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Municipal bond

What Is A Backdoor Roth IRA? How Does It Work In 2021?

Do you remember what are Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s? Before going into details about “what is Backdoor Roth IRA?” let’s first review them very quickly and briefly.

A Roth IRA or Roth 401(k) allows taxpayers to put aside a few thousand dollars a year into their retirement savings account. As we mentioned earlier, they are post-tax
retirement accounts, meaning that when you withdraw your fund at retirement age, it is tax-free, and all belongs to you. Why? Because you have already paid your taxes. To put it in other words, these Roth accounts are different from traditional (or regular) 401(K) or IRA retirement funds that are pre-tax. It means that such retirement plans give taxpayers immediate tax advantages (i.e., they are tax-deferred), meaning that in IRA or 401(k) plans, investors will later pay the tax on that money when they withdraw it in their retirement.

Why Roth IRA is so wanted?

Well, the answer is very simple. It has so many advantages, including:

  1. Roth IRA plan offers tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals in your retirement.
  2. There is no age limit. You even can transfer your Roth IRA to your beneficiaries, and their withdrawals will be tax-free too.
  3. Roth IRAs don’t have required minimum distributions (RDMs), meaning that you can take out as much or as little as you want, and whenever you want, or leave it all for your beneficiaries. By the way, many investors intend to use their Roth as a legacy or an inheritance. Furthermore, you can keep your money in your Roth IRA account as long as you want; Thus, your fund can surely keep up growing there.

The problem is that people who earn above a specific amount are not entitled to open or fund Roth IRAs –indeed under regular rules, anyway. Now this question may arise that what are Roth IRA income limits. In 2021, the income limit for singles is $140,000, and for married couples, the limit is $208,000. Moreover, the contribution limit is $6,000 a year unless you are age 50 or older—in which case, you can deposit up to $7,000. Note that Roth IRA income limits are indexed to inflation and change annually, meaning that the higher the inflation rate, the more likely you are to see limits will go up. On the whole, your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) must be less than the annual limit set by the IRS.

Okay, now let’s get back to our main question, What Is a Backdoor Roth IRA?

If your income is too high for a Roth IRA, you can get to a Roth through the “back door,” called Backdoor Roth IRA alternatively. Backdoor Roth IRAs are traditional IRA or 401(K) accounts that have been converted to Roth IRAs. Say differently Backdoor Roth IRA provides an option for higher-income investors who ordinarily couldn’t contribute to a Roth. Interesting ha? Okay, let’s see how we can set up a Backdoor Roth IRA?

This post contains affiliate links. Please please read my Disclaimer for more information

How Does It work?

In this part, we will explain how to create a Backdoor Roth IRA. Actually, you can do that in different ways.

  1. You can create a traditional IRA account and then roll over the fund to a Roth IRA account. Do this account conversion as soon as possible. If you delay your conversion, everything will become too complicated. So keep life simple and stay out of trouble.
  2. You can create a 401(k) account and then roll it over to Roth IRA.

Is Backdoor Roth IRA Right for You? What You Need to Know?

  1. You have to know that this conversion to a Roth IRA account is not a tax dodge. Suppose you have $7,000 in your traditional 401(k) or IRA account and then convert your account to Roth IRA account. In this case, you still owe taxes on $7,000.
  2.  Be aware that income limits do not apply to Roth IRA Backdoor conversions.
  3. Aside from getting around the limits, Backdoor Roth IRA will have significant tax savings over the decades for you; because Roth IRAs, unlike traditional IRAs, are not taxable when you withdraw the money at your retirement. In general, it is the most advantageous point of Roth accounts, whether Roth IRA or Roth 401(k), that you pay taxes upfront on your contributions and everything after that is tax-free, and all accumulated money in the fund belongs to you at retirement. It will be a very beneficial option for your retirement savings; because tax rates will go up in the future, and your taxable income will be higher after you retire than it is now. So if your employer offers you a Roth plan, never refuse it.
  4. The Backdoor Roth IRA is not a good idea for those who think that will need to withdraw the money they are contributing in the next five years. In this case, you will have to pay a penalty when you withdraw it.

5. Ask a financial or tax advisor for help to carry out this conversion process correctly and avoid costly tax errors. There are very subtle points in this process that if you do not know them very well, they may incur costs chargeable to you. For example, suppose you’ve rolled a 401(k) balance from an old employer into an IRA this year. In this case, if you also do a Backdoor Roth, you will wrap up owing taxes.

Conclusion

Backdoor Roth IRA allows high earners to have Roth IRA accounts indirectly. This situation illustrates a significant tax loophole. High-income taxpayers can not open Roth IRA accounts directly because of Roth IRA income limits. But, traditional IRA doesn’t have such limits and does not prevent people with higher incomes from contributing.

The Backdoor Roth IRA takes advantage of this fact and helps you maximize your retirement savings. Keep in mind that it is not a simple and straightforward process, but it is very complicated and twisty. For help in fulfilling your Backdoor Roth IRA correctly and avoiding costly mistakes, please consult a financial planner or tax advisor.

“If you have any feedback about what is a backdoor Roth IRA that you have tried out or any questions about the ones that I have recommended, please leave your comments below!”

NB: The purpose of this website is to provide a general understanding of personal finance, basic financial concepts, and information. It’s not intended to advise on tax, insurance, investment, or any product and service. Since each of us has our own unique situation, you should have all the appropriate information to understand and make the right decision to fit with your needs and your financial goals. I hope that you will succeed in building your financial future.

mortgage

What To Look For When Buying A House?

Other than price, there are many additional considerations to make, while looking for a home, such as a price, location, size, condition, schools, and more. Most buyers change their specifications when they start visiting homes. Your needs and personal lifestyle should define your home criteria. Without thinking about what you are looking for, we provide you with some general rules you should track to guarantee your happiness with the home you will buy.

