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Cybersecurity: Q&A

cybersecurity

We all know this one – use different passwords and switch them up periodically. While this is a helpful tip to avoid being hacked, there are some questions you may still have on cybersecurity. Luckily, Milledgeville State Bank offers a few answers to your existing questions.

Question: How can I protect my personal information from an attack?

Answer: Be sure that your antivirus program is up-to-date. When it is time to renew that software, do it. Don’t wait around thinking it will be okay for a few weeks. Hackers have more freedom to get your information when anti-virus programs are down. Another tip is to update your WIFI password regularly along with creating a unique network name.

Question: How risky is using public WIFI?

Answer: Even though free WIFI sounds like a great deal, don’t be tempted. Hackers sit waiting for potential targets connecting to public WIFI zones. They have the perfect opportunity to go undetected and gain access to your personal information.

Question: What kind of passwords should I be creating and using?

Answer: Utilize a password that contains letters, numbers and special characters such as @, #, ^, etc. Be sure that everyone in your family uses different passwords with separate logins. This ensures that if one person gets hacked, that other family members’ information can still be protected. Be sure to turn on 2-step authentication wherever it’s available and keep your browser and software updated.

Question: Can a hacker access my webcam?

Answer: Although the short answer is yes, don’t begin to worry too much. As long as you continue to make updates to your software, you should be okay. Cyber criminals focus on drawing you to untrusted sites, having you click on links or download certain items. Once this happens, hackers are able to begin stealing your information or encrypt your data. Some even make you pay a “ransom” to get control of your computer and access to your information.

Question: Is paper the safe option to do business?

Answer: Doing business electronically is perfectly safe if you use the right tools. Paper information can be stolen, lost in the mail or misplaced into the wrong hands. Properly securing your business passwords and information along with keeping it separate from your personal information will help protect your data. Shred any hard copy information you no longer need if you decide to go that route and lock up the important files that shouldn’t be left in the open.

We hope these answers help you understand cybersecurity a little better! Don’t be afraid to surf the web – just stay aware and continue updating your software. Don’t get caught up on the technical terms, just read information from trustworthy sources to better protect yourself!

How To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

theft

The first step in protecting yourself from identity theft is understanding what identity theft actually is. It’s defined as “the illegal use of someone else’s personal information usually in order to obtain money or credit.”

Do you have a credit card? If so, in a study by Experian, 81% of people said they rely on their banks and credit card companies to protect them from fraud. We don’t want you to fall in that 81%, so we offer these 5 ways you can protect yourself.

Freeze your credit – This will restrict access to all of your records so that any new credit files cannot be opened, unless you unfreeze it. There may be an additional fee to do this, but it will vary depending on the state.
Create stronger passwords – Many people love to use the same password for a variety of different sites. In the end you may think this is a good idea, however it’s not. Mixing up your passwords in addition to making them more difficult will decrease your risk of your identity being stolen. If it helps, write your passwords down for your specific sites but be sure to keep that information in a safe place. Random combinations of letters, numbers and special characters work best.
Limit your personal information – Are your full name, birthdate and family members listed on your social media sites? If that information is out there, it’s likely that anyone can see it. Limit the amount of personal information you put on the internet and check your privacy settings. Fraudsters may also pose as a bank/credit card company over the phone asking for your information. But, no real company will call asking for your personal information. Therefore, don’t give anything away!
Check your credit/financial reports – You are allowed a free credit report from each of the credit bureaus every 12 months on AnnualCreditReport.com. Credit reports will include any leery activity on your accounts, so check your credit reports frequently for any incorrect information.
Use a shredder – Don’t have a shredder? We recommend you buy one, especially if you’re throwing away any credit card or bank statements. Documents like those should not be placed in the garbage unless they are shredded to pieces. If they’re placed in the garbage, anyone has the ability to find it and steal your information.

There’s no doubt that identity thieves are out there, so it’s up to you to take extra caution. With these helpful tips, we hope you can become extra successful at protecting yourself from identity theft.

5 Fun Money Challenges to Try

fun

Finding different ways to save can be tough, however, we want to encourage you to stay on track and jumpstart your finances. With these fun money challenges, you can push yourself to become the savvy saver we know you can be!

52 Week Face Off

Instead of changing your spending habits overnight, try this challenge. Over the course of the year, you’ll end up with a grand slam total of $1,378. Start by putting one dollar in a jar the Monday of week number one. Increase it by a dollar each consecutive week to watch your savings grow. This means week two will get two dollars, then up to fifty-two on the last week.

