Jill Russo Foster

Tips for Successful Personal Finances

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Spring is here!

I can’t believe how fast this year is going!  Here in Connecticut, we had lots of snow over 25” in February alone (that’s a lot considering last year, we had one storm with about 3” for the entire winter).  March has been a roller coasterspring cleaning, we’ve had some warm days and some bitter cold days.  But spring is coming!

With spring, it makes me think of two things – cleaning and planning projects.  Cleaning is just a deeper cleaning – moving furniture to clean behind, washing windows, etc.  As for the planning projects, that’s more complicated.  As a homeowner, there is the annual maintenance you have do to – clean the yard, gutters and see what winter has done to your home that needs fixing.  For us, we take on a project or two each year.  Last year, was replacing the backyard fencing.  The year before, was replacing the roof.  Doing things proactively is easier for us and helps with the budget too.  What will this year’s project be?  We are still deciding.

What does spring mean to you?

Goodbye 2020, hello 2021!

2020 was a year for the record books. This past year has brought many issues for many people, from job losses, reduced wages, not to mention healthcare issues.  If this past year didn’t convince you that you need an emergency fund, I am not sure what will.

For us personally, we have had job furloughs and reduced hours – therefore less income.  Luckily, we have an emergency savings to help us out.  In addition, we took on part time weekend jobs for additional income.  What about you, how are you surviving?

Our goal for 2021 is to get our finances back on track – replenishing our emergency savings and eliminating debt.  Fortunately, we are back at work and earning income (and we have kept the additional part time work).  So here is our plan:

  • We continue to automatically save a portion of each paycheck.
  • We have made a plan to pay down some debt we accumulated.

Notice that we are doing both at the same time.  Personally, I don’t believe that all your money should go to paying down your debt while not saving anything.  If you have an unexpected expense, then what will happen?  You will go into more debt.  That’s why I believe in doing both at the same time.

For us, we are using the snowball method to payoff the debt we have accumulated.  What is your plan to get back in track in 2021?

Who handles the finances in your relationship?

I met a woman who asked me some questions when she found out what I do for a living.  This subject is one that all of you should be aware of and in honor of Valentine’s Day, I wanted to discuss joint finances.  You wouldn’t believe how many people this affects.

Are you married or in a relationship with joint finances? Even when couples share accounts, living space, or property, it’s typically one person who handles the finanlove and moneyces in a relationship – paying the bills, savings, investing, etc.  But the other person shouldn’t be left in the dark.  Think about your future, I have meet many who have no clue on how their finances are handled and then something happens and they now have to take charge.

Because this is your joint future, both should know what is going on and how to access the information at any time. The definition of the word joint is defined by Merriman-Webster as “united, joined, or sharing with others”.

Both of you should be making decisions together, understanding where you are today with your money and where you want to go for the future. You should both know the names of your banks and investments and how to access these accounts, especially if you use online accounts.  Think of it this way, if the person handling the finances is not able to do it – what would happen?  Could you put food on the table?  Would the utilities be paid to be kept on?

Remember, too, that your children can see how the money is handled in your relationship. What you do, and don’t do, shows them just as much as what you tell them.

I also believe that each person needs to establish credit in their own name and if you are listed as a co-owner on the assets you should also be listed as a co-owner on the liabilities. What that means is that if you own a home (your name is on the deed) you should also be on the mortgage.

Many partners are left out of the finances.  If that’s you, and something happens to the person who handles everything, you are going to have a difficult time.  You may find that the bank accounts that you thought were joint are not.  You may find that you thought you owned the home you live in, but you don’t.  You may find that you need to open a credit card or take out a loan and you have no credit in your name.

All this happens more times than I can count.  If this describes you, then you need to have a conversation today with your partner. You need to what know what assets you have, what liabilities you owe and have a plan for moving forward to achieve your goals.  The first step is having this conversation.

It is tax time.  Are you ready?

Here are a few things you need to know:

2021 IRS tax deadlines:

January                                15 Final estimated tax payment due for 2020

15 IRS Free File service opens

19 IRS Free File for military families opens

February                               12 IRS begins to process 2020 tax returns

April                                       15 Deadline to file your 2020 taxes

15 First estimated tax payment due for 2021

June                                       15 Second estimated tax payment due for 2021

September                            15 Third estimated tax payment due for 2021

October                                 15 IRS deadline for extended 2020 tax returns

You may be able to get your taxes prepared for free AND from a reputable source.