The main features buyers look for in a home

Some very important features for the most buyers (the figures are from the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report 2019):

Buyers need and want regarding the neighborhood

  • Safety: A neighborhood that generates safety feeling is extremely important, said by 82% of buyers
  • Preferred neighborhood: Extremely important, said by 56% of buyers
  • Walkability: Extremely important, said by 60% of buyers
  • Proximity to services, shopping, and leisure activities: Extremely important, said by 53% of buyers
  • Offers a sense of community or belonging: Extremely important, said by 48% of buyers
  • Maximum commute to school or work: Extremely important, said by 52% of buyers
  • In preferred school district: Extremely important, said by 43% of buyers
  • Close to friends and family: Extremely important, said by 46% of buyers

Home features buyers want

  • Inside of initial budget: Extremely important, said by 83% of buyers
  • Preferred number of bathrooms: Extremely important, said by 67% of buyers
  • Preferred number of bedrooms: Extremely important, said by 76% of buyers
  • Private outdoor space: Extremely important, said by 67% of buyers
  • Floor layout that matches preferences: Extremely important, said by 67% of buyers
  • Air conditioning: Extremely important, said by 78% of buyers
  • Preferred square footage: Extremely important, said by 67% of buyers

1. Look for the right price

Price is the ultimate factor that determines what you can or cannot buy. Maybe looking at homes beyond your budget is fun, but it is just wasting time, and also can bother you when you realize it is not financially possible.

Set a home buying budget

You can calculate your initial budget range based on your income, advance payment amount, and existing monthly bills. When you reach the proper range you can search for homes on the market that match your price range plus other criteria.

By the time that you are ready to start your home search, you will need to receive pre-approved by the lender of the house you select. According to your income, debt, and credit history, they will approve you for a loan to a certain amount.

Even if your lender approved you to receive a large loan, you need to be sure that you will be well to do with your calculated monthly housing payment. Be sure that insurance, taxes, and HOA fees (homeowners association fees) are accurate while calculating to estimate your monthly payments.

This post contains affiliate links. Please please read my Disclaimer for more information

2. Prioritize the location

Location is among the most important things to consider after the budget while buying a house. It is difficult for many buyers to find a house in their desired location. You need to ask yourself some questions to help you find a location that matches your needs, lifestyle, and budget.

  • The homes near downtown areas due to their shorter commutes have better resale value.
  • If you enjoy walking to shops and restaurants, consider looking around the town to find a house.
  • But if you want more privacy and do not mind driving, prioritize a home in a location that is off the beaten path.
  • In case you have kids or planning to have them in the future checking out the local school. If you do not have kids, still owning a house in the school district affects the future resale value.
  • Hose located in a flood zone needs additional insurance, besides that living in a flood-prone area means you should be prepared in case of an actual event.

3. Think long term

Regularly, people who own a house stay there for almost 14 years before selling. While shopping for a house does not consider just your short-term needs, so you will not have to move soon.

Consider the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. If you want to have kids, your parents stay with you, or you will have a lot of visitors, make sure the new home can accommodate your plan.

Most buyers rank outdoor space as very important. In case you need a safe place for your kids to play, you have a dog, or you have the desire to gardening then look for a house with outdoor space.

You want to improve your lifestyle in your new home. Think about what things do you wish were different. Consider your hobbies and what makes you happy. You need a nice yard if you enjoy spending time outdoors. You need a big kitchen if you love cooking.

4. Estimate property condition

In case you are totally new to buying a house and have no experience in hose repairing, you might consider it as an easy process. But you should know that home renovation is anything but easy. It causes the expenses to add up quickly and delay your move-in.

A move-in-ready house has been renovated recently or is new and close to new. A home with minor updates requirements may have old mechanical systems that need to be updated for energy savings, or have cosmetic issues that you probably want to replace.

A house that requires major repairs is normally cheaper because of the work that should be done. The advantage of a major renovation is the opportunity to personalize the home according to your tests.

There are some very important costly issues that you should take care of such as damaged roof, old insulation, exterior cracks, older furnace or HVAC system, plumping issues, flooding, water damage or mold, and uneven floors.

5. Do not concentrate on minor cosmetic details

Do not suspend buying a house due to its little imperfections, no house is perfect. Cosmetic changes are affordable and easy to do. If you find a house you would love without some cosmetic issues, do not allow minor problems such as paint, hardware, furnishings, and landscaping to prevent you from buying.

Conclusion

It is hard to find a house that meets every desirable criterion on your list. First, make a budget range for buying a house. Then ask yourself some critical questions about what you need and want in your new house, as well as what makes a house valuable for you. By reading this article you will learn some important issues to notice when buying a house.

“If you have any feedback about what to look for when buying a house that you have tried out or any questions about the ones that I have recommended, please leave your comments below!”

NB: The purpose of this website is to provide a general understanding of personal finance, basic financial concepts, and information. It’s not intended to advise on tax, insurance, investment, or any product and service. Since each of us has our own unique situation, you should have all the appropriate information to understand and make the right decision to fit with your needs and your financial goals. I hope that you will succeed in building your financial future.

Compoun Interest

How Does Compound Interest Work?

While managing your finance, compound interest is one of the most important concepts to understand. Compound interest on your savings will help you earn more returns, but on a loan, it will work against you!

What is compound interest?

First, you all maybe knew that interest means the money earned on money you saved or invested.

Compounding interest is the process of growing your savings. It has the ‘snowball effect’ and means something can build upon itself. Compound interest refers to the interest earned on money that was previously earned as interest. This cycle caused increasing interest and account balances at an increasing rate, which is also called ‘exponential growth.’ It is a good way to put your money to work overtime.

How does compound interest work?

To understand compound interest let’s start with the simple interest: you deposit money in the bank, and it returns you interest on your primary deposit.

In the case of 5% annual interest, you will gain a $5 on $100 deposit after one year. So, what will happen in the next years? Here is the compound interest that comes in. you will get interested in your primary deposit, and will also get interested in the interest you just receive.

Accordingly, you will receive more interest in the second year compared with the first year, since your account balance is now $105, not $100. Although you did not increase your initial deposit, your earnings will accelerate.

First-year: A primary deposit of $100 receives 5% interest, or $5, increasing your balance to $105.

Second-year: Your $105 receives 5% interest, or $5.25, increasing your balance to $110.25.

Third-year: Your $110.25 receives 5% interest, or $5.51, increasing your balance to $115.76.

It was an example of interest compounded yearly. Interest at many banks, especially the online ones, compound daily and get added to your initial deposit monthly; therefore the process goes ahead even faster.

