Setting a Plan to Eliminate Debt Whether you’re starting a diet, exercise routine or a strategy to eliminate personal debt – the plan is the easy part. Following the plan, not so much. It takes commitment and discipline to become debt free, but the reward is well worth it. Being debt free will allow you… Read More
Financial Health: How to Improve Your Credit Score
Stay on Top of Your Credit Scores – Look for Ways to Improve if Needed Your credit score dictates everything from credit card approval to mortgage interest rates. You can’t get away from your score, so take it seriously. Know your score, and know how to monitor it. Stay financially fit!
Am I Financially Fit?: Debt-to-Income Ratio
Debt-to-income ratio, also known as: High School Math Class, Revisited People often want more house than they can afford, more car than they can afford, more things than they can afford. Perhaps it’s just human nature to stretch your budget. In our consumer-oriented society, there are a lot of forces telling you to buy a… Read More
How to Create an Emergency Fund
Take the Steps to Build Your Emergency “Rainy Day” Fund You’ve heard it said: “save for a rainy day.” Most of us have probably heard it endlessly repeated from our parents. But there’s something to be said for having an emergency or rainy day fund. You just never know.
How to Get Out of Debt with a Home Equity Line of Credit
Are you trying to make a big life change but need a little financial help? With all the financing choices out there, it can be challenging to find the right loan or credit option for your situation.
How to Get a Better Loan by Banking Locally
Small businesses, which create the majority of new jobs, depend heavily on community banks for financing. Although small and mid-sized banks control less than one-quarter of all bank assets, they account for more than half of all small business lending. Big banks, meanwhile, allocate relatively little of their resources to small businesses. The largest 20… Read More
Home Equity Loan vs. Home Equity Line of Credit: Which is Better?
Which is better? It depends on your needs. When deciding whether to take out a Home Equity Loan or Home Equity Line of Credit, consider your goals, your payment schedule, your spending habits and your risk tolerance.
6 Ways to Avoid Medical Debt Collection
Life can be difficult when a loved one or we are ill and medical bills start to arrive. This becomes a very stressful time and can cause financial distress. One thing we have to do when medical bills start to pile up is become our own advocate. We need to take control of the situation… Read More
3 Ways a Personal Loan Can Help Your Community
Community banks are often considered the heart of their communities because of the care and concern they have for families and businesses in the area. Chelsea State Bank makes it their mission to give back to their communities by donating thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours to local organizations that help communities thrive.
9 Ways to Pay off Debt Without Credit Cards
Today, many of us are living paycheck to paycheck because of financial situations that happen beyond our control. Someone in our household loses a job, becomes ill, or experiences other hardships like death or divorce. Whatever your life situation, when the bills start to pile up…it’s easy to turn toward one or many of the… Read More