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Archive for the ‘Debt’ Category
 In the 1986 classic movie Wall Street, Bud Fox (played by Charlie Sheen) is a young up-and-coming stockbroker who’s trying to make his mark in the world of finance. As he’s adjusting his tie before a big meeting with the titan Gordon Gekko, he says, “Life is made up of a few big moments. This is one of them.”
Well believe it or not, if you expect to receive a tax refund check, you’re coming up on one of your “big moments.”
Every year, many people blow this chance to get ahead. They spend their refund on a big, frivolous purchase or take a vacation. While these might feel like fine short term uses of a refund check, there are several that could change your life, remove your debt, or help you build your business or security.
Here are my five favorite uses for a refund check:
1) Wallop some debt. Here’s your big opportunity to focus on your art more. If you’re drowning in debt, you may find that your attention is focused more on side-jobs and instant income opportunities than the big picture. Clear your mind by getting rid of some debt payments.
For best results, tackle smaller debts first. Wiping these payments out creates breathing room for your budget. If possible, use the money you save on these payments to tackle bigger debts next. Soon you’ll be on your way to being “debt-free” and focused on your income opportunities instead of the mountain of bills on the counter. (more…)
Posted in budget, Debt, Goals, Income/Expenses, Investments, Newsletters, Saving Money, Savings, Taxes | No Comments »
Posted by Miata | March 22nd, 2013
Attacking Your Debt: What’s the Best Approach?
You may know the feeling: You’re at the bookstore and spy a wonderful new reference book that’ll help with your art….or you’re at the clothing store to pick out an outfit for an audition, and the perfect fit is just outside of your price range.
What’s a little credit card debt, right? You’ll be able to pay it off later. Hopefully.
Whether you took on debt by overspending on your craft, or your job doesn’t pay enough, debt is a weight that’s hard to relieve. That said, getting rid of debt is the first step when creating the  Abundance Bound mentality. According to financial site NerdWallet, the average household in the U.S. carries $15,422 in debt. Ouch. More meaningful is the fact that once people have debt, they’re likely to use credit more and more often. The flip side? 53.3% of the American population carries no debt at all.
We can’t solve the American debt problem, but we certainly can help add you to the 53% without debt, can’t we? How should you pay it down?
Much has been made in the financial press lately about how you should attack your debt. Researchers recently concluded that often what people think of as the smartest option hasn’t been the most effective way to pay down debt. Let’s look at two popular methods and review why you might want to choose the sub-optimal method to pay down your debt.
The Mathematically Sound Method To Pay Debt
If you want to take the fastest path to debt relief, and can stay on it, here’s the obvious solution: (more…)
Posted in Credit Cards, Debt, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Posted by Miata | February 8th, 2013
Don’t taxes stink?
While I love the promise of a new year, the threat of an upcoming tax season is absolutely exhausting! I think we creatives have it doubly bad; we work from the energy of bending rules and pushing boundaries. There are no bendable boundaries or rules with the IRS. Instead, it’s a simple game: do it right, the first time, on time, and you win. Everything else is unacceptable.
 I tensed up writing that!
So, my goal at tax time is to control the amount of time and energy I have to spend on this task. If I can get my taxes filed and paid quickly and accurately, that’s about the biggest win I can imagine.
How do I do it? I’ll share with you some secrets that hopefully will make your tax season a little less stressful so you can focus on your art and not on April 15th. (more…)
Posted in budget, Credit Cards, Daily ProsperiTIP, Debt, Financial Planning, Goals, Mindset, Taxes | No Comments »
Posted by Miata | January 24th, 2013
 Miata,
Should I pay extra on my mortgage? I’m making a little extra money right now and I’m thinking paying off my house is a good idea.
- Jon
Hi Jon,
This is an intensely personal question. Certainly, less debt is always a step in the right direction, but there might be better choices to grow your net worth more quickly.
