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How To Pay Off Credit Card Debt Faster
The post How To Pay Off Credit Card Debt Faster appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.
According to NerdWallet, the average credit card debt for the American Family is nearly $16,000. Â That is a considerable amount, and the monthly financial burdens can quickly become overwhelming
You may feel as if there is no light at the end of the tunnel as you see no end in site. How in the world did I let this happen and what can I do about it now?
You certainly do not want to be like me and go down the path of bankruptcy. Don’t do that.
Instead, you simply need to know where to turn for in order to get the help you need to pay off your credit card debt as quickly as possible.
The truth is that you may not even realize how much debt you have or where to begin. Let’s tackle your debt by helping you figure out the simplest way to get rid of your credit card debt as fast as possible.
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HOW TO QUICKLY PAY OFF CREDIT CARDS
The first thing you have to do is take responsibility for it.  Whether your debt is a result of severe financial times or frivolous spending, it doesn’t matter. But, before you even think about getting out from beneath your credit card debt, you need to be ready to make it happen. That means you have to be willing to put in the hard work and make the lifestyle changes necessary to achieve your goals.
Once you do that, you are ready to take steps to pay it off.
1. Transfer your balances to zero or lower balance cards
When you have a lot of credit card debt, you will want to try to lower the amount of interest you pay. Since that compounds every month, it can mean your $50 payment will only reduce the debt by $10.
Take some time to do some research to find zero interest rate transfer cards or those with a low introductory rate. Â If you can drop your interest payments, that will allow you to focus on paying off your credit card debts.
By consolidating your credit card debt onto one or two cards, you may find you save a significant amount of money in interest while working to pay off the balances.
2. Use your house
When mortgage rates are low, it might make sense to refinance your home. Doing so may allow you take out a loan large enough to cover the balance you owe on your home plus your total credit card debt, without increasing your monthly payment.
If you can borrow more money, you can use that additional amount to pay off your credit card debt. Then, all of your debt will be in one monthly payment – your mortgage.
Or, if you would rather not refinance, consider taking out a home equity loan. Use what you’ve paid towards your home to pay off your credit cards. The interest rate is often lower what your credit card company charges.
3. Use a personal loan to pay off credit card debt
If you do not own a home, talk to your bank about a personal loan (secured or unsecured). Just like a home equity loan, you can pay off your balances and have a single monthly payment, often at a lower rate than credit card companies charge.
4. Get rid of your cards
If you are committed to paying off your credit card balances cut them up. That way, you will not be tempted to add more debt to your balance. However, what you should not do is close the account. Keep it open and continue to pay on it to help increase your credit score.
For some people, cutting them is just not an option. If you find this is you, then you need to put your cards on ice. Literally. Put the card in a baggie filled with water and drop it into your freezer.  Now,  you won’t be tempted to dig it out and use it as you would have to put in a LOT of effort to do so.
Do what you have to do to stop spending. There is no way around this. Until you are ready to change your attitude towards spending money, you will not be able to get out of debt. This starts by cutting off the spending. Period.
Read more: Â How to Break the Cycle of Credit Card Debt
5. Know how much you owe
Sadly, most people have no idea how much credit card debt they have accrued. You have to know how much you owe before you can implement a plan to pay it off.
Make a list of the current balances owed, minimum monthly payment and the interest rate. Then add up total the amount of debt you have AND the total minimum monthly payments. Â This gives you a better picture of the amount of debt you currently have outstanding (and, it may not be pretty to look at).
The debt payoff bundle gives you every form you need to track, monitor and pay off your debt once and for all!!
6. Find money
Once you know how much debt you have to pay off, take a second look at your budget. Find places where you can cut back to have more money to pay your debt. That may mean scaling back or eliminating dinner out for a while, so you have another $100 to use towards your credit card balances.
Think about making some short-term sacrifices for long-term gain. You will not need to scale back forever. Once you are out of debt you may even find you don’t miss those items you cut out of the budget!
7. Start paying them down — One at a time
There are two different rules of thinking when it comes to paying off credit card debts.  One says pay the higher interest rate, and the other says the highest balance. You can read more about those below.
No matter which method you decide to use, start with ONE debt and work on it first. Get it paid in full before you try to pay others.
You can use a debt payoff calculator to find out long it will take to pay off your credit cards and know how much you’ll save in interest along the way.
8. Consider debt consolidation
Sometimes, the best way out of debt is to consolidate them all into a single payment. You may find that you ultimately pay less over the life of the loan vs. what you would pay in interest on each card alone.
While credit card transfers are an option (as mentioned above) you may also want to try debt management or a consolidation program. These include counselors who may be able to negotiate (on your behalf) to reduce the rates or payment terms.
Rather than make the individual payments on each debt, you make a single payment each month to the agency. They then transfer the payment to the creditor on your behalf.
If you do not own a home or are unable to qualify for a credit card or personal loan then debt consolidation may be the answer.
HOW DO YOU PAY DOWN YOUR CREDIT CARD BALANCES
If you do not opt for one of the options above and instead want to tackle your balances on your own, there are two methods you can use.
Highest Interest Rate First (Avalanche Method)
The avalanche method of debt repayment starts by first tackling the debt with the highest interest rate. You will want to pay as much as you can towards this debt first, continuing with minimum payments on all other debts.
For example, if the minimum monthly balance is $25, try to double, if not triple, the payment. Combine this amount with any additional income freed up in your budget to pay towards your debt. Your focus should be only on this single debt until it is paid off. Continue making the minimum required payments on your other credit card balances.
Once your first card is paid off, roll the monthly payment you were making on that card onto the next card. So, if you were paying $150 on card one and $30 on card two each month, you will now pay $180 towards the balance of your credit card. Continue to do this until all of you are debt free.
Using this method results in paying less interest, therefore, less overall debt. Â As you tackle the one that accrues interest at a higher rate first, you will eventually pay out less to the company. Â The downside is that you may end up tackling an overall higher balance first, which can result in it taking longer to make progress, and you becoming discouraged.
