Things to Do on a Budget in Monmouth & Ocean Counties this October 2026

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Check out these budget-friendly (and sometimes spooky) events happening in Monmouth and Ocean Counties this October.

Be sure to check dates, times, locations, and weather for any of the events you plan to attend, as details may be subject to change.

October 1

Lacey | Fall Festival | Various Times

Argos Farm is hosting a Fall Festival like no other all month long! Pick the perfect pumpkin, find your way through a corn maze, try all the fun attractions, sample tasty seasonal treats, and more. The Fall Festival welcomes visitors on Thursdays & Fridays from 2pm-6pm and Saturdays & Sundays from 10am-6pm. Weekday admission is $14.95 a person in advance (ages 2 and up)/$17.95 at the gate and weekend admission is $23.95 a person in advance/$27.95 at the gate. Pricing is subject to change.

Lacey | Jacks & Lights | Various Times

If a spooky walk through a jack o’ lantern-lit trail is more your speed – explore Argos Farm’s Jacks & Lights on Thursdays through Sundays through the end of October. You’ll embark on an adventure through hundreds of lit jack o’ lanterns, spooky sounds, and scary scenes. End the night with a festive treat or sip (ages 21+). Admission is $24.95 a person in advance (ages two and up) when purchased online and up to $29.95 at the gate.

October 2

Freehold | Fall Festival | Various Times

Bring the whole family out for a fun day filled with fall activities at Twin Pond Farm (49 Howell Road) on Fridays through Sundays through November 1st. Included with admission are festive activities and experiences like a 7-acre corn maze, hayrides, pumpkin bowling, a petting zoo, and more. For an additional fee, you can also go pumpkin picking. Admission is $19.99 per person on Fridays, $25 per person on Saturdays and Sundays – and children two and under are always free. Purchase tickets online.

Seaside Heights | Restaurant Weekend | 5pm

It’s the perfect weekend to taste your way through Seaside Heights! Enjoy delicious food and great drinks (ages 21+) at participating restaurants Friday to Sunday at discounted prices. Whether you’re craving a cozy fall meal or a sweet treat after strolling the boardwalk – there’s something for everyone. Visit the event website for a full list of participating restaurants and their special weekend offers.

October 3

Neptune City | Fall Festival | 12pm-8pm

This is a rescheduled event. Head over to Memorial Park (7 Myron Ave) for an action-packed day of all things fall! This year’s festival features a full lineup of live musical entertainment, a bounce house and petting zoo, local food vendors, and a community bonfire and s’mores to end the night. There is no entry fee to attend, but there will be items available for purchase.

October 9

Wall Township | Night of Frights | 6pm-9pm

When the sun sets, the monsters of the Historic Village at Allaire come out – every Friday and Saturday through October 30th. Enjoy glow-in-the-dark bubble shows, a fire juggler and sword swallower, scary displays and scenes, frightful storytelling, and more. This is a family-friendly event, but be aware there may be stories or displays that could give young ones a fright. Admission is $21.97 a person for ages 13 and up, $16.73 a person for ages 4 to 12, and free for children 3 and under. Purchase tickets online.

October 10

Red Bank | Oktoberfest | 1pm-5pm

Enjoy an afternoon of German food, fun, and frosty cold ones (ages 21+) in Edmund Wilson Plaza (the west side of downtown Red Bank). There will be tastings of beer, wine, and spirits (for those ages 21+), authentic food, live music and entertainment, a craft vendor market, a kids’ zone, and more. There is no entry fee to attend, but there will be items available for purchase. Tasters ages 21+ can purchase a tasting package in advance or on the day of the event.

October 13

Freehold | Flavor of Freehold | 5:30pm-8pm

Experience Downtown Freehold one restaurant at a time during this two-night tasting tour. With your passport in hand, you’ll embark on a tour of downtown’s favorite restaurants, eateries, and local businesses – and try signature samples at each stop. Tickets are $25 per person and are limited – purchasing tickets in advance is strongly recommended.

October 17

Toms River | Harvest Arts Festival | 11am-5pm

Enjoy all the best family-friendly fall fun on Washington Street. Downtown Toms River will be jam-packed with free kids’ games and activities, pumpkin painting, live bands, vendors, food trucks, and more. There is no entry fee to attend, but there will be items available for purchase.

