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Banking, Credit Cards, Financial Freedom, Investing, Retirement, Saving, Wealth

Avoid paying interest and get rich

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If you use a credit card, you don’t want to be rich. – Mark Cuban star of “Shark Tank”

According to CNBC, Americans have an average credit card balance of $6,375 and owe a record breaking $1 trillion in credit card debt, which is the most ever recorded in history.

Investing that money instead could net you anywhere from $50,000 to $200,000, depending on how long you invest it and getting a return on investment of around 9%.

And that does not include an employer match or if you invest more. You could save and invest your way to a small fortune thanks to compound interest.

Here are some ways to avoid paying interest.

MAKE IT AUTOMATIC

I’m sure to many of your out there this is not new advice. However, how many people are actually doing this is another story.

Setting your bills up on automatic payments is a great way to avoid missing payments.

Credit card companies can levy a hefty fee for missed payments. The most recent I read was $38! Forget that. I rather use that money for gas or some other function. Anything is better than paying fees.

In addition, credit card companies can ratchet up your interest rate to 29.99% for missing a single payment!

That means almost near perfect timing of paying all bills.

The closest you can get to doing this is to make all your payments automatic.

Set up everything you can on autopay.

You can put the gym membership, cell phone, utilities and insurance payments on a credit card. Then set up automatic payments with your bank to pay that credit card off at the end of every month and you’re done.

PAY DOWN YOUR DEBTS

Paying off high interest debt is a must on the road to wealth.

Every dollar you spend towards interest cannot work for you compounding interest instead.

Think about it. If you pay $700 per month servicing debt and pay 50% of that in interest, that money is gone. Dust in the wind my friend.

If you can do the polar opposite, investing the entire $700 and earning interest instead, you have a clear path to building wealth over time.

That is the equivalent of $8,400 a year you are investing as opposed to using that amount to pay debt in which $4,200 goes to principal and the other $4,200 in interest and that money you never see again.

CONSIDER BANKING WITH A CREDIT UNION

If you read my posts, about the Unbanking of America and New Banking Rules: clear a check payment in a day, then you understand where I’m coming from.

Many may not know this, but credit unions are not allowed to charge more than 18% on loans or credit cards (unless you default).

The savings gain alone from not having to pay some credit companies 22-27% interest is huge!

You could save anywhere from $50-150 bucks or more per month with a lower interest rate. That’s another $600-1,800 per year!

Just something to consider.

REFINANCE YOUR MORTGAGE

If you can lower the interest rate on your mortgage, you can save $100’s or $1,000’s of dollars a year.

In addition, if you can change your repayment period from 30 years to 20, 15, or 10, then you can save a ton of money.  Maybe not tons of money monthly or right away, but over the life of the loan.

For example, a $250,000 mortgage at a 3.92% rate over 30 years will cost $425,533. You reduce that to 15 years and total output is $331,058. That is a difference of upwards of $100,000!

If you take that $100,000 and put that into index funds, you could have anywhere from $600,000 to $1 million dollars over 30 years with a minimum 6% return on investment.

Many folks will buy at least 2-3 homes in their lifetimes. If every new purchase resets your debt-free mortgage clock by 30 years, then you are likely to spend most of your working years in debt.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this is actually the norm for most people.

You do not want to be normal. You want to be different and extraordinary because that gets results.

If more folks put down 10-20% and got 15 year mortgages, you would be better off in the long run.

Paying on one item for 30 years is a long time.

A lot can happen in 30 years. Heck, a lot can happen even in 10 years!

Retire that debt ASAP or as fast as you can.

You can build an in-law suite, swimming pool, and remodel the kitchen after the debt is gone and the home is paid off.

People used to have mortgage burning parties, after paying off their home. Let’s try to bring that back shall we.

I have recently read in the news personal finance experts expressing their concerns over mortgage payments that Americans are making.

Most wanted the debt paid just before you retire. Others said get rid of it in your 40’s. Like around age 45. Why you ask? Since, this is the point where you are halfway through your career, it is best to spend the second half of it working toward building capital to fund your nest egg.

