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Different Ways To Think About Money

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Your money philosophy and how you think about your finances make a big difference in the decisions you make.

Whether you’re just starting your financial journey or you’re well into it, it’s a good idea to take a step back and define that philosophy.

Money is a tool

Sure, there are monetary goals you would like to achieve. For example, $1 million nest egg has long been touted as the number you need to hit for a comfortable retirement, but hitting, somewhat, arbitrary numbers aren’t everything.

Money is a tool. If used properly, you really can achieve financial success. Taking the money you’ve saved and putting it to work for you is a very simple, yet effective way to use it.

Another monetary tool is a credit card. Credit cards offer a variety of reward programs, like travel miles, cashback, among others. Additionally, it enables you to build and strengthen your credit report.

It is important, however, that if you are using a credit card, you must do so responsibly. Accumulating credit card debt can really set you back, financially.

Related reading: A Deep Dive Into Credit Cards

Focus on the solution, not the problem

Often times, we focus too much on the issues with our finances. I have too much debt, I have too little saved for retirement, or my expenses are killing my ability to save.

Instead of focusing on the problem, focus on what can be done to fix it.

If you have too much debt, develop a plan to pay it down. If your retirement savings are low, figure out how you can increase your savings rate. Expenses hurting your ability to save, cut your expenses.

“Whatever the problem, be part of the solution. Don’t just sit around raising questions and pointing out obstacles.” Tina Fey

Related reading: How To Cut Spending

Money using emotional bandwidth

It is true that money is relatively important. I say relatively to try and redirect to my first point when I mentioned that money is to be used as a tool.

It affords you food to eat, clothes to wear, and a place to live, among other things. If your basic needs are met and future goals are being worked towards, you have to try and stop worrying that you don’t have enough.

This is extremely challenging to do because we, as a society, are so fixated on money and material items that money can buy. It also doesn’t help that comparing ourselves to others is essentially baked into our DNA.

Believe me, I know that learning to stop worrying is incredibly difficult, but retraining your brain to view your finances differently can be extremely liberating.

Related reading: The Psychology Of Money

Think long-term

To be a successful investor or to be able to financially plan effectively, you have to think long term.

The market is going to have its ups and downs. As an investor, it’s important to ride out those down periods and continue to invest. If you have 15+ years until you need that money, you should be able to recoup your losses.

With regard to saving, I typically take the “bucket” approach. I have three buckets, short-term, medium-term, and long-term. Be advised: the following is how I define these time horizons.

  • The short-term bucket is for items under 5 years away. For example, when I want certain debts paid off or a down payment for a house.
  • Medium-term is anything 5-15 years away. The main one in this category is my son’s college savings.
  • Long-term is retirement savings, exclusively.

Related reading: How To Make Long-Term Investing Decisions

Buying experiences versus buying stuff

Money to a certain extent can buy happiness. As long as it’s being spent on experiences rather than stuff.

Memories with family and friends, visiting different destinations and attractions are the things we’ll cherish most.

Stuff breaks and toys are outgrown. What people won’t forget, however, is the time you spent with them.

Make that a priority. I know, as a fairly new parent (my son is almost 2), that I am constantly aware of how finite time is and that I need to make the most of those moments I spend with him.

The way you think about money pulls weight in how you use it. When creating a financial plan, I would prioritize figuring that out. How you think can lead to how you act.

Strategies For Improving Your Credit Score

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Your credit score is extremely important, nowadays. It determines whether or not you qualify for other credit accounts, and if so, what terms. It plays a factor in where you live, and it can even impact job opportunities.

That said, it’s crucial you do everything you can to improve and keep your score high.

What impacts your score?

There are five factors that play a role in calculating your credit score. They are listed below with percentages to discern how big of a role each one plays.

  1. Payment history (35%) – How frequently do you make on-time payments. This number should be 100%
  2. Credit utilization (30%) – How much credit have you used compared to how much you have available. For example, if you have $20,000 of credit available and used $5,000, you have a utilization rate of 25%. Credit rating agencies want to see it below 30%, but the lower, the better.
  3. Credit age (15%) – How old are your current credit accounts? The older, the better. This means that every time you open a new credit account, your credit age drops.
  4. Types of credit (10%) – Credit cards, loans, student loans, etc. Variety helps here.
  5. Number of credit inquiries (10%) – Hard credit inquiries negatively affect your score. Like the utilization, low numbers are better.

(Source)

What hurts your score

There are a few things that negatively impact your score. I’ll list the bad things from the list above, then I’ll list a few others.