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Take advantage of compound interest

Do you want to be sure if compounding works out in your favor?

  • Save early and often. Time is the friend of compounding interest. Since the compound interest grows exponentially over time, the longer you do not touch your money in a saving account, the greater it can grow. If you add a $100 deposit per month at 5% interest (compounded monthly) for five years, you will have $6,000 deposits, plus received $800.61 in interest. Even if you do not add up any money to your deposit after that, your account will receive an additional $7,573.87 in interest after 20 years. This will be more than your primary $6,000 due to compounding.
  • To see the true annual rate of compounding, you can check out the APY (annual percentage yield). Banks usually publicize the APY, so you can easily find it. If you have an extremely large account balance you should try to get decent rates on your savings.
  • Pay debts quickly and pay extra if you can. Paying the minimum on your credit cards will cost you too much since you will hardly reduce the interest charges and your balance can grow. If you have student loans, prevent adding unpaid interest charges to the balance total and try to pay the interest as it accrues. This way you will not be caught off guard when graduating.
  • Keep borrowing rates low. The interest rates on your loans, besides that impact your monthly payment also will determine how quickly your debt grows. See if it is possible to merge debts and lower your interest rates when you pay off debt.

What makes compound interest powerful?

When interest is paid repeatedly, compounding happens. The first one or two years are not very impressive, but compounding starts to improve after the interests add up over and over.

Frequency: The frequency is very important in compound interest. More frequent periods such as daily, have more surprising results. Look for daily compounding while opening a saving account. Although you see the interests add to your deposit monthly, it calculates daily. There are also accounts with monthly or annually calculating interest.

Time: Compounding is more surprising over a long time. If you left your deposit for a long time to grow, you will earn higher calculated interest.

Interest rate: One of the significant factors in your account balance over time is the interest rate. Your account will grow faster in case of having higher rates. An account with compounding but a lower interest rate, especially over a long time, can end up with a higher balance compare with a simple account.

Deposits: Withdrawals and deposits also impact your account balance. Leave your money alone to grow or add a new amount of money to your initial deposit regularly works best. If you withdraw your interests, you will decrease the effect of compounding.

Compound interest works both ways. It can make you, and it can break you. If you owe money, the compound interest on your debt can ruin you. As a result, many people keep paying the bill with high interest. Despite numerous payments, the balance of the bill barely goes down because high interest on the balance continues to compound. Sometimes, it feels as if it’s important to pay the balance off.

Conclusion

The power of compound interest can be hard to understand. This article provides you with a few situations to show the impact compound interest can have over time. Set a time sooner to open a saving account with compound interest, and then you will have more time for compound interest to work in your favor.

“If you have any feedback about how does compound interest works that you have tried out or any questions about the ones that I have recommended, please leave your comments below!”

NB: The purpose of this website is to provide a general understanding of personal finance, basic financial concepts, and information. It’s not intended to advise on tax, insurance, investment, or any product and service. Since each of us has our own unique situation, you should have all the appropriate information to understand and make the right decision to fit with your needs and your financial goals. I hope that you will succeed in building your financial future.

money

How To Stop Worrying About Money

Money is among the biggest things that people worldwide are worrying about, even more than their health, families, or jobs. It has been said often that money is the ticket to happiness. Human binges mind always seek pleasure and avoid pain. It is a common belief among people that if they have money, they will be happy; otherwise, they will be miserable. Therefore the reason people worry is that they believe money can help them get more pleasure and prevent them from pain. In case people have worried for a long time, this thought will change into a habit, and eventually, they will feel anxious more often in their life.

How worrying about money can affect your life?

It is worth mentioning that many around the world scared of losing their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, falling into uncertainty about their future savings and economic situation. They are worried about what would happen to them, especially after getting too much news. In such a situation people start asking, “what if?” And as you may know, what-if scenarios can get out of control fast. The fact is, they may happen all the time in everyday life-not just during a pandemic.

Being worry about money also can affect relationships. It would be specifically damaging in marriage. It is difficult for couples to be empathetic, supportive, or even romantic when they are worried about money. While emotions are getting pale and the financing issues are getting too much, one of the couples might say something less kind than usual. That is why money is a leading cause of divorce for decades.

In another situation, the topic of money turns into fights for couples and it prepares them for financial infidelity. It tempted them to hide their spending rather than engage in the conversation and make purchasing decisions together.

Many physical health problems are leading by money stress. Worrying about money can cause diabetes, cardiovascular disease, migraines, sleep problems, and more issues than you realize. And worst is when people postpone going to the doctor because of the expense.

Today, the younger generation is also suffering from anxiety and depression; and that is because they are trapped into debt at a young age. There is always something they can do to change the situation of their life and stop worrying about money.

How to stop worrying about money

Here are the steps that will help you overcome financial anxiety and stop worrying about money:

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1. Master your life

By deciding to read this article, you simply take the first step. So you want to master your life and do not want to be a victim of your circumstances anymore. Now you are planning to learn something to make your life better and stop worrying about money.

The thought of victimization is widespread in our society. People wrongly have thought that they have no control over their lives and what happens to them. The fact is that your environment, your mind, and your beliefs are what build your reality. Your mind generates coherence between your mind and your reality.

To stop worrying about the money you should first take back control of your situation. Regardless of the occurrences in your external world, how you feel it inside your mind causes your outcome. If you see what happens as something that you cannot control, then you are a victim of your circumstance. In case that the external happening is not mattered for you, you are the master and creator of your life.

2. Accept the current reality

Decrease the tension between your current reality and how you tend it was different. While arguing with your reality, you feel tension and frustration. People wish things were different, and this makes them suffer. They ask themselves why those things are happening to them. When you stop opposing your reality, no more questioning about why this is happening to you, or wishing life was different, your mind can eventually become completely clear.

When you accept your current reality, actions become fearless and simple.

3. Make a plan

A plan can assist you to control what you can, and that is your money. Your plan can be everything from working to get out of debt or save an emergency fund, to your monthly budget, or a long-term investment plan for your retirement.