Long Branch | Fall Festival & Pooch Parade | 12pm-4pm

Invite your family, friends, and four-legged companions to celebrate the season at Pier Village. Enjoy hands-on activities and festive experiences like pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, seasonal treats, fall-themed games and inflatables, and more. If you have a dog, dress them up and join the Pooch Parade & Costume Contest for a chance to win best dressed. There is no entry fee to attend the Fall Festival & Pooch Parade, but individual activities, purchases, and registration may have separate fees.

October 24

Tuckerton | Trick or Treat | 12pm-2pm

Experience Halloween with a twist by trick or treating around the Tuckerton Seaport Boardwalk. Bring your Halloween costume and a bucket (or pillowcase) to get all the candy you can find. This is a free event for the whole community.

October 25

Freehold | Halloween Spooktacular Costume Parade & Contest | 1pm-4pm

Get your best Halloween costume and show it off for a chance to win a prize in one of eight different categories! Participants will check-in and line up in the Freehold Raceway parking lot (Manalapan entrance) by 12:15pm to have their costume judged before parading down Main Street at 1pm. There will be complimentary refreshments and the announcement of the winners at the Hall of Records parking lot after the parade. There is no entry fee to participate in or watch the parade.

October 30

Allentown | Haunted Halloween Horse Drawn Carriage Rides| 6pm-9pm

Step aboard for a spooky seasonal adventure like no other! Gather your friends and family for a narrated horse drawn carriage ride through Main Street to experience Halloween in a unique way. Advance registration is recommended – rides depart every 20 minutes and limited seating is available. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased online.

October 31

Toms River | 87th Annual Halloween Parade | 7pm

Celebrate the spookiest night of the year by participating in one of Toms River’s oldest traditions! Get your best Halloween costume and join the Toms River Volunteer Fire Co. 1 for their annual parade. There will be frightening floats, costumes of all kinds, and the community gathered together for a night of Halloween fun. There is no entry fee to participate in or watch the parade.

First Edition Member Newsletter: Quarter 3 2026

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Our Quarterly Member Newsletter is here, and it’s packed with lots of financial tips, fresh insights, and exciting updates!

Our Member Newsletter is now available electronically, where it can be found on our website and social media sites. Paper copies will be available in our branches.

The Quarter 3 2026 First Edition Member Newsletter features the following:

View a copy of the newsletter.

We hope you enjoy exploring what’s new here at First Financial!

*Full terms and conditions are available on our Lease Buyout Loans webpage.

When Does a Personal Loan Make Sense?

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A personal loan can be a valuable tool for meeting your financial needs when used wisely. Keep reading to learn what a personal loan is, the advantages of using one, and when it could make sense to use as a financing option.

What is a Personal Loan?

A personal loan is a fixed-rate installment loan, which provides quick access to funds for various purposes. You’re often approved based on your creditworthiness, income, and overall debt levels. Since borrowers often apply for personal loans because of urgent needs, many lenders offer quick access to the funds once approved. The funds are usually disbursed in one lump sum.

Advantages of Personal Loans

  • Fixed Interest Rates: Fixed interest rates give you a fixed monthly payment and offer protection against variable interest rates (rates that are subject to change based on market conditions).
  • Fixed Monthly Payments: Personal loans usually come with fixed monthly payments, which makes them predictable and easy to budget for.
  • Flexible Terms: Depending on the lender, loan terms can be as short as 1 year or as long as 5 years or more. This gives borrowers the flexibility to choose a term that won’t strain their budget and fits their priorities.
  • No Collateral Required: Personal loans usually have no collateral requirement, meaning you aren’t risking your home or car if you are unable to repay the loan. However, be aware that without collateral – you typically face higher interest than a loan type with collateral backing it.
  • Flexibility for Using Funds: Personal loans don’t have as many restrictions as some other loan types. They’re versatile and can be used for many purposes, such as consolidating multiple types of debt or funding a home renovation project.

