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Money Management

Should You Declare Bankruptcy? Here’s How to Decide

By Money Management No Comments

Deciding on bankruptcy is tough, but declaring bankruptcy can be a financial lifeline. Learn how to assess your situation here. [[{“value”:”

Image source: Getty Images

I used to be a bankruptcy lawyer, and I was often asked whether someone should file for bankruptcy. And even today, when people struggle to manage their budgets, it’s a question I still get from people who know of my previous expertise. And if you’re wondering about this, too, you’re not alone; almost 400,000 Americans filed bankruptcy in the last year of available stats (2022).

In all likelihood, if you’re like my former clients, you probably think of bankruptcy as the big, bad monster of your money movie. But what you should know is that, in reality, the bankruptcy monster is more like Sully in Monsters, Inc. rather than a Xenomorph in Alien.

Here’s why: Most areas of the law are about revenge. Criminal law is about putting people in jail, lawsuits are about extracting money. Even parking tickets are a form of punishment.

But not bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is about forgiveness. It’s about forgiving (most of) your debts and helping you get a fresh start.

Different, right? So, if you’re in financial trouble and are wondering if bankruptcy is right for you, let’s look and see.

Step 1: Assess your financial situation

Before considering bankruptcy, you obviously need to take a close look at your financial situation. Are you overwhelmed by debt due to unforeseen circumstances like losing a job, going through a divorce, or incurring medical expenses? If you’re finding it impossible to keep up with payments, bankruptcy might be a good option.

That said, you might want to first consider other options, such as negotiating with your creditors, exploring debt consolidation loans, or counseling with a nonprofit organization.

Step 2: Understand the different types of bankruptcy

There are three primary types of bankruptcy, but only two apply to consumers (Chapter 11 is for corporations).

Chapter 7 bankruptcy

This is the most favorable option if you qualify. With a Chapter 7, your unsecured debts — like credit card and medical debt — are completely wiped out. Secured debts, like car and home loans, can either be retained and re-upped or given back to the lender without paying any more.

The trick with Chapter 7 is that there is a limit on how much you can own and still qualify. It depends on your state, but for example, in Oregon, married homeowners can only protect up to $50,000 in home equity. If you own more than that, you would have to sell your home and let the bankruptcy trustee use the extra equity to repay your creditors.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy

This is a repayment plan spread over three to five years, where you pay back a portion of your debts based on your income. Unfortunately, many people struggle to complete their Chapter 13 plans because the repayment terms can be challenging.

But the good news here is that you can protect 100% of your home equity. If you don’t qualify for Chapter 7, this is often the next step.

Step 3: Determine if bankruptcy is right for you

Bankruptcy isn’t a solution for everyone. To decide if it is the right path for you, consider the following.

Debt relief

Can you eliminate enough debt through bankruptcy to justify the impact on your credit? Chapter 7 offers significant relief, but is sometimes harder to qualify for. Chapter 13 may help you manage your debt, but it’s a longer process with a lower success rate.

Asset protection

What assets are you willing to lose? Chapter 7 sometimes involves liquidating some assets, while Chapter 13 allows you to keep most assets while repaying creditors at least a portion of what you owe.

Future credit

How important is your credit score? Bankruptcy will whack your credit, but Chapter 7 may allow you to start rebuilding relatively quickly, while Chapter 13 will have longer-term effects. You could have a decent credit score (above 700) within two years after a Chapter 7.

Step 4: Consult a bankruptcy attorney

Given the complexities of bankruptcy laws, it’s crucial to consult with a bankruptcy attorney. They can help you understand whether you qualify for Chapter 7 or if Chapter 13 is more appropriate for your situation.

An attorney can also guide you through the process, ensuring that you meet all legal requirements and helping you create a plan that maximizes your chances of a successful outcome.

Step 5: Make your decision

Once you have thoroughly assessed your financial situation, understood the pros and cons of the bankruptcy options available, and consulted with a lawyer, it’s time to decide.

Bankruptcy is a serious step, but it can provide the relief you need to start over and rebuild your financial life. And if it works, who knows? Maybe you’ll be like my old clients who wrote me thank-you notes afterwards for helping relieve them of their stress.

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Want to Use Your 401(k) to Pay Off Your Mortgage? Think Again

By Money Management No Comments

Paying off your mortgage with retirement funds sounds logical, but it may be the worst possible move. Take a look at why. [[{“value”:”

Image source: Getty Images

The closer my husband gets to retirement, the more time I spend working on a post-retirement budget. I cannot tell you how much it bugs me that we’ll go into his retirement with a mortgage payment.