  • Poor payment history – If your payment history is below 100%, you’re already starting from behind. Anything under 100% gets notched down.
  • High utilization rate – As I said, rating agencies want to see utilization rates under 30%, so anything over that will bring your score down.
  • Low credit age – Older accounts are better for your score
  • Only one type of credit account
  • A large number of credit inquiries
  • Bankruptcy – Negatively affects your credit score and stays on your credit report for 10 years.
  • Liens and judgments taken out against you – Negatively affects your score and stays on your report for 7 years

Starting from a low score

If you are starting from a lower score, it could be from past experiences (bankruptcy or liens), and if that’s the case, you can only improve. Unfortunately, time is your enemy right now until those drop off.

The first place I would start is to pay off your current debt. If you don’t have any open credit accounts, the next step is to open one.

Individuals with low scores will have trouble opening credit accounts, so I would start with a secured credit card.

A secured credit card is like a regular one, except you establish the credit limit with a deposit. The amount of your deposit is the amount of your limit.

This is a slow and steady way to improve your payment history and show the credit rating agency that you’re responsible.

Current credit accounts

Speaking generally, I advise people to keep their credit accounts open. The one exception is you do plan on closing a credit account, make it one you recently set up.

Getting rid of a new account will increase your credit age, which should increase your score.

New credit accounts

If you’re looking to increase your score, I’d recommend abstaining from opening any new accounts, unless you’re someone that needs to open that secured credit card to rebuild your score.

The other two exceptions would be opening an account for a credit card balance transfer or a personal loan for debt consolidation.

Opening new accounts hurt twice. One, you effectively lower your credit age. And two, when you apply for a credit account, it counts as a hard credit inquiry.

Don’t do it unless you have to, and if the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term penalties.

Pay down debts

Paying down debt is a slow way to improve your credit score, but it’s a tremendous way to improve your finances overall.

Less debt means less money needed to service that debt. Less debt means a lower utilization rate (number 2 factor).

Also, when you make debt payments [on time], you’re strengthening your payment history (number 1 factor).

I recently wrote an article, linked here, about paying down debts. Give it a read. In that article, you’ll also find helpful resources on similar topics.

Utilities

The last thing I would do is check to make sure your utility provider (for me, my local municipality has its own utility company) is listed on your credit report.

My previous utility company (WE Energies) did come up on my credit report. It’s another “credit type” and another way to strengthen your payment history.

Further reading:

How To Pump Up Your Finances

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By “pump up,” I mean to do something that improves your financial situation in any way. Reduce expenses, start a rainy day fund, invest for the future, etc.

With that said, let’s take a look at some simple strategies to pump up your finances.

Cut the fat

I’d start by creating a budget. Look at the past three months of income and expenses. Total the expenses, total your income and compare the two. This will give you a clear picture of how much you are spending versus how much you make.

After that, you can go back with a magnifying glass and see exactly where your money is going, and stop spending money where it is necessary, or at least reduce it.

You can also reduce the fees you pay to invest. Mutual funds and ETFs are the most popular vehicles used today, but they come with a cost. It’s listed as an expense ratio. That ratio should be as low as possible. Ideally, it’ll be under .20%.

A quick tip to cut your expenses – get rid of cable/dish. There are too many services available now. You don’t need to spend $100+ on TV anymore.

Increase savings rate

Hopefully, you are saving something. If you are having trouble setting money aside because of limited resources, give this article a read for some help.

You should be saving in at least two places. An emergency fund and a retirement plan.

  • Emergency fund – Say you are contributing $20 per month. This is a good place to start, but you’re going to want to save more so you have enough in case your car breaks down or you lose your job. After three months of saving $20/month. Increase that amount by $5. After another three months, at which point you’ll have gotten used to not having that extra $5, increase it again. Rinse and repeat.
  • Retirement plan – If you have a retirement plan with your employer and they match, you’ll want to contribute at least enough to get that match. That’s your starting point. Then you’ll follow the same steps as the emergency fund. After a few months, increase the contribution percentage. If you don’t have a plan with your employer, set up an IRA, start contributing what’s comfortable for you, and follow those same steps.

I mentioned you should have AT LEAST these two accounts. Personally, I have several savings accounts. They are set up for different reasons. I have one for holiday spending, one for car repairs, and one for travel expenses. Giving your money a “job” makes it more likely that you’ll use that money for that “job.”

Switch to an online bank

Most online banks have higher interest rates on savings accounts. They also, typically, have lower rates on loans (based on credit score).

If you are saving money for a rainy day and putting it with a brick and mortar bank, you’re most likely earning next to nothing. Better to put that money in an account where you’ll earn a little interest.

Refinance high-interest rate loans

I’m going to dedicate this section to credit cards because that’s what most people think of when they hear high-interest rates.

There are three strategies you can use.