There’s help if you’re a senior or have a low to moderate income.

Go to www.IRS.gov to find information on the VITA program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), the TCE Program and AARP Tax-Aide.

There you can learn

  • If you qualify for the program
  • What to do bring to the meeting
  • Locations near you

You don’t have to be afraid to use these services. The tax preparers at these programs are certified volunteers who work under a qualified supervisor.  The location near me is at the local community college and is supervised by a CPA and Chair of the Accounting Department.

Each location will have different hours, so check before you make the trip. Some will take appointments and some are walk-in only.

If you qualify, you may save yourself a few hundred dollars. You’ll get the work done at no cost to yourself and a trained preparer can catch details that might net you a bigger return.

 

My Top 5 List

I want to share with you my top 5 list of what we have done with our finances over the years that have taken us from being in debt to having a safety net for our finances.

  1. We automatically save from each and every paycheck. When we receive a deposit, there is an automatic transfer of funds from our checking to our savings.  By doing this, we have built up an emergency savings account.  Something we all need.
  2. Taking our large annual bills and dividing them by 12. Then saving that amount monthly.  That way when a large bill is due, we are able to pay it in full without any scrambling or stress.  For example, our car insurance is about $900. annually.  That means we save $75 monthly to be able to make the payment.  All we must do is to plan for the increase in premium to make the payment in full each year.
  3. Earning interest on our bank accounts (yes, even our checking account) and not paying any fees to have the bank accounts.
  4. Maxing out our retirement contributions to our IRA’s accounts each year to have a nest egg for retirement. In addition, we contribute to our 401K / 403B retirement accounts.  You can never have too much saved for retirement.
  5. Contributing to a Health Savings Account (or a Flex Savings Account) to cover our medical costs that insurance does not cover.

I wrote this so that you can know what is possible.  Start today and make changes so that you can achieve your goals.  For us, this was not something that we did overnight, it took many years of making small changes to get to where we are now.

Your Financial Health

Do you ever wonder how your financial pictures stacks up?  Are you on track to meet your goals?  What do you need to still do?  These and other questions are always on the many people’s minds.

I have discussed the importance of having an emergency savings, a budget to know where your money is going, great credit /score to have the best interest rates when you need to borrow and minimal high interest debt.  Check out some of my past emails for more information on these topics.

This is a great article Six Numbers Reveal the State of Your Financial Health. How well do your finances compare to these six areas?  All are important areas that should be goals for you to accomplish with your finances.

Unique Passwords – Do You Use Them?

How to use a unique password for every account without going crazy

In honor on Cyber Security Month, I am rerunning this newsletter to help you access your accounts safely.  You know you should have completely unique passwords for every online account, and you’re not supposed to write them down anywhere. But that’s not enough. They also have to be hard to remember.

If you’re like me, that’s just not possible because you use a lot of online services. The internet has made my life easier in so many ways, but it comes with its own risks.

So, how do you keep your online accounts safe? Many people are turning to Password Managers.

A password manager is software that stores and organizes your passwords in an encrypted state, which makes them hard to hack.

The most popular versions will fill login forms automatically. Once you’ve downloaded the software and stored your passwords, they’re fairly easy to use.

Are they safe? The experts are mixed on this point. Some feel that it’s never safe to store your passwords. Others are comfortable with the encryption used on the best versions.

My assistant swears by LastPass. It’s free for your PC, but the is a cost for using it on your smartphone.

If you want to use a password manager, you can choose between a web-based or a local service. LastPass is web-based as is Dashlane and Roboform. The information is stored in the cloud so you can easily use it on all your computers and devices. Keepass and SplashID are local, meaning they’re stored on your PC.

To do your own research, check out the links below.

If you use a manual system, remember to use unique passwords for each site.  When was the last time you changed your passwords?  One of the most common passwords in the actual word “password”.  Not a good choice.  Be creative and make something you can remember that isn’t public information (mother’s maiden name, pet’s name, etc.).

Two factor identification is another great way to keep your accounts safe.  You’ll receive a text or email with a code, that you have to enter so that you can prove you are you.  Yes, it can be an added step that takes time, but it can save you in the long run.

How do you manage your passwords? Let me know in the comments.

