Shaping Up Your Finances in Marion County WV

Think about shaping up your finances in Marion County. At the start of the year, folks tend to make resolutions about getting in shape. We sign up for the gym or a class. Then we shop for new athletic clothes. Our schedule gets rearranged to accommodate the time for our workout. But within a few weeks, many of us get derailed. We forgot our water bottle. A meeting with a client got out late. The gym was full when we got there. All sorts of reasons get in the way of accomplishing our goals.

The same is true of getting our finances in shape. We miss one day of reconciling our account. Or, our budget gets thrown off track by an unforeseen expense. Whatever the cause, within a few weeks we think it’s too far gone to get our finances in shape and we give up.

Sometimes, we just need a little help. Use these available tools to help you start, stay on track, or get your finances back in shape.

• If an app is your style, check out YNAB (You Need a Budget). Easily keep track of your spending, monitor your income, and pay your bills all in one place. And do it from your phone. You can try it for free.
• When your situation is dire, consider getting counseling from a professional. The non-profit NFCC (National Foundation for Credit Counseling) is a great place to start.
• To get a handle on your day-to-day finance and savings, including saving for a downpayment on a home, check the resources available through your local credit union. Here in Marion County, for example, the Fairmont Federal Credit Union offers resources here.
• Whether you keep your funds in a local bank or a national bank, find out if classes, courses, or other financial training is available. For example, Capital One Bank offers Money Coaching, and Fidelity Investments offers Financial Basics courses.
• If you’ve saved up money and wonder about investing in a home or other real estate property, browse these local lenders. Choose one to sit down with. Let them help you determine how much downpayment you need for the amount of mortgage you qualify for. In fact, if you get a prequalification-letter it gives you an idea of what price range you qualify for. Better yet, get a preapproval-letter. When you make an offer on a home, a preapproval-letter means you’re closer to getting that loan and closing on a house.

If you are a first-time buyer (or first in a long time) or looking to downsize, with your finances in shape, we can help you with your next goal: homeownership. Here are the latest affordable homes for sale in Marion County, WV. Browse these homes via a virtual tour. Then reach out to us and let us help you get into a great starter or right-sized home for you.