by Amanda O'Brien | Accounting News, Credit Card Debt, Debt, Financial goals, News, Newsletter, Retirement Savings
Recent surveys reveal that Americans spend hours each week thinking about their finances. Rising prices, mounting debt, and uncertainty about the future all contribute to financial stress. Add in steep housing costs, concerns over tariffs raising the price of goods, and lingering worries about retirement savings, and it’s no surprise that, according to a Bankrate survey conducted earlier this year, more than 43% of Americans say money negatively affects their mental health. In this article, we discuss what’s driving financial worries and offer strategies to boost financial security.
The Pressure of Rising Costs
Inflation continues to affect nearly every aspect of daily life. Food prices have increased more than 20% over the past three years, straining household budgets. And home prices and mortgage rates remain high. This puts a big question mark on home ownership for the younger generations. In fact, according to NAR (National Association of REALTORS) data, the number of first-time home buyers—typically led by younger Americans—dropped to 1.14 million in 2024. That’s the lowest level on record since the NAR started tracking first-time buyers in 1989. Renters face struggles as well, with average rents increasing more than 25% since 2019.
Tariffs also play a role in pushing prices higher, which trickles down to consumers. For small businesses and households alike, higher costs on goods and materials add to financial pressure.
Debt and Retirement Worries
Credit card debt has been on an upward trend since 2021. The rising costs of necessities like housing, groceries, and gas have pushed many Americans to reach for credit cards just to make ends meet.
At the same time, Americans are concerned about their financial futures in retirement due to a lack of savings, market volatility, and uncertainty surrounding Social Security. A 2024 Bankrate survey discovered that 57% of Americans worry they are falling behind on building an adequate nest egg.
What Helps Ease Financial Stress
Three main factors that contribute to easing concerns about money are: higher income, reduced debt, and broader economic improvements. For example, when inflation cools and wages go up, people are better prepared to plan and save.
Younger Americans, in particular, worry about job security, with layoffs and limited career opportunities top concerns. A strong labor market creates stability and more spending power. When jobs are steady and paychecks grow, people feel more secure about their money. That confidence shows up in how they spend, save, and invest, and it gives the economy an extra boost.
Practical Solutions
While we can’t control factors like inflation, tariffs, or the broader economy, there are steps to take to get back on the right path. Here are some ways to improve financial stress:
- Build a budget. Tracking income and expenses provides a clear picture of where money is going and helps pinpoint areas to cut back.
- Start an emergency fund. Even starting with a small cushion of $500–$1,000 can ease stress and help prevent the need to rely on high-interest credit cards when financial emergencies happen.
- Focus on paying down high-interest debt. Prioritize credit cards and personal loans first. Knocking out those high-interest balances frees up money in your budget and helps create financial security.
- Increase retirement contributions gradually. Setting up automatic transfers into a 401(k) or IRA, even starting with 1–2% of income, helps build long-term savings.
- Seek advice and guidance. It’s no secret that many Americans are facing financial insecurity right now, but the good news is that there are plenty of trusted voices and perspectives to lean on. Seek out free tools and workshops that can help with decisions and planning, which you can find through many employers, banks, and community organizations. And don’t discount reading articles and newsletters, listening to podcasts, and following social media accounts of reliable sources. These can all improve financial literacy and help you make informed moves with your money.
Inflation, housing affordability, and rising debt continue to weigh on Americans’ minds, but the information and strategies above can help ease worries and create a path to financial stability.
by Jean Miller | Accounting News, Credit Card Debt, Debt, Financial goals, News, Retirement Savings
Saving for retirement should be a critical component of any financial plan, but it can be challenging if you’re also working toward debt repayment. The good news is that it’s possible to do both at the same time. The key is to be consistent and disciplined, and in time you’ll see the benefits of your efforts. Read on for strategies you can use to save for retirement while tackling debt.
Prioritize High-Interest Debt
High-interest debt, such as credit card debt, can quickly accumulate interest and make paying it off even more challenging. By addressing this debt first, you can reduce the amount of interest you’ll pay over time. The amount of money you’ll rescue from credit card interest can be applied to remaining debt payments. Once your highest interest debt is paid off, move onto the debt with the next highest interest rate. This is known as the avalanche method of paying off debt.
