Money Saving Ideas for The 2020 Holiday Season

Christmas 2020 is right around the corner! Who's excited? We know how special this time of year is for everyone. That doesn't mean it can't get pretty costly sometimes, depending on all of the decorations, presents, food items, etc. that you are buying. With that in mind, our bank at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to give you a few money-saving ideas for the 2020 holiday season in this week's blog. If you want to start building your savings NOW, please give us a call and ask about our Free Kasasa Saver® account! First Bank of the Lake can be reached at 573-348-2265.

Money Saving Ideas for The 2020 Holiday Season

Decide On A Budget And Don't Go Over It By Any Means!

Create a budget that is realistic, in the sense that you can actually stick to it. Yes, it can be VERY tempting around this time of year to make impulse buys and last-minute decisions, but if you are serious about saving money, having a budget in mind can really help!

Try A Secret Santa Vs. Buying Presents For Everyone.

If you buy presents for everyone in your family, all your friends, and all your close contacts, the expenditures can add up REALLY quickly. Save yourself some money and time and arrange a SECRET SANTA this year. They can be SO fun. You simply have everyone who is planning on attending your Christmas party draw names ahead of time. Then, each person is only expected to purchase a present for the person they drew.

Host a Potluck This Year Vs. Buying All The Ingredients For Several Dishes Yourself.

Have you ever thought about how much money you end up spending each Christmas just on food? Also, aren't there ALWAYS leftovers that don't actually get eaten? Save yourself the trouble and the money this year and host a potluck! Each person attending your party can bring a side dish and you can provide the meat. It's a WIN-WIN.

Don't Buy A Present Unless You Can Pay For It Upfront.

Again, the temptation is REAL when it comes to last-minute Christmas present buying and impulse buys. Don't give in to that temptation by using your credit card and racking up a bunch of debt. Stick to your budget and only buy what you can pay cash for.

Don't Overestimate The Gift Of Volunteering Your Time.

Some of the BEST gifts are free. Your brother may appreciate a FREE coupon for babysitting his kids or your sister may appreciate a FREE coupon for one homemade dinner made by you in the future. These are just examples, but the point here is not every GOOD present requires actual money.

Have a Happy Holiday Season From First Bank of the Lake!

All of us here at First Bank of the Lake hope you enjoy your holiday season this year! We know how tough this year has been for everyone, so take some time to relax with your loved ones. If you have decided that NOW is the time to start building your savings, please give us a call at the number listed below and ask us about our Free Kasasa Saver® account. You can also follow us on our social media channels listed below to stay up to date on our latest announcements. 

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Located at the entrance to the Osage Beach Premium Outlets!

4558 Osage Beach Parkway

Suite 100

Osage Beach, MO 65065

(573) 348-2265

The Advantages of Banking Locally

Do you live at the Lake of the Ozarks? If so, you should know that there are a few advantages to banking locally. Our bank in Osage Beach is here to tell you ALL about them in this week's blog. If you are unhappy with your current bank's customer service, please consider First Bank of the Lake for all your banking needs. Remember, we put YOU first!

The Advantages of Banking Locally

UNDERSTANDING FROM YOUR NEIGHBORS

At First Bank of the Lake, we are YOUR neighbors. We stand on our commitment to community, employees and, most importantly, our customers. You will likely see us out volunteering and participating in local events and working together to help build a thriving community.  Our approach to banking isn’t all that complicated. We have real solutions for your life and your business and we put our years of experience to work for you. We take the time to listen, understand and respond to the needs of our customers.  We can help with all your financial needs, create opportunities and realize your dreams. No matter what your needs, we put our financial expertise and market savvy to work for you. We serve the banking needs of permanent residents, second homeowners who have embraced the lake lifestyle, as well as tourists who have chosen to spend their valuable free time in our beautiful Lake community. At First Bank of the Lake, you have a financial partner you can count on. We’d love to talk to you about yourself or your business and where you want to go. We’ll help you get there. Find out what it’s like to work with a bank who puts your first. 

COMMUNITY IS A PRIORITY TO US

We have had the pleasure of being a part of this community for over THREE DECADES. The Lake of the Ozarks area truly comes together in great times of need. Our bank has sponsored community events that support local charities. For example, First Bank of the Lake has been VERY involved in Segs4Vets currently.

First Bank of the Lake partnered with the Missouri Bankers Association to provide Segways for men and women injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

This year, First Bank of the Lake sponsored in-house campaigns to raise $327.50 for Segs4Vets. During the month of October and the first week of November, employees who made a $5 donation each week could wear jeans on Wednesdays and for an extra donation, they could wear Jeans on Fridays along with their favorite sports team gear. Employees also participated in a fund-raising luncheon and donated the proceeds from the luncheon. 

Community members also helped support Segs4Vets by dropping off donations at First Bank of the Lake. 

GROW YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY

When you work with a local bank, you put your money to work growing the local economy. We share a common commitment to our community with our customers. Also, when you work with a local bank, loan approvals and other key decisions are made locally by people who live in the community, have face-to-face relationships with our customers, and understand local needs.

Ready To Bank Locally With First Bank of the Lake?

