All Financial Matters

This is a question we need to seriously think about. It’s fun to eat out with co-workers, but can our budget handle it? Following the group could be part of the problem that is siphoning our hard earned money each payday.

No one wants to be left out. Eating lunch together is a way to bond away from the office. Besides it’s only six dollars, right?

This scenario demonstrates how we think when it comes to spending money on food. Food and good times seem to go together in our culture. Eating out is not the only way to bond over food.

When setting up a budget, a category is created for groceries. A weekly or biweekly shopping trip to the grocery store brings enough groceries in the house to feed the family. Buying lunch when there is food in the house blows the budget.

Ask co-workers to try bringing in their own lunch at least three times a week. Make a plan to eat in the break room together or outside at a picnic table for lunch. They will save money also.

When you eat out, you probably choose the same one or two places. Make some of your favorite dishes at home and take them for lunch. The grocery trips are not just for breakfast and dinner items. Buy foods that are good in a packed lunch. Most workplaces have a microwave and/or a toaster oven. You can prepare your food and eat it piping hot.

If you have a group of co-workers that you spend most of your time with, why not start a lunch club. Each person takes a day and fixes something for the others in the group to enjoy. No one has to prepare a meal more than once a week and they will know in advance when it is their turn.

The extra food can be figured into the grocery bill. The lunch club idea may catch on and more people will want to join. The more people are involved, the less often each person has to contribute a meal. The meals don’t have to be elaborate. There are many delicious meals that require only a few ingredients.

You can still eat out once a week or maybe even twice. Add it to your budget. Pay for your meal in cash. This eliminates the temptation to overspend that can happen when using a credit card. Eating lunch out means that dinner will have to be eaten at home to balance spending habits.

Lastly, if the group still wants to eat out more often that your budget allows, opt out. Tell them politely that you can’t go and brown bag it. They’ll still be your friendly co-workers, and you’ll have learned a valuable lesson about resisting the temptation to follow the crowd at the expense of your money.

Bankruptcy is not a process anyone wants to resort to. It can be seen as a way to get out from under a mountain of debt, but it also becomes a part of your credit report history. Put this option on the back burner and instead consider some options to avoid bankruptcy in the first place.

Create a budget. A budget is a tedious job, but it can save a lot of headache over debt later. Make a list of all the bills that are owed each month. Leave out incidentals like entertainment, eating out, and credit card payments. Subtract this amount from the monthly income. What is left is what will be used to pay credit card bills, put away in savings, and spend for leisure time activities.

Keep track of your bills for three or four months. This will give you an average amount for the bills that you can plug into your budget. If you can enroll in equal payment plans for utility bills, the payments will be the same every month. Creating a budget will help avoid debt, due to your discipline in following the guidelines that you have set. You can still enjoy a night out now and then as a reward for saving money.

Avoid using credit cards more than necessary. Credit cards carry high interest rates. We’ve all seen the commercials where things run smoother in the store when everyone pays with plastic. That may be, but using that plastic too much can leave you with a debt worthy of bankruptcy. Keep one credit card and get rid of the rest. Companies extend you credit with the hopes that you get overextended and then they can charge higher interest rates and all sorts of fees. Save yourself the headache and avoid using them.

When you get behind on a payment, call the credit card company. Everyone hits a road bump. A layoff or an illness can send things spiraling out of control with your finances. Let credit card companies know that you are in a bind at the moment. They may suggest ways to lower the payments or suspend them for a month or two until you are in better financial shape.

It takes several missed payments before a creditor reports the delinquent account to an outside agency. Instead of waiting for the hammer to fall, take the initiative to solve the problem before it gets worse. The company may suspend late fees and other charges when they become aware of your situation.

Go for debt consolidation advice. You hear a lot about debt consolidation. Agencies want your business. Check them out. These credit counselors are certified professionals that know the debt game and the creditors. For a small fee, they can negotiate with your creditors to find solutions to the financial problem. If you are considering bankruptcy, debt consolidation may work as an alternative.

Liquidate assets. You may have two cars, but can you make due with one for now? Selling property can free up the cash you need to pay off major debts. With a smaller debt, you may be able to talk to creditors and make payment arrangements. Move into a smaller house if the kids have moved out. Anything is a better alternative than bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy is not a process that people look forward to. Bankruptcy ruins your credit and may not entirely get you out from under. Learn to avoid this unfortunate choice before it’s too late.

Is the financial situation in your life such that you need to file for bankruptcy? If so, there are two types of bankruptcy that apply to the individual: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. They differ in many ways. Learn the details of both before choosing which type of bankruptcy to file for.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the one that most people seek to file. When a person files for bankruptcy under Chapter 7, their assets are liquidated to pay what is owed to the creditors. The courts decide on a reasonable amount for payment based on individual circumstances.

All of the assets are not liquidated. Each state has its own policy as to what assets are considered a part of the liquidation equation. You may be allowed to keep your home and car.

In October 2005, the laws concerning Chapter 7 bankruptcy were changed. Now, there are tests that have to be passed in order to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. A person’s income must be lower than the determined median income for the state in which they reside. Also, a person must not have the assets available to pay at least twenty-five percent of their debt owed in order to qualify to file under Chapter 7.