Here is an example of debt snowball:

Let’s start with the number of debts you have. Write down all your debts from the smallest to the largest. Pay more on your smallest debt. In this way, you can get rid of them sooner than usual. When your smallest debt is gone, focus on the second smallest debt and then the third-smallest one. The more you pay off, the more you get free.

3. Be aware of your weaknesses

Having a plan is the key to stop worrying about money. But, exactly when you think that you finally manage your finances, something happens that will seduce you to return to old habits. You are thinking of a new transmission for your car and you want to pay for it by credit card. You have been invited to a vacation, and you wish to reach your hands on your emergency fund. You are going to take out a Parent Plus loan to send your kids to college.

That is because being aware of your weakness is so crucial. Do not dwell on them, just know that what they are become it easier to stop a bad habit at the right time.

Conclusion

Remember that worrying about money is just a waste of time.

By reading this article you may prepare yourself to stop worrying about money, stressing, and losing sleep. We recommend you to read more about how to stop worrying about money and teach yourself how to overcome frustration and stress on money by reading relevant books, blogs and using experts’ advice.

“If you have any feedback about how to stop worrying about money, that you have tried out or any questions about the ones that I have recommended, please leave your comments below!”

NB: The purpose of this website is to provide a general understanding of personal finance, basic financial concepts, and information. It’s not intended to advise on tax, insurance, investment, or any product and service. Since each of us has our own unique situation, you should have all the appropriate information to understand and make the right decision to fit with your needs and your financial goals. I hope that you will succeed in building your financial future.

finance

How To Grow Your Financial Intelligence

Being financially intelligent means knowing how to manage, save, and invest money efficiently for you and your family. It contains different things like budgeting, investments, getting out of debt, real estate, insurance, college, and retirement planning. Financial intelligence is a subject that matters to almost anyone. Unfortunately, people are not learning enough about it. Without adequate financial education, peoples are unable to save for retirement, buy homes, or pay for unexpected expenses like car repairs.

What is financial intelligence?

Financial intelligence means having a basic understanding of issues related to money and finance, particularly someone’s finances. When you are financially literate, you will be able to:

  • Pay your household bills
  • Build a household budget
  • Calculate how much you are paying for credit cards
  • Open a bank account and keep track of your balance to prevent overdraft fees
  • Check your credit score and take action to enhance it
  • File an income tax return
  • Open an account to save for college
  • Figure out your net worth
  • Shop for a mortgage loan
  • Invest in a retirement plan
  • Protect your personal information
  • Spot a financial scam

Sadly, many people cannot meet this standard. Researches have shown that a majority of people worldwide lack the knowledge necessary to make routine financial decisions. Surely, it takes time and effort to improve your financial intelligence. However, when you invest in yourself, you begin investing in a better future.

Some good habits to enhance financial intelligence

  • Concentrate on saving

Saving money is a great habit for people with high financial intelligence. Regardless of the amount of your income, become it into a habit to put aside part of your earnings each month. Put some money aside, it is crucial for your life since it encourages you to spend cautiously and also assists you to create a fund for emergencies. You will be able to fund your short and long-term goals with your savings, it prevents you to burden yourself with a loan or cut down your regular expenses.

  • Assess your spending

Do you feel your money is slipping through your hands? It is time to check out where all this money is spending. The first step is making a daily, weekly, or monthly basis listing habit to put all your expenses on the list.

It will help you manage your finances better by assisting you to keep track of the expenses which are significant or not. Also, you can write a personal journal or diary to follow your daily expenses in case you have difficulty remembering where you spent your money.

This post contains affiliate links. Please please read my Disclaimer for more information

Make a scheme of your buying

Many people wish to buy some commodities that are more expensive than they can afford. This may be a new car, a new cellphone, furniture for the garden, jewelry; there is no end to the luxuries people wish. Although, you might want to get these immediately, a sign of financial intelligence is planning your buying and purchasing them after saving adequate money. In this way, you can prevent yourself from impulsive shopping, and in case you want to purchase something that falls outside of your budget, save up and then buy it.

  • Invest

Investing money is also a great habit besides that saving. By investing, you will be able to multiply your money, whether for the fulfillment of short-term goals or retirement planning. To invest money you can find various options around like real estate, currency, share market, fixed deposits, etc. To make good and steady returns while investing money, make sure you research enough on various aspects of the market you intend to dive into.

  • Limit your credit card spending

In case you want to create and improve your credit score, having a credit card is good. But, when you plan to enhance your financial intelligence, we recommend you cut down the number of credit cards you have and use. When people own too many cards, they often lose track of all their spending. The figure that will be presented at the end of the cycle may through your whole budget off balance. If you continue this behavior, it would impact your financial stability in the long run.

  • Take a loan only on necessary occasions

Today, because of the easy accessibility of loans, people can buy even luxury goods easily. Such a shopping behavior in long term would severely impact your financial health.

Only when there is an absolute need for a loan, consider taking it, and remember that your income must be adequate to manage the pressure of monthly installments.

  • Read about personal finance

You can learn much more from a good book than personal experience after you have made mistakes. Great books from great authors are including Robert Kiyosaki’s “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”, Dave Ramsey’s “The Total Money Makeover”, David Bach’s “The Automatic Millionaire”, Beth Kobliner “Get a Financial Life”.

By reading these books you can improve your financial intelligence and also bring many common doubts about personal finance to the light. We also suggest you spend time reading blogs, articles, and magazines about personal finance and budgeting; they can give you the right tips and tricks for handling your finances the right way regularly.

Conclusion

Doing everything good seems intimidating at first!

You may not financially literate at school, but you can learn it. It requires spending some time and effort to peace financially. When you start performing healthy financial habits regularly you will be able to cope with all your financial goals.

We recommend you some “do’s” and “do not’s” to remember while embarking on your finance journey.

Do:

  • Utilize the entire financial resources that are available
  • Keep learning through taking classes and professional financial advisers
  • Start budgeting and follow it

Do not:

  • Fear! You need to start from a point, and over time your finance will be stable.
  • Do it alone. You can find many people including experts and advisers willing to help you.
  • Limit your chances. Explore various skills and certifications to increase your job opportunities.

“If you have any feedback about how to grow your financial intelligence that you have tried out or any questions about the ones that I have recommended, please leave your comments below!”