Last week, it occurred to me that we’ll have enough put away in our retirement accounts to pay the mortgage off once he’s put away his briefcase for the last time. I spent last weekend researching the idea and am now convinced that pulling money from retirement funds to pay off our mortgage is a terrible idea. Here’s why.

The tax bite would be too painful

Let’s say someone used their 401(k) to pay off their mortgage. If they were under age 59 1/2 when they made the withdrawal, they’re automatically hit with a 10% penalty.

They also had to pay Uncle Sam his share because they didn’t pay taxes on the funds when they contributed to the account. That means paying federal taxes on the amount they withdrew. And if they live in one of the 43 states that levy a state tax, they’ll also owe the state.

Withdrawing funds from a 401(k) to pay off a mortgage after age 59 1/2 means no 10% penalty. However, since the amount withdrawn must be added to regular annual income, you can still count on getting hit with any state and federal taxes due.

Years of missed interest

Suppose someone has $500,000 in their 401(k) and withdraws $150,000 to pay off their mortgage. Here’s what that would mean for them:

They’re taxed on the money as though it’s part of their regular income.Depending on their age, they may also be responsible for a 10% penalty.Instead of $500,000 growing in their account, they’re down to $350,000 ($500,000 − $150,000).If the annual return in their investment account averages 7%, they miss out on the money they could have earned on the $150,000. Over 10 years, that means losing out on a little more than $145,000 in earnings.

The younger a person is when they withdraw money, the higher the odds are that the missed returns will be larger than the original sum they took out to pay off the mortgage.

Other options

I understand the desire to own a home free and clear, and I would love it if that were the case for us. However, raiding our retirement account is not the only option. Here are some others.

Pay more than required each month

Putting extra money toward the loan principal each month shortens the time it takes to pay your mortgage off and saves a bundle in interest.

Let’s say a person owes $400,000 on a 30-year mortgage. Their interest rate is 5.5%. By paying $200 extra each month, they shorten the time it takes to pay the loan off by 5 years and 3 months. And because they paid the loan off sooner, they saved $85,713 in interest.

Refinance to a shorter term

Normally, refinancing a mortgage to a shorter term means scoring a lower interest rate, but for the sake of this illustration, let’s say that the rate remains at 5.5%. A 30-year mortgage on $400,000 results in a monthly payment of $2,271 (principal and interest only).

Shortening the term to 15 years means the payment jumps by $997 to $3,268. However, the loan is paid off in half the time, saving $229,314 in interest payments.

Make biweekly payments

Paying one-half a mortgage payment every two weeks means you pay one extra payment a year (52 weeks ÷ biweekly payments = 26 half-payments). When you make a single monthly payment, you end the year with 12 whole payments. When you make 26 half-payments a year, you end the year with 13 whole payments.

That extra payment makes a difference. Biweekly payments on a $400,000 loan at 5.5% results in paying the loan off in 25 years instead of 30 and saving $80,718 in interest.

Recast your mortgage

If mortgage interest rates drop between now and my husband’s retirement, we plan to refinance at a lower rate. Even if they don’t drop, we like the idea of recasting the loan shortly before he retires.

Recasting a mortgage is less expensive and less of a hassle than refinancing. It would require us to make one large, lump-sum payment. For example, if we owed $300,000 on the mortgage at the time, we might pay $100,000.

At that point, the lender would adjust our loan balance to $200,000 and refigure our monthly payment based on the new, lower balance. We would keep our current interest rate, but our monthly payments would drop due to the lower balance.

You can also mix and match. For example, you can make biweekly payments and pay a little extra toward the principal. The good news is there are options that don’t involve raiding your 401(k).

Ideally, we’d all enter retirement with no debt. If, like me, that may not be a reality for you, it might be OK. Make it a goal to eliminate any other debt. Once you work your post-retirement budget, you may find that a mortgage payment fits just fine — especially if it’s the only debt you carry.

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How to Turn Your Hobby Into a Profitable Small Business

By Money Management No Comments

You can help turn your hobby into a profitable business by following some proven steps. Here’s how starting small and testing can help ensure your success. [[{“value”:”

Image source: Getty Images

So, you have a hobby, a passion that you love, and maybe you are thinking, “I would love to turn this into a side hustle, or even better, my own, real small business that will earn real money.”