Build an Emergency Fund
Establishing an emergency fund will help you cover unexpected expenses without having to rely on credit cards and thereby adding to your debt. Aim to save at least three months’ worth of living expenses in your emergency fund before you start allocating more funds toward retirement savings.
Increase Your Cash Flow
Increasing your monthly cash flow will provide you with more cushion in your budget to save for your emergency fund, meet your debt repayment plan, and save for retirement. In order to increase your cash reserves, think about requesting a raise, making a career change, or taking on a side hustle.
Consider a Balanced Approach
A balanced approach involves allotting a portion of your income toward paying off debt and a portion toward saving for retirement. You’ll need to decide what percentage of your income should go toward each goal, but this approach can help make progress toward both debt repayment and retirement savings without neglecting one for the other.
Cut Expenses and Establish a Budget
If you’re struggling with debt and saving for retirement, it’s probably time to take a closer examination at your income and expenses. Where is your money going each month? What can you do to build better financial habits? Look for areas where you can cut back, such as dining out, shopping, and entertainment. Even small slashes in costs can have an impact on your finances. When you begin to pay attention to where your money is actually going, you can make informed decisions that will help you redirect more funds toward your savings goals.
Automate Savings
Automating savings is an ideal way to ensure that you’re on track to meet your retirement goals. If your employer offers a retirement plan that allows you to contribute a percentage of your paycheck toward retirement savings, be sure you’re taking advantage of it. You can also set up automatic transfers from your checking account to a retirement savings account like an IRA. Automating savings is a set-it-and-forget-it approach that provides consistent progress in saving for retirement.
by Jean Miller | Accounting News, Budget, News
With record high inflation and rising interest rates, an economic recession has been the subject of many conversations lately. Now with two consecutive quarters of a drop in GDP (gross domestic product)—the benchmark many economists use to gauge a recession—the possibility of a serious economic downturn isn’t just fodder for conversation anymore. It’s time to get serious about protecting your finances for a recession. Here’s how you can make sure you’re prepared.
Build Up Your Emergency Fund
It’s widely recommended to have enough savings to cover three to six months of living expenses. The specific amount will depend on your circumstances. For instance, in today’s uncertain economy, you might feel it worthwhile to aim for more than six months. It might seem daunting, but don’t undervalue the effectiveness of small contributions on a regular basis. You can also think about automating your savings contributions for a set-it-and-forget-it approach. Whichever way you go about it, consistent contributions to an emergency fund help to build positive saving habits that will carry into the future.
Pay Down Credit Card Debt
Focus on paying down any high-interest debt. Not only will this help you be more prepared should you get laid off during a recession, but credit card APRs are rising in response to the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes. Knocking out debt could free up critical breathing room in your budget that you could use to boost your emergency fund.
Identify Ways to Reduce Expenses
Start looking at all the ways you spend money, and identify ways you can scale back on discretionary spending (services or items that aren’t necessities—vacations, dining out, cable, spa treatments, etc.). Typically, the guidance is to spend no more than 30 percent of your net income on discretionary purchases. Think about creating a monthly budget in order to stick to this guideline and ensure you’re not overspending.
Stay Invested
It’s tempting when the market is as volatile as it’s been recently to think about cutting back on 401(k) contributions or selling stock investments. Keep in mind, however, that you’re investing for the long term. Stocks rise and fall all the time, and history has proven that bull markets (rising market conditions) last longer than bear markets (falling market conditions).
Rebalance Your Portfolio
While you want to stay invested for the duration of a recession, you might consider rebalancing your investments. Depending on your age, risk tolerance, and investment goals, it may make sense to shift more investments into growth funds, which could potentially experience greater gains when the market rebounds. Be sure to keep in mind that money needed in the short term should not be allocated to these funds as they are high risk.
by Jean Miller | COVID-19, Credit Card Debt, Debt, News
For the greater part of 2020, millions of Americans have faced furloughs and layoffs, subsequently relying on credit cards to keep their heads above water. Here’s how to get out from under those ballooning balances.
The Coronavirus Effect on Debt
When the stimulus checks were dispersed last spring, millions of citizens used those relief funds to pay down debt. However, a number of Americans who’ve been laid off or have had hours cut this year don’t have a financial safety net, so they’ve had to fall back on credit cards. Add to this the number of Americans who lost jobs with employer-sponsored health insurance and are now dealing with unpaid medical bills because of the pandemic, and it’s no wonder why so many Americans are struggling under the weight of debt now more than ever.