NB: The purpose of this website is to provide a general understanding of personal finance, basic financial concepts, and information. It’s not intended to advise on tax, insurance, investment, or any product and service. Since each of us has our own unique situation, you should have all the appropriate information to understand and make the right decision to fit with your needs and your financial goals. I hope that you will succeed in building your financial future.

marriage

How To Attend A Wedding On A Budget

While wedding costs are getting more and more expensive, no one cares about how much does it cost for guests to be only a part of this ceremony. Attending a wedding is not cheap! At the same time, you might be excited to celebrate a loved one’s big day you also might be worried about the expenses a wedding burden on you. By reading the current article you will learn some tips and tricks to help you to attend a wedding on a budget.

Budgeting for Weddings

Prior to making a plan on how to save money on the weddings, you will attend, you should know how much to save. Consider your budget; is there some extra money that you can put aside for wedding expenses? If no, you may have to change a bit your spending habits to afford to attend those weddings.

In case you do not have a budget, it is a good time to make one. Start following your income and your expenses, check how this two compare, is there any remaining to put aside? How much? Chose the amount you can work with, and stick to it. Arrange it in an individual account or your general saving account, check out how much you gather to spend.

Reducing Expenses of Wedding Essentials

1. Outfit

For men, there might be fewer worries about what they wear and how much it will cost them. They can wear one single suit or tuxedo at every wedding, and no one would even notice.

But for women, the story is different, although, it really does not have to be. If you have to attend more than one wedding at a certain time like summer, as a woman you can dress simple. Let’s make it clearer, chose a stylish but basic dress in black or navy blue (neutral hue in other words) and work on your accessories.

You can wear a large statement necklace with a black cocktail dress to a wedding, and wear the same dress with a sash as well as a pair of glittering earrings to another wedding and attendees will think it is a different dress. Instead of purchasing multiple dresses, that cost you too much, you will get one single dress and use it in the wedding after the wedding without anyone noticing the difference. You can apply the same trick to your shoes. Buy a pair of pumps or strappy sandals and use them during the wedding season.

In case you have invited just to one wedding in the season, consider renting a dress. Renting a dress is the most economical way. You do not have to spend several hundred dollars to buy a dress, and instead, you only need to pay $35 to $50 to rent one. If you are living close to a dress rental service, by chance, you can try on items before you rent.

There is more than a dress to rent from a rental service. In case you wish to replace your accessories from wedding to wedding and do not like to have a drawer stuffed with necklaces and earrings, you can rent those at a cheaper price. Based on the materials used, designer, and style, necklace rentals begin from $10, and purse rentals begin from $30 at rental services.

2. The Gift

Purchasing a gift is also a part of going to a wedding. There is no restricting rule on the amount of money you should spend on the gift, regarding how much you can afford.

You can buy something that seems you broke the bank on it while protecting your budget. The online promo code can help you with that, specifically when your friend registered at places that often use them.

This post contains affiliate links. Please please read my Disclaimer for more information

You do not have to provide the gift from the retailer the couples are registered with. Amazon is a website example that allows you to buy the gift elsewhere and check it off the registry, to prevent duplicates. Try to get your gift sooner. If you wait until the month before the wedding, you will see just the priciest gifts remaining.

There are also other options to save on the wedding gifts:

  • Share buying the gift with a friend. A $120 gift will cost you $60 if you split the cost with a friend.
  • If you are talented and trained on how to decorate flowers or cake, then offer your services to the couple. If you are excel at the service you offer you will save money and so they will.
  • Do something creative. A heartfelt gift is sometimes more valuable than anything on the registry. A photo book full of the couple’s picture together can be a great gift.

3. Transportation

Based on how far the wedding is from your place, travel can be your concern of expense. How you get there affects how much you spend. For instance, a fly from New York to Philadelphia costs around $150, while taking the bus will cost you $5. Getting to and from the airport is also time-consuming.

Pick the best day for travel also can aid reduce your expenses. Renting a car will be cheaper on the weekend rather than on weekdays. Since car rental companies target business customers, rather than leisure travelers, they have more cars to rent during the weekend.

Fridays and Sundays are the most expensive days for flying, in case you consider taking a plane.

4. Lodging

If you do not have any close relatives or friends to stay with, you have to stay in a hotel. Bride and groom usually reserve several rooms at a discounted rate at specific hotels. If you are included in such action, go ahead. But remember that if you search more you can save more. A bit less luxurious hotel may provide you with a price even cheaper than the discounted one.

Other than the hotel, you may find a private room for a great price. You can even search for a house to rent if you travel in a big group or with your family. There are certain websites for that.

Conclusion

If you invited to a couple of wedding ceremonies this season, you do not have to spend too much that ended you up with regret on your financial decisions. Set a list of fixed numbers before you start to make any plans. Before you attend a wedding you should know how much you can spend on your clothes, the gift, and traveling.

Be sure to make a plan before you attend a wedding.

“If you have any feedback about how to attend a wedding on a budget, that you have tried out, or any questions about the ones that I have recommended, please leave your comments below!”

NB: The purpose of this website is to provide a general understanding of personal finance, basic financial concepts, and information. It’s not intended to advise on tax, insurance, investment, or any product and service. Since each of us has our own unique situation, you should have all the appropriate information to understand and make the right decision to fit with your needs and your financial goals. I hope that you will succeed in building your financial future.

Mortgage

What To Look For In Mortgage

Throughout history, mankind has been trying to find various ways of expanding and diversifying income generator models. Doing that we tend to exaggerate obstacles on the road. But with a little help from the experts, those obstacles tend to get smaller and shorter in time. In our articles, we aim to do that in a short amount of time considering everybody’s time is valuable and precious. We are well aware of the fact and we aim to make everything less challenging for you. Previously in our articles, we made this fact clear for you as well. Your job on the other hand is to pay close attention to our articles and apply the necessary changes in your financial life. As long as we are clear on these terms, the obscurity will leave us in the process and we’ll see brighter days ahead.

Speaking of today’s topic, we’ll discuss what to look for before applying for a mortgage. After reading this article you’ll have related background knowledge and information that will shape your decisions on various advantages and disadvantages of getting a mortgage. I know that it has already started to sound thrilling. If you’re ready to take off, fasten your seatbelts. Because as we always do, we are getting ready to fly once again.