After all, everyone else seems to be doing that these days, right? And yes, if you are thinking that, you are right. According to DollarSprout, almost 70% of all adults now have some sort of side business these days.

And, while that sort of enthusiasm is good and important, it is not nearly enough. To take a hobby and turn it into a viable, profitable small business requires following a certain, well-trod path.

What path is that?

Glad you asked! Read on for the steps.

1. Do your homework and make sure it is actually a viable idea

One of the biggest mistakes new entrepreneurs make is that they don’t vet their “great idea.” You see this on the TV show Shark Tank sometimes; those entrepreneurs sink a ton of money into an idea or product that they are convinced is needed, but, as the Sharks explain, is actually something no one wants and/or will pay money for.

We don’t want to be like those people.

So, long before jumping in, research your idea thoroughly. Are there other people who are successfully selling similar products or services? If so, that is a good sign — it shows there is a market for your proposed business.

While there is a time to be an innovator and leader, this is not that time. Get your feet wet first. Learn the ropes of entrepreneurship. Then, next time, you can innovate.

Next, evaluate the market and the competition. Conduct surveys and even talk to potential customers. The key is to validate your idea by ensuring there is a real market need for what it is you want to sell.

2. Test

Along the same vein, instead of going all-in, start by testing your idea. Try offering your product or service to a limited audience, perhaps at a local market or online through platforms like Etsy or eBay. What we are trying to do here is two-fold:

We want to minimize your risk, andWe want to make sure you have a winner of an idea

You do that by testing, seeing what works, seeing what doesn’t, pivoting, and then, and only then, getting ready to launch. By gathering feedback and making necessary improvements, you avoid risking significant time or money in a plan that doesn’t have legs.

3. Handle the nuts and bolts

Once you have validated your idea, it is time to set up the business’s infrastructure. You need to register your business name with your state and city, get the proper licenses or permits, open up a bank account in the name of the business, set up an accounting system, and decide on a legal structure (like an LLC or sole proprietorship).

These steps are crucial to forming a legit small business and protecting your assets.

4. Start small

It’s tempting to go big from the start — launch a website, hire designers, spend a lot on advertising, and so on. But resist that urge.

Instead, work to keep your overhead low by using free or low-cost tools and services. Use social media to promote your new business, create a simple website using free or affordable platforms, and rely on word-of-mouth marketing.

5. Go for low-hanging fruit first

When just starting, aim for easy wins. You can do that by focusing on low-hanging fruit — meaning, customers who are most likely to buy from you. These first customers are invaluable; they not only provide much needed revenue, but also can offer valuable feedback and testimonials that will help you attract more clients.

So go ahead, tap into your existing network of friends and family, target a niche market that aligns with your hobby, and start selling!

6. Be adaptable and keep learning

Your business should evolve as you learn more about your market and customers. The key then, especially early on, is to stay adaptable and be ready to pivot or tweak your offerings based on feedback and results.

Becoming an entrepreneur is fun and exciting, but what is even better is becoming a successful one. You do that by starting slow and small, learning your business, and then going for it. Good luck!

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
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There’s Finally a Costco in Your City. Time for a Membership?

By Money Management No Comments

Did a new Costco club open in your neighborhood? A Costco membership could provide significant savings. Here’s what to consider before becoming a member. [[{“value”:”

Image source: Upsplash/The Motley Fool

Costco is a popular warehouse club with nearly 900 locations worldwide. The company continues to expand, with new stores opening all the time. If a new club recently opened in your city, you may be wondering whether it’s time to spring for an annual membership.

A Costco membership can be a worthwhile investment. The retailer’s members-only discounts allow shoppers to keep more money in their checking accounts. Here’s what you need to know before you become a Costco member.

You must pay a membership fee to join Costco

Costco isn’t a typical retailer like your local grocery store. It’s a members-only retailer, meaning you need a membership card to access all of the deals inside the clubs. You can shop at Costco.com without a membership, but you must pay a 5% surcharge. If you want to shop in-club, you need an active membership.

Costco offers a Gold Star membership for $60 per year and an Executive membership for $120 annually.

However, the retailer recently announced it would hike membership prices on Sept. 1, 2024. At that time, a Gold Star membership will cost $65 and an Executive membership will cost $130.

Here are the differences between the two memberships.

Gold Star

Costco’s Gold Star membership is perfect for shoppers who want to save money when buying everyday goods. With this membership, you can shop in-club and online to access the members-only deals. You may want to start with this membership if you’re new to Costco.