Lowest Balance First (Snowball Method)
The snowball method does not take interest rate into account, but rather balances. Review your list of debts and find the one that has the lowest balance. This is the one you will focus on first.
You will follow the same rule as you would if you were paying down the higher interest rate card first. Â Find any additional money you can in your budget and add that to the minimum monthly payment of the lowest balance card. Â Continue paying on that card until it is paid in full. Â Once that happens, roll that payment into the next balance. Â Repeat this process until all debts are paid off.
The reason that this works is that it tends to be more encouraging. Â You will see that you are actually making progress as you can achieve a balance paid in full more quickly, which gives you the motivation to proceed. Â The downside of this method is that you may have to pay a bit more in overall debt due to additional interest on the cards.
The thing is that one of these is not “right or wrong.” I hate when I see so-called experts trying to degrade someone for trying one over the other. Â We are all different and we know what will motivate us to help us stay on track. Â Decide which of these two works best for you.
8. Use Windfalls
While you are working yourself out from beneath your mountain of debt, there may be times when extra money finds its way to you. You may get a raise or a bonus at work. This may be the year you qualify for a tax refund. When you get extra money of any amount, do not use it as you want. Instead, apply it towards your debt.
If you want to tackle this as quickly as possible, you may need to sell things you do not need or even get a second job. There are many ways you can make money at home, many of which will not interfere with your regular full-time job.
STAYING OUT OF CREDIT CARD DEBT
Once your credit card debt is paid in full, you never want to allow yourself to get into that situation again. Â Here are things you need to do:
1. Figure out why you got there in the first place
Was the reason you had debt due to poor saving? Are you a spender? Did you just not have a budget and had to use it to cover living expenses?
Whatever the reason, you need to make sure you know what lead you down that path, to begin with, and make changes in your life so that it doesn’t happen again.
2. Have an emergency fund
Many times, people turn to credit cards when they have an unexpected expense. This is where your emergency fund will come into play. Instead of turning to a credit card to bail you out, you will use your emergency fund balance instead.
Read more: Â How to Rapidly Build an Emergency Fund
3. Never charge more than you have in the bank
Far to often, people will charge in advance of a paycheck or other income source they plan on coming their way. Â But, what happens if that fails to come through? Â Can they pay off the balance?
If you can not pay off your balance with the money in your checking or savings account, then do not charge it. Â Just because you are owed money does not mean it will come through.
4. Always pay balances in full every month
It can be tempting not to pay off your card and keep more of the money for yourself. Â However, this will just put you back into the same situation you just got out from. Â Make sure your entire balance is paid off every single month. Â No exceptions.
5. Review the perks
Many people use credit cards because of the perks. These include cash back, free offers or even airline miles. Â However, what do you have to spend to earn the reward? Is it worth racking up a hefty balance just to get something free?
Companies can change their programs at any time. Â You could lose those you’ve earned or no longer be eligible to earn new ones. Â The perks may sound great, but are they really worth it?
Trying to pay off credit card debt is not easy. However, can you continue to live with the financial strain they are causing you? Only you can decide that it is the right time to pay off credit card debt.
The post How To Pay Off Credit Card Debt Faster appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.
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How to Escape Debt in 2016
The new year is right around the corner and if youâre like most people, youâve probably got a running list of resolutions to achieve and milestones to reach. If getting out of debt ranks near the top, nowâs the time to starting thinking about how youâre going to hit your goal. Developing a clear-cut action plan can get you that much closer to debt-free status in 2016.
1. Add up Your Debt
You canât start attacking your debt until you know exactly how much you owe. The first step to paying down your debt is sitting down with all of your statements and adding up every penny thatâs still outstanding. Once you know how deep in debt you are, you can move on to the next step.
2. Review Your Budget
A budget is a plan that sets limits on how you spend your money. If you donât have one, itâs a good idea to put a budget together as soon as possible. If you do have a budget, you can go over it line by line to find costs you can cut out. By eliminating fees and unnecessary expenses like cable subscriptions, youâll be able to use the money you save to pay off your debt.
3. Set Your Goals
At this point in the process, you should have two numbers: the total amount of money you owe and the amount you can put toward your debt payments each month. Using those two figures, you should be able determine how long itâs going to take you to pay off your mortgage, student loans, personal loans and credit card debt.
Letâs say you owe your credit card issuer $25,000. If you have $500 in your budget that you can use to pay off that debt each month, youâll be able to knock $6,000 off your card balance in a year. Keep in mind, however, that youâll still need to factor in interest to get an accurate idea of how the balance will shrink from one year to the next.
4. Lower Your Interest Rates
Interest is a major obstacle when youâre trying to get out of debt. If you want to speed up the payment process, you can look for ways to shave down your rates. If you have high-interest credit card debt, for instance, transferring the balances to a card with a 0% promotional period can save you some money and reduce the amount of time itâll take to get rid of your debt.
Refinancing might be worth considering if you have student loans, car loans or a mortgage. Just remember that completing a balance transfer or refinancing your debt isnât necessarily free. Credit card companies typically charge a 3% fee for balance transfers and if youâre taking out a refinance loan, you might be on the hook for origination fees and other closing costs.
5. Increase Your Income
Keeping a tight rein on your budget can go a long way. But thatâs not the only way to escape debt. Pumping up your paycheck in the new year can also help you pay off your loans and increase your disposable income.
Asking your boss for a raise will directly increase your earnings, but thereâs no guarantee that your supervisor will agree to your request. If youâre paid by the hour, you can always take on more hours at your current job. And if all else fails, you can start a side gig to bring in more money.
Hold Yourself Accountable
Having a plan to get out of debt in the new year wonât get you very far if youâre not 100% committed. Checking your progress regularly is a must, as is reviewing your budget and goals to make sure youâre staying on track.
Photo credit: ©iStock.com/BsWei, ©iStock.com/marekuliasz, ©iStock.com/DragonImages
The post How to Escape Debt in 2016 appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.
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Credit 101: What Is Revolving Utilization?