One of the most crucial aspects before getting a loan is surely the ratio of the fees and the question What fees apply to the loan? In order to help you more with details, we’ll present some of the fees included in the loan below. We hope that you’ll find it useful and add it to your device list for necessary future calculations

  • Application fees (also called establishment fee)
  • Property valuation fees
  • Ongoing fees such as annual fees
  • Late payment fee (also called default fee) (if you make a required repayment later than the due date)
  • Early exit fee (if you repay your home loan in full and close the loan before the end of the loan term)
  • Discharge fee (also called termination fees or settlement fees) (charged when you pay out your mortgage in full)
  • Break fees (also called break cost) (if you switch loans during a fixed-rate term)
  • Redraw fees (if you use a redraw facility)
  • Account-keeping fee for offset account (if you have an offset account attached to your loan)
  • Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (LMI) (if you only have a small deposit on your loan)

Now that you know the additional fees we can move on with the interest rates. This is another crucial aspect when it comes to making necessary calculations before getting a mortgage loan. Speaking of interest rates there are 2 kinds of interest rates that may help you along the way. The first one is the advertised rate in which you just pay the interest rate, the additional fees or charges are not included in the price.

This post contains affiliate links. Please please read my Disclaimer for more information.

Whereas the second one is the comparison rate in which most of the fees and charges are taken into account.

Another important aspect to look for is that your mortgage loan should have some features that are appealing. It will be more beneficial for you to look for this kind of mortgage. As stated below, they’ll affect several variables and they will have a positive impact on your financial status in the future.

  • An offset account
  • A redraw facility
  • Ability to make extra repayments
  • Ability to make lump sum repayments
  • Ability to split the loan between fixed and variable
  • Ability to get home loan pre-approval

Apart from these aspects we also want to make it clear to you that there are some steps to take into account before starting your mortgage journey. We underlined these aspects as headlines for you and we strongly believe that they will affect your decisions and calculations while applying for a mortgage.

First and most importantly your credit score is significant. Before applying for a mortgage get a credit review from renowned agencies such as Experian or Equifax. This will make Lenders fund you easier. Of course, this is applicable if you believe that your credit score will be positive. Or else you should check our previous articles for further information and investigation.

Secondly, the starting point should be your own money. If you remember our previous articles we also made it clear for our readers to depend on their own savings account. In order to do that there are necessary steps and precautions to take. Read them for further knowledge on that topic and make your calculations accordingly.

Thirdly, we can advise that moving on with the same job is not the worst financially. Because if you continue in your own job you prove your incomes are real and permanent to the people that are responsible for funding you for your future ideals.

On the other hand, as stated numerous times before, your debts won’t help you achieve your financial goals. That’s why the first thing you have to do to achieve financial independence is to get rid of your debts and burden as soon as possible. If you get rid of them it’ll be more beneficial for us to get to the next step. But if you try to continue this journey with the same burdens you’ll affect yourself and the people around you negatively.

Besides, there’s more thing to add into calculations, which is that you need to expand your income generator models and you need to prove your income. This way you can show the system that you’re worth trusting by the financial institutions and they’ll reward you more when it comes to getting loans and affordable interest rates. But in order to achieve such a thing you need to take the bitter pill in the beginning as we said before.

Conclusion

Concluding our article as always we appreciate your valuable time and devotion. With you, we’re getting more enthusiastic and passionate about coming up with brand new topics every month. We hope that you found some valuable information and lessons inside this article and we hope that you’ll join us with our upcoming articles as well. Till next time, see you and peace out.

“If you have any feedback about what to look for in mortgage that you have tried out or any questions about the ones that I have recommended, please leave your comments below!”

NB: The purpose of this website is to provide a general understanding of personal finance, basic financial concepts, and information. It’s not intended to advise on tax, insurance, investment, or any product and service. Since each of us has our own unique situation, you should have all the appropriate information to understand and make the right decision to fit with your needs and your financial goals. I hope that you will succeed in building your financial future.

HSA

What Happens To My HSA When I Leave My Job?

A health savings account is a kind of tax-free savings account that you can use to save on medical expenses when enrolling in a high-cost, affordable health care plan. If you have an HSA and have just moved from a job, this article provides helpful tips on what happens to the HSA when you leave work. And even if you do not intend to change jobs at the moment, it is still a good idea to read this article. Because if you have HSA, it is better to know your options ahead of time if you are in a condition where you need to change or quit for any reason.

The HSA has long been one of the most powerful savings accounts authorized by the federal government. Health savings accounts have many advantages and can save health care costs and even retirement for you. If you can wait until age 65 to use the money saved in the HSA, you can even use it as a retirement account instead of a health savings account.

A health savings account helps you pay for medical expenses that your insurance policy does not cover. Besides helping you save money for out-of-pocket expenses that health insurance will not pay for, HSAs offer other benefits.

What happens to your HSA if you quit your job?

The funds in your HSA are always at your disposal, regardless of employment status or insurance coverage. The fact that HSA funds are always given to you is another important advantage of this type of account. Unlike Flexible Expense Accounts (FSAs), savings on HSA accounts do not have a specific date. This means that if you change your job or health plan, you can maintain your HSA and spend your budget normally on eligible medical expenses or see it grow until retirement. (As long as you are ready to use your cash any way you want). You can also help your account as long as you comply with IRS eligibility rules.

Benefits of HSA when changing jobs:

  • The HSA acts as a savings account:

Many consumers are unaware that, in addition to accumulating various tax benefits, many HSA accounts allow you to invest your capital like pension funds. You can keep your Health Savings Account (HSA) when you leave your job. Even if you open your HSA in connection with a high deductible health plan (HDHP); All the money in it, including your employer’s contributions, your contributions, and interest or investment growth, will be given to you.

This post contains affiliate links. Please please read my Disclaimer for more information.

  • Pay COBRA monthly premiums using HSA:

If you lose your health insurance due to leaving your job, you can use the money in the HSA to pay your monthly COBRA premium. This is an eligible medical expense, so you will not have to pay income tax on withdrawals.