Spare Change Stash

Those extra coins and dollar bills can add up in a hurry if you let them. Have your hubby or gal add to the stash as well to increase the amount saved. You can let this fund go towards a trip or that new couch you’ve been wanting. Challenging yourself to add to it every day, whether it’s a few leftover pennies or a couple dollar bills, will keep you engaged in your game.

No Spend Ordinance

Designate a “No Spend Day.” Every week, plan out your expenses so you will not spend a dime on Tuesdays – or whatever day you choose. You can also begin to track your expenses, as mentioned below, and cut out the luxuries. By only spending money on the necessities, you will have a greater appreciation for the little things… and a larger wallet!

Tracking Tangent

Track every single expense you make, even if it just costs a quarter. Try starting out with thirty days and lengthen the amount of days you track as time goes on. When you see what you spend money on, you’ll notice what items you can do without. Categorizing necessities against wants is a big step in deciding what you will continue to put cash towards.

Dine-In Deluxe

Eating out can put a dent in your wallet – and fast! Challenge yourself to eat at home for 30 days. You can find healthier recipes to test out and try new foods you may have not tried before. Look up different money saving recipes online to further your riches. Dining in can be a great way to spend quality time with your kids or loved one.

These money challenges have been tried and tested to help all types of savers. Put some of these ideas into action to grow your account. Once you have some cash to stash away, our savings accounts can help you have an accessible, safe place to put your new-found funds. Stop on in today to discuss your options!

5 Things to Teach Your Teens About Financial Literacy

teens

With your babies growing up, it’s never too soon to start teaching them the art of being fiscally responsible – but where do you start? According to the Council for Economic Education, only 17 U.S. states require high school students to take a personal finance class in order to graduate. Milledgeville State Bank offers some great ideas on how you can begin teaching your child about financial literacy before they leave the nest.

How does credit work?

A lot of kids don’t know what credit actually means. It’s important to teach your child that credit means to borrow, but at a cost. You will need to explain the importance of a credit card and how keeping balances low are a good plan of action. You can also begin to discuss interest rates, annual fees and how they can check their credit report.

Everyone has to pay taxes.

Starting a lawn mowing business or babysitting will not be the same pay as when your child gets an actual job. If your daughter gets paid $12 an hour to babysit, she gets to take all of that home. Emphasize that she will have to pay taxes and talk about how some of that would be taken out to fix roads. This will prepare them for the future, so they can budget responsibly when waiting on that first paycheck. Since 2016, no state has added a personal finance course to their K – 12 grades. It is up to you to advocate for your child and make sure they understand all things financial.

What is a want vs. a need?

We all want the next cute pair of shoes or cool car, but we need to be realistic with our spending. Start making your child pay for gas, a portion of groceries and other little expenses. This will help show them what types of things they need money for, what portion should be put into savings and what is left can be spent on what they want – after their needs are secured.

You must budget to buy.

Start by having your child put aside 30% of their money for short-term savings and 30% for long-term. Another 30% can be cash they spend on whatever they need, and 10% could be put towards charity or another good cause to teach them giving back. Explaining to your kid what to do with money once it’s earned is commonly a missed step, so this will help you implement good habits.

How do I plan for college?

Begin going over different loan options such as federal and private loans. Explain how they can have an auto-pay set up to pay their bills on time. Seeking out scholarships is also an important point to place in their head. The average student loan balance is $34,144 as of 2017, so they can save a lot of money by getting a scholarship.

Preparing your child for the future is quite the undertaking – especially when it deals with covering topics such as finance. However, your child will thank you when they have fantastic budgeting and savings skills down the road! If your child is interested in opening up a savings account or applying for a loan, give us a call! We’d love to help teach them other financial literacy topics.

The 10 Best Things to Buy at the Farmers Market

Saving Money

One of the things we enjoy most during produce season is the delicious and money-saving weekend Farmer’s Market. Just about every community has their own local growers, and no matter where you are there’s sure to be some delicious baked goods as well. This season, our team at Milledgeville State Bank would like to share our favorite finds which brighten up our kitchen and keep a few extra dollars in our pockets.