Special circumstances have to be demonstrated by the filer in order to override the testing requirements. Special circumstances were extended to victims of Hurricane Katrina so that they could have the chance of a new start after the flooding disaster that destroyed their homes. If the judgment is against filing for Chapter 7 you may appeal, but this involves another trip to the courts and extra expense. If you feel that you need to be heard, it could be worth it.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy involves repayment of the debt owed to creditors. You are given a time frame to pay off your debt and means are developed for you to do so. The assets that you own are not liquidated. The courts look at your finances and determine what you can reasonably afford to pay back to the creditors.

Under the new bankruptcy laws, this process is a little different. The court used to decide what expenses where necessary for you to pay and what were not. Necessary expenses where things like rent/mortgage, groceries, utilities, and so forth. Under the new law, a formula developed by the IRS determines this.

The government wants people to think long and hard about filing for bankruptcy. Before any bankruptcy proceedings take place, the potential filer must attend credit counseling. Also, the government can liquidate or non-exempt any assets that were purchased right before bankruptcy was declared. The attempts to hide money within property not subject to seizure are no longer an option for abusers of the system.

Bankruptcy filing is a serious matter. If you are determined to file, know which type you stand a chance of qualifying for with the courts. Since laws are tougher, be aware that bankruptcy lawyers will charge more for their part in the process.

So you had to file for bankruptcy. Unforeseen circumstances can cause this to be the only option. However, just because you were once bankrupt does not mean that your future is grim.

Bankruptcy is a hard choice to make. Millions of people have experienced it and come out on the other side. It won’t be easy, but you can recover from this type of financial disaster. Bankruptcy is not the end.

Your credit can be repaired after going through a bankruptcy. Start by paying your bills on time. If you filed for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your debt would have been wiped out along with some of your assets.

Be responsible with what you still have left. You still have your home. Make utility payments on time. Establishing a record of timely payments is one way to work towards fixing your credit.

After a few months, apply for a secured credit card. Secured cards require the cardholder to pay a deposit. This is the money that you will start with. Over time, you may qualify for an unsecured credit card.

Stick to one credit card and avoid making regular charges on it. Keeping the card for emergencies is a good idea. Having a credit card re-establishes your credit.

Train yourself to pay for everything in cash. Unless you have cash to back up a purchase, don’t buy anything; this could be one reason bankruptcy was filed in the first place. Going back to using cash is a healthy way to build up a bank account and savings account balance.

Create a plan for success. You have been bankrupt once so you don’t want to go there again. Divide discretionary money between savings and a fund for emergencies. Since your debt was wiped out, there should be no credit card payments to consider at this time.

Once you get that first credit card, companies will start hounding you. Don’t give in to them. Be flattered, but resist the urge to get started with the credit card debt cycle again.

Discipline yourself to live within your means. This includes saving for a rainy day. Consult a financial advisor or go to credit counseling. Credit counselors can give you information about money management and spending tips.

A financial advisor can take the extra money that you put in a savings account and show you how to invest for the future. One day you will want to retire. Retirement could last as long as twenty to thirty years. Having enough money to live out that portion of your life is important. Concentrate on that part of your financial future as you wait with patience for your credit to be re-established.

Bankruptcy is not the end of the story. People can recover from it and develop a healthy financial picture. However, it takes time and patience.

The fact is that in today’s society, people are living longer. Thirty years ago, retirement may have lasted around ten or fifteen years for the average person. These days however, retirement can last for twenty to forty years depending on when you are able to give up work. To prepare for this period of your life, here are five tips to make sure that your savings are enough to last as long as you do.

Saving money doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, the hardest part is letting go of the money in the first place. We all want to save but we are torn between going to that sale now and planning for a future that is many years away. Okay, let’s see if we can make it easy enough for anyone to save the money that they need.

1. Think about your retirement goals. What do you want to do after you retire? If you want to travel, chances are travel costs will rise significantly by the time we retire. If you want to own a beach house or spend half the year in a warmer climate, you will have to have the money to free you up to do just that. Setting a goal gives your financial expert a place to start.

2. Contribute all that you can to your employer’s retirement plan. If you are closer to retirement age than others, you will likely want to contribute more of your income to the plan. At least contribute up to the maximum percentage that the company is willing to match. A good way to save more is to increase your plan contribution when you get a raise. Instead of using the raise for other things, add one or two more percents to the amount deducted from your check for retirement.

3. Consider your spouse’s retirement plan. As partners, both of your retirement plans will feed into the amount of money you have to live on after you quit working. Be sure that your spouse is following the same guidelines so that they are getting the most out of their plan.

4. Look at the diversity options. While a savings account type option for your 401(k) is safe and will get you around 3.5% return, a more diversified picture with a mix of high risk and low risk stocks and mutual funds makes the most of your money. You know what they say about putting all your eggs in one basket.

5. Look at your Social Security statement. You get one every year from the Social Security Administration. It tells you what your benefits could be based on your earnings to date and the amount of Social Security taxes you have paid.

There are lots of ways to save for retirement without it being such a struggle. The key is to find a balance between spending and saving that will allow you to live your life as you wish before you hit retirement age