That is excellent advice.

Basically, you spend the first 20 years paying off all you owe, and the last 20 years building up your retirement accounts you will need in your golden years.

SUMMING IT UP

All you have to do is follow these four steps and you can avoid paying interest or at least a whole lot less of it.

Remember these 4 steps:

  1. Make it automatic
  2. Pay down your debts
  3. Bank with a credit union
  4. Get a 15 year mortgage

Sounds pretty simple right?

Well, you would be surprised by how many people are not doing any of the things stated above.

Therefore, if you can start doing even one of these things now, you are well on your way to building up your bank account.

And in the illustrious words of Porky the Pig, “That’s All Folks!”

 

Budgeting, Saving, Wealth

How to give yourself a $6,000 a year raise

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“To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.” – Bruce Lee

When I read headlines and reports talking about how 75% of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck, or 30% do not have enough to cover a $400 emergency, I get concerned.

Especially, when credit card debt is reaching record highs and as of the writing of this article, credit card debt in the United States stands at $1 trillion.

I do not like to see so many Americans cash strapped.

I want to see people funding their dreams, buying homes, and starting businesses.

Although, those things take time to build, it is very possible to do over time. However, it gets harder to do those things when you have debt.

I have read lots of books and articles online that gives the following advice: ask for a raise.

Easier said than done. Why not ask for a pony, while you’re at it?

They say ask and you shall receive, but this is not always the case. More and more, I hear about how jobs are downsizing or cutting expenses. That’s code for slashing wages and human capital.

These things happen all the time. It is a business decision. Like a family trying to balance their budget and manage their household finances, a business has to do the same.

I have asked for lots of things in life. And, why not? All people can do is say yes or no. I have had to deal with rejection plenty of times. All you need is someone to say yes once. If you hear 100 no’s, then finally get to that one yes, it could possibly change your life.

I do not wait for people to hand me anything. Nobody owes me nothing. I work for what I want. I have learned to create my own opportunities. And you can do the same. Just work with what you’ve got.

Wages have been stagnant and quite frankly flat. It is becoming more difficult to move up an income bracket. While you’re trying to climb that economic ladder, it may not always come with a corner office, higher pay, and bonuses.

Truth be told, a raise may not do but so much for your finances. After taxes, you bring home less than the actual raise. And what’s even worse, is that many people do lifestyle inflation, where they slowly increase their spending due to lifestyle creep from making more money.

Burning through large amounts of cash is not good for your wallet. If you want deeper pockets, you have to make some changes to your behavior.

In order to give yourself a yearly raise of $6,000 ($500 per month), you would need to grow your income by $250 and cut your expenses by $250 or some combination of both, if not one or the other.

Here are some ways to give yourself a raise that don’t require you to quit or get promoted.

SLASH EXPENSES

Cutting expenses is like giving yourself a tax-free raise. Every penny you save stays with you.

You need to find creative ways to spend less. When you reduce the outflow you can increase your cash inflow and cushion.

Most people, I have noticed, that get into trouble with their finances tend to be the ones who have high fixed expenses.

Keep your expenses as low as possible. Then you do not have to worry so much about or even depend on getting a raise, bonus, promotion, inheritance, or any type of financial windfall.

For example, I decided to quit going to restaurants for about 2 months. My average bill would be about $30. If I give a tip 10-20% every check, that means paying $3-$6 every time. Eating out just 4 times per month, meant paying $12-$24 or $25-$50 over 2 months alone! That is $300-$600 a year.

That does not include the cost of food. The $2 delivery fee, the extra container of rice, or springing for the extra tuna roll.

Don’t even get me started on going out in groups to places that just so conveniently can’t split the check. You usually end up paying more than your fair share to say the least. Basically, you are subsidizing someone else’s alcoholism.

I now call the restaurant ahead and ask if they do check splitting. If not, I try to just order at the bar.

You are the controller or should we say comptroller of your destiny.

GO TO COLLEGE

Increasing your knowledge is usually a great way to earn more money. Although, education is not an equalizer (some may profit more from going to the Ivy League than others), you can still qualify for more prestigious jobs with a little more book smarts.