The first thing you’ll want to do before shopping at any Farmers Market is to find a good reusable tote, (or wagon if you plan on purchasing a lot,) along with a predetermined amount of cash to help budget how much you spend with the various vendors. Once at the market, it’s a good idea to do a quick lap around to see what items are being offered from each vendor. Then, you can go through and decide which produce you want to buy and where.

Here are the top 10 items we look for while shopping at our local Farmers Market:

Honey: Did you know honey is one of the very limited products of nature that does not spoil? It’s eternal shelf life not only gives you an endless amount of time to use it, but it’s delicious too! Find a local honey provider who can ensure you’re getting the best product your area can offer, and add it as a sweetener to numerous recipes.
Heirloom Tomatoes: These delicious beauties aren’t commonly found in your home improvement stores while out shopping for plants or seeds. When you find them at the market, they may be a bit pricier than the traditional varieties, however, their complexities and flavors will make your dishes come to life!
Cucumbers: Did you know that it is cheaper to make your own pickles compared to buying them at the store? Grab up four or five decent sized cukes, an onion, and some dill the next time you’re at the Farmer’s Market, and give it a try!
Hot and Sweet Peppers: When these guys are in season, we love trying as many varieties as we can! Not only are they cheaper than their grocery store counterparts, but they taste significantly hotter and sweeter as well!
Onions: Have you ever seen a green onion with a bulb bigger than a quarter? You’ll enjoy these and other delicious delicacies, which give you a better bang for your buck! Be sure to take a look at all the varieties of onions available, as you may just find a new favorite. So long as they’re stored in a dry cool place, you can keep fresh onions for several months!
Rhubarb: There’s something about this especially sour vegetable. Sweet and crunchy, it offers a fun twist to many fruit dishes, but grocery stores rarely seem to carry it. Be sure to stock up this season, as this delicious vegetable can be frozen or canned easily.
Lettuce: Cut and go varieties will be seen year round at Farmer’s Markets. With many varieties available, now is an affordable time to taste and tweak your favorite salad recipes.
Berries: You name it! Strawberries, blueberries, huckleberries, whatever delicious morsels you can find are at your nearby Farmers Market are well worth the cost. These tasty treats are some of the region’s favorite sweet staples and are perfect for snacking.
Baked Bread & Jams: Be sure to sample home baked treats throughout the season, and enjoy the different flavors the market has to offer. Great products, such as buttermilk bread, offer mouth-watering twists on a many timeless classics.
Flowers: Compared to your area grocery store or box brand, these Farmers Market flowers are sure to stop you in your tracks. Not only do they last longer, because they’re picked locally, but they tend to cost less, and offer a more regional variety.

We wish you luck on your next Farmers Market outing, just be sure to stick to that budget, and enjoy all the tastes and smells the market offers. Happy shopping!

10 Tips for a Great Holiday Party

Seasonal

No matter which holiday you are prepping for, there are some essential party essentials you should always plan for! Throughout this holiday season, try these top 10 planning tips, courtesy of Milledgeville State Bank:

Pick the best date. Saturday’s are always the prime time for holiday parties. Be sure to book venues ahead of time to ensure you can capture the best date for your gathering.

Choose a simple theme. Don’t oversimplify it, but make sure it’s something that will click well with your guests. Simple things such as color coordinating, can help continue your theme throughout the event.

Send invites at least six weeks before. People want time to plan, but not too much time to forget. Let your guests know about this holiday party six weeks prior to ensure they have plenty of time to plan. If you ask them to RSVP this can help you gain an accurate head count for food and beverage purposes.

Email a reminder the week of. Sometimes people forget, ensure that all your guests who are available can attend, with a simple email reminder one week out from the party.

Keep food fun yet familiar. A little twist here and there keeps things interesting, however, going too far can turn guests off to food altogether. Work with your caterer to determine what the best

Set-up a good flow of traffic. Create a space that allows hungry guests to move through the food on both sides, well out of the way of your more conversational area.

Create a timeline. Every party has activities, whether it’s dancing, trivia, or a simple informational slideshow, planning ahead of time can save you a headache later. Create a schedule for the evening to share with your guests. This will help them plan their time accordingly as well!

Play festive music. Create a simple playlist full of upbeat and festive songs, but also be sure to include some current music selections as well! This will keep the holiday tone, without being overwhelmingly so.

Give away or donate leftovers.Leftovers are a given at any holiday event, be sure you send your guests home with some goodies to help avoid discarding surplus food. If doggie bags are not an option, stop by your local foodbank that night, or the next day to see if it can be used.