  • Use your HSA as an emergency fund:

Some people consider their HSA as an emergency fund and invest their HSA funds in stocks, bonds, or interest-bearing accounts. You can use the money of your HSA to pay for medical expenses. But some people allow the profits from these investments to grow for years without tax. These people pay their medical bills with other money, and they save these receipts for medical expenses paid from other funds. When they need money in the future, they can get it back from your out-of-pocket medical expenses for the duration of the HSA. Withdrawn funds are not taxable, as they can be used to reimburse you for any medical expenses you have already incurred.

  • HSA for retirees:

When you turn 65, you may withdraw money from your HSA for any reason without incurring a 20% non-medical withdrawal penalty. However, the only money you receive for eligible medical expenses is tax-free. Note that you can always use your HSA budget to pay for your spouse’s treatment.

HSA and its relationship with the employer:

If you have an employer participating in your HSA, these benefits also belong to you, but they do not happen again after leaving your job. Your employer cannot withdraw any of your benefits, and all of your HSA costs are for your maintenance and use. If your employer pays some or all of the monthly management costs to your account, you will be responsible for those costs. HealthEquity will email you if your dependency changes, including information about these costs, as well as suggestions for preventing or reducing them.

While you are preparing to leave your job for a new job, freelancer, or any other purpose, it may be wise to compare health savings accounts and their offers, so you can move on to a new account. You may want to transfer your existing HSA funds to your new HSA. Under these circumstances, you can still keep your existing HSA open and intact and open a new account with your new employer to enjoy the benefits of employer-backed HSA. Note that just because your employer offers an HSA health care plan does not mean that the HSA is better.

There are no rules for having multiple HSAs. The only thing to keep in mind about multiple HSAs is that the total participation fee for all of your HSAs should not exceed the maximum annual IRS contribution for your specific circumstances.

Conclusion

Today Many employers offer HAS accounts to employees. This type of account provides a tax-free contribution to cover medical expenses. As we explained in this article, if you leave your job, you can keep your funds in the HSA. One of the main benefits of HSA is that it only belongs to you. The HSA belongs to you, and you can retain, terminate, resign, relocate or retire. You can keep a health savings account and all the money in it, including your employer’s assistance.

If you receive unemployment advantages, you can use your HSA to pay for long-term care, COBRA premiums, or other health insurance premiums. We hope by reading this article, you are aware of the countless benefits of HSA (even after leaving the job). If you have experience using this type of account, share it with us.

“If you have any feedback about what happens to my HSA when I leave my job that you have tried out or any questions about the ones that I have recommended, please leave your comments below!”

NB: The purpose of this website is to provide a general understanding of personal finance, basic financial concepts, and information. It’s not intended to advise on tax, insurance, investment, or any product and service. Since each of us has our own unique situation, you should have all the appropriate information to understand and make the right decision to fit with your needs and your financial goals. I hope that you will succeed in building your financial future.

Mortgage

Will Mortgage Forbearance Affect My Credit?

During hard times, hard measures have to be taken. Or else the obstacles will still be there and what’s even worse is that they’ll grow bigger on the road. The perseverance to fight those obstacles is not easily found every day. That’s why we’re offering our help on the road because deep down inside we know that you can’t fight everything on your own, there’s no meaning of fighting everything too. If we’re bigger as a team, the obstacles on the road will get smaller. We just need to keep the growing concentration on a healthy scale.

Today, just to help you gain more understanding on a wider scale of finance, we prepared our brand new topic for you. We’ll start with the question Will mortgage affect my credit? and we’ll move on with the necessary details and information to be useful for you on your journey. The last topic was on mortgages, and we have seen that the demand for mortgage-related articles is rising. That’s why we decided to bring more information about mortgage-related issues. If you’re ready to get more sophisticated on this, fasten your seatbelts. Because today is the day that you’ll be freer.

Let’s first start with the question what’s mortgage forbearance? ıt’s basically a short-term suspension of payments in tough times. It can help you overcome some challenges or make your status worse depending on your rate of repayment. So here’s your short answer. Yes, it’ll affect your credit. But it’ll affect your credit more if you do not plan and calculate the necessary results wisely. That’s why today we’ll once again offer you some tips to form your plan wisely and smartly. During hard times like this pandemic, it’s more important to keep these tips in mind. Because as we said before the less calculation we make the more risks it’ll bring.

There’s one exception, which is student loans. If you had a grant before and you’d pay that grant on a scale. There’re some tips for you. You’ll find them below at the end of our article. Keep reading because it’ll bring value for all different kinds of audiences there.

There’s a difference between these terms. Forbearance and Deferment. Under the Forbearance agreement, it’s stated that it takes 12 months. In those 12 months, the lender agrees to accept reduced payments or no payments at all depending on the situation. At the end of this period, the borrower must continue regular payments with interest and possible fees. 12 months of forbearance will be added to the rest of the months as installments. Whereas in a loan deferment, payments stop for a certain number of months, when the period ends, loans continue as before without any additional interest or price difference. No repayment is required at all.

This post contains affiliate links. Please please read my Disclaimer for more information.

So how do we understand if Mortgage forbearance will be useful for my financial situation?

Actually, you can’t. Forbearance is just easier to get compared to deferment. Because during times like this pandemic, most of the institutions give you the chance of applying for forbearance. Besides all you need to do is that you need to prove your financial hardship, not paying the bills might be easy proof for you in that case. But when you delay your spendings please don’t forget that interest will be added to them when you start your program once again. That’s why adding this into account will vastly change the equation. Also, be careful and search for possible ways to avoid foreclosure. It’s also one of the things that you might want to take into account.

All of these mentioned above will likely affect your credit rate negatively if you decide to take a mortgage forbearance. But if you’re requesting forbearance because of the coronavirus we have some good news for you. Please read the following quote well.

“As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, mortgage accounts in forbearance as a result of COVID-19 cannot be reported negatively to the credit bureaus by Lenders”.

Now you know the good news. If your jobs are affected by the pandemic, then you can get forbearance without getting any negative rate from the institutions. All you need to do from now on is to prove that you’re affected by the pandemic negatively.