When to Use a Personal Loan

  • Debt Consolidation and Streamlining Payments: A personal loan makes it easy to take multiple payments and turn them into a single streamlined payment. This ultimately reduces the number of monthly payments you must make each month on other loans, making it less likely that you’ll miss payments. Additionally, consolidating multiple debt sources can lower the overall interest you’re paying – especially if your credit score has improved.
  • Credit Card Payoff: The interest rate on a personal loan is usually lower than that of a credit card. Although the interest rate you secure on a personal loan will depend on your creditworthiness, the average national personal loan rate currently stands at 12.44% while credit cards stand around 19.61%. Additionally, interest rates on credit cards are usually variable. A personal loan with a fixed interest rate that’s lower than that of a credit card can help you pay down your credit card balances faster and save money on interest over time. If you’re consolidating credit card debt, commit to also changing your spending habits so you don’t go deeper into debt.
  • Emergency Expenses: Sometimes the money just isn’t there when an emergency arises – such as an unexpected hospital stay, medical bill, or car repair. Personal loans tend to have quick approval and funding decisions, which makes them a helpful choice in an urgent situation. A personal loan can be a useful option in these situations, especially if the alternative is financing the expense with a credit card.
  • Relocation Expenses: There are times when you can’t plan for a move, such as in the case of a job loss, family emergency, or a major life change. Moving can also come with unexpected costs. You may decide to use a personal loan to finance moving-related expenses such as hiring movers, renting a moving truck, or paying a security deposit or first month’s rent. A personal loan can help you cover these upfront expenses and pay them back with a predictable monthly payment.

A personal loan can offer predictability, structure, and flexibility when used appropriately. It can give you the confidence to meet your financial needs with a fixed interest rate and a predictable monthly payment.

If you’re in Monmouth or Ocean Counties in New Jersey and believe that a personal loan may be the right option for your financing needs, First Financial is here to help. With fixed rates, flexible terms up to 60 months, and no pre-payment penalties – our Personal Loans may be able to help you affordably cover the cost of life’s necessary expenses.* You can apply online 24/7 or call our Loan Department at 732.312.1500, Option 4 if you have any questions before applying.

*APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Actual rate will vary based on creditworthiness and loan term. Subject to credit approval. Personal Loan repayment terms range from 12 to 60 months, and APRs range from 10.24% APR to 18% APR. Loan payment example: A $2,000 Personal Loan financed at 10.24% APR for 24 months, would have a monthly payment amount of $92.51. A First Financial Federal Credit Union membership is required to obtain a Personal Loan or Line of Credit, and is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers or attends school in Monmouth or Ocean Counties. A $5 deposit in a base savings account is required for credit union membership prior to opening any other account/loan.

Protect Your Business from an Email Compromise Scam

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Email keeps your business moving. You use it to talk with employees, work with vendors, approve purchases and manage payments. Scammers know it too, and they build their scams around that trust.

Business email compromise or BEC, is a scam where criminals send messages that appear to come from a trusted source, then use that trust to get you to send money or share sensitive information.

According to the FBI, these scams take on many forms. You might receive what looks like an updated invoice from a longtime vendor. An employee might get an urgent request that seems to come from a company executive. A scammer might even insert themselves into an existing conversation about a payment or invoice.

The message may seem legitimate initially. Knowing the warning signs can help safeguard your business.

Understand How Business Email Compromise Works

Business email compromise succeeds because scammers make their messages look familiar. They may create an email address or website that closely resembles a legitimate one, sometimes changing only a letter or two. They may also use phishing emails to gain access to company accounts, calendars, or other information that makes a future scam more convincing.

The FBI also warns that criminals can use malicious software to access legitimate email conversations about billing and invoices. That access lets them time fraudulent payment requests to fit naturally into an existing conversation.

A suspicious email will not always come from someone you have never heard of. It may appear to come from someone or a company you work with regularly.

Look Closely Before You Click or Pay

Small details can reveal a fraudulent message. Before responding to an unexpected email, look closely at the sender’s full email address, any URLs in the message, and the spelling throughout. Scammers often utilize small changes that are easy to miss when you are moving quickly.

Be especially cautious with messages asking you to:

  • Change an account number or payment method
  • Send a wire transfer or other payment
  • Purchase gift cards
  • Update or verify account information
  • Open an unexpected attachment
  • Act immediately or keep the request confidential

Urgency should slow you down, not speed you up. The FBI advises extra caution whenever someone pressures you to act quickly.

Verify Payment Changes Another Way

One of the most important steps your business can take is verifying changes involving money independently.

If a vendor emails new payment instructions, or someone requests an unusual purchase or transfer, do not rely on the email alone. Contact the person or business using a phone number you already have on file, not one included in the message.

Make that extra verification step part of your normal process. It helps employees feel comfortable slowing down, even when a request appears to come from a manager, executive, or longtime business partner.

Protect Your Business Accounts

Good account security adds another layer of protection. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all accounts that support it. This adds an extra verification step during login, rather than relying only on a password.