You can job hop your way to a higher salary. Even I have done this. I have noticed I have gotten a raise or promotion by applying for another job as opposed to asking for one. But that’s another story.

However, I do not recommend going into a ton of debt to do it. I suggest you find ways to go to school affordably such as monthly payment plans to pay-as-you-go, going online (which is cheaper that traditional brick and mortar), or seeing if an employer will offer tuition benefits.

If your employer pays, $1,500 a semester and you go for 2 semesters a year, that is an annual savings of $3,000.

LEARN A TRADE

Go to any barber shop or hair salon on a Saturday morning and take note how many people are there.

Having a skill can earn you some serious bread.

If I have to pay the plumber or electrician one more copay, I may start looking up how to fix the plumbing myself on YouTube.

By this point in my life, I am sure I have paid enough to hairstylists, washer repairmen and manicurists to put at least one kid through college or at least pay for a semester. That’s no joke.

If you have any type of skill or hobby that you can monetize, do it.

I read online that a woman who dresses in costume and does displays is making six-figures. You read that right. Putting on a wig and some tights is allowing her to pay the mortgage and save for retirement.

Think walking those dogs are beneath you. Think again. You can earn $40 bucks a day. Just doing this on the weekends could net you $80 x 4 = $320 a month. Pass me the leash.

OPEN A ROTH IRA

A Roth IRA has no upfront tax benefits, but the savings gain down the line is second to none. All the investment gains will not be subject to taxation in retirement.

Since, the money in this account is funded with after-tax dollars, you will be able to enjoy this account without having to pay the man. Sign me up please!

So when your peers are paying taxes on their 401(k) withdrawals, you could be going to the ATM getting out that $600 max withdrawal without paying Uncle Sam for the convenience.

PAY DOWN YOUR DEBTS

Paying off high interest or anything charging you interest such as personal and auto loans, credit cards and student loans is money in the bank.

Every dollar you do not give the local banker stays in your bank account.

If you pay $200 monthly to service your credit card debt, getting rid of this money drain means having an extra $2,400 a year back in your pocket. That can be put in your Roth IRA and then you are working towards turning every dollar into two.

LIVE ON CASH

It is hard to part with cold, hard cash. Swiping is easy. Work on handing every person you meet the money to pay for expenses, even to buy a postage stamp, and you will start to feel the sensation of giving away a small fortune.

SET UP AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS

The late fees from not paying on time are astronomical. A one-time missed payment on a credit card is regular $30 or more. Miss a payment on 3 credit cards in one month and that’ll cost you $100 bucks!

Over a years’ time, that is $1,200. Just in fees. Save that money automatically into your savings account instead.

DELEGATE TIME-SUCKING TASKS

By paying a nominal fee to others, you free up precious hours to find ways to make money.

The trick is to pay for services that are not particularly pricey and expensive. You then use the hours you would have put into cooking, cleaning, or doing laundry into making money during those hours instead.

RENT OUT YOUR HOME

These days you can rent out just about anything. Over 30 million people have used Airbnb. Most rentals I have seen can charge anywhere from $100-$300 a night.

You could rent out your place and make $500 a month. Or who knows how much. Sky’s the limit here.

FORGO VICES

Forget the lottery tickets, tobacco, concert tickets, expensive shoes, and beer runs.

You could save anywhere from $40-$200 a month. That’s $480-$2,400 dollars a year.

SUMMING IT UP

There are many other ways to save or cut expenses. You just have to be willing. From just some of the examples I provide, someone could save anywhere from $100-$600 dollars a month. That is between $1,200-$7,200 a year.

If you can find a way to bring in $500 more a month, whether it is an additional income or slashing expenses, that is like giving yourself a raise of $6,000 a year!

Whenever, I hear someone say I can’t live without my weekly happy hours I say to them: can’t or won’t.

There is usually always something you can do. Break it up into small tasks, if the bigger task seems too daunting.

Just focus on getting your monthly or daily savings rate up. You can do it.