Friday, September 28, 2018

Tips for Buying Your Fall Wardrobe on a Budget

Fall is here! Pull out the leggings, flannel, and scarves and get ready for that amazing fall weather that is coming. Need to update your fall wardrobe, but not sure how you can afford it? Have no fear, our bank in Osage Beach is here to give you a few tips for buying your fall wardrobe on a budget. If you'd like to get paid for making your fall wardrobe purchases this season, call First Bank of the Lake today at 573-348-2265 and ask about the Free Kasasa Cash Back® Checking account and earn cash back on your debit card purchases.


 Tips for Buying Your Fall Wardrobe on a Budget


Shop online for deals.
Shop the deals online, you may find more discounts online than in stores due to having more variety and stores to choose from. However, you can also wait and shop for your fall wardrobe on Black Friday, online or in stores an save a ton of money that way too.

Go to discount stores that hold second-hand clothing.
You can find a very cute selection in stores that sell lightly used clothing as well. For example, stores such as:

  • Bear Market
  • Plato's Closet

...or even thrift shops or yard sales can be a great option for finding affordable fall clothing. Just remember, "one man's trash can be another man's treasure."

Check your closet for fall clothes you may already have BEFORE you shop.
Give your closet a good fall season sweep and organize your clothes by season. You may find you have a ton of fall clothes already that you forgot about because you haven't worn them in forever.

Create a wardrobe capsule.
A wardrobe capsule is a small collection of clothes that can work for any season and go with many things. For example, you may have a fun summer skirt, that can also look amazing with a pair of leggings and boots, which could be a GREAT fall outfit. Choose 10 to 15 items and save money by using them throughout the year.


Make Shopping More Fun with First Bank of the Lake!


Free Kasasa Cash Back® checking makes up for all the times you ever had to pay a monthly service fee on your account. There are no monthly service fees, and this account pays you to shop! Get paid to shop for your fall wardrobe.

Here’s how easy it is to earn your rewards:

To earn your rewards, just do the following transactions and activities in your Kasasa Cash Back account during each Monthly Qualification Cycle:

  • Have at least 12 debit card purchases post and settle
  • Be enrolled in and log into online banking

That’s all! And even if you don’t meet these qualifications, there are no penalties and you still have a free account. Plus, you can get right back to earning your cash rewards the very next cycle that you qualify. For more information, visit our website at www.FirstBankLake.com.


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First Bank of the Lake - Striving For Excellence
Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.


Located at the entrance to the Osage Beach Premium Outlets!

4558 Osage Beach Parkway

Suite 100
Osage Beach, MO 65065


(573) 348-2265

Friday, September 21, 2018

How to Budget for That First Baby

Congratulations! You just found out that you are pregnant and your family is growing by at least one. Budget for your baby early on so you're not scrambling for cash after the little guy or girl gets here. Our bank at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to give you a few tips on how to budget for that first baby. If you'd like to open up a savings account for your little one, visit with our friendly staff at First Bank of the Lake or check out our website at www.FirstBankLake.com.


How to Budget for That First Baby


Research childcare costs.
On average, prices for daycare amount to approximately $11,666 per year, but can range from $3,582 to $18,7773 a year, which is anywhere from $300 to $1,564 a month.

Source: https://www.babycenter.com/0_how-much-youll-spend-on-childcare_1199776.bc

You also have to be mindful of openings, especially for newborns. Sometimes, daycare will have limited space and you must reserve your child's spot early on.

Check with your company about paid maternity leave.
Some companies may offer paid maternity leave or short term disability pay, which allows for you to receive payment while you are out on maternity. If you are the mother and plan to take off work after your child is born, which most mothers do, then every little bit helps while you are not working. Check on these sorts of things early on.

Check your health insurance regarding prenatal care costs.
Prenatal costs such as your monthly doctor visits, ultrasounds, and bloodwork can add up after a while. Some healthcare facilities require these costs to be paid by your baby's due date. Plan accordingly and cut back on other expenses where you can, such as eating out each week.

Save for medical expenses.
Other costs related to your baby can include the actual birth costs, which can typically by anywhere from $4000 to $7000. Check with the healthcare facility about a payment plan.

Budget for nursery items.
With this being your first baby, you may tempted to buy all NEW items. There is no shame in buying used items for your nursery, especially bigger items such as a crib, a pack and play, or a stroller. Save money where you can because you will most likely need it for other mandatory items such as diapers, baby food, etc.


Save for that First Baby with First Bank of the Lake


Save for that baby as easily as possible and let our bank in Osage Beach help you. Build savings automatically — link your Free Kasasa Saver® account to your free Kasasa® checking. Free Kasasa Saver® is saving simplified. Connect it to your Kasasa Cash® or Kasasa Cash Back® checking to build your savings effortlessly. Learn more at www.FirstBankLake.com.


Want More Awesome Finance Tips? Sign Up For Our Newsletter!


First Bank of the Lake - Striving For Excellence
Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.


Located at the entrance to the Osage Beach Premium Outlets!

4558 Osage Beach Parkway

Suite 100
Osage Beach, MO 65065


(573) 348-2265

Friday, September 14, 2018

Have a Fun & Affordable Honeymoon!

