The Bottom Line
Small business is important to Central Oregon, and to Mid Oregon. Find tips and resources for business, and information about Mid Oregon’s commercial services and business members.
Celebrate Valentines Day without the financial stress
Valentine’s Day is a special occasion that many couples look forward to. However, it can also be a stressful time for those on a tight budget. Fortunately, there are many ways to celebrate this day without the financial headache. With a little creativity and thoughtfulness, you can plan a budget-friendly Valentine’s Day celebration that will be just as romantic and memorable as an expensive one.
Homecooked dinner
One idea to consider is cooking a romantic dinner at home. Instead of going out to an expensive restaurant, prepare a delicious meal together in the comfort of your own home. You can even set the mood by lighting candles or a fire, playing their favorite music, and dressing up for the occasion. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also have fun cooking together and enjoying each other’s company.
Romantic hike or walk
If cooking isn’t your thing, consider taking advantage of nature and going for a romantic hike or walk. Not only will you get some exercise, but you’ll also enjoy the fresh air while spending quality time with your partner. Central Oregon weather can be unpredictable, but that’s why hats and gloves were invented so don’t hesitate to venture outside.
Movie night
Another budget-friendly idea is to plan a romantic movie night at home. You can rent a favorite movie or choose one from a streaming service. This is a great way to snuggle up and spend quality time together. Pop some popcorn, grab some blankets, and enjoy a night of movie magic. You can even make it a themed night by choosing movies that reflect your relationship or your favorite memories.
Make your own gift
Lastly, you can consider making DIY gifts for your loved one. Instead of buying expensive gifts, consider making something special that comes from the heart. Whether it’s a handmade card, a personalized photo album, or a heartfelt love letter, the effort and thoughtfulness behind a DIY gift will be appreciated.
Remember, Valentine’s Day is not about how much you spend, but about sharing quality time with your significant other and showing them how much you care. So go ahead and start planning your budget-friendly Valentine’s Day celebration today!
Let’s embrace 2024 with financial health!
Can you believe it—we are already one month into 2024! It feels like we were ringing in the New Year just yesterday, full of hope and excitement for what the next 12 months had in store for us.
Now that you have jumped into the new year with both feet firmly planted, it’s time to check on the financial plan you (hopefully) started in January.
Why is a financial plan important
A financial plan is a way to improve your financial well-being, set goals, and create a road map for a better financial future. Whether it’s saving money, paying off debt, starting an emergency fund, or investing—having a clear financial plan can give you a sense of direction and purpose.
Review your 2024 goals
Take a moment to review your financial goals. Are they relevant and achievable? If not, don’t be afraid to make adjustments. Having realistic goals in your financial plan is better than setting yourself up for failure. Tips to reach your financial objectives:
Make a savings goal
If you see a tax refund or Oregon kicker in the future, use part of that money to give yourself a head start. You can also log into Digital Banking and use the Savings Goals tool to set a goal and track your progress.
Track your spending
This may seem obvious, but it’s amazing what you discover when you start writing down all your expenses. From major purchases to treats for your four-legged pal—it’s important to write it all down.
Get a free Financial Checkup.
Mid Oregon recently introduced a powerful resource for getting a handle on your finances—Financial Checkup in Digital Banking—an empowering new addition to our My Credit Score family.
Expand your financial know-how
Take advantage of our upcoming free financial literacy workshops. We also have past workshops you can view on our YouTube channel. Additionally, our Financial Tips section on our homepage has a variety of articles on budgets, saving money, fraud prevention, and more.
Watch it grow, grow, grow
As your savings account balance grows, you’ll feel more motivated to take it even further. We have various savings products to fit your goals. Make your money work smarter, not harder.
Whatever your goals, Mid Oregon’s experienced team is here to help. 2024 is a great time to start taking control of your finances and getting fiscally fit. Stop by a branch or visit us online at midoregon.com and begin your journey to financial health.
Want to know more? Read additional Mid Oregon blog articles about goals, budgeting, and debt consolidation.
Travel Smart – Your Boarding Pass And Social Media Don’t Mix
Exciting, fun, and fabulous! Those words only begin to describe the joys of an upcoming trip. Getting caught up in the whirlwind is easy and so is sharing a snapshot of your boarding pass online. Cybercriminals love finding boarding passes and itineraries posted on public platforms like social media, and what they can do with that information is, well, criminal. Nothing puts a damper on a vacation like finding your identity stolen and even worse, that you may have helped.
Boarding pass details enable several cybercrimes that can target you before, during, and after a trip. Your Personal Identifiable Information (PII) like legal name, address, and ticket number are all displayed and so is your passenger name record (PNR). A PNR is a six-digit numerical code representing an extensive digital file on the traveler. That file is available to a hacker who knows how to get it.
The personal data in a PNR includes all contact info (name, address, phone, email), frequent flyer and bonus miles info, travel itinerary, credit card numbers, and billing data. It’s all in a hacker’s possession thanks to posting an innocent picture of your boarding pass.
Identity Theft and Data Dynamite
Having your PNR number posted online can upend the best of travel plans. Identity theft allows a hacker to open credit and other accounts in your name, get a mortgage, or buy a new car. They can cancel or change your airline and hotel reservations and steal your travel miles and points. This happened to Hilton Honors members several years ago.
Even an email address in the wrong hands, especially when partnered with social engineering tactics, is like data dynamite. With a hacker pretending to be someone else, socially engineered phishing emails can lead to your job and employer. That connection can lead to financial fraud crimes and malware attacks like ransomware. Unfortunately, it’s not a stretch for these things to happen.
Smart Travel, Smart Vacation
Data theft is a crime with limitless opportunities and many social media posts inadvertently enable it. For travel, consider an electronic boarding pass rather than a printed one. That way leaving it in an airplane seat pocket or on the floor of the terminal won’t happen. Keep your travel itinerary off social media and other public internet spaces. It leaves a timeline of when your home will be empty and vulnerable to break-ins and a time when you may not be able to so diligently log in to check your accounts. Do your best to monitor your bank and credit accounts for unusual activity, even when traveling.
No one wants a cybercriminal going with them on vacation, so keep your travel PII where it belongs – with you.
Want to know more? Read additional Mid Oregon blog articles about online security and fraud protection.
As a reminder, Mid Oregon will never initiate a call asking for personal or account information via phone, text, or email.
Content based on an article by Stickley on Security