According to Experian, the average credit score in the United States was just over 700 in 2019. Thatâs considered a good credit scoreâand if you want a good credit score, you have to consider your revolving utilization. Revolving utilization measures the amount of revolving credit limits that you are currently using, and it accounts for a large portion of your credit score.
Find out more about what revolving utilization is, how to manage it, and how it impacts your credit score below.
What Is Revolving Credit?
To understand revolving utilization, you first have to understand revolving credit. Revolving credit accounts are those that have a “revolving” balance, such as credit cards.
When you are approved for a credit card, you are given a credit limit. If you have a credit card with a limit of $1,000 and you use it to buy $200 worth of goods, you now have a $200 balance and an $800 remaining credit limit.
Now, if you pay that $200, you again have $1,000 of open credit. If you pay $150, you have $950 of open credit. But your credit revolves between balance owed and how much open credit you have available to use. How much you have to pay each monthâknown as the minimum paymentâdepends on how much your balance owed is.
Other forms of revolving credit include lines of credit and home equity lines of credit. They work similar to credit cards.
What Isn’t Revolving Credit?
Unlike revolving credit, installment loans involve taking out a lump sum and paying it back in an agreed-upon fashion over a set term of months or years. Typically, you agree to pay a certain amount per month for a certain number of months to cover the amount you borrowed plus any interest.
With an installment loan, the amount of your monthly payment is determined by your loan agreement, not the balance due. Common types of installment loans include vehicle loans, personal loans, student loans, and mortgages.
What Is Revolving Utilization?
Revolving utilization, also known as âcredit utilizationâ or your âdebt-to-limit ratio,â relates only to revolving credit and isn’t a factor with installment loans. Utilization refers to how much of your credit balance you’re using at a given time.
Hereâs how to determine your individual and overall credit utilization:
- Look at your credit reports and identify all of your revolving accounts. Each of these accounts has a credit limit (the most you can spend on that account) and a balance (how much you have spent).
- To calculate individual utilization percentage on an account, divide the balance by the credit limit, and multiply that number by 100.
- $500/$1,000 = 0.5
- 5*100 = 50%
- To calculate overall utilization (all revolving accounts), add up all of the credit limits (total credit limit) and all of the balances (total spent) on your revolving accounts. Divide the total balance by total credit limit, and multiply that number by 100.
If you have a credit card with a $1,000 credit limit and a balance of $500, your utilization rate is 50%, for example. For the same card, if you have a balance of $100, your utilization rate is 10%.
When it comes to your credit score, revolving utilization is typically calculated in total. For example:
- You have one card with a limit of $1,000 and a balance of $500.
- You have a second card with a limit of $4,000 and a balance of $400.
- You have a third card with a limit of $3,000 and a balance of $600.
- Your total credit limit across all three cards is $8,000.
- Your total utilization across all three cards is $1,500.
- Your revolving utilization is around 19%.
How Can You Reduce Revolving Utilization?
You can reduce revolving utilization in two ways. First, you can pay down your balances. The less you owe, the less your utilization will be.
Second, you can increase your credit limit. If you apply for a new credit card but don’t use it, you’ll have more open credit, and that can reduce your utilization. You might also be able to ask your credit card company to review your account for a credit increase if you’re an account holder in good standing.
What Is Revolving Utilization’s Impact on Your Credit Score?
Your revolving utilization rate does impact your credit. It’s the second-largest factor in the calculation of your credit score. Your utilization rate accounts for around 30% of your score. The only factor more important is whether you make your payments on time.
Why is credit utilization so important to your score? Because to lenders, it can say a lot about you as a borrower.
If you’re currently maxed out on all your existing credit, you may be struggling to pay your debts. Or you might not be managing your debts in the most responsible fashion. Either way, lenders might see you as a riskier investment and be less inclined to approve you for loans or other credit.
How Do You Know If You Have a Revolving Utilization Problem?
Sign up for Credit.comâs free Credit Report Card. It provides a snapshot of your credit report and gives you a grade for each of the five areas that make up your score. That includes payment history, credit utilization, age of credit, credit mix, and inquiries. The credit report card makes it easy for you to see what might be negatively affecting your credit score.
You can also sign up for ExtraCredit, an exciting new product from Credit.com. With an ExtraCredit account, you get a look at 28 of your FICO scores from all three credit bureausâplus exclusive discounts and cashback offers as well as other featuresâfor less than $25 a month.
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Home Buyer’s Guide: How to Purchase a Property, From Start to Finish [Free Download]
Purchasing a home is both exciting and a major milestone in your life, so you’ll want to be prepared for what to expect to avoid a stressful process. Having an in-depth look at the buyer’s journey can help you make informed and confident decisions.
From finding a real estate agent, negotiating offers to getting your keys on closing day, we’ve outlined all the steps of a home buyer’s journey in our free Buyer’s Guide, which you can download here.
The Buyer’s Guide will cover the buyer’s timeline from meeting an agent to preparing for closing day. We’ve outlined the 8 steps in a home buyer’s journey below.
1. Working With An Agent
Every city is filled with thousands of agents, but not all are equal. We believe it is important to choose an agent that you feel confident with. Before you commit to working with an agent, make sure you have a good understanding of the knowledge and experience they offer. It’s important that you ask your questions before making the decision to work with them.
2. Financing Your Purchase
Before you set a budget and start looking for a home, you’ll have to understand what costs to expect when purchasing a home. Here are some of the major costs involved:
- Deposits
- Down payments
- Mortgage insurance
- Closing costs
You’ll also want to calculate a rough estimate of the down payment that you will be expected to pay. Depending on the price of your home, your minimum down payment can range from 5% to 20%. If you’re interested in learning more about how to finance your home, you can get our free Financing Your Purchase guide here.
3. Searching For A Home
An important part of searching for a home is understanding how the home will fit with your needs and your lifestyle. You’ll want to consider home ownership as well as different types of properties and features.
