It’s often said that necessity is the mother of invention. No more true is that than in the case of the rise of the Mommy Blogger. The economic downturn that started around 2007 forced many families to look at alternate ways to earn a living and many stay at home moms were challenged with the task of going back to work to help support their families. Others took action in a different way – blogging. Some started their own blogs, others contributed to blogs, while many were hired by companies like Procter and Gamble to market test and influence other moms. What became collectively known was that these moms had a voice that was powerful, persuasive and could influence purchase decisions among other moms and other consumers. So, this ‘necessity’ gave birth to hundreds upon thousands of mommy bloggers who became advocates, leaders, supporters of causes, influencers and ….breadwinners.

Today, it’s become an ‘industry’ all to itself, with about 3.9 million moms or 14% of moms in the US blogging. This, according to a recent article in Mashable.com that provides the latest stats on the mommy blogger and a peak at the top 10 power moms. On average, mommy bloggers make about $84,000, $14,000 higher than the non-mommy blogger! The average age of the mommy blogger is about 37 years old and more than likely has a college degree or post-graduate degree. Of the 3.9 million moms, 500 are considered the most influential, among them award winning authors, TV celebrities and business owners. Interestingly, the largest concentration of mommy bloggers are in the Salt Lake City area with Seattle and Tacoma Washington a close second. (more…)

As we fast approach 2012, First County Bank fondly takes a look back at 2011 and its many top accomplishments, customer offerings and compelling new experiences.

2011 Highlights: First County Bank provided customers with a cutting-edge, redesigned corporate website, connectivity to the Bank’s emerging social media networks and mobile banking platforms.  We also presented a ‘best-of-breed’ Cash Management system, fine-tuned our deposit offerings, rolled out an overdraft management program and renovated our branches. And on the First County Bank Foundation side, we awarded more than $500,000 in grants to nonprofits throughout Lower Fairfield County.

2012 What Lies Ahead? We are excited about all the possibilities 2012 will present and as our New Year’s Resolution, we will continue to provide the high level of service First County Bank is known for in the communities we serve.  Wishing you all a safe, healthy and abundant New Year!

Today’s Black Friday! Don’t let the start of holiday madness give you a hangover! First County Bank is kicking off the 2011 holiday shopping season with tips to manage holiday spending and avoid a post-holiday credit hangover. “Consumers spreading holiday cheer should keep in mind that January bills are only a couple of months away,” says Rey Giallongo, Chairman of the Board and CEO of First County Bank. “If consumers are not budgeting for their holiday purchases, people will find themselves bringing in the New Year with last year’s debt.”

First County Bank recommends that consumers manage their finances this holiday season with the following spending tips http://firstcountybank.com/sites/default/files/press-releases/FCB_Holiday_Budgeting.doc

It may be a “buyer’s market” in lower Fairfield County but current fluctuations in the economy and the housing market can complicate the decision whether to buy or rent a home. How does one know what is the right choice? First County Bank recommends that potential buyers ask themselves several key questions before making this important decision. (more…)

As summer comes to a bittersweet end, and kids are getting ready for ‘back to school’, it may be an opportune time to look at your finances and do some planning. Don’t wait until the end of the year, when you’re under pressure to pay off holiday debts and income taxes are looming – tackling the job now, when there is little time pressure, can pay you greater dividends. Here are five ideas you can take advantage of right away.

1) Start organizing for tax time.

According to the IRS, the average refund is more than $3,000 so far this year with nearly 45 million Americans who filed early collecting refunds.

That’s a great incentive to get your tax files in order ahead of time! At the simplest, you should have two “buckets” – one for tax-related items and one for non tax-related items. Better yet, create an easily accessible filing system for all your household receipts and paid bills, and commit to filing them at least once a week. TIP: Some people find it convenient to staple receipts to warranty information and product guides so that, should you ever need it, you have all the information on your stove or computer in one place.

2) Make a plan for holiday spending. (more…)

In the wake of the recession, good financial managers are a hot commodity. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics broker ranks are expected to increase by 30% through 2018.  The pay is high, around $90,000 per annum and the competition is relatively low.  In today’s ‘bi-polar’ economy, there is clearly a demand for financial managers who are skilled in helping build and/or build back financial security. However, not everyone is cut out for the job.  According to this CNBC report, it takes a certain ‘personality’ to make it.  If you’re interested in the job, take a look at what it takes to be a financial manager:  http://soc.li/a3rSwVZ

With an “App App” here and an “App App” there, here an “App,” there an “App” everywhere an “App App” it’s hard to keep up! However if you’re a small to medium sized business owner, you may want to stay in the loop on Apps that can make your business more efficient, make your life easier and, best of all, allow you to spend your time and talents on the business of your business and not “bookkeeping.” From tracking expenses to sending invoices on the road…we found a great article from Mashable on 5 Handy Apps for Small Business Finance Management http://mashable.com/2011/08/15/finance-management-apps/

We hope you find some of these apps helpful. Also, don’t forget that First County Bank offers a complete suite of business services to help your business save time and money. Feel free to contact one of the financial experts at our Business Banking Department for information on the business products and services we offer.

You can save money throughout the year, but the warm temperatures of summer provide a few additional tips that can help you save even more money. Here are some things to try during those warm months.

1. Cook outside. Using the stove or baking in the oven can create a lot of excess heat that has nowhere to go except in your house. Consider taking meal plans to the barbecue grill outside so that you can keep your house cool inside.
2. Have your air conditioner cleaned and inspected. You’ll pay a small fee, between
   $50 to $75, but this could save you more than twice as much with your air conditioner running more efficiently all summer. At the minimum, change your filter. This can be easy to overlook, but a dirty filter can increase cooling costs.
3. Save on watering your lawn. Summer heat makes you water your lawn more
   often. Try watering your lawn in the early morning to prevent the water from evaporating so quickly. This can reduce the amount of your water bill dramatically during the summer watering season.
4. If you leave for vacation, unplug all of your major appliances and electronics. Even
   if the appliance isn’t turned on, it still uses energy while being plugged into the wall. If you are going to be away for a week or two, consider unplugging everything. It will also help prevent power surge damage in the event of a storm.
5. Shop at a local Farmer’s Market. Unlike supermarket pricing, produce prices at Farmer’s Markets are often negotiable. Also, you can save by buying from the same sellers daily or weekly to receive further discounts.
6. Stop paying your gym membership and start jogging. Take a leave of absence from your gym membership for the summer months and enjoy your exercises in the fresh air for free!

Photo by the New York Times

Mom, what do I need math for? Math is boring, math is hard,…Let’s face it, math has gotten a bad rap. It’s rarely ever been called beautiful or exciting or even cool…until now. The Museum of Mathematics or ‘MoMath’ is opening in New York City next year and by all calculations, it’s expected to draw visitors to its exhibits in the tens of thousands. It’s so cool – even Google has a stake in it. MoMath’s mission? To make math come alive through colorful, interactive exhibits of shapes, sounds and light. And according to the museum’s visionary, there are some big surprises throughout the exhibits. For more information about the Museum of Mathematics and how it came to be, click here. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/science/28math.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general

Are the days of taking over the family business long gone? Not according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers survey that tell us more than 53% of US family businesses will rely on the next generation to keep the business thriving. Piece of cake? Not always as issues arise around expectations from family co-workers and resentment from colleagues. This can put a lot of pressure on the Millennials. Add to that the desire to keep the business growing and thriving. Here’s a valuable piece on strategies to keep the business booming while preserving inner office calm.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304490004576422384251615572.html?mod=wsj_share_twitter