Smart financiál advice from local experts. Dollar & $ense 6 Tips for Your Financial Spring Cleaning By Wes Stripling First National Bank & Trust Community Bank President Think Spring- it's right around the comer. When you kick off this spring season by cleaning, sorting and tidying up around the house, it's also a good time to add financial organization to your spring cleaning to-do list. To help, here are some tips for organizing your financial house: Review your budget. A lot can change in a year. If you've been promoted, had a child, or become a new homeowner or renter, be sure to update your budget. Determine what expenses demand the most money and identify areas where you can realistically cut back. Develop a strategy for spending and saving - and stick to it. Evaluate and pay down debt. Take a look at how much you owe and what you are paying in interest. Begin paying off existing debt, whether that's by chipping away at loans with the highest interest rates or eliminating smaller debt first. Set up automatic bill pay. By signing up for automatic bill pay, you'll never have to wory about a missed payment impacting your credit score. You can set it so that money is withdrawn from your checking account on the same day each month. Sign up for e-statements, paperless billing and text alerts. Converting to paperless billing will help keep your house-physical and financial-more clean and organized, and will help protect you from fraud. Shred old financial documents. The IRS recommends keeping tax returns and other important documents for at least seven years after you file the return. Go through your tax files, shred older files and create a system that keeps your paperwork organized so it is easily accessible. Check your credit report. Every year, you are guaranteed one free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus. Take advantage of these free reports and check them for any possible errors. Mistakes can drag down your score and prevent you from getting a loan, or cause you to pay a higher than necessary interest rate. Manage your money on the go. Utilize a mobile bank- ing app to check your balance, pay your bills, transfer funds, deposit a check and send money to friends from wherever you are. Spring is the season of renewal and taking time to renew your financial focus will set you up for sunny financial days throughout the rest of the year. First National Bank & Trust Growing Roots in Our Community 3805 10th St. Menominee 906.863.7861 fnbimk.com FDIC Smart financiál advice from local experts. Dollar & $ense 6 Tips for Your Financial Spring Cleaning By Wes Stripling First National Bank & Trust Community Bank President Think Spring- it's right around the comer. When you kick off this spring season by cleaning, sorting and tidying up around the house, it's also a good time to add financial organization to your spring cleaning to-do list. To help, here are some tips for organizing your financial house: Review your budget. A lot can change in a year. If you've been promoted, had a child, or become a new homeowner or renter, be sure to update your budget. Determine what expenses demand the most money and identify areas where you can realistically cut back. Develop a strategy for spending and saving - and stick to it. Evaluate and pay down debt. Take a look at how much you owe and what you are paying in interest. Begin paying off existing debt, whether that's by chipping away at loans with the highest interest rates or eliminating smaller debt first. Set up automatic bill pay. By signing up for automatic bill pay, you'll never have to wory about a missed payment impacting your credit score. You can set it so that money is withdrawn from your checking account on the same day each month. Sign up for e-statements, paperless billing and text alerts. Converting to paperless billing will help keep your house-physical and financial-more clean and organized, and will help protect you from fraud. Shred old financial documents. The IRS recommends keeping tax returns and other important documents for at least seven years after you file the return. Go through your tax files, shred older files and create a system that keeps your paperwork organized so it is easily accessible. Check your credit report. Every year, you are guaranteed one free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus. Take advantage of these free reports and check them for any possible errors. Mistakes can drag down your score and prevent you from getting a loan, or cause you to pay a higher than necessary interest rate. Manage your money on the go. Utilize a mobile bank- ing app to check your balance, pay your bills, transfer funds, deposit a check and send money to friends from wherever you are. Spring is the season of renewal and taking time to renew your financial focus will set you up for sunny financial days throughout the rest of the year. First National Bank & Trust Growing Roots in Our Community 3805 10th St. Menominee 906.863.7861 fnbimk.com FDIC