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Family Financial Planning Bring the family together to talk about a financial plan. 7 Topics

Financial Caregiving Learn what you should know about handling another person’s finances. 6 Topics

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Are You a Financial Wellness Wiz? Take our quick quiz to find out! Create your own user feedback survey If you got: 1-2 points: Good start! We’re here to talk you through the basics and to help you plan for the future. Also be sure to check out our free financial basics course. 3-4 points: Well done! You’ve got the basics down; but if you need help planning for a big purchase or life event, we can help. Start with our free course: Major Life Events. 5 points: Look at you go! Capitalize on all that great financial savvy with the right mix of tools and products you need for your plans. No matter your score, we’re committed to helping you achieve your dreams (big and small!). Visit your local branch today, or give us a call. Let’s start something amazing together. 2 min read

Learn How Much You Should Be Saving Each Year Wondering how much you should be saving each year? Many specialists believe in the 50/20/30 budget: 50% is spent on necessary expenses (e.g. credit card bills, rent), 20% of your income is put into savings, and 30% is left for your luxury expenses (e.g. a new TV, restaurants). By following this rule, you can comfortably begin saving for retirement or an emergency fund while having enough to make ends meet. How Much Should I Be Saving? While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how much you should have saved, there are some goals you should focus on during your 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond. Here’s a recommended savings road map to guide you at any age: 20s: Focus on building your credit, paying off loans and save something each month. Even if you’re not able to save quite up to 20% of your income, try starting at 10%. 30s: Allocate more money into savings, especially if you’re thinking about starting a family, buying a new home, or taking on a few home repairs soon. You should be putting at least 15% of your income into savings, if not more. Additionally, you should continue to pay off all non-mortgage debt. 40s: Get your credit card debt under control and up the amount you’re putting away into savings again. By this time, you should aim to have more than your current salary put away in savings. 50s: Max out your retirement contributions and pay off your mortgage. You should aim to have as much of your income and investments working towards your retirement goals as possible. Ideally, you have more than two times your current salary set aside in savings. Start Saving for Your Future Today Changing the way you spend can feel overwhelming at first and requires discipline. However, in time, you’ll get used to what is necessary and how much of your luxury expenses can be cut or limited. Take charge of your finances and invest in your future. For more questions about how much you should be saving each year, or how to get started, contact your local First Bank branch today! ——— Sources: Experian: https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/how-much-should-you-save-each-month/ Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/simple-thrifty-living/in-your-20s-40s-60s-the-b_b_5686551.html Money Under 30: http://www.moneyunder30.com/how-much-do-you-need-to-have-saved-for-retirement 2 min read

How Your Healthy-Eating Resolution Saves Calories and Money To get tips on mindful eating and spending, we talked with Jessica Thiefels, a full-time blogger and ACE Certified Personal Trainer, as well as an NASM Certified Fitness Nutrition specialist and the owner of her own personal training business, Honest Body Fitness in San Diego. If you made a resolution to eat healthier this year and need a boost to keep going, get excited because it turns out you’ll save a lot more than a few extra calories. You Eat Out Less Often The top expense for most people is eating out. In fact, 2014 data reveals the average American spends $232 per month eating food prepared outside the house. When eating healthy, however, a restaurant is the worst place to be. With no idea of how much salt, butter, dairy, and oil goes into a dish, you could be eating double or triple the amount of fat you should have in one day. You soon come to realize that eating in is not only less stressful because you control the ingredients and portions, but that it’s saving you hundreds of dollars a month. Planned Eating Cuts Down on Food Expenses When eating healthy, it’s important to plan your meals and snacks in advance so that when your 3 pm craving rolls around, you can reach into your trusty stash of almonds nearby to avoid hunting for sweets instead. This healthy eating strategy helps you save at the grocery store. When you know what you need, you can buy just that. All too often we buy more than is necessary and end up tossing it. This is a nationwide problem, with 40% of food in the United States going uneaten. This means we throw away the equivalent of $165 billion dollars each year, according to the National Resources Defense Council. By planning your healthy meals for the week, you waste less and save more. Vegetables Are Versatile Vegetables are not only some of the cheapest items in the grocery store, but they can be used in so many ways. Save money and time by buying them when they’re fresh and freezing some for future meals, or by simply buying them frozen to begin with. “Frozen vegetables are a lifesaver and can 4 min read

You’re Getting Married! Keep These 8 Things in Mind Getting married is not a small feat for many reasons – among them, marriage represents a new stage in your financial life. We asked three First Bank team members about what financial issues soon-to-be newlyweds need to discuss. 3 min read

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