Money Matters Blog

Are you thinking about taking the big step of becoming a homeowner? Purchasing your first house is a significant and exciting change, but it can be easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget about certain costs. If you want to make sure you have all of your financial bases covered before owning a house, keep reading!

The cost of maintaining a lawn is one people often underestimate. Whether you hire someone to keep your lawn looking fresh or decide to do it...

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Parenting isn’t easy, and we are here to help you in whatever ways we can. Keep reading to learn 5 simple and important things to teach your kids about money!

The easiest way to encourage your kids to save money is by getting them a piggy bank. Most kids find that adding money to their piggy bank is rewarding. Encourage them to add money to their piggy bank as they earn it, and then bring to the bank when it’s full to deposit. Did you know that...

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Spring cleaning doesn’t just have to be about your house - sometimes your finances need a good dusting, too! We’ve put together some great and simple ways to clean up your finances and start fresh with your spending habits!

Paperwork from your finances can pile up quickly. Now’s a great time to file through those old papers, make digital copies in a safe place and put the originals in the shredder. Not only will this declutter your office...

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Teaching your kids about saving money can be quite the undertaking. Luckily, there are games and fun ways to help your children engage with this learning process. Check out these 5 games that will help your kids learn more about saving.

Not only is Monopoly a fun family game, but it’s also a great game to teach kids about money. The game can get lengthy, but it teaches some valuable lessons. Not only do you learn how to save your money, but you also learn about making...

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There is no doubt that many Americans have poor money habits. Do you think you may be one of them? No need to be embarrassed – chances are you were never taught financial literacy in school. However, there’s no time like the present to start learning! These are tried and true ways to say “goodbye” to bad money habits. 

It’s easy to overspend if you don’t really watch where your money is going. And if you aren’t taking...

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We all want to be able to help our children out when it comes to furthering their education. But how can you save for your children’s future on top of your own debt and bills to pay? In today’s blog, we want to give a couple quick and simple ways to begin building your baby’s college fund. It may be just a start, but at least it’s a step in the right direction.

One option is a 529 college savings plan, also known as Qualified Tuition Programs (QTP)....

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February 17, 2020 was Random Act of Kindness Day. Since it was also Presidents' Day (a non-banking day), FMBT was closed to conduct all staff training. As part of a team building exercise, FMBT staff were sent out in teams throughout Marinette, Menominee, Peshtigo, and Crivitz. Equipped with a little bit of cash and a whole lot of heart, they were tasked with performing as many random acts of kindness as they could in a two hour period. This was a surprise for both our staff as well as...

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Financial responsibility starts in the home. If it’s not something you were taught as a child, it can be difficult to model it in the home as an adult. The good news is, it’s never too late to start! Here’s what you need to know to kick your household into gear. 

The more, the merrier! Many parents feel anxious to talk about finances with the entire household. However, each member of the household will benefit from having an open conversation...

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Whether retirement is around the corner or many years away, you likely have some questions about how to prepare yourself financially. Today, we will tackle some of the most common questions. 

IRA stands for Individual Retirement Account. The purpose of it is to provide a tax advantaged way for people save for retirement on their own. The two types of IRAs are Traditional and Roth. 

Traditional: With a Traditional IRA, contributions may be tax-deductible...

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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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