  1. Balance transfer – Many credit card companies offer a 0% APR on balance transfers for a certain period of time. Some have terms for 21 months. The interest rate will jump after the 21st month, though, so make sure your balance is paid off before then.
  2. Personal loan – If you have credit card debt and don’t, or can’t, utilize a 0% balance transfer, then a personal loan is your next option. You get a loan for the total amount of outstanding credit card debt. Then the institution will send a payment to each credit card company and pay off your credit card debt. You’ll be left with one payment. Be advised, credit matters here (also for balance transfers) so if the interest rate on the personal loan is higher than the average interest rate of your credit cards, don’t do it.
  3. The last option is to call the credit card company and ask for a lower rate. More often than not, if it’s available, they’ll give it to you. It won’t lower your payment a whole lot, but it’ll definitely help.

If you want to learn more about credit cards, click here.

Improve your credit

Your credit score makes a difference. It can impact what loans you qualify for, the interest rate, where you live, and where you work.

If you want to start making moves in your financial life, you need to improve your credit.

There are three really simple ways to do this.

  1. Pay more than the minimum on your outstanding debt and pay on time – on time payments is the #1 factor when calculating your score.
  2. Call your utility company and see if they report to the credit agency. It’ll count as another credit account (a factor) and it’ll influence your on-time payments.
  3. Open a secured credit card – You open this type of card with a deposit. The deposit will act as your credit limit. If you deposit $500, you’ll have a credit limit of $500. Make regular, small purchases and pay the entire balance right away. Credit agencies like to so activity and, as I’ve said, on-time payments.

If you want to learn more about improving your credit, click here.

Conclusion

If you want to improve your financial life, it’s actually pretty straight forward. Spend less than you make, save money for the future, pay down debt, and improve your credit. If you do these four things (obviously, easier said than done), goals that once seemed far fetched, can be within reach.

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Understanding Your Credit Score

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Having a great credit score can mean lower credit card and loan interest rates, the ability to acquire new credit, and even better job opportunities.  A good score can save you money over time and provide you a better lifestyle.  But what do they mean?

Credit scores show your financial responsibility and accountability. Banks, credit card companies, utility companies, employers, and land lords want to see a good score so they know that you are responsible with your money.  Other factors like income and work history will play into a company’s decision to extend credit, but you may still be denied if your credit score is low.

There are a few things you should be able to understand about your credit score.

Negative information on your credit report can stay there for up 7 years and bankruptcies can stay for up to 10 years. Even if you’ve paid off a debt, the information usually remains.  However, once a debt is paid, the creditor doesn’t have much reason to care whether the information is on your report or not so disputing can result in the information being removed, raising your score.

What do credit score numbers mean?

750 – 850: A- Excellent

700 – 749: B- Very Good

660 – 699: C- Average

580 – 659: D- Poor

300 – 579: F- Worst

Your history of payments (how frequently or infrequently and the amount) along with the overall amount of your debt are the two biggest factors to determining your credit score. Revolving credit debt (credit cards) account for more points against you than personal debt (loans).

Your credit score includes:

  • The number of times you’ve paid late and the amount of time they were late (30, 60, 90 days or more)
  • The type of accounts you have and how long you’ve had them
  • Your total amount of debt
  • Any public records like collections or lawsuits

By law, you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report each year from the three credit reporting agencies. Although in most cases, this report does not include your credit score, that’s typically an additional fee.

You can maintain or improve your credit score by keeping your accounts open and paying them on time. The longer you’re in good standing with your accounts, the better your score.

Surprisingly, closing your accounts can have a negative impact on your score, especially if the account is paid in full and always on time.  If you no longer need a credit card, pay it off but don’t close it.  The available credit line with no balance will improve your score.

How do you improve a low score?

By making a few simple adjustments, your score can start to increase within just a few months.

If you do have negative accounts on your credit, the best thing you can do is start adding as many positive accounts and paying down as much debt as possible.

  • Pay your credit card, loan, and utility bills on time.
  • Keep your accounts open and in good standing
  • Pay off any collections then dispute them and have them removed

It’s a good idea to take a look at your credit report at least once a year so you can fix any mistakes by writing a letter to the credit bureau.

Something to be aware of, the higher your credit score the more impact a late payment will have on it so keep your payments current.

Improving your score is not impossible; it just takes some effort, time, and persistence to improve it.  Once you do, keep up with your payments and review your report annually for any mistakes.

What Consumers Can Do to Protect Themselves From Credit Card Fraud

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One in five Americans say they’ve experienced identity theft, according to a poll by Gallup. In addition, 62 percent of those who had their identity stolen say someone charged purchases on their credit card. Identity theft and credit card fraud are pervasive threats around the world, but particularly in the United States. Global card losses in the United States is responsible for 48.2 percent of the share of total global card losses. Card fraud also rose by 19 percent while sales volume grew by 15 percent.