Have a clean-up crew.Cleaning up is the worst part of event coordinating. Make this task easier on yourself, and recruit a team of guests and friends to help clean after the event, or the next day. Offer to provide a meal and beverages as thanks, in addition to a free ticket or gift at the party.

If you follow these holiday hacks, your event could be the best gift of the season! Show us your favorite holiday get together by sharing a photo on our Facebook page. We can’t wait to see all the different themes!

10 Things Successful People Do

Personal Finance

Ever wonder how Mark Zuckerberg or Richard Branson got where they are today? Success doesn’t come easy, but it grows where it is watered. At Milledgeville State Bank, we want to help you climb into success with these simple tactics! Learn how to begin your journey to the top with these 10 key actions:

Have maker time. No matter how many meetings there are in a day, schedule time each and every day to create, produce, and whittle down your to-do list. Not only will you get more done, but you’ll get more completed within your structured time!
Prioritize your tasks. Sometimes that to-do list can be a mile long. Start your day with one main priority, and three sub tasks. Once these core items have been completed you can move on to the other smaller agendas you have for the day.
Keep your values. Whether it’s making it home for dinner, or keeping on top of an evening health regiment, realize there are other values outside of work that need your attention too. Designate your time at work to do the most you can, so once the clock hits five, you know you’re scheduled to be somewhere else.
Strategize your meetings. Do you need to be in every one of your meetings? Perhaps not! Speak with meeting organizers to determine if your input is truly needed and if so, could that be communicated through email instead? Time is precious, so make the most of yours!
Say no. No is a powerful word. While you may not be able to say “no” to a supervisor’s request, when being asked to participate in additional projects, be selective and only join the workload you can handle appropriately
Know when to delegate. You can’t do everything yourself. Invest time in your peers and ensure that if you need a task completed, they are up to the challenge. A great leader utilizers their team’s strengths and weaknesses, so be sure you’re putting the best person on each task.
Create a daily routine. Everything from your morning breakfast choices, the various times you check your emails, to your scheduled breaks, you need to have a routine, and stick to it!
Treat failure as a lesson. There’s a learning experience in every failure. By taking this simple mindset to heart, you can embrace the good that comes with every thwarted attempt. This insight helps not only grow your current project, but also broadens your mind to potential possibilities for future endeavors.
Choose a mentor. The day you stop learning is the day you stop growing. One of the most effective things successful people do is to continue to learn. By never boasting a full cup, you can continue to add valuable knowledge to your repertoire and learn from someone who’s navigated many experiences you’ll soon face.
Wake up early. The early bird gets the worm! Whether you start work at 4:00am, 8:00am, or 8:00pm arrive early to collect your thoughts before your co-workers swarm in. During rush hour you’ll also notice an easier drive if you leave an extra half hour or hour early.

Post-Honeymoon Finances

honeymoon

So you took the plunge and said “Yes.” What’s next? Well in the financial realm there are certain things that may change or be altered now that you are jointly responsible for one and other. From joint accounts, to budgets we’ll help guide you along the way.

Be transparent with one and other.

Begin the conversation with sharing each of your individual financial states, and the goals you have for where you want to be in the coming years. Once everything is out on the table you are able to dissect the differences between your finances and discover any areas that perhaps you differ on. If say one of you has debt and the other does not, then you are able to build a plan to first eliminate your now joint debt. By being open with one and other you can communicate more efficiently and work toward the goals you each share.

Evaluate your account setup.

In today’s world the words “joint checking” don’t always apply. While most common among married spouses with children, a joint checking account can provide a larger sum for paying expenses and saving toward goals. Additionally spouses today are also utilizing a combination of joint and separate accounts to maintain relative independence and have access to personal spending funds. Some couples choose to select separate accounts for all their financial means, paying bills fifty-fifty or perhaps every other. Whichever account scenario you choose, ensure that you and your spouse are on the same page, establishing ground rules acceptable spending habits.

Make a plan and stick to it.

At least once a month set aside time in your day to discuss finances with your spouse. This helps alleviate any financial tension should any money situations arise. By openly discussing successes and failures in your household finances on a regular basis you maintain a level of security in seeing where you finances stand in conjuncture with your goals each and every month. To be successful your finances your spouse and you must create and maintain a household budget. When creating your monthly budget remember to factor in costs for any loan installments, debt repayment, monthly expenses, and joint or separate savings. By evaluating your budget during your monthly finance discussions you can track you progress and adjust the budget if needed to better reach your joint financial goals.

