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Browsing posts in: Money & Relationships

Taking Action to Prevent Major Costs From Ruining Your Finances

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It’s important to work as hard as you possibly can to lower the chances that you might end up in debt. That’s because once you start accumulating debt, it may be extremely hard to pay it all of and get back to your regular life. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to learn about some of the things that you can and should do to prevent the possibility of major costs from ruining your finances, and some of them are outlined below.

Follow the Law

To begin with, you should know the law and follow it. That’s because failure to do this could see you paying fines or even in incarceration. These are both possible expenses that could destabilize not just your life, but the lives of your loved ones as well. While keeping within the legal expectations put in place by the government, you may learn interesting facts such as that 80% of people who are involved with the criminal legal system are legally indigent. This means that they’re not able to afford life’s necessities.

While you may be able to avoid incarceration, there may still be a cost to pay in terms of damage to your reputation. While making sure that you don’t fall afoul of the law, take measures to protect yourself further. This may involve enlisting the services of a lawyer to help you protect your rights in case you’re unfairly accused.

Plan Your Estate

Next, spare the time to make a plan for your asset. This is something that every adult of sound mind needs to do, especially if they have loved ones who depend on them. With your estate in order, you can be sure that your loved ones won’t suffer unnecessarily tying up loose ends. With a good estate plan, you could even make plans for your last rites when you’re no longer alive. This means that you can make plans to be cremated if you like, which has a national median cost of $5,150.

It’s easy enough to find a professional who can help you do this process right. It will take a short time to get everything in order, and you’re also going to learn some important things in the process. One of these is that you should update your estate plan after major life changes take place to make sure that it stays relevant and beneficial to those you wish to protect.

Get the Insurance Coverage You Need

Last but not least, remember that it’s important to prevent what you can and plan for the future. These are both possible to do by taking out the various insurance coverages that you need. This can help you stay safe and maintain your lifestyle without having to pay a massive coat out of pocket. From home insurance to health insurance, it pays to learn about the best options and start putting money towards them.

Car insurance is another coverage that you simply shouldn’t be without. This is because of the countless things that could go wrong while you’re on the roads and highways. Don’t be among the one out of eight drivers who don’t have car insurance, according to Forbes. This could see you pay a massive price to fix your vehicle or the other driver’s vehicle. In addition, you may be fined if you’re found to be responsible for the accident, and these costs clearly add up considerably.

Take note of the items outlined above to secure your finances. As a result of doing so, you may also enjoy a nice that’s considerably less stressful. Finally, you’ll set an amazing example for your children or anyone else who may be looking up to you.

How to Get Out of Mortgage Debt Quickly

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Mortgage debt is not always a bad debt to have. It means you have invested in real estate and are not paying rent. You have a real chance at building equity in your property and ultimately enjoying a nice return on your investment. While mortgage debt is not “bad” debt, it is still debt. The quicker you can get out of mortgage debt, the better. Here is how to get out of mortgage debt faster.

1. Refinance for a Shorter Term

If you took a thirty-year mortgage like most Americans, you can refinance your mortgage for a shorter term. You can also pull out some equity when you refinance to pay for home improvements. According to Angi, about 80% of homes in the United States need upgrades or improvements because they are over twenty years old.

Refinancing for a shorter term will increase your monthly payments and get you out of mortgage debt faster. Shorter terms can save you thousands of dollars in interest payments. If the interest rates are low, it is a good time to refinance to get out of debt faster.

2. Make an Extra Payment

If you can make an extra payment in any amount toward your mortgage, you can pay down the principal faster and reduce the interest you pay over the life of the loan. Any payment over your regular monthly payment will go towards the loan’s principal. It is an easy way to pay off mortgage debt faster.

If you get a raise at work, use that money to make an extra payment. Any extra money can go toward your mortgage to pay down debt faster. There are significant savings to be had by making an extra mortgage payment when you can.

3. Use Windfalls Wisely

There are times throughout the year that you may see some financial windfalls. For example, if you receive a tax refund at tax time, use it to pay down your mortgage. If you get a bonus at work or face any financial windfall, put that money toward your mortgage.

Making it a habit to use financial windfalls to pay down your mortgage will pay your mortgage off faster and get you out of debt faster. Large lump sum payments can significantly dent your principal, lowering the interest you pay over the life of the loan. You will save money and own your house outright sooner.

4. Round Up Payments

If your mortgage is $1,850 monthly, pay $1,900. Rounding up payments can help reduce the mortgage principal faster. Paying $50 a month extra can save you over $20,000 in interest and reduce the life of the loan by two years.

Rounding up payments can be easier than handing over a windfall or making an extra payment. Rounding up your mortgage payments is easier to work into your budget. Most people would not miss $50 or $100 a month.

5. Bi-Weekly Payments

Instead of making monthly payments, split the payments into bi-weekly payments. Making bi-weekly payments will equate to making 24 payments a year instead of 12 payments a year. This can help you to pay down the debt faster.

Cut back on expenses to free up extra cash for your mortgage payments. According to Energy.gov, repairing your ductwork can reduce energy consumption by 30%. That energy savings can fuel an extra mortgage payment.

Make sure you are balancing your budget. It is important to pay down mortgage debt as fast as possible but not at the expense of letting other debt pile up. According to the Department of Justice, creditors can take about 25% of your pay if you fall behind. Learn more ways to pay down your mortgage and become debt-free today.