Types of Home Ownership
- Freehold Ownership
- You purchase the home and directly own the lot of land it sits on
- Condominium Ownership
- For condos, you own specific parts of one building: titled ownership of your unit, along with shared ownership in the condo corporation that owns the common spaces and amenities
- Co-Op Ownership
- You own an exact portion of the building as a whole and also have exclusive use of your unit
Types of Properties
- Detached houses
- Semi-detached houses
- Attached houses
- Condos and apartments
- Multi-unit
Tip: Depending on your budget and desired location, you may need to be flexible to find a home that meets your needs. By being willing to trade some features for others, you’ll have more options to choose from.
4. Negotiating An Offer
When you are making an offer to purchase a home, the purchase agreement should include the essential components listed below. Your agent can help put together an offer that is compelling, while safeguarding your interests and puts you in a competitive position to secure your new home.
You’ll also have the opportunity to choose the conditions that you’ll want in your offer. Some of these may include a home inspection or a status certificate review.
5. Financial Due Diligence
Whenever you make an offer on a house, you need to provide a deposit to secure the offer. The deposit is in the form of a certified cheque, bank draft, or wire transfer; it’s held in trust by the selling brokerage and is applied towards your down payment if your offer is successful.
There are two types of deposits:
- Upon acceptance
- The deposit is provided within 24 hours of the seller choosing your offer
- Herewith
- The deposit is provided when the offer is made
6. Property Due Diligence
To firm up a deal or educate yourself more on the state of the property, you’ll likely want to have a home inspection if you’re purchasing a house. If you’re purchasing a condo, then your lawyer will review the building’s status certificate.
Home Inspection
A home inspector will assess elements of the home such as the walls, windows, plumbing, heating and roof to judge the condition of the home. This process is non-invasive and is essential to help provide buyers with a good idea of the home’s current condition and the confidence of putting in an offer.
Tip: The home inspector will provide a summary of suggested work along with a minimum budget estimate for the repairs needed.
Status Certificates
If you’re purchasing a condominium, you’ll need to obtain a status certificate from the condo board or management for your lawyer’s review. This document will include valuable information about the condo’s budget, legal issues, reserve fund, maintenance fees and future fees increases – and the lawyer can help identify potential red flags
7. Preparing For Closing
Before the big day, you’ll want to keep a checklist of what to do ahead of time. Some of these include:
- Review your contract
- Complete a final walkthrough of the home
- Purchase home insurance
- Meet with your lawyer
- Know how much cash you’ll need
- Secure cash required for closing
8. Closing Day
Closing Day is when you’ll finally get the keys to your new home! In addition to bringing the cash required for closing, you’ll have to sign a few more documents which will include:
- Mortgage loan
- Title transfer
- Statement of adjustments
- Tax certificates
For the full details on the home buyer’s journey including examples, advice, pictures and sample calculations, download a copy of our free Buyer’s Guide here.
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Do College Rankings Matter?
All articles about college rankings should perhaps be read with a grain of salt and primarily through a lens of what matters most to individuals about the college experience and what theyâre hoping it will be an investment toward.
Prominent publications and people have conveyed a variety of views about whether college rankings matter:
The editor-in-chief of the Science Family of Journals said no in May 2020. âTo any logical scientific observer, the fine distinctions of where schools show up on this (U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges) list are statistically meaninglessâbut try telling that to a roomful of alumni or parents,â H. Holden Thorp wrote.
Ian Bogost, distinguished chair at Georgia Tech, wrote in The Atlantic in June 2020: âThe absurdity of a numerical ranking mechanism for colleges becomes apparent the moment you look at how U.S. News calculates it. The methodology reads like a Dungeons and Dragons character sheet: 8% for class size; 10% for high-school-class standing; 4.4% for first-to-second-year student retention, and so on.â
But just because the consensus leans toward ânoâ doesn’t mean it should be the last word on anyoneâs ultimate decision about where to go to school.
Even U.S. News & World Report says on its best-colleges website: âThe rankings provide a good starting point for students trying to compare schools. ⦠The best school for each student, experts say, is one that will most completely meet his or her needs, which go beyond academics.â
What Are the College Rankings?
There is no single, ultimate, etched-in-stone set of college rankings. All over the world, there are entities using a wide array of criteria to appraise universities.
Rather than expecting a âyesâ or ânoâ to the question of whether college rankings matter, it would be more beneficial to understand why “It depends” could be more appropriate.
If you’re aiming for an education from a prestigious school, and money is no objectâwell, first of all, congratulations and good luck.
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Money Moves to Make in Your 20s, 30s, and 40s
Reaching your twenties is an exciting milestone for most as it means youâve officially entered adulthood. Along with that milestone comes new responsibilities and worries that we didnât picture when our teenage selves dreamed of turning 21. We imagined our college graduation, moving into our first apartment, and launching our new career. That vision didnât include dealing with student loan debt, taking on a low paying entry-level job, or having to confront that despite spending 4 years in college, youâre still unsure how the world of personal finance actually works.
Itâs easy to dismiss it all because well youâre a 20 something, and youâll have plenty of time to play catch up. The reality is that each decade plays an important role in our future financial health. Take the time now to learn about your money and follow the money moves outlined below to put yourself on a path of lifelong financial success and eventual freedom.
Money Moves to Make in Your 20âs:
Learn How To Budget
Building a budget doesnât have to be overly complicated or time-consuming. Itâs actually the first step in putting yourself in control of your finances because it means you know where your money goes each month. The good news is that there are lots of apps and online tools that can make the process a breeze. Consider a system like Mint that will connect to your accounts and automatically categorize your spending for you. The right budgeting tool is simply the one youâll stick with long term.
Pay Off Debt
Debt isnât all bad. It may be the reason you were able to earn your degree, and a mortgage may help you one day buy a home. It can also quickly overrun your life if you arenât careful. Nowâs the perfect time before life gets more hectic with family commitments to buckle down and tackle any loans or credit card balances so you can be debt-free going into your 30âs.