Be careful about the information you and your employees share publicly too. Personal details posted online or on social media can give scammers what they need to guess passwords, answer security questions, or make a fraudulent message look more convincing.

When an unsolicited email or text asks you to update or verify your account information, do not click the link. Go directly to the company’s website or contact the company using information you already trust.

Be Careful with Attachments

Treat an unexpected attachment with the same scrutiny as an unexpected payment request. Avoid opening attachments from people you don’t know, and stay cautious even when a familiar contact forwards one. If something feels off, confirm with the sender before opening it.

A quick check takes a few minutes. Recovering from a fraudulent payment or a compromised business account can take much longer.

If You Think Your Business Has Been Targeted, Act Quickly

If you believe your business sent money because of a business email compromise scam, contact your financial institution right away.

Report business email compromise scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov as well.

Even if a suspicious email does not lead to a payment, use it as a chance to review what happened and make sure everyone involved knows what to watch for next time.

If you believe your First Financial business account has been targeted in a BEC scam, contact us directly at 732-312-1500.

A Few Extra Minutes Can Protect Your Business

Email is an essential business tool, but convenience should not replace verification. Take a closer look whenever a request involves money, account information, or an unexpected change in procedure. Verify unusual requests through a separate communication method, protect your accounts with multi-factor authentication, and stay cautious when someone pressures you to act immediately.

When something doesn’t look or feel right, slowing down and confirming the request is one of the simplest ways to protect your business. For more on the tactics scammers are using right now, visit the Important Alerts & Scams page of our First Scoop Blog.

How to Avoid Lifestyle Creep After Your Income Increases

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Congratulations – maybe you got a raise at work or started a new job where you’re making more money. You’re not alone if you already feel more breathing room in your finances, or if you’re thinking of finally treating yourself to a luxury item you’ve always wanted. An increase in your salary can mean you’ll have more money in your checking account, but it can also mean that you’re spending more to keep up with it. Let’s talk about what lifestyle creep means, the signs that you might be experiencing it, and how to avoid it.

What’s Lifestyle Creep?

Lifestyle creep occurs when you spend more as your income rises, often on non-essential items. This can make it feel like the increase to your income never happened – even though your paycheck went up, your wiggle room didn’t.  It can also occur after paying off a loan or credit card – which frees up money that would usually go toward a monthly payment. Rather than redirecting that money to savings, you spend it.

It usually happens little by little, and creeps up on you. At first, it might look like ordering takeout more often or buying pricier gifts because you can afford it. You might start upgrading existing subscription services or adding new ones to your recurring monthly expenses. Eventually, it might be that your spending has increased so much that your savings either looks the same or has dwindled, while your credit card balance grew.

Signs of Lifestyle Creep

Here are some signs that you might be experiencing lifestyle creep:

  • Living paycheck to paycheck.
  • Not knowing where your money goes every month.
  • Little luxuries like going out to eat or going shopping don’t feel special anymore.
  • The balance of your savings is stagnant or dwindling.
  • Relying on credit cards to make ends meet between paychecks.
  • Extra items that are wants, are now seen as
  • Consistently justifying expensive purchases as “deserved.”
  • Prioritizing luxury over practicality.
  • Unable to cover an emergency expense.

How to Avoid Lifestyle Creep

1. Decide on a Purpose for the Increase

As soon as your income increases, decide on a purpose for the extra money before you get used to seeing it in your account. Let’s say each paycheck goes up by $100.

  • 75% or $75 of the increase would go to your emergency savings, to pay down debt, or save for a financial goal.
  • 25% or $25 of the increase would go toward a valuable upgrade you want to make to your lifestyle.

You don’t have to follow these percentages exactly – the point is deciding before your spending habits decide for you. It is perfectly normal and expected to spend money on things that make you happy, but make sure you’re making future you a priority, too!

2. Automate Savings

When you receive a raise, consider increasing your automated savings at the same time (or begin automating your savings if you haven’t already). That extra income hasn’t been in your budget before, which makes it a good time to redirect some of it to savings before you adjust your spending habits around it.

First Financial members can setup automatic transfers to any of their First Financial Savings Accounts. It’s easy to set up automatic transfers between a First Financial Checking Account or an external account, as well as increase those transfers when you get a pay raise.*

3. Set Clear Financial Goals

Having clear, meaningful financial goals can make it easier to direct extra income. Whether you’re building an emergency fund, saving for your child’s college education, or for a family vacation – giving your extra income a purpose makes you less likely to spend it. Additionally, it can remind you to reconsider impulse purchases because that money can help get you closer to achieving a goal.