Executive

If you prefer to get more perks and earn rewards, an Executive membership may be right for you. This membership includes added benefits, like discounts when ordering checks and additional travel perks when booking eligible travel packages through Costco Travel.

But that’s not all. You can also earn 2% rewards when making eligible Costco purchases. Through August 2024, Executive members can earn a maximum of $1,000 in rewards annually, but starting in September 2024, the maximum rewards cap will increase to $1,250 per year.

This may be an ideal membership choice if you want to earn rewards when buying groceries, household goods, Costco Travel bookings, and more. To determine if you can get value from an Executive membership, decide whether you’re likely to spend at least $3,250 at Costco annually. If you spend this much, you’d earn $65 in rewards, which is the difference in price between the Gold Star and Executive membership prices as of Sept. 1, 2024.

Do this before joining

Is a Costco membership right for you? While many shoppers benefit from a warehouse club membership, not all do. It’s a good idea to review the products and services available on the retailer’s website to see if the items you typically buy are available.

Another option is to go to the club with a friend or family member the next time you shop to see what’s available. Members can bring two guests when they shop. Only members can shop in-club, but this could be an excellent way to learn more about Costco.

Finally, review your finances. It’s never a good idea to pay for a membership if you can’t afford it. Ensure you can afford the yearly membership fee before you invest in a Costco membership card.

If you have debt, focus on eliminating it before taking on additional expenses. If you need guidance while on your debt-payoff journey, consider using one of the best debt payoff apps.

Still unsure whether a membership is right for you? Keep in mind that Costco offers a risk-free guarantee on its memberships. If you’re not satisfied, you can get a refund. This guarantee can give you confidence when trying out a membership.

Here’s how to maximize your savings

Do you like earning rewards when you shop? You can earn rewards when you swipe your credit card at checkout. Our best strategy to save money at Costco is to use a credit card that earns rewards to pay for your purchases. Many Costco members earn credit card rewards.

You can check out our list of the best credit cards for Costco to review our top card picks. Cash back rewards can help you maximize your savings when shopping for everyday essentials. Every dollar you save or earn through rewards is a win for your wallet.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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3 Little-Known Ways to Avoid Taxes on CDs

By Money Management No Comments

Normally, CD interest is taxable on state and federal levels. But if you hold a CD in one of these accounts, see how you could avoid paying taxes on interest. [[{“value”:”

Image source: The Motley Fool

The day has arrived: Your money is finally coming home. Your certificate of deposit (CD) is maturing, and now your interest, plus your deposit, is once more in your control. It’s a day you’ve been awaiting for, how long again? Three months, six months, two years?

It’s a great feeling to have all that CD interest land in your hands at once. The only thing that would make this moment better is if you didn’t have to pay taxes on your CD earnings.

Like high-yield savings accounts, CD interest above $10 is taxable on state and federal levels. Depending on your tax rate, that could cut out a sizable portion of your earnings. But not all CD holders will pay taxes on their interest. If you hold your CD in certain tax-advantaged accounts, you can avoid taxes altogether. Here are three options to consider.

1. Health savings account (HSA)

HSAs are tax-advantaged accounts that let you save and invest for medical expenses. Most HSAs give you plenty of options to invest your contributions, such as stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. Likewise, CDs are usually among this mix.

Like bank CDs, HSA CDs can give you a fixed interest rate for guaranteed returns. But whereas interest on a bank CD is considered taxable income, interest earned in an HSA isn’t taxed — so long as you use the funds for medical expenses.

That last part is important. You can withdraw HSA money at any time. But if it’s not used for a qualified medical expense, you’ll pay a penalty tax. As long as you obey that stipulation, opening a CD in an HSA would bypass paying federal and state taxes on your interest.

2. Retirement accounts

You can avoid paying taxes on interest now by opening a CD in a tax-advantaged retirement account, like an individual retirement account (IRA) or 401(k).

Technically, you’re not avoiding CD taxes in these accounts; rather, you’re deferring them. Both 401(k)s and traditional IRAs only levy taxes on your withdrawals in retirement. This is a smart idea when you expect your tax rate in retirement to be lower than it is now. Instead of paying at your current higher tax rate, you can defer tax liability when your bill would be lower.

One thing to note is that CDs in retirement accounts won’t be bank CDs. More than likely, they’re brokered CDs. A brokered CD doesn’t give you the option to break your contract early to make an immediate withdrawal. Instead, you have to sell the brokered CD on a secondary market, which could result in a gain (or loss).

