Yearly Archives:: 2020
3 Big Money Mistakes to Avoid
Everyone makes mistakes in their life at one point or another, and that’s part of the human experience. Making mistakes with money and financial decisions is also normal, but because having a healthy financial life can make or break the way you’re able to function, it’s important to acknowledge the kinds of money mistakes that can be made before it’s too late. Research shows that more than 60 percent of college graduates have outstanding student loan debt, regardless of age, and that kind of debt can follow you for the rest of your life. In order to avoid making
▸ continue readingIs a CD a Good Choice for Your Savings Goals
At Polam, we offer our members a number of different ways to save money and invest in their future. Our Vantage savings accounts are designed to work with any level of saver, and our traditional IRA accounts are designed to help our members save for retirement. However, many members choose a certificate of deposit (CD) account to save money, which allows them to earn dividends on the money they save for terms ranging from six months up to 36 months. CDs are a low-risk way for our members to earn a higher interest rate on the money
▸ continue readingSpring Cleaning Your Finances
We’re just about into the the month of May, and if you haven’t really began to get under way with your notion of spring cleaning, this is the perfect time of year to start. We all know spring cleaning involves a lot – cleaning out closets full of clothes, knick-knacks, piles of irrelevant paperwork, and so much more. But spring cleaning isn’t just a tangible affair – it applies to your finances as well, including debts, loans, and overall savings. This part of your life should especially be a focus when you’re doing spring cleaning, because your financial life
▸ continue readingStuck at Home – How to Manage Your Accounts from Anywhere
With millions of Americans stuck at home due to the worldwide coronavirus outbreak, people are seeking out new ways to remain fully functional while having to shelter in place and socially distance from others. It’s true that no one can really prepare for an event like this, much less an unexpected illness or injury, that keeps us from leaving our house to run errands, such as visiting your local Polam branch to handle your banking needs. However, it’s important to know how to manage your finances from anywhere, regardless of statewide shelter-in-place orders. If you’re looking for ways
▸ continue readingSocial Media Strategies for Small Businesses
When it comes to spreading the word about your business, promoting your brand on social media has become one of the biggest go-to strategies for any successful operation. Whether you’re marketing through Facebook and Instagram or even expanding outward with Snapchat, Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn or YouTube, there’s a bevy of ways that you, as a business owner or marketing manager, can take advantage of all that social media has to offer. Not only are these platforms free to join, but they can also allow for a great deal of creativity and flexibility. Before you begin to develop a
▸ continue readingMoney-Saving Grocery Shopping Tips
Regardless of your family size or marital status, buying groceries is one of the constants for which every person has to budget. Getting a good deal on groceries can make a huge difference in how much flexible income you have each month, and with the cost of living increasing every year, those deals can add up to a lot of savings, leaving extra room in your monthly budget. And if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, you can definitely benefit from hunting for the best bargains around. Many people have their preferred grocery stores, whether it’s because of
▸ continue readingPaying Off Your Loans Early – A Few Tips
These days, it’s relatively common to owe on a mid-to-large-sized loan, and studies have shown that more than half of all Americans have taken out a loan to which they still owe quite a bit of money. After all, especially in the 21st century, taking out a loan is almost a big part of being an adult. Whether you’ve taken out a home equity loan, student loans, or an auto loan, these days it is almost a necessity if you need to make large purchases or help get from one point to another, financially. Paying off loans can
▸ continue readingAchieving Your Financial Goals
Every person has different financial goals – big or small, easy to achieve or a goal that will take more time. Setting these goals is a smart way to ensure you’ll follow the right track over time, and they’re good for developing healthy financial habits. Whether you’re paying off student loans or credit card debt, saving for retirement, or saving to buy a house, having some kind of set goal is important to ensure your financial health won’t take a hit. However, it’s one thing to set goals, and another entirely to stick to them. Our team at
▸ continue readingHelpful Financial Lessons for Your Teenager
As a parent, you’re probably used to your children asking you for things from the minute they start talking. It’s your job to make sure they’re taken care of – healthy food, an education, a comforting home, all the proper amenities, and so forth. However, as your children continue to get older, they’re going to start asking for different things – such as money and more expensive hobbies and activities. Teaching your teenager about the value of money and how to make a dollar stretch is one of the most important lessons they can take into adulthood. If
▸ continue readingYour Personal Information – How to Keep It Safe
Now that we’re officially in the third decade of the 21st century, identity theft and cyberattacks are continuing to grow exponentially. It’s not just that theft tools are becoming more sophisticated – there are more and more methods now in which your personal, private information can become compromised. The growth of social media, mobile apps, and the online marketplace has not only made our lives more convenient and interconnected, but also more at risk as well. It’s not always easy to ensure your information is secure, especially when taking an “personality” quiz via Facebook can put your information in
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