4. Sleep on New Monthly Payments

Before taking out an installment plan on a new furniture set or applying for a new car loan, sleep on it to decide if you really need it. Lifestyle creep isn’t only caused by single, large payments – it can be caused by taking on new monthly payments because they become permanent in your budget for 1 year, 5 years, or more.  If after sleeping on it, you decide that you still want the item in question – consider pairing it with a downgrade that either saves you money, or increase the amount you put into your savings account.

Increasing your income can be a great feeling – don’t let lifestyle creep change that. By making a plan for extra funds and being aware of your spending, you can ensure that you’re enjoying your pay bump today, tomorrow, and in the future.

For more financial advice and money management tips, subscribe to our First Scoop Blog.

*A First Financial membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers or attends school in Monmouth or Ocean Counties.  A $5 deposit in a base savings account is required for credit union membership prior to opening any other account. All personal memberships are part of the Rewards First program and a $5 per month non-participation fee is charged to the base savings account for memberships not meeting the minimum requirements of the program. View full Rewards First program details at firstffcu.com. Some restrictions apply, contact the Credit Union for more information.

The Risk of Putting Your Finances on Autopilot

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Automation makes it easy to manage your finances. Direct deposit, autopay and automatic transfers into your savings takes tasks off your plate, and for many – that hands-off approach is exactly what keeps their money on track.

However, when everything runs completely on its own – it’s easy to stop paying attention altogether. Keep reading to find out what to watch for, and how to stay in the loop with your finances without giving up the convenience.

You Can Lose Touch with Your Spending

When your bills pay themselves and your paycheck splits itself into savings, it’s easy to stop looking at where your money actually goes. You can miss patterns you would otherwise catch, like a forgotten subscription or a spending category creeping up month over month.

Automated savings can fall behind too. If you set a transfer amount once and never revisit it, it won’t grow when your income does. Say you set up a $50 automatic transfer into savings two years ago. After a raise, that same $50 is a smaller share of your paycheck than it used to be, even though the transfer still shows up every payday.

Set a recurring reminder monthly or quarterly, to review your accounts and see where your money is really going. Our Home Budget Calculator is a good place to start.

Overdrafts and Fees Can Sneak Up on You

Automation removes some of the manual work, but not the responsibility of knowing your account balances. If a payment goes out before your paycheck lands, or if you have more automatic payments scheduled than your account can cover that week – you could end up with an overdraft plus a late fee or returned payment fee from the biller.

This often happens right after a change in pay schedule or a new autopay you set up for a service. Checking your account balance, upcoming transactions, and payment timing regularly helps you catch these mismatches before they turn into fees.

Errors and Fraud are Easier to Miss

A missed decimal point, a duplicate charge or an extra zero can happen, and automated systems do not always catch these mistakes on their own. Fraud can be even harder to spot, since scammers often start with small charges that don’t raise a red flag – hoping you won’t notice before they move on to bigger ones. When your bills still get paid, and your balance still looks roughly right at a glance, nothing prompts you to look closer unless you already are.

A quick weekly glance at your transaction history is one of the simplest ways to catch something before it grows. Visit our blog’s Important Alerts & Scams page to stay up to date on the tactics scammers are using right now.

Your Plan Can Get Outdated Without You Noticing

Automation is built to run the same way every time, but your finances are not static. A new job, a move, a new family member or a paid-off loan can all change what your money should be doing, and none of those changes will update your automatic transfers on their own.

When you pay off a loan, automation will not redirect that freed-up money into savings, another debt or another goal for you. Treat every major life change as a cue to revisit your automatic settings, not just your budget.

Automation and Oversight Work Better Together

Automating your finances is still one of the best tools available for building good money habits, especially when you pair it with a regular check-in.

If you have been hands-off for awhile, start small. Review your accounts at least once a week for the first month, then shift to once a month. A short check-in does not need to take long. Each time, look for:

  • Charges you don’t recognize or can’t place.
  • Subscriptions or automatic payments you no longer use or need.
  • Savings transfers that have not kept pace with your income.
  • Life changes that may update your automatic settings.

Automation and oversight are not opposites. Together, they give you the convenience without losing sight of your money.

For more financial tips like these, subscribe to our First Scoop Blog.