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Healthy Financial Habits


HPBU Financial Education Center

High Plains Bank is dedicated to empowering customers to take control of their financial wellness. Our HPBU Financial Education Center is available whether you're a customer or not. The short and easy-to-follow courses are designed to equip you with the critical knowledge and skills to make solid financial decisions, and HPBU can help you to better understand your current financial habits for a lifetime of healthy financial habits. 

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Building Healthy Financial Habits

Walking. Eating a balanced diet. Stress management. All of these are among the many ways that we talk about our physical well-being. However, when it comes to our financial wellness, what are the best ways to create and sustain healthy financial habits? 

Everyone can benefit from regular checkups to improve their financial fitness. Think about starting with one thing, rather than trying to make too many changes at once, which can be overwhelming and lead to false starts and stops. Below are a few ways to begin:

Live Within Your Means

While this saying may seem old-fashioned, it still holds true. To live within your means translates into:

  • Your monthly expenses do not exceed your net monthly income. 
  • You can managing your debt.
  • Following the 50-30-20 rule: 50% of income toward needs; 30% on wants; 20% on savings or debt management.  
  • You budget financial fitness into your life and schedule regular time to review your expenses, goals, and areas for improvement. Think about having an accountability partner and discuss healthy financial habits with your family. 
  • Discovering hidden ways to spend less:
    • Hidden subscriptions. With so many streaming services available, those costs can quickly add up. Take advantage of the online tools to help you keep them in check. 
    • Meal planning and smarter shopping habits. Eating at home instead of picking a quick lunch, coffee, or dinner can have an immediate and positive impact on your monthly budget. 
    • Take a walk or a bike ride instead of paying for a gym membership.
    • Comparison shop for competitive auto, home, and renters insurance rates and explore available discounts.
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Earning Potential and Second Sources of Income
 
Have a hobby you’d like to monetize? Participate in the “gig” economy for additional income to add to savings, retirement, or pay off credit card debt. And who knows? You might be so successful and content with your micro business that it may grow into something bigger! To help you along the way, High Plains Bank offers Autobooks, an easy to use invoicing tool that gets you paid directly and quickly and all from your HPBGO bank account. 

Next Steps in Your Financial Fitness

  • Open a Higher Yield Savings Account (or more than one) to help build habits to set money aside for everything from retirement, post-secondary education, unexpected occurrences, and more. We also offer Higher Yield CDs and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
  • Download HPBGO and take your banking with you wherever you are!
  • Manage your HPB Debit Card to track spending, set limits and alerts, and chat with real High Plains Bank employees about transactions, new accounts and so much more. 
  • Check out the entire suite of HPBU Financial Education offerings. Either view the pre-built playlists, or create your own, and we encourage you to share HPBU with your friends, colleagues, and family as you don’t have to be a High Plains Bank customer to take advantage of the great content. 

High Plains Bank is committed to being your partner in all aspects of your financial well-being. Stop by one of our branch locations, connect with us during regular business hours at 800-984-0010, contact us online, or chat live with a team member through HPBGO. We’re here to help! 

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