Managing your Financial » life

Cutting your cards

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 04:47:39 +0000

Continuing last article on managing your emotion to be free financially, this time we’ll discuss about credit cards and its effect on your financial life’s. These days almost every grown up people on this world having cards, either its an credit cards or debit cards. Those two has its own function and benefit, but having both of it are good as long as you could use it wisely.

Some people more like using debit card rather than credit cards, its simple, they just don’t want to be trapped on lots of debts. For some credit cards are think to be temporary savers, they use it to get instant cash immediately. Both of them are good, but its better to know their functions first. A debit cards are withdraw directly from your account, while credit cards are withdraw in the next month.

Now that you know its function, its start to cut your cards, its not necessary having lots of cards, ideally you have one credit cards and one debit cards. Use credit cards only when its urgent, while debit’s are use on daily basis. The purpose is you’ll now your cash flow, when you know you only have little money on your account, you will try to adapt your life style so that its enough till the end of the month.

What was the urgent stuff, and why we’re using credit cards instead of debit cards? Urgent stuff are some unpredictable things such as an accident, or suddenly your car were crash, or your children / parents need money for their medical. For you who have sufficient funds in your savings, you could withdraw it immediately, but for some, its time to consider using credit cards. Play wise on your cards and use it only when you need it the most.

The less your needs, the less you’ll spend. Cut your cards, use it wisely, finally you’ll be financially free.

Manage Your Debt and Credit

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:35:18 +0000

Credit was once defined as “Man’s Confidence in Man.” But in fact, the definition of credit today is more like “Man’s Confidence in Himself.” Using credit today means you have confidence in your future ability to pay that debt. Forty years ago, your parents may have paid cash for their homes and their cars, a largely unheard-of event today. If they borrowed money at all, chances are it was from a relative or friend, and not a financial institution.
Today debt and instant credit are part of our everyday lives. The convenience of instant credit, however, has taken its toll. Many individuals use credit cards to spend more than they earn, and a few of these people actually build themselves a debt prison from which some never emerge. On the other hand, those who never use credit can be denied a loan or credit when they have a justifiable need or use for it. Using credit establishes a history of financial responsibility: Until you establish a credit history, your chances of qualifying for an important loan, such as a mortgage, are greatly reduced.
What is the balance between using credit wisely and staying out of overwhelming debt? Let’s look at the facts and some pros and cons.
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Installment Debt
Debt comes in many forms, and most types help us in our daily lives — when used responsibly. Most people cannot buy a home without some financial help, and many cannot buy a car (especially a new one) without some sort of financing. The money borrowed to purchase large-ticket items is called installment debt: The debtor pays a portion of the total at regular intervals over a specified period of time. At the end of that time period, the loan with interest is paid off.
Installment debt allows you to purchase items at a competitive interest rate: for example, 5% to 7% for a 30-year home mortgage and 8% or 9% for a car loan. The loan is paid back on an amortizing schedule, monthly payments of a fixed amount that remain constant over the life of the loan. At first, most of the monthly payment consists of interest. In later years, principal begins to be paid down.
Installment debt is easily budgeted and the debt is eliminated on a predetermined date. Even for those who may actually have the cash to purchase the desired item, installment debt can make financial sense if you can earn a higher return (after taxes) on your investment of cash than you must pay on your installment debt.
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Revolving Credit
A revolving line of credit, also called “open-ended credit,” is made available to you for use at any time. Examples of revolving credit are credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, and department store cards. When you apply for one of these cards, you receive a credit limit based on your credit payment history and income. When you use the credit line, you must make monthly minimum payments based on the total balance outstanding that month. Some lines of credit will also have an annual account fee.
While revolving credit is a convenient way to borrow, it can also become an endless pit of minimum payments that barely cover the interest due. Many cards charge annual rates of interest of 18% or higher. As you pay off your debt, the minimum payment is also reduced, thus extending your payoff period and, consequently, the interest you pay. Paying just the minimum due on a $2,000 credit card loan could mean making monthly interest payments for 10 or more years!
Revolving credit, in addition to being convenient, eliminates the need to carry a lot of cash and can help establish you as a creditworthy risk for future loans. The itemized monthly statements also can help you track your expenses. But some people can easily yield to the temptation that the convenience of credit cards offers. Impulse buying, failing to compare costs, and purchasing large items you can’t afford are all downfalls brought on by always available purchasing power. Spending more than you earn in any given period is a dangerous practice at best, but doing it over an extended period of time can be financial suicide.
Installment Debt vs. Revolving Debt
Lower interest rates and an amortizing repayment schedule can make installment debt a much cheaper alternative to revolving credit.
Installment Revolving
Beginning Balance $2,500 $2,500
Interest Rate 10% 18.5%
Years to Repay 4 30*
Interest Cost $544 $6,500
*Paying 2% minimum monthly payment.
Sources and Costs of Debt
Source Type of Debt Cost
Banks and Credit Unions Personal, secured Low
Personal, unsecured Moderate
Mortgage Low
Credit Card Low to High
Mortgage Companies Mortgage Low
Department Stores Revolving High
Insurance Companies Personal, unsecured High