Here are a few areas to think about before tackling extra mortgage payments:
- Is your credit card debt paid down? If not, this is a greater priority. Credit card debt is more harmful to your credit score and is usually at a higher interest rate.
- Do you have an emergency fund? If not, put extra money into a savings account so that if you have financial trouble down the road, you’ll have funds available.
- Are your long term goals met? If you’re saving enough for retirement, college or other priorities, then pay down your mortgage.
A mortgage is tax deductible, low interest debt in most cases. Because money paid into a mortgage can’t be used for other goals, I usually look toward other options before paying it down.
Posted in Debt, From the Mailbag | No Comments »
Posted by Miata | March 13th, 2012
Interest rates are low. Most of the time it’s wise to ignore anyone who tells you “you really need to….”, but believe me, you should check the interest rates of all your debt before interest rates rise.
…and when are interest rates going to rise? That’s the problem; I don’t know. Therefore, I recommend you do it right now.
Before We Begin 
Make sure you read my post from two weeks ago: How to Take Advantage of Low Interest Rates. It lays out the simple steps to check your credit. You don’t want any surprises if you end up filling out applications to lower your interest rate.
Today, we’ll focus on three areas: your home, auto and credit cards.
How to Refinance Your Home
1) Compare rates through several lenders. This is done easily through a mortgage broker or an online comparison site. While many lenders appear to have different rates, you’ll find those with lower rates generally have higher fees. On the inverse, those with higher rates often have lower refinance costs. Generally, I prefer lower cost mortgages (which often means a slightly higher rate).
2) Gather information about each type of mortgage. Home lenders offer two basic types of mortgages: fixed or adjustable. While there are many iterations of each type, here are some you’ll see regularly during your search:
a) A basic fixed rate mortgage comes in a 15-year and 30-year variety. Usually, a 15-year mortgage will have a slightly lower interest rate than a 30-year option.
b) Adjustable rate mortgages often keep the rate stable for 1, 3, 5, or 7 years, before changing. Usually the rate will change annually after the short fixed period.
(more…)
Posted in Credit Cards, Debt, home ownership, interest rates, Saving Money | 1 Comment »
Posted by Miata | February 23rd, 2012
Part 1 – Check Your Credit
It’s time for some good news, isn’t it?
Don’t look now, but interest rates are at record lows. Whether you own a home, car, or have a credit card, it’s a wonderful time to begin exploring ways to lower your interest rate. Here’s the really, really good news: a lower interest rate will probably mean lower payments. This can give you financial breathing room to focus on your craft or pay down debt more quickly.
Today, I’d like to make sure you can participate in the interest rate game. Once we’ve solved that problem, we’ll talk later about how to refinance your debt. Sound good? Great!
Let’s move on these steps to check your credit report:
(more…)
Posted in Debt, interest rates | 4 Comments »
Posted by Miata | February 8th, 2012
Ah, late January… a time of colder temperatures, snuggling around a warm fireplace…and December’s credit card bill waiting like a bomb in your mailbox.
Nightmare!
Did you overspend during the holiday season? If not, many people you know made up for you. According to this Bloomberg Businessweek article, consumer debt rose more in November of last year than it had in 10 years.
Although analysts call this a “good sign” for the economy, doesn’t this statistic frighten you? Weren’t we just talking recently about many people losing their homes because of too much debt? People in the arts, especially, shouldn’t take on debt they can’t afford. In many cases, our income streams bounce around enough that we shouldn’t be spending next month’s paycheck that may never arrive.
But, if you overspent over the holiday season, there’s nothing to do now but clean up the mess. It won’t be easy, but with a good plan and the right tools, you’ll be back on your financial feet in no time. Here are my four steps to curing your credit card hangover: (more…)
Posted in budget, Credit Cards, Debt, Goals | No Comments »
Posted by Miata | January 26th, 2012
 This time of year I like to look back over the last twelve months and reflect. For me, life is about making mistakes–mentors have told me that if you don’t make any mistakes, you aren’t moving fast enough. This year has been a whirlwind, so I must have made some real doozies!