Build a Cash Cushion
The financial downturn caused by the pandemic has reminded the whole world of the importance of having an emergency fund. We donât know what life is going to throw at us and having a cushion can help you navigate the uncertain times. Though itâs not all about having a secret stash of cash to deal with the bad news of life (medical bills, car repair, layoff), it can also be about having the cash to seize an exciting opportunity. Having savings gives you the freedom and security to deal with whatever life brings your way – good or bad.
Understand Credit
Your credit score can dictate so much of your life. That little number can play a big role in the home you buy, the car you drive, and even the job you hold as some employers (especially in the finance world) will pull your credit. Itâs important that you check your credit report and score (also available through Mint), learn how itâs calculated, and work to improve it.
Money Moves to Make in Your 30âs:
Invest For Retirement
Now that youâve spent your 20âs building the foundation for your financial life, itâs time to make sure youâre also tackling the big picture goals like saving and investing for retirement. I typically recommend that clients save 10% to 15% of their annual income towards retirement. That may seem like an insurmountable goal, but starting small by saving even 1 to 3% of your salary can make a big difference in the future. Also, make sure to take advantage of any matching contributions that your employer may provide in your retirement plan. If, for example, they offer to match contributions up to 6%, I would try hard to work towards contributing at least 6%.
Buying Your First Home
Buying your first home is a top goal for many, but it also seems to be getting increasingly more difficult especially if you live in a major city. The most important steps you can take is to improve your credit score, pay down high-interest debt, and be aggressive about saving for a down payment. Saving 20% down will help you qualify for the best loan terms and interest rate, but there are still home loans available even if you arenât able to save that much. Just be realistic with your budget and what you can afford. Donât let a lender or real estate agent determine what payment will fit into your budget.
Be Covered Under These Must-Have Insurances
Youâve spent the last several years building your savings and growing your family. Itâs now crucial that you have the proper insurance coverage in place to protect your assets and your loved ones. Life and disability insurance are top of the list. Life insurance doesnât have to be expensive or complex. Get a quote for term-life that will last a set number of years and protect your partner and children during those crucial years that they depend on you. Disability insurance protects your income if you become sick or injured and are unable to work. Your earning ability is one of your biggest assets during this time, and you should protect it. This coverage may be offered through your employer, or you can request a quote for an individual policy.
Invest in Self-Care and Well Being
Mental health is part of self-care and wealth. Most people donât talk about how financial stress and worry affect their overall health. When you can take care of yourself on all levels, you will feel healthier and wealthier, and happier. But it is not easy. It takes work, effort, awareness, and consciousness to learn how to detach the value in your bank account or financial account from your self-worth and value as a human being. When you feel emotional about your money, investments, or the stock market, learn ways to process them and take care of yourself by hiring licensed professionals and experts to help you.
Money Moves to Make in Your 40âs:
Revisit Your College Savings Goal
As your kids get older and prepare to enter their own journey into adulthood, paying for college is likely a major goal on your list. Consider opening a 529 plan (if you havenât already) to save for their education. 529 plans offer tax advantages when it comes to saving for college. There are lots of online resources that can help you understand and pick the right plan for you. Visit https://www.savingforcollege.com. This is also a great time to make sure you’re talking to your kids about money. Give them the benefit of a financial education that you may not have had.
Get Aggressive with Retirement Planning
Your 40âs likely mark peak earning years. Youâll want to take advantage of your higher earnings to maximize your retirement savings especially if you werenât able to save as much in your 20âs and 30âs. Revisit your retirement plan to crunch the numbers so you’ll be clear on what you need to save to reach your goal.
Build More Wealth
Youâve arrived at mid-life probably feeling younger than you are and wondering how the heck that big 4-0 got on your birthday cake. We typically associate being 20 with being free, but I think weâve got it wrong. There is something incredibly freeing about the wisdom and self-assurance that comes with getting older. Youâve proved yourself. People see you as an adult. Your kids are getting older and your finances are more settled. Nowâs the time to kick it up to the next level. Look for ways to build additional wealth. This may mean tapping into your entrepreneurial side to launch the business youâve dreamed of or buying real estate to increase passive income. Nowâs also a great time to find a trusted financial advisor who can help guide your next steps and help you plan the best ways to build your wealth.
Revisit Your Insurance Coverage
Insurance was crucial before, but itâs time to revisit your coverage and make sure youâre protected especially if you decide to launch a business or buy additional real estate. This is also where a financial advisor can help you analyze your coverage needs and find the policies that will work for you.
Consider Estate Planning
Estate planning (think wills, trusts, power of attorney) isnât the most fun / exciting topic. It involves imagining your gone and creating a plan for the loved ones you leave behind. It is also often overlooked by adults in their younger years. Itâs easy to assume estate planning is something the wealthy need to do. It really comes down to whether you want to decide how your life savings will be managed or if you want a court to decide. Itâs also crucial for parents with children who are minors to select a guardian and have those uncomfortable conversations with their family members about who would care for the children if the worst were to happen. Itâs also a good time to visit this topic with your own aging parents and make sure they have the proper documents and plans in place.
Whether you’re in your 20âs, 30âs or 40âs, it can be easy to put off planning your finances especially in the middle of a pandemic. Most of us are busy, and itâs easy to tell yourself that youâll have time to work on a goal in the future. Commit to setting aside one hour each week or even each month to have a money date and review your finances. Donât let yourself reach a milestone birthday (30, 40) and regret not being farther ahead. Follow these money moves now to seize control of your financial future.
The post Money Moves to Make in Your 20s, 30s, and 40s appeared first on MintLife Blog.
Source: mint.intuit.com
CIT Bank Savings Account: How Much Can You Earn
A CIT Bank Savings account will help you boost your savings, earning 20 times more than what a traditional bank account will offer you.
If you have a regular checking and savings account at your local bank, you may notice that your rate on the savings account is less than a tenth of a percent.
You can keep your savings account at your local bank if you choose to. But you don’t have to.
Instead of getting crummy interest rates, you can switch to or open a CIT Bank savings account.