With so many financial choices, schedule a time to sit down with your spouse to decide what is best for you and your family. Milledgeville State Bank is here to help! Call or stop by today to learn about our joint checking and budgeting tools!

Use the Holidays to Teach Your Kids About Money

Yes, the holiday season and all the shopping and spending it brings is here once again. And while holiday shopping isn’t new to you, your kids may never have had to plan, budget and shop for someone else. This makes the holidays a great time to teach your kids about money.

Start by identifying the various costs the holiday season:

Gifts
Supplies for making gifts
Cards (with postage)
Family Christmas letters
Gift wrappings
Parties
Bringing family meals to gatherings

Identify your overall monetary limit for the entire season the best you can. You should also set a budget as to what you’ll spend on immediate family members. Be sure to include your kids in these talks. This will help them see how budgeting works in a real life scenario.

Limit gift giving outside of immediate family with easily duplicated homemade gifts. This is another way you can cut costs if you have a long list of people outside of your immediate family you want to give gifts to. Ideas for these easy and efficient gifts include:

Cookies
Cookie mixes or other mixes for baked goods in a jar
Spice rubs
Trail mixes

The ingredients for these gifts can all be bought in bulk, making them inexpensive options.

Bring your kids shopping with you. Before you enter the store, make sure you share with them how much you are aiming to spend. Have them help you find items on sale or comparable items at lower prices.

When it comes time to check out, pay with cash if possible. The visual of you handing money to cashier makes a far greater impression on your child than the swipe of your debit card. It’s also not a bad idea to spread out your shopping trips from week to week to nip procrastination in the bud.

When you get home from your shopping trips, pull out the receipts and create a running tally of your expenses. Not only does it help you keep track of what you’ve spent, but it also shows your kids how small costs can add up over time.

Most of all, see how fun you can make this for your kids! You’ve been through the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping numerous times, and have probably grown to dread it. The more fun and exciting you can make holiday shopping, the more positively and responsibly your kids will approach it themselves.

Good luck!

7 Ways to Do Good this Holiday Season

When you think of the holidays, what do you picture? Extended family gathered around a dinner table with a feast set in front of them? Wrapping gifts while sipping hot chocolate? The truth is, that while many of us are fortunate enough to have these experiences, many of our fellow community members are not.

Whether it be due to job loss, a medical condition or another circumstance, many individuals and families in our community will be without basic necessities this holiday season, let alone the means to have a holiday celebration.

But we can all help. There are some great organizations in our community that we can work through to make the holidays a little brighter for those less fortunate.

Take a look at the list below and identify which good deeds you can do this holiday season.

Make and serve a meal or holiday treats – cookies and casseroles can be great gifts this time of year. You can provide them for those who don’t have the means or are short on food, you can donate them to a local warming shelter or share them with the local fire or police station as a way of saying “thanks”.
Pack stockings for the homeless – pick out some inexpensive stockings and fill them with practical items. These can range from food and drink (granola bars, bottles of water, etc.) to gloves, socks and personal hygiene items.
Donate gently used toys – kids’ toys and games can be pricey. Repurpose your kids’ toys and donate them to children who would love to get them as a Christmas gift.
Pay a visit to a local nursing home – the holidays can be lonely for elderly people living in nursing homes who don’t have family members nearby. A small visit or gift from a stranger could brighten their day, or even make their entire week.
“Adopt” a family – there are many ways you can support families in our community. A food pantry would be a good place to start to find out about families in need and how to support them throughout the winter. The Salvation Army is also a great resource to adopt a family and provide parents and children with gifts and necessities to unwrap on Christmas.
Donate to a food bank – winter, especially in our area, is a difficult part of the year; it is far worse if you don’t have enough food. Food banks and food pantries could put your donation to good use.
Have family members make a donation in your name – replace one thing on your Christmas list with the wish that in lieu of a present, a donation is made in your name to the charity of your choice.

If any of these ideas strike a chord with you, we encourage you to give a little extra this season to truly brighten someone else’s holiday.

As you enjoy your holiday activities and traditions, remember to think of those who aren’t as fortunate as yourself. Our community is only as strong as we make, so let’s work together to strengthen and uplift those who need it most.

Milledgeville State Bank, Equal Housing Lender, Member FDIC