Spending Habits

Financial Basics You Should Know As An Adult

September 12, 2017 By Twila Van Leer

Graduation is a milestone in the understanding of personal finances, as well as the basic underpinnings of the education that will take you through the rest of your life.

Advice from the experts on the basics of personal finances includes these gems:

There is always something new that the advertisers will tell you you can’t do without. Ignore them. You don’t need the “best” phone, computer, etc. etc. Obsolescence is the name of the game today. Find something that satisfies your needs and stick with it. You can pay less for the “not best” and find yourself well provided for.

Don’t get into the mindset that debt is the way to have what you need (or want) unless it is really necessary. Debt is not kind. Consider carefully when you are thinking of getting something new. When you overuse your credit, you are giving up the ability to create a margin for your living. Save up and pay up front for the things you merely want and keep the credit capacity for things that really matter. Watch out for lifestyle creep. It can bury you.

Be reasonable about college costs. If you haven’t saved up enough for a full-blown university, try a community college for the first couple of years. To avoid having to make the choice, begin saving early and consistently for the type of higher education you want. And four years of college is not the answer for everyone. Lesser degrees, such as associate or certificate, can lead to good jobs at less cost. At the very least, a shorter-term education plan might provide the earning capacity to finance more extended college training. Working during the first couple of years so you can stay debt-free will be helpful when you get into the final stretch and borrowing seems inevitable.

Breaking away from home post-high school may be an objective, but it also is very expensive. You may accumulate the sheets and towels, etc., for living away from home, but cash quickly becomes a problem in most cases. If you are looking at rooming with friends or living independently, be sure you have the means to make it work. Have a budget and stick with it, and include some savings in that budget. Even college students have emergencies.

High school graduation is a hallmark, but it can lead to financial stress if you haven’t addressed issues beforehand. Think about it.

Building A Good Credit Score

October 8, 2016 By Twila Van Leer

Use card responsibly and pay each month's bill on time. — Use card responsibly and pay each month’s bill on time.

Building a good credit score doesn’t happen overnight. There are steps you can take to assure good credit from the outset and establish yourself on a positive note. They include:

Credit Reports

Check to see if you have a credit report. You could have established credit without being aware of it. For instance, if you have been authorized to use a family member’s credit, you might have a credit report. It is also possible that you have been a victim of identity theft, and that definitely needs to be cleared up before you start building credit in earnest. WalletHub is one site that offers credit reports and scores that are updated daily. If you find a report under your Social Security number, analyze it and if necessary, dispute errors, fraudulent accounts and negative records related to unauthorized use.

Get A Credit Card

Starting with a clean slate, open a starting credit card. It is usually pretty easy. There are some that don’t charge an annual fee or require you to incur debt as loans do. They report to the major credit bureaus on a monthly basis.

Three options for a starter card include student credit cards, general use cards for people with limited credit and secured credit cards. You have to have an active college or university email address to get a student credit card. A secured card offers the best opportunity to get guaranteed approval without the risk of overspending. The alternative to a starter card is a loan, usually for home, car, student use or other need that requires debt with interest.

Use Your Credit Card For 6 Months

Use the card responsibly for at least six months. That will generate a credit report and score. The score could range from bad to well above average, depending on what you did with the card and how well you paid. This first report is critical, because it puts you under the credit score microscope. Mistakes will be magnified beyond what they would be if you were a seasoned credit user.

Pay Bills On Time

Pay each month’s bill on time and keep your utilization of the card below 30 percent – 10 percent for the best result. Never use all the credit they extend to you. Setting up automatic payments from a deposit account is helpful in meeting these standards. Responsible handling of the initial card will help when you are ready to apply for a higher credit limit.

Study Your Credit Report

When you have a sense of how your initial foray into credit card use went, continue to study your credit report regularly. By looking at all of the components of the report, you can gain a sense of how the system works and be prepared for long-term credit use. You can learn to adjust course if any element of your report seems out of sync.

A responsible journey into the world of credit can set you up for life in what is an important element in ongoing personal finance.

The Credit Elite Have Savvy Habits

June 23, 2016 By Twila Van Leer

Payment history most important factor used to determine overall score.

Ever yearned to be part of the “Credit Elite,” those whose credit ratings are up the 800-850 range as determined by the rating agencies? That kind of credit almost assures that you will be approved for loans and likely enjoy lower interest rates.

Those in the 800-plus range know that it doesn’t happen by chance. They make particular credit habits part of their regular personal finance strategies. Here are some of their suggestions:

Pay On Time

Without exception, pay on time. The payment history is the single most important factor that the agencies use to determine your overall score, being some 35 percent of the total. If you miss a payment or make one late, it has a negative effect.