CIT Bank savings accounts are offered online, where you can earn a competitively high yield.
| *TOP CIT BANK PROMOTIONS* | ||
|---|---|---|
| PROMOTIONAL LINK | OFFER | REVIEW |
| CIT Bank Money Market | 1.00% APY | Review |
| CIT Bank Savings Builder | 0.95% APY | Review |
| CIT Bank CDs | 0.75% APY 1 Year CD Term | Review |
| CIT Bank No Penalty CD | 0.75% APY | Review |
CIT BANK: AN OVERVIEW
In brief, CIT Bank is an online-only bank. That means, there is no local branch.
There are no ATMs. You will perform every transactions online. However, the bank does not charge its customers when they use another bank’s ATMs.
And if the bank charges you a fee, CIT will reimburse you up to $15 every month.
The bank currently offers some of the highest interest rates on its savings accounts and its other products, such as CDs, checking account and money market account.
Lastly, there no are no account maintenance fees on any of the bank’s products.
HOW MUCH CAN I EARN WITH A CIT BANK SAVINGS ACCOUNT?
With a CIT Bank savings account, you will earn a 0.95% APY through the Savings Builder option and 1.00% APY through Premier High Yield Savings account.
But certain conditions will apply (more on this below).
CIT Bank Savings accounts offers interest rates that are 20 to 25 times higher than what a traditional, brick and mortar bank is currently offering.
Because of that big difference between CIT Bank’s high-yield savings accounts between a traditional savings account, you’ll earn more money.
For example, if you have $5,000 in a traditional savings account with a 0.10 APY%, you would get just $5 in a year.
But if you have that same amount of money in an account earning 2%, you return will be $100.
CIT Bank offers two savings accounts options: 1) the Savings Builder and the Premier High Yield Savings account.
Both accounts require a minimum opening deposit of $100. But neither has monthly maintenance fees.
Here’s a quick table of CIT Bank two savings accounts.
| CIT Bank Savings Account |
Minimum deposit | APY |
|---|---|---|
| Savings Builder | $100 or $25,000 | 0.95% |
| Premier High Yield Savings | $0 | 1.00% |
The Savings Builder:
The CIT Bank Savings Builder will allow you to earn 0.95% APY, but only if you make at least one monthly deposit of $100 or more.
Or, if you keep a balance of at least $25,000. Interest in this high-yield savings account compounds daily to boost your earning.
Click here to learn more about CIT Bank’s Savings Builder.
The Premier High Yield Savings account:
With this account, you will earn 1.00% APY regardless of your account balance or monthly fees.
Interest in this savings account is also compounded daily to maximize your earning.
PROS AND CONS OF CIT BANK SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
Pros:
- No monthly fees on deposit accounts;
- a minimum deposit requirement of $100;
- Refunds ATM fees — because the bank does not have ATMs, it does not charge customers who use another bank’s ATMs. And if there is a fee, CIT will refund you up to $15 per month.
Cons:
- No bank branches or ATM;
- No 24/7 customer support — as with all high yield savings accounts, most inquiries are handled online. While live telephone is available, hours are limited.
HOW TO OPEN A CIT BANK SAVINGS ACCOUNT?
To open an account, simply go to the CIT Bank homepage, and create the account online.
You’ll need to provide your name, address, phone number, and ID. You’ll also need to provide your social security number.
Note that CIT does not have any branches. Everything must be done online.
If you’re opening a CIT Bank Builder Savings account, you will need to make an initial minimum deposit of $100.
You will also need to make monthly deposit of $100 to take advantage of the 0.95% APY. Or, you will need to have a $25,000 balance.
If you’re opening the Premier High Yield Savings account, you’re not required to make any initial minimum deposit.
So, you can open the account first and fund it later.
HOW MUCH TO KEEP IN YOUR CIT BANK SAVINGS ACCOUNT?
How much should you keep on your savings account will depend on your savings goals.
If you’re opening the account to serve as an emergency fund, experts have recommended to keep at least three to six months of living expenses.
That money is reserved in case of an emergency like a loss of job, you fell ill, or need money for a major car repair.
But one thing you should know is that deposits at any banks are covered by the federal government up to $250,000.
So if you have more than that, you should split your money into multiple accounts.
WHO IS A CIT BANK ACCOUNT GOOD FOR?
A CIT Bank savings account is good for anyone who:
- Wants to earn a higher yield on the savings accounts;
- Does not mind having their banking online;
- Can commit saving at least $100 every month; or
- Can carry $25,000 balance.
WHAT OTHER PRODUCTS CIT BANK OFFERS?
In addition to the two savings accounts, the bank also offers a checking account, money market accounts and Certificate of deposits (CDs).
The checking account is called “eChecking.” It is the only account the bank offers. There is no monthly fees and you can open the account with as little as $100.
Note that CIT Bank does not have ATMs. But the bank does not charge you for using another bank’s ATM.
And CIT will refund you for ATM fees other banks charge you.
CIT bank also offers one money market account. This money market account has no monthly fees and requires an opening minimum deposit of $100.
CIT Bank has several terms CDs, which range from 6 months to 5 years.
There is also a no penalty 11-month term, where customers can withdraw money with no penalty.
CIT Bank also offers jumbo CDs, ranging from two to five years. You can open a term CD, including the no-penalty CD, with a minimum of $1,000.
The Jumbo CDs require a minimum of $100,000.
Click here to learn more about CIT Bank CDs.
THE BOTTOM LINE
A CIT Bank savings account, is a high yield savings account, where you can a higher yield than regular savings accounts.
You will earn a 0.95% APY through the Savings Builder option and 1.00% APY through Premier High Yield Savings account.
So, whether you’re saving money for an emergency fund, saving money to go on a vacation, or saving money to buy a house in the next few years, CIT Bank is the right bank for you.
Speak with the Right Financial Advisor
If you have questions about high interest savings accounts, you can talk to a financial advisor who can review your finances and help you reach your goals. Find one who meets your needs with SmartAssetâs free financial advisor matching service. You answer a few questions and they match you with up to three financial advisors in your area. So, if you want help developing a plan to reach your financial goals, get started now.
The post CIT Bank Savings Account: How Much Can You Earn appeared first on GrowthRapidly.
