Monthly Archives: June 2020

7 Personal Cybersecurity Tips

As time goes on and technology expands, people are becoming more and more prone to cybercriminal attacks. By following some basic tips, you could avoid a multitude of problems in the future!

1. Use Strong and Varying Passwords

This is probably the most obvious and common cybersecurity tip known to web users. Don’t underestimate the importance of your password strength! Change your password every once in a while to be safe (recommended at least once a year). Also, don’t use the same password for more than one account.

2. Be Careful With Your Personal Info

Personal information, like your address, birthday or phone number, should be posted carefully. The smartest option would just be to keep as much of that information off of your social media as possible. These personal details are used by cybercriminals to locate individuals. Better safe than sorry!

3. Recognize and Stay Away From Phishing

Phishing is when someone poses as someone they aren’t to trick people into giving them information, clicking on a dangerous links, etc. This is the most common way ransomware attacks originate. Be suspicious about the emails and messages you receive and don’t open messages from people you don’t know.

4. Utilize Two-Factor Identification

Many social media sites have two-factor identification options and most users don’t take advantage of this helpful security option. Two-factor identification prompts you to not only enter your username and password, but also another personal identification code.

5. Update Your Software

Keeping your device’s software updated might not seem like a safety-related tip, but both businesses and consumers have suffered from hackers due to not updating. Try turning on the automatic updates offered on your device.

6. Say No to Public Wi-Fi

Using public Wi-Fi if it’s available seems like a no-brainer. What most people don’t realize is how much easier it is for cybercriminals to access your accounts and devices when you’re connected to a public Wi-Fi network.

7. Install Trusted Apps Only

Not all applications are safe, and not all of them can be trusted. Check reviews and ratings before installing anything you’re unfamiliar with!

Don’t let yourself fall into the statistics of those dealing with cybercriminals! Protect your devices, accounts and personal information by following these tips and always being cautious online.

Homeowner Costs People Forget About

Are you thinking about taking the big step of becoming a homeowner? Purchasing your first house is a significant and exciting change, but it can be easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget about certain costs. If you want to make sure you have all of your financial bases covered before owning a house, keep reading!

Lawn Upkeep

The cost of maintaining a lawn is one people often underestimate. Whether you hire someone to keep your lawn looking fresh or decide to do it yourself, it will cost some money. Besides needing a lawn mower for cutting your grass, keep in mind things like pest control, weed killer, fertilizer and landscaping. Some other equipment needed in lawn upkeep includes a hose, sprinkler, rake, weed wacker, trimmers and much more.

Keeping it Clean

Keeping a house clean is much more challenging and costly than cleaning a small apartment. Many families not only add onto their collection of cleaning supplies, but usually double almost all of the supplies they own. It may sound unnecessary, but once you have to start making trips up and down stairs to clean different levels of the house, you might want to double your supplies, too.

Property Taxes

One of the biggest payment differences between paying rent for an apartment and paying a house mortgage is property tax. It’s important to figure this out beforehand and add it to your estimated monthly payment so you know what to expect.

Immediate Renovations

After buying a house, it’s normal to want to turn that house into a home. Homeowners are constantly looking for things to improve, like redoing the kitchen cabinets, fixing the deck, changing the wall colors, finding a new floor you love… the list goes on. Keep in mind when house hunting what you’d want to change about the houses you look at and add this to the list when considering your expenses.

Time

This one seems obvious, and although this particular cost won’t be coming out of your pocket, it’s a very important component to consider. Owning a house means doing everything yourself – something you didn’t always have to do while living in an apartment. Keeping up with maintenance, dealing with pest control and tending to the lawn are some of the many time-consuming things that come with being a homeowner.

Now that you’ve considered some of the unexpected costs of owning a house, you’re able to make a more informed decision on if taking this step is the right choice for you right now. We offer home loans that will help your homeowner journey become a little smoother.

5 Things to Teach Your Kids About Money

1. The Importance of Saving

The easiest way to encourage your kids to save money is by getting them a piggy bank. Go to the store and let them pick out a piggy bank they love, and they’ll soon find that keeping their money is enjoyable. Encouraging them to put their earnings in their piggy bank will teach them the importance of saving money early on.

2. How to Make Money

Implementing chores as a regular thing is a great way to teach them about earning their money. Start simple and give them a small allowance when they help out with some household tasks. Giving your kids an allowance without having them work for it is giving them the wrong idea about money. Chores are a perfect way to get your housework done quicker, and you’re teaching your kids a valuable lesson while you’re at it!

3. The Danger of Impulse Buying

Kids tend to be very impulsive and often have a hard time thinking through their decisions before making them. Teach them about the danger of impulse buying by not giving them everything they ask for right away. For example, if they see a toy in the store that they’re interested in and immediately ask for, don’t give in. Start saying “no” and explaining why it’s not a smart purchase. Kids learn by observing, so make sure you’re controlling your own impulse buying so they are observing good spending habits.

4. How to Budget

If your middle school or high school child has a part-time job, odds are they don’t have a whole lot to provide for quite yet. Teach them the importance of budgeting while they’re still living under your roof so when they move out, they’ll already know how. There are lots of helpful budgeting apps or plans online to get them started on.

5. Giving Back

Giving back is an important part of being an active community member, and also teaches kids other great qualities like being selfless and considerate. Let them choose a charity, organization or church they are interested in and teach them the importance of giving.

If we all do our part to teach our children about money, we’ll be bettering the next generation. Open a savings account for your child with us!