Stop Putting Off Taking Charge Of Your Finances

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Do you have a pile of sale recipients on the kitchen counter that you promise yourself you'll take care of later? Are you constantly putting off balancing your check book?  Is saving something you'll start "someday"?  September 6^th is National Fight Procrastination Day and one of the most costly procrastination mishaps is putting financial questions and concerns aside. Use this day to give yourself a financial check-up and kick procrastination to the curb.

"Most of us have a lot going on in our lives, so taking control of your finances can be an easy thing to put off," says Kara Kaiser, Regional President, M&I, a part of BMO Financial Group.  "However, starting with small steps can make it a lot easier."

Kaiser suggests a few ways to help you get started.

Start Saving: You don't have to make drastic changes to your spending habits or get a big promotion to start building a savings account. The key to saving is consistency. Even putting $5 in a savings account will build into a little nest egg over time. As your income grows and debts get paid down, increase the amount of money you are putting away every month. Make it a goal to save three to six months worth of living expenses. You never know when possessing the extra cash might come in handy.

Understand Your Debt: If you only have a vague idea of how much you have in debt, it's hard to make a plan to start paying it down. Gather all your bills and get a clear understanding of how much debt you have and where your money is going every month. This will help you create a manageable budget and start paying down debt starting with high-interest credit cards. Even if you are keeping good track of your finances and bills, creating and following a budget can make it easier to control your spending. There are many free and safe budget templates online.

Establish Good Credit: Credit has a major impact on your finances. Your credit score determines the rates you will receive on a future car loan, mortgage, insurance rates and much more. Take advantage of receiving your yearly free credit report. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com and report any errors that you find. For more information on how to build your credit rating, visit your local M&I representative.

Plan for Success: No matter your age planning for retirement should be a part of your financial plan and budget. An IRA is a great way to make sure that your retirement is everything you imagined. Visit www.mibank.com to learn more on how to start preparing for your golden years.

On this National Fight Procrastination Day, take charge of your personal finances and clean out the pile of recipients sitting on the kitchen counter.

About BMO Harris Bank

Based in Chicago, BMO Harris Bank N.A. provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through over 650 branches and approximately 1,350 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Arizona and Florida. BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S. Deposit and loan products and services provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris BankSM is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with 1,600 branches, and a retail deposit base of approximately $180 billion.

SOURCE BMO Harris Bank

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