The statistics may look alarming, but there are ways you can protect yourself from fraud. Anyone can employ common sense tactics, such as protecting their cards and using them sparingly. But if you want something more advanced, here are five sophisticated ways to protect yourself from credit card fraud and stay ahead of the rise in crime.

Only Use EMV Readers

As of October 2015, merchants are liable for credit fraud and liability unless they adapted to the EMV chip and pin technology. EMV stands for Europay, MasterCard and Visa, and it contains a secure microchip on the front of the card that provides a new level of security to protect your information. You’ll know if you’re using an EMV-enabled reader if you can insert your card into the machine to read your credit card chip instead of swiping your card.

Even the smallest business owners selling at farmers markets and one-on-one with customers can adopt an EMV reader. To help protect your information, purchase goods only from merchants that use EMV readers.

Notify Your Creditors When Traveling

Contact your credit card companies, banks and other financial institutions before traveling and let them know the dates you will be gone. Bank and debit card crime is on the rise in Mexico, among other countries, and should be diligently monitored, claims Mexico News Daily. But it’s not just crime that happens while you’re traveling. It’s not uncommon for ATM cards to be compromised months after returning from a trip abroad. If your credit card companies and banks know your travel plans and where you’ve been, they can be more diligent in protecting your accounts and identity.

Monitor Your Credit Score Diligently

Requesting a free credit score from AnnualCreditReport.com is only the first step in credit score monitoring. Study the credit reports for any errors and check for fraud. Afterward, it’s important to stay on top of your credit score. Use an identity theft monitoring service like LifeLock to get alerts on when credit cards, utilities and other accounts are set up in your name. Such companies can help stop fraud in its tracks and help restore your credit as needed.

Watch out for Spear Phishing

Spear phishing makes it easy for criminals to glean your personal information from Facebook, Instagram and other social media accounts and use it to their advantage. Next, identity thieves send you an email asking you to click on a site and sign in to address an urgent matter. The email can also be made to look like it’s from a personal contact from your electronic address book. Even if the link appears to be from your bank or creditors, delete the email. Instead, call the number on the back of your card and speak to a representative to find out the validity of the communication or to report the phishing.

5 Must-Know Privacy Lessons I Learned From 9-11

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I was late to work and sneaking up the stairwell to my office. A passing friend said, “A second plane just hit the World Trade Center.”

There’d been a first plane? The World Trade Center? It must be a little Cessna.

The entire office huddled around televisions. I wasn’t prepared for what they were watching. The heroism of everyday people that day still amazes me.

Later in the week, among the flurry of stories echoing the disaster, one personal finance problem emerged: private financial documents with personal client information littered the streets of Manhattan. Many of the firms in the World Trade Center were financial companies (in fact, one firm owned by a cousin of a client, Alger Mutual Funds, lost David Alger and 35 other staffers that day). I began helping the media complete stories about “How to Protect Your Privacy.”

Although we can’t prevent another 9-11, we can make sure that our financial documents are the last thing we worry about when far more important concerns (such as people) should dominate our thoughts. Here are five lessons I took far more seriously after that day than I had previously:

 

5 Steps To Protect Your Identity

 

shredder1) Shred unnecessary documents. A good shredder pays for itself immediately. If you’re using it for household bills, this Amazon shredder will only set you back $29.99. Businesses should invest in a more robust tool.

2) Don’t give out your social security number, telephone number, or other unnecessary information on documents. I hand over wrong numbers like a hot woman at the bar. Create a separate email address reserved for email forms and correspondence with companies.

3) Check your credit report regularly. You’ll want to keep a tight watch over predators trying to access your credit. Companies with free credit tools like Quizzle or CreditKarma are great places to monitor lender activity. On episode #2 of our Two Guys & Your Money podcast, Len Penzo reported that he turns off his credit with each credit company until he needs it. Look for other mistakes while you’re there: a recent ABC news story reported that over 90% of all credit reports have inaccurate information.

4) Review every credit card statement. Ever wonder why Mr. Monopoly looks shocked when you draw the “Bank Error in Your Favor….Collect $40” card in the popular board game? It’s because errors happen all the time and they’re rarely in your favor. More importantly, you may see early signs of thieves trying to gain access to your credit.

5) Back up your documents – I’ve recently begun transferring my paper documents into digital form. Keep these in two places in case you lose access to the first or thieves steal the data.

Foremost in my mind today is the tragic and unnecessary loss of life on 9-11. I learned far greater lessons than the five I pointed out above. However, I also learned a little about taking care of my financial life so that if tragedy strikes, the threat to my identity is minimized.

 

What steps do you still need to take to better protect your financial privacy?

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