Source: growthrapidly.com
A Beginnerâs Guide to Insurance Premiums
To benefit from insurance coverage, youâll need to pay a premium. A premium is a payment to your insurer that keeps your coverage in place. Insurance companies determine your premium by deciding what the risk is to insure you. Hereâs a breakdown of the basics to help you understand what a premium is, why you have to pay it, how it works and ways to reduce your costs.
What Is a Premium?
An insurance premium is effectively the cost of your insurance, whether for health, auto or life insurance. Most companies allow you to pay the annual premium via monthly installments. However, some companies may require you to pay your premium on an annual basis or a semi-annual basis. Some may even want the entire insurance premium up front. Companies often decide they want the insurance premium up front if you have previously had your insurance policy canceled for non-payment.
The price of a premium is usually decided by an actuary or underwriter who takes a base calculation. The base calculation determines what the risk is to insure you. After the base calculation, the company may discount it based on your health, driving record, location and other personal details. This is all based on the type of insurance youâre looking to secure, too.
Your premium may also be determined based on your insurance history. Every insurance company uses different criteria to determine premiums. Some companies use insurance scores based on personal factors like credit rating, car accident frequency, personal claims history and occupation. If your personal factors are attractive to certain companies, you may want to secure a plan with one of them. It could mean a lower cost premium.
You may also pay more money for higher amounts of coverage, whether youâre purchasing life insurance, car insurance, health insurance or any other kind of insurance.
The value and condition of what you are insuring can also change the amount of coverage you need. For example, if youâre a healthy 28-year-old with no kids, your life insurance premium may be very inexpensive because you might not need a large policy. However, the price could increase as you age and your health and family situations change because you may need more coverage.
How Can You Lower Your Rates?
The type of coverage you purchase affects your premium. If you get more comprehensive coverage with your insurance policy, it may raise your insurance premium. For example, if you insure your vehicle for all risks, you may have to pay more than if you insured it with a policy that doesnât include collision coverage.
Deductibles can reduce your insurance premiums, as well. An insurance deductible is the cost you pay before the insurance company pays anything. If your car is insured and you have a $1,000 deductible, you have to pay $1,000 before the insurance company will begin to cover any costs. If there are $3,000 in damages to your vehicle, you would have to pay $1,000 and the insurance company would pay the other $2,000. As a general rule, the higher your deductible, the lower your premiums.
In the case of health insurance, taking on a higher deductible, higher co-pays or longer waiting periods may lower your costs. However, if you can afford a plan with a lower deductible, you may want to take that. Lower deductible health plans offer customers more predictable prices for higher amounts of coverage.
Your homeowners insurance premium may be affected by the coverage limits you choose, your deductible amount, optional coverages you select, your homeâs age and condition, your claims history and your credit rating.
Car insurance premiums may be affected by your age, your credit score, your driving record, the age of your car, the type of coverage you chose, coverage limits you select, where you live and drive, and how often you drive.
Your life insurance premium may be affected by the amount of life insurance coverage you buy, the type of life insurance policy you select, the length of your policy, and your age, health, and life expectancy.
Insurance Limits
Some companies, specific policies or types of coverage have insurance limits. An insurance limit is the maximum amount of money the company will pay. Typically, the higher your insurance limit, the higher your premium. Itâs also the inverse of a deductible. You pay the part of the claim or claims thatâs more than the limit on your policy.
Insurance limits can be on a per occurrence basis or on an aggregate basis. For example, a per occurrence basis could be a $20,000 insurance limit on bodily injuries per person, per car accident. An aggregate insurance limit might be a $100,000 limit on construction costs in the event of a natural disaster.
Car Insurance
Car insurance laws and policies typically list liabilities as a set of three numbers that stand for the coverage limits when youâre responsible for an accident. If your numbers were 22/66/15, your insurance would cover $22,000 for bodily injuries per person, $66,000 in total bodily injury coverage per accident and $15,000 for property damage per accident. For personal injury protection, collision and comprehensive coverage, the numbers are listed as a single amount for each type of coverage. Your state may have specific minimum limits for certain coverages, so make sure youâre getting a fair rate.
Health Insurance
Healthcare laws often change, and many lifetime and annual health insurance limits are illegal. However, some health insurance policies still list annual limits or limits on the number of times certain treatments will be covered, such as acupuncture, chiropractic services and orthotics. Companies may also place limits on prescription medication to keep costs down. There may be policies such as âstep therapy,â which requires you to try less expensive drugs first, or quantity limits, such as only covering 30 pills in 30 days.
Homeowners Insurance
Your homeowners insurance policy will often list separate limit amounts for different types of coverage. The limit amounts for liability coverage â in case youâre sued by someone for property damage or injuries that occur on your property â may be different than the limit amount for damage to your home and personal property. Make sure you review all of your homeowners insurance coverage limits, such as the amount it may cost to rebuild your home (dwelling coverage), liability coverage and personal property coverage.
Shopping Around
Itâs important to shop around for insurance because different companies have different target clients. You may be the target client for one company, but not for another. That means your premium may be lower with one company than another. The price you pay for your insurance may include taxes or fees, as well. And these could differ from company to company. Before shopping around, call your insurance company and see if theyâre willing to lower your premium.
In addition, insurance companies may decide to pursue a new market segment. That can lower rates on a temporary basis, or on a more permanent basis if that works for the company. In either case, you can get a better deal on your insurance if you are part of the demographic that insurance company wants to attract.
The best insurance company for you may not be the best insurance company for your parents or your best friend. It all depends on your age, location and many other factors.
The Bottom Line
Your insurance company will assess the financial risk of insuring you. The greater they perceive that risk to be, the more your premium will cost. Itâs important to make sure you let your insurance company know all the ways in which you are a low-risk or lower risk client in order to get premium reductions. After shopping around, youâll be able to find the insurance policies that are best for your financial situation.
Tips for Reducing Insurance Costs
- Consider all of the insurance options available based on your individual circumstances. This can help you save money. A comprehensive budget calculator can help you understand which option is best.
