Smart financial advice from local experts... Dollars & Sense Declutter Your Finances With a Spring Cleaning By Wes Stripling, Community Bank President First National Bank & Trust With spring right around the comer, spring season also means spring deaning. While sorting and tidying up around the house, it's also agood 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. Alot 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 eliminat- ing smaller debt first. Set up automatik bill pay. By signing upfor automatic bill pay you'l never have to worny about a missed payment impacting your cedit score. You can setit so that money is withdrawn from your checking account on the same day cach month. Sign up for e-statements, paperless billing and text alerts. Converting to paperless billing will help keep your house-physical and financial-more dean and organized, and will help protect you from fraud. Shred old financial documents. The IRS recommends keeping tax retums 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 emors. Mistakes can drag down your score and prevent you from getting a loan, or cause you to pay a higher than necessary intenest rate. Manage your money on the go. Utilize a mobile banking app to check your balance, pay your bills, transfer funds, deposit a check and send money to friends from whereveryou are. Spring is the season of renewaland 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 Smart financial advice from local experts... Dollars & Sense Declutter Your Finances With a Spring Cleaning By Wes Stripling, Community Bank President First National Bank & Trust With spring right around the comer, spring season also means spring deaning. While sorting and tidying up around the house, it's also agood 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. Alot 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 eliminat- ing smaller debt first. Set up automatik bill pay. By signing upfor automatic bill pay you'l never have to worny about a missed payment impacting your cedit score. You can setit so that money is withdrawn from your checking account on the same day cach month. Sign up for e-statements, paperless billing and text alerts. Converting to paperless billing will help keep your house-physical and financial-more dean and organized, and will help protect you from fraud. Shred old financial documents. The IRS recommends keeping tax retums 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 emors. Mistakes can drag down your score and prevent you from getting a loan, or cause you to pay a higher than necessary intenest rate. Manage your money on the go. Utilize a mobile banking app to check your balance, pay your bills, transfer funds, deposit a check and send money to friends from whereveryou are. Spring is the season of renewaland 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