Strategies to Pay Down Credit Card Debt
If you’ve had to rely on credit cards this year, steps you can take to diminish your balance include:
Communicate with Creditors
At the start of the pandemic many credit card companies began advertising COVID-related assistance programs. Some of these have since expired, but it’s still worth looking into with each credit card company. You will most likely have to prove that you’re experiencing hardship, but most companies are willing to provide at least some short-term measures of relief, such as flexible payments or a lower interest rate.
Request a Lower Interest Rate
Credit card companies are unlikely to reduce APRs by a lot, but every little bit helps. And if you’ve improved your credit score, you have a greater chance of securing a lower rate.
Transfer Balances
By transferring the balance on a high-interest credit card to one with a low or 0% introductory interest rate, you can slash the overall interest you’ll pay on your debt. Just be sure to pay down the balance during the duration of the rate decrease, or you risk landing right where you started—a high balance coupled with a high interest rate.
Pay Off High Interest Credit Cards
If you need to pay off debt on more than one credit card, there are two conventional approaches to do it effectively.
The first is called the debt snowball, which involves paying off the card with the smallest balance first. Once that card is paid off, apply that monthly payment to the monthly payment of the card with the next highest balance. Each payoff builds momentum until you work your way to paying off the card with the largest balance.
The second strategy for paying off credit cards is called the avalanche method, which aims to tackle debts on the cards with the highest interest rates first. While the debt snowball can provide bite-sized mental victories, this method helps to better curtail interest payments over the life of your credit card debt.
by Jean Miller | Accounting News, COVID-19, News, Tax Planning - Individual
The COVID-19 virus has spread unease and fear in 2020, and not just from a health standpoint. With millions of Americans out of work and small businesses forced to close shop due to the pandemic, financial fears have pushed front and center over the past few months. This article will address a common financial fear as of late: How to ride out this storm while keeping your credit score as stable as possible.
Check Credit Score Regularly
You should already be regularly monitoring your credit report during the best of times, but it’s especially important to do so during this tumultuous season in order to spot possible mistakes before they have a chance to negatively affect your credit score. Contact the creditor immediately if you do catch a mistake. Recent mistakes can typically be rectified with minimal headache while ones that sit on your credit report longer can take longer to get resolved. With COVID scams happening and many Americans’ income in flux, it’s good practice for the time being to check your credit reports monthly. In fact, the three national credit reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, and Transunion—are offering free weekly credit reports until April of next year. You can access your reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Make On-Time Payments or Contact the Creditor
When possible, continue to make on-time payments, even if it’s just the minimum amount due, through the pandemic. A positive payment history is a major step in ensuring that your credit score stays the course. However, if your income has been affected and emergency savings accounts have been drained, this might not be possible. If this is the case, the best course of action is to contact the lender or creditor as soon as possible as they may have workable payment options available to help you get through this time. Proactive and early communication is paramount. Be prepared to discuss how much you can afford to pay and when you expect to resume regular payments.
Consider a Balance Transfer
You may have found over the past few months that you’ve needed to rely more on credit cards while simultaneously being unable to pay them off each month. If so, now might be a good time to explore a balance transfer where your debt would be transferred to a card that offers a lower interest rate on that balance and may reduce your monthly payment. The low-interest rates are typically temporary, but the payment reduction from lower-interest rate cards can at least help to keep your credit card debt from escalating out of control until you can get back on your feet.
Budget and Make a Plan / Prioritize Payments / Revisit Budget
This crisis is affecting almost everyone, whether you’ve lost your job, you’ve experienced a reduction in work hours, or you’re anxious about the economic fallout of the pandemic, so there’s no better time to rework your budget following these steps:
- Assessing any take-home income.
- Examine your financial commitments and variable spending
- Determine where you can cut back, even temporarily
Taking steps to free up more money in your budget helps to decrease financial stress, which allows you to focus on the most necessary financial commitments while better positioning yourself to protect your credit. If needed, that money can be used for essential expenses, like food and bills, but if you’re in a better position, you can sock away some of it in an emergency savings account for future use.