Keep Balances Low Or Paid Off

Keep a rein on credit card balances. The size of the balance relative to the card limit is a factor. The best credit is generated by using less than 10 percent of the allowable limit.

Low Number of Credit Cards

Limit your credit accounts. Applying often for new credit can affect your bottom line. That activity represents 10 percent of the credit agency’s total. If you make frequent inquiries about new cards, for instance, trying to find the best mix of perks, it could have a negative effect. Try to get the right mix into place, then stand pat. A mix of debt, including credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, student loans, etc., all deftly managed, will impress the rating companies.

Don’t Spend More Than You Make

Live within your means. Overextending yourself financially will come home to roost. Don’t use credit to overspend. A solid, long-term credit history will keep your score in the range you want. The older your accounts become without serious lapses, the more they count. Stability is a factor when you’re looking at the 800 rankings.

Staying on course is important. Consistency is key to a good credit score. A small lapse can have a reverse effect. Make good credit a habit and stay on course. Check your credit score periodically and monitor your progress toward the elite standing.

Compulsive Shopping May Be Sign Of Trouble

May 23, 2016 By Twila Van Leer

How do you know if you have a problem with compulsive shopping?

If you start shopping and can’t quit, there could be serious complications ahead. Losing control of shopping habits indicates an impulse control disorder that is similar to addictive disorders, but without the drugs.

Factors That May Increase Behavior

A multiplicity of social and cultural factors may enter the picture by increasing the addictive behavior. One is today’s easy access to credit and society’s general focus on material things. People are encouraged to accumulate possessions now and pay later. Online shopping and television stations that focus on sales day and night add to the possibility.

What Are The Signs That Your Shopping Is Out Of Control?

Spending and shopping to offset disappointment, anger, discomfort or fear tops the list. If you are stressed by your own habits to the point of emotional distress, be concerned. Arguing with a spouse or other significant person over spending is a clue. Also on the list are feeling lost without credit cards, buying items on credit that you wouldn’t buy if you were paying cash, getting a “rush” from spending, experiencing guilt, shame or embarrassment after a spree, lying about how much you spend, thinking excessively about money or spending time trying to reconcile your accounts and bills.

How Do You Know If You Have A Problem?

Four or more of the above indicate a problem. You might get a feeling or happiness and power while spending, but you have to keep shopping to maintain that feeling. The brief but intense emotional high doesn’t last long.

Consequences Of Addiction

Researchers have related compulsive spending with interpersonal difficulties, occupational consequences, and family/financial problems. Anxiety and depression may be more troublesome as spending gets out of hand. Borrowing money to cover credit buying exacerbates the problem. Too often, the extent of an addict’s spending doesn’t become apparent until the debt becomes overwhelming. Then a drastic change in lifestyle becomes an absolute necessity, and the emotional effects come home to roost.

How To Get Help

If you suspect you may have gone too far in your spending, contact a certified addictions counselor. Your regular physician may be able to help in locating one. Check your state health agency or a local hospital to see if they can direct you to the help you need. The American Psychiatric Association also has resources that are useful.

Better at this stage of things to spend a little time rather than any more money.

Political Campaigns Spawn Economic Fallout

May 22, 2016 By Twila Van Leer

Political uncertainty causing economic angst. — Political uncertainty causing stagnant economy.

The rancorous 2016 election campaigns are having a negative effect on the country’s economy, the experts are concluding.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing has taken a dip, with the smallest improvement in sales since 2009 and the companies are blaming the political uncertainties for the difficulties. The Markit Economics manufacturing index fell to 50.8 in April, the lowest it has been since September 2009.

American Households

American households also seem to be retrenching as consumer confidence slides to the lowest level since last September. The unusual and more confrontational nature of the debates, rampant dissatisfaction with the major parties and the uncertainty of where the country would head under pending leadership all are factors.

Business Spending And Investing

Some businesses are delaying spending and investment decisions until there is more clarity about what might be on the minds of the various candidates vis a vis business regulation. Policies that might make a difference in bottom lines are still pending.

Presidential Nominees Positions

Donald trump, likely Republican presidential nominee, has thrown out such possibilities as putting big tariffs on Chinese imports, while Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton has waffled on some of the positions she has championed in the past that were pro-business.

Other Indicators

This sort of flux in political positions has caused a lull of sorts in business activity, economic experts say. Among other indicators, orders for business equipment were down by almost 3 percent in February. The Federal Reserve also has noted signs of increasing unease about the political situation as it makes surveys for the Beige Book. Eight mentions of the campaign were made in the three reports that have been published by the central bank so far this year. In 2012, the last general election year, there were two such mentions. In 2008, there were none.

consumer Angst

The University of Michigan’s monthly confidence survey also indicates more consumer angst about the direction of the country’s politics. The economy may be stagnant as it waits the outcome of the November balloting.