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Using Credit Wisely
To use credit intelligently, start by examining the terms of the card(s) you are currently using. Keeping track of your cards, their rates, and your current balances will help you to be aware of how you use credit cards. Increased competition in recent years has led some credit card companies to offer enticing features to attract new cardholders, including no annual fees and low interest rates for an introductory period. (And credit card companies sometimes will give their introductory rates to existing cardholders so that they won’t transfer their balances to another credit card company.)
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Eliminating Credit Card Debt
If you think you may have too much credit card debt, begin to address it by honestly evaluating your spending habits. Examine your existing expenses to analyze how your money is spent. You will most likely be able to identify the problem areas where you are more likely to spend too much or too readily with credit cards. Then, based on your current spending practices, create a realistic budget to pay off your credit card debt in the shortest time possible while not adding any more debt to it. For assistance, you may want to turn to your financial advisor, who can help you to allocate your resources wisely to address your credit card debt.
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The Role of Debt
Today, carrying installment debt is almost a fact of life. Mortgages, car loans, or small-business loans (to name a few) are part of almost everyone’s life. On the other hand, carrying credit card debt is usually not a good idea. At interest rates of 16% and up, it’s hard to justify keeping savings that could pay off that 18% department-store credit card in the bank at 2%.
Debt and credit play increasingly important roles in our lives. As the aging Baby Boomers get closer to their peak earning years, many are realizing the need to reduce debt and increase savings. Even though analyzing your spending habits and creating a budget to address your debt may seem a little overwhelming, the simplicity of the philosophy of the Depression era still stands: Never spend more than you earn. Once you have come to grips with this basic fact, managing your debt will become far easier and more rewarding.
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Summary
• Installment debt means the loan is paid off in a specified period of time by making predetermined payments periodically.
• Revolving credit is a line of credit that is instantly available through use of a credit card (and sometimes a check).
• As you pay down your debt in a revolving line of credit, the minimum payment is also reduced, thus extending your payoff period and, consequently, the interest you pay.
• Spending more than you earn in any given period is a dangerous practice at best, but doing it over an extended period of time can be financial suicide.

Steps to Financial independence

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:31:23 +0000

Financial independence is just as important as physical independence. While you need to take steps to ensure that you are able to take care of your physical needs, the same goes for your money. Here are some tips to staying financially independent.

There are many things that can happen in life that can rock our financial world. Even if you have a cushion built up, nothing is for certain. Just ask those who invested with the stock market or other investors before the financial crisis erupted. What you can protect is your good name and financial standing.
This means your credit standing. Even when money is low, a good credit score and history can buoy you up in the interim. It is a perk that we can all have if we take a few notes.

The first tip is to have a budget in place. For moms or dads that leave the workforce to stay home and care for the children or pursue an independent business, finances can be crucial. You are losing one income where once there were two.

Before the time comes, live according to your newly amended budget. Cut entertaining to a minimum, limit eating out, lower utility bills and find other ways to save money. These are all examples of ways you can test your budget to see how well you can manage on less.

Before the final decision is made, carve out the basic structure of a budget. You will learn what bills occur on a monthly basis: car payment, insurances, mortgage, grocery bill and utilities. Tally up how much money you will need to have on hand for the essentials.

It has long been recommended that the average family create an emergency fund. This fund can then be used for car repairs, unexpected expenses and to stay afloat between jobs. Three to six months’ salary for you and your spouse is the usual recommendation.

Next, curb credit card spending. When you are short of money is not exactly the best time to run up the credit cards. It can add another financial burden to an already stressed budget looking for money.

Being proactive will help you to protect your credit to weather the changes in your lifestyle. After all, good credit will benefit you in the long run and open doors that would otherwise be closed if you were to suddenly fall on hard times and have trouble making ends meet.

Most people worry about their credit history. Like we said before, a good credit rating can make all the difference in many situations. If you know that money will be tight in the near future, do all you can to lower high interest rate bills, specifically credit cards. Placing emphasis on them can help you lower the bill or pay them off altogether before one spouse leaves the workforce.

Be Wise

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:40:21 +0000

Wise money management is essential for a balanced, happy life. Financial stress resulting from poor money management skills can affect our capacity to make good decisions, harm our relationships, affect physical and mental health, and ultimately to function well in life. It is no exaggeration to say that poor money management breaks up marriages and breaks down hope. Yet, money management is a skill which can be learned. Even if financial problems are largely the result of just not earning enough income, good money management skills can reduce the stress of these circumstances and provide a bit more mental room to focus on solutions.

Here are six tips for managing your money wisely, which, if applied, will improve the overall quality of your life:

KNOW WHERE YOUR MONEY IS GOING. It is important to stop the financial leakage. We all know what it is like to have our money dribbling away one coin or one note at a time. It is important to pay attention to our spending. It can be very helpful to record all expenditure for a set period of time just so you know where your money is going. Prepare to be shocked; most people have no idea how much money is being lost to unnecessary expenses. Once you know where your money is going, you can curtail unnecessary expenses.

DESIGN A BUDGET THAT WORKS FOR YOU AND STICK TO IT. You can design your own, or get a free budgeting form off the internet. Make sure at least some of your money goes to debt reduction and savings. Create a budget that will meet your financial obligations and if you have to cut down on certain expenditures to live within your budget then do so. Once you remove the stress of financial insufficiency through good money management, you will find you are able to improve your financial circumstances gradually. This is next to impossible when you are overspending.