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6 Ways to Avoid a Credit Card Catastrophe

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Do you feel like your credit card spending is out of control? Credit cards should be a convenient short-term way to pay, not a source of regular spending. Unfortunately, some people have a hard time staying true to this concept. Instead of paying off the entire balance due on the card each month, they let it grow and pay only the minimum amounts.

If this sounds all too familiar, it’s time to stop what you’re doing and start following these rules:

  1. Pay the entire balance due each month.
  2. If a balance remains unpaid at month’s end, do not use the card again.
  3. Do not use more than one credit card.
  4. Do not accept credit cards from specific retail stores.
  5. Do not pay off one credit card with another.
  6. Do not purchase gifts for people with your credit card. It’s often too easy to let your generosity exceed your ability to pay.

How to Get Your Marriage Off to a Good Financial Start

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Don’t say “I do” until you’ve said a lot more to your spouse about finances. Wedding season is upon us. Did you know couples often enter into marriage without ever having had a discussion about financial issues? As a result, they find themselves frequently arguing about money. If you are planning a wedding, here are some steps you can take to get your marriage off to a good financial start:

  • Determine your financial compatibility. Take some time to discuss your finances before you tie the knot. Talk about your assets, debts, credit ratings and your financial attitudes, including your spending and saving habits. Do you share the same goals? Talk it out and see where you two align and where you differ.
  • Make a plan for how to handle finances after you say “I do.” This means figuring out day-to-day stuff, like who will pay the bills and whether or not you’ll maintain joint or separate checking accounts.
  • Involve your financial advisors. Every couple needs to work out their own style for handling money. Call us to assist you in setting up a budget, controlling your taxes and mapping out a financial plan for your future.
  • Discuss any related legal matters. If you have substantial assets, talk about the merits of a prenuptual agreement with your attorney. And ask your attorney how you can protect yourself from your partner’s credits if they have substantial debt. Perhaps you plan on buying a house together or combining financial accounts. Your attorney can advise you on the best way to hold title to your assets.

Discussing your finances before you wed may increase your chances for living happily ever after. Give us a call if you would like assistance in this area.

Clean Your Financial House for the New Year

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Out with the old, in with the new. No matter whether you apply the expression to changes in attitude or to life adjustments, the end of the year is a great time to assess your household finances and prepare for new opportunities. Here are suggestions.

Review your credit report. Request a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus. If the reports contain errors, get them corrected.

Make or update your home inventory. Go through your house and make a video describing what you see, along with information such as purchase dates, prices, and estimated values. Your home inventory can be vital for getting insurance claims approved in case of disaster.

Calculate your net worth. Your net worth is the value of your assets, including your house, personal property, bank accounts, car, and investments, minus liabilities such as your mortgage, credit card balances, and loans. This is a great yardstick for measuring your household’s financial growth (or shrinkage) from year to year.

Increase your savings. If you get a year-end raise, consider contributing a portion of the extra money to your 401(k) plan or other savings account.

Purge financial records. If you’re a financial packrat with stacks of old cancelled checks and bank statements that are no longer needed for an IRS audit or your own use, shred them.

Need help? Contact our office.

Watch Out for These Early Warning Signs from Credit Customers

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Once you have extended credit to a customer, you have a stake in continuing the relationship even if you suspect trouble is brewing. You don’t want to crack down on a good customer too hard too soon; yet you don’t want to be “taken” by a debtor who has become unable or unwilling to pay. The problem is distinguishing between slow payers and no-payers.

What you need is an early warning system to detect a credit problem in the making so you can stop additional sales to that customer and begin collection procedures in earnest. Here are some telltale signs of an account that is turning sour.

  • The debtor has begun paying erratically, settling up on smaller invoices while larger ones get older.
  • The debtor fails to return your phone calls or shows unusual annoyance at your inquiries.
  • Your requests for information, such as updated financial statements, are ignored.
  • The debtor places jumbo orders and presses you for a higher credit limit.
  • Despite the problems you are having, the debtor tries to coax you into providing a good credit report to another supplier.

Any one of these hints of trouble can mean it’s time to turn up the heat on your collection efforts with this debtor, and make no more sales unless they’re cash on delivery. Contact us for more tips.

What’s the Difference Between a Credit Card and a Debit Card

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When you pay for clothes in a store or dinner at a restaurant, you might use either a credit card or a debit card. In your mind, they may be the same. But there are differences to be aware of.

For example, with a credit card, the money is not immediately withdrawn from your bank account. As long as you pay back the issuer within the stated period, you won’t be charged interest on the money you owe. But you don’t want to make a late payment – interest can build up quickly on credit cards.

In contrast, debit cards are linked to your personal bank account, so you’re using your own money and the charges are automatically deducted from your account. Because you don’t carry a balance on the card, you’re more likely to stick with your budget and not overspend. However, you might be charged extra fees on top of interest for any overdrafts.

Another consideration: Federal laws protect you in the event you need to dispute credit card charges and usually cap your liability at $50. Debit cards offer fewer protections than credit cards, including a sliding scale of liability depending on when you notify your financial institution.

Which card is best for you? Generally, a mix of the two is a good compromise. You can use a credit card judiciously to bolster your credit, while still paying for everyday purchases with a debit card. Contact us for answers to your financial questions. We’re here to help.

Good Debt, Bad Debt: What’s the Difference?

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Here are two questions to ask before incurring debt.

  1. What are the benefits of taking on this debt? Avoiding all debt seems like good advice. But good debt can enhance your financial situation. For instance, loans that fund a college or graduate degree may result in a higher salary. That’s debt with a lasting, tangible benefit.

Likewise, a mortgage for a home or rental property can increase your wealth by providing the opportunity for growth of capital and income.

Good debt can also have secondary advantages, such as the potential for tax deductibility of interest on student loans and home mortgages.

Bad debt, on the other hand, generally strains your cash flow without providing an offsetting advantage.

  1. Does the cost exceed the benefit? As a general rule, good debt provides a return greater than the total amount you’ll end up paying. Caution: Remember that your total outlay will be the stated price plus finance charges. For example, suppose you need to buy a car. A moderately priced vehicle financed with a short-term loan can still have value when the payments end. That falls within the definition of good debt. But with longer terms of five to eight years, your loan might outlast the car. High interest rates and the longer payback period on “stretch” loans can bump your total outlay into bad debt territory.

Credit card debt poses the same peril. Charges you intend to pay back in full at the end of the month may not be a problem. But a restaurant meal, a vacation, or a holiday splurge can get expensive once you include the interest charged when you carry a balance on your credit card.

Good debt or bad? Recognizing the difference can lead to better money management, and a way to improve your financial situation.

Good Debt or Bad Debt: What Do You Have?

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You’ve got debt! The question is, do you have good debt or bad debt? Even more important, how do you tell the difference before you take on any more? Here are two questions to ask before incurring any debt. Read more

Six Rules For Avoiding Credit Card Disaster

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Here are the rules to help keep you from becoming a credit card victim. Credit cards should be a convenience for payment, not a source of credit. Read more

Forgiven Debt Can Be Taxed As Income

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With the recent economic downturn experienced by many taxpayers, there is a tax concept that is very important: cancellation of debt. You would think that the cancellation of debt by a credit card company or mortgage company would be a good thing for the taxpayer. And it can be, but it can also be considered taxable income by the IRS. Here is a quick review of various debt cancellation situations. Read more