Fourth Quarter To Do’s

Can you believe it, it’s fall and the year end is in sight!choices

For me, there is lots to do (and I am not thinking the holidays yet).

This time of year means it’s time to review my health insurance choices.  Open enrollment for health insurance is here (or just a week or so away).  Medicare is already in the open period, the state of CT will open up the 1st of November and many company plans have the open enrollment at this point too.  It’s time to reevaluate and determine if I want to stay on the same healthcare plan or make a change.

If you have a FSA (Flexible Spending Account), start to look at the balance and determine how to use the funds.  This is a use it or lose it type of account. You wouldn’t want to lose money, would you? If you have an HSA (Health Savings Account), have you maximized your contributions for 2020?  This can be a great way to lower your taxable income.  Make sure you pay all your eligible medical expenses with this account.

Take the time now to do your research and make the choices that are right for you and your family now.

The Holidays Are Here

The holidays are here. Yes, with many retailers starting there holiday shopping sales early this year, are you ready?  This is a good thing, if you need to stay within a budget, start early.

First, make a list of all the people on your holiday gift list, then see if you can make changes.

Could you give a family gift instead of individual gifts?

Can you go in on a gift with someone else and share the cost?

Would a name draw work for the family party? With a name draw, each person buys only for the person whose name they drew. It’s fun and inexpensive. Do a separate drawing for the children so each child receives one gift and gives one gift. Make sure to set a dollar limit that everyone can afford.

Once your list is complete, set a firm amount for each person and don’t go over. The grand total of all your gifts should be a realistic amount that you can afford. Be honest with yourself and don’t overspend.  You’ll regret it when the bills start coming in.

When shopping, keep your list of people and your budget amounts with you. Check the sales fliers now because holiday sales are already starting. Big retailers are also adding holiday layaway plans.  Layaway plans work great if you know your budget. They allow you to make affordable payments without using a credit card.

You could also try giving gifts that don’t cost a lot of money. Service coupons are a wonderful gift. For example, you could cater a meal for a family that has a busy lifestyle. Try an inexpensive but meaningful gift, like a photo CD or memory album. The choices are endless if you take the time to think of what each person might enjoy most.  This year with being at home more, I have come up with some great gift ideas that are meaningful, but not a budget breaker.  I can’t tell you what they are as family members ready my newsletter.

The most important thing this holiday season is to have fun and enjoy your time together. Create new memories instead of new debts.

Tackling Your Debt – Part 2

In the last issue we talked about paying off your debt with some methods that you could do on your own.  Let’s talk bout other options to payoff your debt, that you will need to consult a professional and make some tough choices before moving forward.

A Home Equity Line of Credit or Home Equity Loan: this is a mortgage against the equity in your home.  This is similar to debt consolidation except for using your home as collateral.  While this can be a much lower interest rate (and may be tax deductible), you are taking possibly unsecured debt and securing it with your home.  In addition, there may be closing costs, attorney fees, etc. involved with the mortgage process. And if you cannot make the monthly payment, there can be substantial consequences involved up to and including the loss of your home.

Debt Settlement sound like a great option to settle your debt for a lesser amount.  You would be paying a smaller agreed upon amount to pay off your debt.  While it sounds good, first do you have the cash to do this?  Second, there could be tax implications on the amount you save (the IRS can consider this taxable income).  In addition, this will be a negative factor on your credit report / score.

Bankruptcy, this is typically the last resort.  The is a legal / financial decision that you will need to discuss with your professionals (lawyer, tac preparer, etc.) before moving forward. There are two types of bankruptcy. One you will enter a payment plan to payoff your debt for a fixed period of time.  The other option, you will eliminate your debt entirely.  But you need to think about what is involved in the big picture – your will have legal fees that will need to be paid, your credit will most certainly be affected, and your will have difficulty receiving new credit at a reasonable interest rate for a period of time.  You will be able to get credit but at a much higher interest rate initially. Until your credit is reestablished.

One tool that I find useful is a financial calculator and BankRate.com is one of my favorite websites that offer a variety of calculators to help you make a decision that is right for you. https://www.bankrate.com/calculators/index-of-credit-card-calculators.aspx

Now that you have several options, make the choice that is right for you and your situation.  Talk to your professionals to get their option.  Then consider the benefits and costs involved.  These are not easy choices, but one that you need to make if you have substantial debt that you want to payoff once and for all.