While it certainly can be difficult, I try not to dwell on my missteps as long as I learn from them. At this time of year, I also like to learn from events and the mistakes of others. There are five that I think are well worth reflecting on before we march into 2012:
1) Don’t Wait on Government…In Fact, Don’t Wait.
Politics seemed to enter our life more than ever this year, with Republicans and Democrats waiting to the last minute before passing legislation in several key areas, including funding to keep the government open!
I’ve met people who’ve said that they can’t do any long-range planning because they’re unsure what measures the government is about to pass, or they aren’t sure if the tax structure is going to change, or they want to wait and see who the next president is.
Most artisans work on a 1099 income basis, so some important areas such as health care and small business taxes can have a big impact on your bottom line.
….but does this mean you should wait?
Waiting on the government doesn’t make any sense to me. Is it better to have a plan in place that you may need to adjust or to have no plan at all? I’d always prefer to revisit my plan when the government finally decides their actions, than be held hostage to whatever political problems crop up.
The Bottom line: Plan now and adjust as events occur. (more…)
Posted in Banking, Debt, Education, Investments, money plan, Newsletters | No Comments »
Posted by Miata | December 29th, 2011
 Remember the three little pigs? Sure you do. The moral of the nursery rhyme was simple: build your house right the first time and it won’t be blown over.
In the arts, we’ve all heard this advice before. It’s the quality of our work that brings people back. We’ve watched suspiciously as performers with gimmicks shoot to the heights of fame for a few brief moments; but it’s only quality work that helps ensure a long, prosperous career.
Or in other words, using three little pigs speak: If you’re building your house, make it brick.
I’ve often heard financial planning referred to by professionals as a house. A foundation laid on the sandy ground of debt and scattered income is bound to fall later. For the average person, building consistent, dependable income and paying down debt are jobs number one and two.
But we aren’t average, are we? (more…)
Posted in Banking, Debt, Education, Saving Money, Savings | No Comments »
Posted by Miata | November 17th, 2011
 I was out to dinner the other night with some friends and we were laughing about the questions strangers will ask as soon as they find out your profession. One friend who is a doctor – always gets a medical question. Our lawyer girlfriend is often asked whether certain (sometimes dubious) behavior is legal. Me? When I tell folks about Abundance Bound I can pretty much count on being asked for “just a few simple tips” on how to save money.
And truthfully – even though I’ve been asked in some strange places (waiting for a taxi at the airport, during the intermission at the opera, and even on line for the restroom…) this might be my favorite question! There are so many ways to save. Everyone’s situation is different, which can make it difficult to hone on in a few generic tips. Still, here are some ideas that help many people:
If you’re looking to save a few dollars:
- Focus on the grocery store. Between better coupon clipping, being conscious about where you shop, paying attention to sales, and eating out less, you can save a significant amount of cash. In 2010 I cut $2400 off of my family grocery total for the year just by changing the store where I purchase all of our produce!
- Shut off lights and sprinklers, and unplug utilities when you aren’t using them. Utility companies offer budget plans, which allow you to pay the same amount every month.
- Bike or walk if possible instead of driving. Do you know that over 44 percent of all car rides are less than two miles? As gas prices rise it bites more and more into the budget. Are there places you could get to easily without taking the car? If so, you’ll receive a triple benefit; first, you’ll save money on gasoline, but you’ll also feel great about helping the environment AND getting out exercising. (more…)
Posted in Debt, Saving Money | No Comments »
Posted by Miata | September 26th, 2011
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In the 1986 classic movie Wall Street, Bud Fox (played by Charlie Sheen) is a young up-and-coming stockbroker who’s trying to make his mark in the world of finance. As he’s adjusting his tie before a big meeting with the titan Gordon Gekko, he says, “Life is made up of a few big moments. This is one of them.”
