‘Financial Help’ Archives
YOUR FIRST APARTMENT!
By MARY ELLEN KALUZA It's that time of year ”“ moving vans are everywhere. Eighty percent of moves happen between April and September. A significant number of those moves are young people leaving the nest for the first time. Many life lessons await them! Some lessons will be painful. Avoid the pain with a little bit of knowledge. CHOOSE YOUR ROOMMATES WELL Everyone will be equally liable for the whole rent, not just their portion. Are the roommates dependable?Do you share a similar lifestyle?What about smoking or drinking? Frequent guests?How will you resolve conflicts? IS IT AFFORDABLE? The rule of thumb is to keep housing expenses at 30 percent of your income. But, this is just a guideline and not necessarily the best measure of affordability. If you have a decent income, the remaining 70 percent of your income can be substantial. If you are earning minimum wage, the remaining 70 percent isn”™t much. Spend some [...]
But I Don’t Wanna Budget!
By MARY ELLEN KALUZA I understand. Having a “budget” sounds restrictive, like a punishment. What if we call it something else, like a “spending plan”? Does that seem more palatable? Planning the money you have coming in and going out is really all about being in control. YOU are choosing where your hard-earned dollars are going, not the estimated 6000 to 10,000 advertisements we see each day! (That's double what it was in 2007, by the way.) With that much pressure on us, it takes some effort to keep that control. Where to start? Know how much money is coming in. This is the net income ”“ after taxes and other deductions. You'd be surprised how many people don't know that number. (Frequently, they also carry expensive credit card debt.) Subtract your Must Pay expenses ”“ housing, utilities, loan payments, insurance ”“ think of those things that will result in something bad happening if you didn't pay [...]
What’s Your Score?
By MARY ELLEN KALUZA https://www.lssmn.org/financialcounseling/blog/credit-credit-report/build-and-improve-your-credit-score Americans are obsessed with their credit score - checking it daily, paying for apps, even sending screenshots to potential mothers-in-law. The score is a source of pride and boasting. It can also be a source of shame and low self-esteem. It feels like that 3-digit number defines who we are. Have a good score? You're golden. Have a distressed score? You're tarnished. Your credit score is based on information in your credit reports. Essentially it is your grade on what has been reported. That grade will determine if you can rent or buy a home, get a phone plan, get a job or promotion, have a decent interest rate on your car loan, how much you pay for insurance, and who will marry you. I tell my daughter she doesn't marry anyone until I see their credit report. Mostly I mean it as a joke, but one partner's poor credit score can hold the couple back [...]