All of us here at First Bank of the Lake hope that you enjoyed this blog. We hope you understand how important community is to us and the true benefits of banking locally. If you would like to learn more about the very convenient banking products we can offer you to make your life easier, please give us a call at the number listed below. You can also follow us on our social media channels listed below to stay up to date on our latest announcements.

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First Bank of the Lake - Striving For Excellence

Member FDIC. 

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Located at the entrance to the Osage Beach Premium Outlets!

4558 Osage Beach Parkway

Suite 100

Osage Beach, MO 65065

(573) 348-2265

Why Choose Mobile Banking NOW?

Who likes driving to the bank every week? Who likes having to make a special trip to the bank every time they get paid? Who likes taking the time to write down every expenditure they make from their checking account in a checkbook? 

If these sorts of things ARE NOT your thing, this is the blog for you! Keep reading this week's blog to learn why you should choose mobile banking now! Our bank at the Lake of the Ozarks believes in putting our customers FIRST. This means thinking about YOUR needs. If you have the need for more convenient banking, call First Bank of the Lake today! Our friendly staff can be reached at (573) 348-2265.

Why Choose Mobile Banking NOW?

Save Your Time For What You Really Want To Spend Your Time On.
With mobile banking, you will be savings TONS of time, by not having to make a trip to the bank every time you need to check your balance, make a transfer, etc. This goes for phone calls too. If you don't like spending time on the phone, simple banking transactions can be done from the convenience of your smart phone. Just a few seconds and BOOM, you've checked your balance like that!

Here's How It Works:

1. Manage your money anytime, anywhere with Mobile Banking
2. Instant Balance: When enabled, users can securely preview balances without logging in.
3. Touch/Fingerprint ID: Log in using your fingerprint instead of a password with Apple's Touch ID or Android's Fingerprint Authentication or Facial Recognition.
4. Account Balances: View your account balances in real-time.
5. Recent Transactions: View both recent and pending transactions.
6. Check Images: View images of the front and back of your checks.
7. Transfer Funds: Easily move money between your accounts.
8. Add Contacts: Add companies and people to send money to.
9. Send Money: Schedule payments to companies and people.
10. Deposit Checks: Deposit paper checks using your phone's built-in camera.

Protect Your Banking Privacy.
Mobile Banking is fully secure. Use Mobile Banking with complete confidence. It delivers the highest level of security thanks to multiple layers of authentication.

Mobile Banking That Works For You!

If you have any questions about our mobile banking product, please do not hesitate to give us a call! We can be reached at the phone number listed below. You can also stop by the next time you're in town and visit us if you'd like. We are conveniently located near the entrance to the Premium Outlets in Osage Beach. Be sure to follow us on our social media channels listed below to stay up to date on our latest announcements and products that we are featuring each week!

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First Bank of the Lake - Striving For Excellence

Member FDIC. 

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Located at the entrance to the Osage Beach Premium Outlets!

4558 Osage Beach Parkway

Suite 100

Osage Beach, MO 65065

(573) 348-2265

Creative Ways To Start Saving For That First Home

Have you ever thought about becoming a homeowner? There can be a lot of perks to becoming a homeowner and many have bought homes here at the Lake of the Ozarks this year. With the being said, our bank at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to give you a few creative ways to start saving for that first home in this week's blog. Interested in hearing about our mortgage rates at the Lake of the Ozarks? Please call First Bank of the Lake today at (573) 348-2265 and speak with one of our friendly mortgage specialists.

Creative Ways To Start Saving For That First Home

Get a second job (part-time) working remotely.

As you can see, many companies have moved to working remotely since the COVID-19 pandemic started, but some have decided to stay remote. This could be your opportunity to get a convenient work-from-home part-time job, in addition to the current job. Do a quick job search to see if there are any openings.

Save your tax refunds.

While it can be very tempting to spend your tax refund on something extravagant, just think about the positive impact you could have on down payment savings by adding to that!

Go without unnecessary leisurely expenditures for a while.

Cut back on spending money on/at things like fine dining, coffee shops, clothing stores, and vacations for a while. You may be surprised at how much you can save by cutting back a little bit for a while.

If you rent right now, consider moving to a small apartment with cheaper rent so that you have more money to save for your down payment when you do go to buy a house.

Let's say you are currently renting a 2 bedroom/1 bath condo at the Lake of the Ozarks for $800 a month. Do you really need that much space right now? If not, try downsizing to a 1 bedroom apartment and saving for your down payment by not having to pay such high rent each month.

Home Loans at the Lake of the Ozarks

All of us here at First Bank of the Lake hope that you enjoyed learning more about how to save for your first home in this week's blog. Our mortgage professionals are here for you if you are interested in buying your first home this year! 1st Home. 2nd. Home. Your Dream Starts Here! We’re 1st with Competitive Rates, Flexible Terms, and Low Closing Costs! We make the home loan process easier. Learn more and give us a call today at the phone number listed below. You can also follow us on our social media platforms listed below to stay up to date on our latest announcements. We would like to wish you an easy stress-free home search!

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First Bank of the Lake - Striving For Excellence

Member FDIC. 

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Follow Us On Twitter

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Located at the entrance to the Osage Beach Premium Outlets!

4558 Osage Beach Parkway

Suite 100

Osage Beach, MO 65065

(573) 348-2265