your finances!  Sweep Away Subscriptions  You’ve heard this before, but it becomes easy for subscriptions to build up over time. Maybe you’ve Read More