Money Matters Blog

It’s never too early to save for college. Some parents start college funds even before their kids are born. If you have yet to jump on the savings train, it’s not too late to get serious about saving while in high school. The average cost of in-state tuition is around $9,000 in Wisconsin and almost $13,000 in Michigan. Every dollar that you can save now will make a difference in the long run. 

If there’s any time to hit the books, it’s...

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Start the year out strong so you can finish the end of next year with a bang! These are some of our favorite savings resolutions that are great for novice savers or experts!

The first step you should take this year is to make steps to build up an emergency fund. Don’t let the unexpected set you painfully back in your budget and even from your ability to pay bills. Seventy eight percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford...

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College students face quite a learning curve in just about every way possible when they are living on their own for the first time. While most college students consider themselves to be tech-savvy, it doesn’t always mean that they know how to stay safe from cyber threats that evolve every day. When they enter college, students become part of the one of the most targeted groups for cybersecurity threats. Students, take these tips with you throughout your college career.

You don’t have to have extravagant wealth to take part in the season of giving. The definition of charitable is “relating to the assistance of those in need”. While a charitable gift of money can definitely be helpful, there are many other meaningful ways to give that leave a lasting impact on a family. These are some of our favorites. 

Time is a valuable commodity that few give freely. There are many organizations in the area that would love...

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Now that cooler weather is rolling in, it’s time to review your energy saving strategy. Farmers & Merchants Bank & Trust is here to offer you plenty of fantastic ideas to increase your savings this season.

Humidifiers offer health benefits as well as bigger savings! Humidity keeps your warm, forced air trapped in the living area in the house longer, thus satisfying your thermostat longer.

Even though it’s a little...

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Sticking to a budget is always a challenge, especially when it comes to a home remodel. That’s why we’re here to give you the financial framework you need for your next renovation. Before you pull out the hammer, get ready for your home remodel the right way with these 6 budgeting tips.

Many people have a long list of improvements they’d like to make to their home, but most can’t tackle everything at once. What needs to get done first or what has...

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October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Cyber fraud is constantly on the rise, and hackers are always evolving their tactics. Putting these 10 habits into place can help you remain one step ahead of the bad guys:

A long password is better than an overly complex password. Try to create unique passwords for all of your logins and change them periodically. Of course, the more passwords you have and the more often you change them,...

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Finding free or inexpensive activities for your kids can be a challenge. It’s great to get them active and out of the house, but at this point, you’re out of ideas. We have crafted the perfect list of kid-friendly things to do that won’t break the bank!

If it’s chilly outside and the kids are looking to wind down, a movie marathon is a great idea! Make a theme of it by making snacks to go with the movies you decide to watch. Think popcorn “snowballs”...

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Uh oh, the unthinkable happened: a car accident, medical event, or job loss. You had to dip into your emergency fund. The good news is you had prepared for the unexpected by keeping an emergency fund. The bad news is that you had to spend  it. Where do you go from here and how do you rebuild what you had? Here are some tried and true ways to rebuild your emergency fund for the next rainy day.

That gym membership and streaming subscription...

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Technology is everywhere and used on a daily basis nowadays, so how do we protect our children when online? Now more than ever is the most important time to sit down with your kiddos and spend time really explaining the importance of being safe while online. That’s why Farmers & Merchants Bank & Trust wanted to offer some main points to touch on with your kids when discussing online safety.

These 8 simple rules are a great starting point for family discussions...

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