A honeymoon should be a special time you share with your new husband or wife! You should make unforgettable memories with your special someone and have the best time. Who says you have to "break the bank" to do this? You don't. There are certain ways you can go about planning an affordable honeymoon and still have an INCREDIBLE time. Our bank at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to give you a few tips for planning an affordable honeymoon. For a savings account that can help you build your savings automatically for that special honeymoon, stop by and visit with us at First Bank of the Lake at 573-348-2265.


5 Tips for Planning an Affordable Honeymoon


1. Pick your destination then find ways to save money from there.
This could be a one in a lifetime experience. If you have always dreamed of going somewhere, like Hawaii, the Bahamas, Italy, or Paris for example, then don't necessarily cancel those places out because you think they will be too expensive, pick your dream honeymoon destination and you can just save money in other ways.

2. Look at Bed and Breakfasts.
What is cuter than a newly married couple in a Bed and Breakfast!? You can typically find cheaper lodging rates going this route and you can save money by having the included breakfast every morning. Not only can you save money but you may also find more of a romantic aspect to a Bed and Breakfast. It could be a new experience for you and depending on the Bed and Breakfast, there could be a lot of history and culture behind the place.

3. Check flights frequently.
Don't just jump at the first flight you see unless you are desperate. Look for deals, typically you will find you can fly cheaper if you fly during the week versus on a weekend.

4. Watch for hidden fees.
Make sure you pay attention to extra fees that come with your lodging and transportation bills. For example, pay attention to the parking fees at the airport or the WiFi fees at your lodging facility.

5. Don't be afraid to say it's your honeymoon!
When you are booking your honeymoon, you can say it is your honeymoon. Some companies may be up for either throwing in a special treat for free or giving you a discount for the special occasion.


Save for Your Honeymoon with First Bank of the Lake


We are a local bank in Osage Beach and have been here for over 30 years. When you work with a local bank, you put your money to work growing the local economy. We value face-to-face relationships with our customers and we understand local needs. For information on our savings products that can work for you and your particular needs, visit www.FirstBankLake.com.

Want More Awesome Finance Tips? Sign Up For Our Newsletter!


First Bank of the Lake - Striving For Excellence
Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.


Located at the entrance to the Osage Beach Premium Outlets!

4558 Osage Beach Parkway

Suite 100
Osage Beach, MO 65065


(573) 348-2265

Friday, September 7, 2018

Budget Tips for Halloween 2018

Halloween 2018 is going to be epic this year! From candy and fun Halloween parties to the cutest costumes, it is bound to be one of the best holidays of the year. But, how will you prepare for it? Paying for these sorts of things starts to add up after a while. Our bank at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to give you a few budget tips to prepare you for the spookiest holiday of the year. For a savings account that can help you build your savings automatically for holidays like Halloween, call First Bank of the Lake today at 573-348-2265.


Budget Tips for Halloween 2018


Participate in Free and Cost Effective Halloween Activities at the Lake of the Ozarks

Event Name: Eldon PTO Trunk-or-Treat
When: Oct 27, 2018
Where: Eldon Elementary School Storm Shelter
409 East 25th St.
Eldon MO 65026
Phone: 573-280-3641
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/234162427291223/
Hours of Operation: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

This is a free event and you can find more information on https://www.funlake.com/eldon-pto-trunk-or-treat.

In addition to this free event, there are several free or cost-effective things you can do with your kids here at the Lake of the Ozarks, such as:
  • Trick or treating at the Osage Beach Premium Outlets
  • Typically, there's a low-cost trick or treating event every year at Hyvee for the kiddos
  • Usually, there's another low-cost Halloween event at Captain Ron's.
One of the best things you can do is to check FunLake.com once October starts for the latest Halloween event information. You can usually find either free or low-cost festive events to take your kiddos too.


Make DIY Halloween Costumes

There are several DIY Halloween costume tutorials you can find online for free! You can save a ton of money here by making your kid's costume. The materials can be found at an affordable price typically if you shop at local discount stores. This way, your child can have a fun, creative and unique costume and doesn't have to worry about having one that is the exact same as someone else.



Buy your candy in bulk.

You may find a great deal of savings simply by buying your candy in bulk. If there is candy left over you can always use it for other things, such as kid birthday parties, other holiday parties, such as Thanksgiving or Christmas or just to treat your kids to.

Save for Major Holidays with First Bank of the Lake


Build your savings automatically with a savings account that allows you to do so effortlessly. The Free Kasasa Saver® is saving simplified. Connect it to your Kasasa Cash® or Kasasa Cash Back® checking to earn cash rewards. Your Kasasa checking gets earnings, those can then transfer into your Kasasa Saver. It's really that easy. To learn more about this awesome account, call First Bank of the Lake today for a savings account at the Lake of the Ozarks that rewards you. We hope everyone has a safe, but fun Halloween this year.


Want More Awesome Finance Tips? Sign Up For Our Newsletter!


First Bank of the Lake - Striving For Excellence
Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.


Located at the entrance to the Osage Beach Premium Outlets!

4558 Osage Beach Parkway

Suite 100
Osage Beach, MO 65065


(573) 348-2265