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It’s Time for Your 2023 Fall Financial Checkup

Written by:
Financial Literacy Specialist

8 Financial things to do before the end of the year

The weather is getting cooler but prices on consumer goods are still red hot due to inflation. Now is the time to check in on your finances and prepare for the upcoming holiday season.

Couple looks forward in fall

If after going through this checklist you realize that you’re having trouble balancing your budget, call (844) 276-1544 for a free debt and budget evaluation from a certified credit counselor.

1. Review your credit report

Checking your credit reports is always a good idea. It’s not uncommon for consumer credit reports to contain errors that can damage a person’s credit score. Start by getting free copies of the three major credit companies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each bureau may have different information than the other, so read through each report carefully.

You’ll want to review basic information and that it’s correct, verify that all accounts listed under your name are actually yours, and scrutinize the account status of those accounts. For instance, if you’ve used deferment or forbearance on loans and credit cards, make sure your accounts are current. Credit issuers are not allowed to report deferred payments as missed, but mistakes can happen.

If you find any mistakes, file a dispute immediately. For information on how to dispute mistakes on your credit report, click here.  

2. Check your credit card balances

The holiday shopping season is the most expensive time of year for most Americans. The average person spends almost $1,000 and much of that expense ends up on credit cards.

To minimize the likelihood of taking on expensive debt and incurring interest or other penalty charges, it’s best to go into the holiday season with your balances as low as possible. Review both your credit card balances and your interest rates. Consolidated Credit’s credit card debt worksheet can help you collect the details on your account and see them in a snapshot.

If you are carrying balances across multiple cards, make a plan to reduce your debt as much as possible now. That will give you more breathing room in case you use your credit cards to make travel reservations or holiday purchases in the coming months.

3. Refresh your budget

Expenses can change throughout the year, especially in the fall when most kids are headed back to school. As you look at your budget numbers, consider the following:

  1. Are there any expenses you can cut or cut back on so you can free up more money for holiday spending?
  2. Are there things you’re paying for that you don’t use, such as subscription services that you’ve already binged your way through?
  3. Are you able to dedicate money to saving consistently, so you can continue building your emergency fund?

4. Get a handle on housing costs

The general rule of thumb is that housing costs should be more than a third of your monthly budget, but that’s becoming increasingly hard to manage. Housing has become one of the largest chunks of people’s budgets. Homebuyers are staring record high home prices in the eye; homeowners are dealing with unheard-of increases in property tax and insurance rates; renters are also seeing skyrocketing prices and availability diminish.

Whether you’re a homebuyer, homeowner, or a renter we’re here to help you understand the housing market and find ways to lower your costs.

If you are a homebuyer…

Purchasing a home is one of the most exciting financial milestones most people achieve in life. But it can also be one of the most challenging. But even with rising home prices and other market challenges, you can still be a successful homebuyer if you know what to do and get the right support.

Taking part in a first-time homebuyer’s program is a highly effective and inexpensive way to get the proper education you need. Learn about financing, mortgage and down payment assistance programs, and much more.

The most important thing is to make sure that your finances are in order. Speak with a HUD-certified counselor AND a mortgage loan officer before you begin your search for a new home. Doing so will give you a clear understanding of what you can afford.

If you are a homeowner…

As a homeowner, housing costs are usually fairly stable. However, with insurance rates and property taxes rising, not to mention record-high levels of inflation, many homeowners are seeing higher costs than they anticipated.

The government has introduced several programs, such as the Homeowners Assistance Fund, to help people get back on their feet and help to catch up with past-due payments. Recently the U.S. Department of Treasury has updated the guidance mandates to provide additional information on the reimbursement of certain qualified expenses. Make sure to take note of any changes as they could have a big impact on the funds available.

The best way to get informed is to talk to a HUD-certified housing counselor to receive housing stability counseling. Housing stability counseling is free, so if creditors are knocking on your door, make sure you know your options. 

If you are a renter…

Traditionally, renting has been seen as the cheaper alternative to buying a home, with less responsibility and shorter commitments. The upward costs associated with owning a home have made renting seem even more attractive over two decades past.

But that doesn’t mean renting is cheap by any means, and rental costs have sky-rocketed in many places over the past few years. The average cost of a one-bedroom rental has risen 39% in the last year alone. Coupled with the fact that 16% of low-income renters can’t afford to make their full monthly payments, housing stability is becoming harder and harder.

Rental counseling can be a valuable resource. If you need assistance do not hesitate to reach out for help. We can connect you with counselors that are HUD-certified and will work with you to assess your financial situation, create a personalized budget, and much more.

5. Start planning for federal student loan payments

Federal student loans have been in deferment and interest charges have been suspended for over two years, but that reprieve is over. However, student loan payments are resuming October 2023.

If you are worried you won’t be able to make your payments once they start, don’t wait to talk to your loan servicers. Ask about enrolling in an income-based repayment plan, which will match your payments to your income. This can mean you may pay nothing and avoid penalties if you are unemployed or underemployed.

6. Check in on your retirement savings

The stock market volatility caused by inflation meant a lot of people’s retirement savings took a hit. You may have taken funds out of retirement savings to get through the challenges of this year. If so, you want to set a plan to pay those funds back into your retirement accounts as soon as possible.

Keep in mind that taking funds out of a retirement account means you also lost the growth on that money. So, if possible, you may want to up your contributions.

Even if you didn’t withdraw any of your retirement funds, check in on your balances to see if you’re on track. If you haven’t used your free consultation with your plan advisor yet this year, schedule an appointment to meet with them before the end of the year. That way, you can talk about a strategy for allocating your funds the right way.

7. See where you stand on your financial goals

Remember all those great financial resolutions that you had at the beginning of the year? Now is the time to check in on them. The economic uncertainty over the past nine months may have gotten you off track, but there’s still time to catch up. Look back at what you had planned for your finances this year. If you haven’t made progress, now is the time to recommit to what you want to achieve.

If you didn’t have any financial goals set for this year, then get started now. Do you want to buy a house or a car next year? Will you have another major purchase in 2023? Then it’s time to start saving. If you want to improve your credit, download a free credit monitoring app and start tracking your score.

8. Make sure your family and your assets are protected

Insurance is more crucial now than it’s ever been. You need to make sure you have adequate health insurance in case something happens. You also need to make sure you have adequate life insurance.

And, with all the storms raging across the country, you need to make sure you have the right insurance for your home, even if you rent. Review your policies to see what’s covered and what’s not. If you have questions, block out some time to talk to your agent so you can ask questions.

Need help balancing your budget or paying off debt? Talk to a certified credit counselor.

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