Let’s Break it Down
It’s time to use your financial knowledge to set your goals up for success. Whether it’s additional ways to save, homebuying or managing your credit score we’re ready to lend a hand. Understanding your finances takes time, but becoming your own financial pro can be a great feeling!
Use our resources as stepping stones to continue building confidence in your cashflow.
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Savings Accounts:
Build your savings with competitive rates and great returns. Check out our certificates and money markets.Learn More -
Maintaining Better Credit:
Explore ways to manage your credit score and ensure that it stays in proper standing.Learn More -
Learning Center:
Expand your financial knowledge with our free online courses. Knowledge is power after all, start learning today.Learn More
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Budgeting and Debts:
Find a budget that works for you and prevent a future headache with proper debt planning.Learn More -
Keys to Homebuying:
Ready to buy, upgrade or downsize? Discuss your options with one of our experienced loan officers.Learn More
Using Credit Cards Wisely
A credit card is a great tool to have for your financial needs. They can be used to build your credit score, for travel benefits and more. Just be cautious if you are using one for all your expenses.
It’s easy to create a pile of debt with credit card purchases, interest and fees. Learning to use your credit card responsibly is an important skill so you don’t end up with debt you can’t afford to pay back. Lookout for the following pitfalls when using your credit cards.
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If you use your card for everyday spending, you can use features like auto pay to make sure you never miss a payment. When you pay your balance in full each month you can maximize the benefits and protections that come along with your credit card. Keep in mind, missing payments can negatively affect your credit score.
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Live within your means and purchase what you can afford. Be smart about your spending habits, and never spend up to your limit. Just because you have access to more money, does not mean you should use all of it. If you have trouble overspending, you can add spending limits using our card management tool in Digital Banking.
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Experts suggest that you should use less than 30% of your credit. Going over that limit can incur higher fees and quickly prevent you from paying down debts.
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Set up alerts to monitor fraud. Always keep an eye on your transactions for phony purchases. If you notice charges like these, notify your card company and put a hold on your account. You can easily monitor transactions like these or put your card on hold by using Digital Banking.
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Understand fees and how interest will be charged to your card. Annual fees and late payment fees can add up without you realizing. Get ahead of this by managing your monthly payments.
Stay on Top of Your Credit Score
Do you know your credit score? If you're looking to upgrade your old vehicle to a stylish new car or give yourself an advantage when applying for a home loan, your credit score can play a key role in that process. If your score is not where you hoped, become a Landmark member and use Credit Hub powered by Savvy Money to set you on the right track. Check your score for free, setup alerts, set credit goals and learn how you can enhance your score1.
5 Tips to Maintain Better Credit
- Pay your bills on time each month: Remember, late payments can affect your score.
- Pay down debt as soon as possible: Avoid using more than 30% of the credit available to you.
- Hang onto old card accounts: The longer a credit line stays open, the more positive it looks.
- Don’t over-apply for new credit: Every application for a card or loan requires a credit check that can ding your score.
- Spread your debts around: Having a mix of credit in your file like a mortgage, car loans or a credit card shows that you can handle multiple debts.
Want an in-depth breakdown of your credit score? Check out our helpful article on all the categories that make up your score.
Grow Your Savings with Confidence
Diversify your savings options for the long haul and complement your goals. Don’t keep your money under the mattress, put it into a savings that grows over time! Take advantage of one or more of our savings options and make your money work for you.
Your Financial Refresher
If you’ve ever been in a funk about your finances, it’s ok! Mastering your finances can be puzzling, and it takes time to establish an ideal financial foundation. That’s where our learning center comes in handy.
We’ve pulled together a comprehensive list of educational articles, courses and guides all in one convenient place tailored for you. These guides can help you learn to pay off lingering debts, control unexpected expenses, plan for the future and more. Launch one of our free courses now!
Why is Budgeting Important?
Learning the ins and outs of crafting a budget is an important skill. Between a mortgage, unexpected emergencies, childcare, medical bills and many other common expenses, costs start to add up.
Creating a budget and sticking to it can help you understand:
- What income you have
- Where your income is going
- Your total expenses
- How you can adjust spending habits to reach savings goals
If learning how to budget is a part of your New Year’s resolution, check out some of our budget friendly articles to help you choose a starting point.
Budgeting for Your Lifestyle
While you may have used a budget plan before, there are plenty of new ones to try out. A budget is never a bad route to take when attempting to pay off debts. Try out one of the popular methods below.
Quick Tips Before Buying a Home
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Align Your Credit
Stability is the name of the game here. Lenders want to know that your income is steady and that you can make payments on time. Learn ways to improve your credit score in our article How To Improve Your Credit Score. -
Calculate What You Can Afford
Before you get pre-approved, use a mortgage calculator to estimate your monthly payment. Double check that it aligns with your budget and works with your annual income. -
Get Pre-approved
A pre-approval is a free estimate of how much you will be approved for a home loan. Not only will this provide you with a baseline during your search, but it also gives you an edge when putting in an offer. -
Save For a Down Payment
Determine the percentage that you’re comfortable putting down and save! Keep in mind, putting a higher down payment can help lower your monthly mortgage payment.
Prepping to Sell?
Not only are we here to help with your home buying needs, we’re also ready to help you move into your next home. We can’t pack up the pots and pans, but we can start you in the right direction! If you’re thinking about selling, there are steps you can take to know what you can and cannot afford. Additionally, there are ways you can prepare your home to appeal to potential buyers. Here are some great steps to take if you are preparing to sell your home.
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Upgrading your home can also mean upgrading your mortgage costs. Even if you’re downsizing, the cost can be more. As an example, you could be going from a $200,000 home to a $300,000 condo. Before making the move, remember to review your finances and make sure you’re comfortable with a new monthly mortgage cost.
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Chat with a real estate agent before starting a home improvement project. You may think a particular project will add a lot of value, but it may not be what people in the market are looking for. Sometimes simple aesthetic updates are the most worthwhile investments when you're preparing to sell your home. Your real estate agent can help you determine what looks most appealing to a buyer, to get you the best bang for your buck.
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Declutter your home before you put it on the market. Make it as simple as possible so buyers can imagine themselves in the home. Removing clutter can also make rooms appear larger and more appealing.
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The best first step in this process is to talk with an experienced loan officer. Set up a meeting so they can walk you through the process and create a comfortable timeline. Establish what you need to do with your home beforehand, and what actions you can take to feel financially stable going forward.
A loan officer will break down where you are financially and make recommendations on what you can afford and what you should avoid purchasing. For example, if you’re planning on buying a new car while you plan to move, they may recommend pushing off the purchase of a new vehicle until you close on your new home loan. Our loan officers can help you get a holistic look at the entire process before taking the next steps.
Time For a Change of Scenery?
Whether you’ve outgrown your space, downsizing your living situation or building a dream home, our experts can help. If it’s time for a change in 2025, we have the resources to get you there. Attend a seminar in person or online to get up to date on the homebuying process.
Utilize Mortgage Calculators
Not sure what you can afford? Determine your budget or discover a better path to paying off your current mortgage with our online calculators.