However, without an agreement, if you skip your payments or if you make partial payments, it will be considered delinquency which is even worse because delinquencies are recorded on your credit report and they’ll have a bigger negative impact on your credit score. That’s why it’s really important to calculate everything beforehand. Without calculating any possible results you’re putting more burden on yourself during your financial independence journey. But with the help of our articles, we believe that you’ll overcome these as well. Because as always we’re proud to present ourselves as the one aiming higher.

As a student you have some benefits as well, you can get 2 types of forbearance if you ask. The first one is general forbearance in which you can get reduced or suspended payments up to 12 months whereas the second one is mandatory forbearance in which if you’re enrolled in some kind of service-related work as we mentioned before, you can get even deferment. It’s worth further investigating these topics if you ask me.

Conclusion

Finishing our words once again we are proud of the fact that we did not exclude any group or community giving this valuable information. We tried our best to help you all with these financial tips and advice. We hope that you’ll use these pieces of information for the good of the public as well. Starting from students to those in debt and need. We once again enlightened some crucial aspects for you in our brand new article. We hope that you can overcome challenges on the road and join our long-term vision. Because we still have challenges to overcome and problems to solve on the road. Since we have the necessary passion for it. See you soon.

“If you have any feedback about will mortgage forbearance affect my credit that you have tried out or any questions about the ones that I have recommended, please leave your comments below!”

NB: The purpose of this website is to provide a general understanding of personal finance, basic financial concepts, and information. It’s not intended to advise on tax, insurance, investment, or any product and service. Since each of us has our own unique situation, you should have all the appropriate information to understand and make the right decision to fit with your needs and your financial goals. I hope that you will succeed in building your financial future.

Mortgage

What Happens If I Lose My Job Before Closing On A Mortgage?

Losing a job temporarily or permanently in the middle of applying for a mortgage to buy or refinance a home can be a big challenge. Do not worry if you lose your job. After you get rid of the initial shock, contact the lender and explain exactly what happened. Join us because in this article we will explain what to do to solve this problem.

Depending on your circumstances, you may encounter the following:

Explaining your new employment situation to your lender requires you to tell them that the job loss is permanent or temporary. Lenders are looking for reliable income in the future.

If your employer has promised to return to work at a specific time or is committed to future plans to re-employ you at a specific time, give your employer a letter to the lender.

If the borrower’s income decreases while continuing, the loan application can continue until they can reduce their repayment ability and other instructions with that level of income. But when the borrower cannot repay at a reduced rate, he must pause until his income returns.

Unpaid people should suspend their homes until they return to work. In many cases, unemployed people without a fixed income do not qualify for a mortgage.

People who have a history of receiving unemployment incomes and do not receive a salary in some months may be able to move forward, but their condition still needs to be assessed.

If you are self-employed, lenders will check that your business is public and profitable. If your business is even temporarily closed, lenders may not approve your loan application, and your previous income statement will be of no value to them.

If your job is such that you receive a commission, you work short hours, and your salary is low, the lender may consider income instability for you and leave your loan at a low-income level.

Lenders do not usually change your income’s stability, but they may do so if they see that your income is declining.

If your income is not suitable for your home, you should reject your purchase agreement. Then you can find another home that fits your new budget and start the mortgage process again. You can also wait for a good financial return.

In such a situation, the best thing you can do is:

Inform your lender quickly and then suggest options for closing your plan. If you lose your job after a loan is approved, take the necessary steps. The bottom line is that your lender cannot be closed unless you provide another source of income. Losing a job does not necessarily mean you can’t buy a home, but you can do the following to make it happen:

· Have a good credit history:

After losing your job, you need to have a good credit score or at least maintain a credit score that best meets your lender’s needs. Delayed payments and lost payments can lower your score, which can discourage the lender from approving the mortgage.

· Explain the reason for losing your job:

If you lose your job for any reason, you can still buy the property, but your lender may delay closing. If you have temporarily lost your job, your lender may not cancel the loan immediately because you can return to work before your plan closes. But if you are still unemployed near the closing date, the bank will probably cancel the loan. If you have lost your job permanently, your lender has no choice but to cancel the mortgage.

· Looking for a new job:

If you are lucky and can find a new job, you can save to repay the loan. It is good to know that the borrower must be at work at least 30 days before closing. Also, your new job should be in the same field as your previous job, and your new income should remain almost constant or increase. The lender will request your recent payslip and confirm the job with your new employer.

This post contains affiliate links. Please please read my Disclaimer for more information.

· Ask the lender to recalculate your income:

You can have several sources of income to get a mortgage. So if you have lost your job and have no income, you can use other income sources to qualify for a loan. These income sources can include alimony payments, child support payments, disability income, and retirement income. But keep in mind that payments must continue for at least three years after closing.

· Get fewer mortgages:

If the lender recalculates your income, it is still less than the original amount; In such a situation, it is better to cancel your original purchase and look for a cheaper property. You can also continue shopping and pay more in advance. Depending on your circumstances, check which of the above methods is right for you.

You can use gift funds for prepayment. Many lenders allow you to use gift funds for your down payment and closing costs. To do this, the lender needs information about the donor, including their relationship with you, the amount of the gift, and a letter of inability to repay.

· Find a borrower for your loan:

Another way is to get a custom mortgage. This person can be a member of your family who has a stable financial position and can meet the lender’s minimum credit score requirement.

But before doing so, you need to be aware of both the risks associated with getting a loan because both you and the person are responsible for repaying the loan.

Conclusion

An unexpected life event, such as a sudden change of job, can happen to anyone at any time. Losing your job after getting mortgage approval can be a problem for you. It may take weeks, months, or even longer find a new job. In such cases, it is possible for your lender to cancel your loan. But if you lose your job, you should talk to your lender as soon as possible. In this article, we provided methods to solve this problem. We hope you find this article useful.

“If you have any feedback about what happens if I lose my job before closing on a mortgage that you have tried out or any questions about the ones that I have recommended, please leave your comments below!”

NB: The purpose of this website is to provide a general understanding of personal finance, basic financial concepts, and information. It’s not intended to advise on tax, insurance, investment, or any product and service. Since each of us has our own unique situation, you should have all the appropriate information to understand and make the right decision to fit with your needs and your financial goals. I hope that you will succeed in building your financial future.