- If you need extra help weighing your insurance options, you might want to consider working with an expert. Finding the right financial advisor that fits your needs can be easy. SmartAssetâs free tool will match you with financial advisors in your area in five minutes. If youâre ready to learn about local advisors that will help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Photo credit: ©iStock.com/skynesher, ©iStock.com/kate_sept2004, ©iStock.com/AndreyPopov
The post A Beginnerâs Guide to Insurance Premiums appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.
Source: smartasset.com
Understanding Long-Term Care Insurance
A lot of us donât like to think about this, but inevitably there will come a time where we will all need help taking care of ourselves. So how can we start preparing for this financially?
Many people opt to purchase long-term care insurance in advance as a way to prepare for their golden years. Long-term care insurance includes services relating to day-to-day activities such as help with taking baths, getting dressed and getting around the house. Most long-term care insurance policies will front the fees for this type of care if you are suffering from a chronic illness, injury or disability, like Alzheimerâs disease, for example.Â
If this is something you think youâll need later on, itâs crucial that you donât wait until youâre sick to apply. If you apply for long-term care insurance after becoming ill or disabled, you will not qualify. Most people apply around the ages of 50-60 years old.Â
In this article, we will discuss long-term care insurance, how it works and why you might consider getting it.  Â
How long-term care insurance works
The process of applying for long-term care insurance is pretty straight forward. Generally, you will have to fill out an application and then youâll have to answer a series of questions about your health. During this point in the process, you may or may not have to submit medical records or other documents proving the status of your health.Â
With most long-term care policies, you will get to choose between different plans depending on the amount of coverage you want.Â
Many long-term care policies will deem you eligible for benefits once you are unable to do certain activities on your own. These activities are called âactivities of daily livingâ or ADLs:
- Bathing
- Incontinence assistance
- Dressing
- Eating
- Getting off and/or on the toilet
- Getting in and out of a bed or other furniture
In most cases, you must be incapable of performing at least two of these activities on your own in order to qualify for long-term care. When itâs time for you to start receiving care, you will need to file a claim. Your insurer will review your application, records and make contact with your doctor to find out more about your condition. In some cases, the insurer will send a nurse to evaluate you before your claim gets approved.Â
Itâs very common for insurers to require an âelimination periodâ before they start reimbursing you for your care. What this means is that after you have been approved for benefits and started receiving regular care, you will need to pay out of pocket for your treatments for a period of anywhere from 30-90 days. After this period, you will get reimbursed for your out-of-pocket expenses and from there.
Who should consider long-term care insurance
Unfortunately, the statistics are against our odds when it comes to whether or not we will eventually need some type of long-term care. Approximately half of people in the U.S. at the age of 65 will eventually acquire a disability where they will need to receive long-term care insurance. Of course, the problem is, long-term care can be really expensive. Unless you have insurance, youâll be paying for your long-term care completely out-of-pocket should you ever need it.
Your standard health insurance plan, including Medicare, will not cover your long-term care. The benefits of buying long-term care insurance are that:
- You can hold on to your savings: Many uninsured seniors have to dip into their savings account in order to pay for their long-term care. Because itâs not cheap, many of them drain their life savings just to be able to pay for it.
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- Youâll be able to choose from a larger variety of options: Being insured gives you the benefit of being able to choose the quality of care that you prefer. Just like with anything else, you get what you pay for when it comes to healthcare. Medicaid offers some help with long-term care, but youâll end up in a government-funded nursing home.Â
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How to buy long-term care insurance
If youâve recently started thinking about shopping for long term-care insurance, youâll want to keep a few things in mind:
- Do you mind being insured on a policy with an elimination period?
- Can you afford all of the costs including living adjustments?
- Are you interested in a policy that covers both you and your spouse, otherwise known as âshared careâ?
There are a few different ways to go about getting long-term care benefits. You can either buy a policy from an insurance broker, an individual insurance company, or in some cases, your employer. Obtaining long-term care insurance through your employer is probably going to be cheaper than getting it as an individual. Ask your employer if itâs included in your benefits.Â
Many people also opt to shop for hybrid benefits insurance policies. This is when a long-term care policy is packaged in with a standard life insurance policy. This is becoming a lot more common in the world of insurance. Keep in mind that the approval process may be slightly different for a hybrid insurance policy than of that of a stand-alone long-term care insurance policy. Make sure to ask about the requirements before you apply.Â
Best long-term care insurance packages
There are not very many long-term care insurance companies that exist as there once was. Itâs hard to wrap our heads around purchasing something that we donât yet need. However, here are a few examples of companies that offer competitive long-term care packages:
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- Mutual of Omaha: This company offers benefits of anywhere between $1,500 and $10,000. While the main disadvantage of this companyâs packages is that they do not cover doctorâs charges, transportation, personal expense, lab charges, or prescriptions, you CAN choose to receive cash benefits instead of reimbursements. This company also offers discounts for things like good health and marital status. This companyâs insurance policies offer a wide range of options and add-ons so you can make sure that all your bases are covered.
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- Transamerica: This companyâs long-term policy, TransCare III, is good if you donât want to hassle with an elimination period. If you live in California, this may not be the best choice for you because Californiaâs rates are a lot higher than the rates in other states. Your maximum daily benefit can be up to $500 with this program, with a total of anywhere between $18,250-$1,095,000.Â
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- MassMutual: Popular for their SignatureCare 500 policy which comes in both base and comprehensive packages, is a long-term care and life insurance hybrid. This is very appealing to many seniors wanting to kill two birds with one stone. This company also has a 6-year period as one of their term options, which is pretty high.
- Nationwide: This program sets itself apart from many other programs available because it allows you to have informal caregivers like family, friends, or neighbors. You will receive your entire cash benefit every month and it is up to you to disperse the funds as you would like. Currently, this company does not have their pricing available online, so you will need to speak with an agent to discuss prices.
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Understanding Long-Term Care Insurance is a post from Pocket Your Dollars.
Source: pocketyourdollars.com