3. 529 plans

Finally, you can avoid taxes on interest by opening a CD in a 529 plan. This account lets you save for educational expenses, like tuition or housing. As long as you use funding in this account on qualified educational expenses, you won’t have to pay taxes on your earnings.

Although these three accounts can help you avoid taxes on CD earnings, they each have their own limitations. Unlike a regular bank CD, you won’t have unlimited flexibility to use your CD earnings toward whatever you want. However, if you’re already contributing to one or more of these accounts, opening a CD might not be such a bad idea.

Just check that your CD rate can match the best CDs on our list. You still want to maximize your interest, no matter where the CD ends up.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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4 Ways Bad Credit Costs You Money

By Money Management No Comments

Bad credit is a serious financial issue. Learn about all the ways a low credit score can make your life more expensive and what to do about it. [[{“value”:”

Image source: The Motley Fool/Upsplash

Credit scores range from 300 to 850 under the most widely used FICO® Score system. Good credit starts at 670, and there are quite a few benefits that come with it. For example, your credit could help you qualify for the best credit cards with the most valuable features.

A score below 580 falls into the bad credit range. This is often where people end up if they’ve had previous credit issues, such as missed payments. When you have a low credit score, there are several ways it can cost you money.

1. You pay higher interest rates on loans

Just about every lender checks your credit score when you apply for a loan. If you have bad credit, lenders see you as a greater risk. They’ll charge you a higher interest rate, which can make a massive difference in the cost of your loan.

Let’s say you’re buying a new car with a 60-month auto loan for $40,000. Your credit score is below 580. A typical APR would be 17.795%, according to FICO’s loan savings calculator. You’d be looking at a monthly payment of $1,011 and total interest charges of $20,677 over the life of the loan.

If you have a credit score of 720 or higher, a typical APR right now would be 7.461%. That would bring your monthly payment down to $801 and the total interest down to $8,047. Overall, a higher credit score would save you $210 per month and $12,630 in total.

2. You could be charged more for home and auto insurance

Most states allow insurance companies to use your credit score when setting your premiums. Studies have found that people with lower scores make more claims, on average, so insurers charge them more.

For example, the average driver paid a total of $3,017 for auto insurance in 2023, according to research by The Motley Fool Ascent. The average driver with poor credit paid $4,145. Their credit cost them over $1,100.

Drivers with excellent credit, on the other hand, scored some serious savings. They paid $1,947 for auto insurance, saving $1,000 compared to drivers overall and paying less than half as much as drivers with poor credit.

3. You’ll have to settle for credit cards with fewer perks

With bad credit, your credit card options are limited. You can still get credit cards, since many card issuers offer credit cards specifically for people who need to rebuild their credit.

The most common option in this situation is secured credit cards, which are cards that require a refundable security deposit to open. You may need to put down $200 upfront to get a card. You can get that back later, either by closing the card or graduating to an unsecured card. But it’s still a cost you wouldn’t have with a high credit score.

Credit cards for bad credit also usually don’t have many perks, so you miss out on a lot of value. For example, with some of the top cash back cards, you can earn 2% on all your purchases. If you spend $30,000 on your credit card in a year, that’s $600 in cash back. Cards you can get with a low credit score may not earn anything back on your spending.

4. You could pay a larger security deposit when renting a home

Finding a home is harder with bad credit, whether you’re buying or renting. If you’re buying, you’ll have fewer mortgage options with bad credit, and you’ll pay a higher mortgage rate.

If you’re renting, you could have trouble getting approved for a lease. Most property management companies and landlords will check your credit when you apply. They may reject your application if you have bad credit. Or, they could require you to pay more for your security deposit, since you’re considered a higher risk.

How to fix bad credit

Bad credit is frustrating because of all the ways it affects your life, but you don’t need to deal with it forever. Here’s what you can do to repair your credit:

Make payments on delinquent accounts to get caught up. If you’re having trouble, call the creditor and ask about setting up a payment plan.Pull your credit report (you can do this for free at AnnualCreditReport.com) and dispute any errors you find.Work on paying down credit card debt. Put any extra money you have toward it to save on interest charges and improve your credit score.Pay credit cards and loans on time every month.Use a free credit monitoring service online to track your credit score and for recommendations on how to improve it. Many credit card companies offer these services for their cardholders.

If you follow those tips, you could be surprised by how quickly your credit score improves. While everyone’s situation is different, most start seeing progress within six months to a year.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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