Everyone tells you to “Save, Save, Save,” but no one talks about what happens if you can’t save or you found yourself in a pinch and spent all your savings. Are you doomed for a life of poverty? Not necessarily.
When I worked in finance, there was a common theme in every situation I met. All of my financial clients wanted something they didn’t have, and all of them had to work towards it. Whether they had savings or didn’t have savings or even worse, had debt and no savings, there was always a solution. Is it possible to fix financial mistakes? Yes! And one more glimmer of hope: It gets easier along the way.
When it comes to people and their money, the most difficult hurdle to overcome is erasing a deeply ingrained mindset. Like the lavish lifestyle they lead. Or the age they think they can retire. Or their way of buying things and then figuring how to pay for them afterwards. But if they take the right steps to alter course, something interesting happens. As they get closer to their goals by doing things differently, they don’t remember how they did things before. That’s exactly what happened with my clients. That lavish lifestyle of the past? Who cares when you have food and shelter? Retiring at 58 vs. 55? Beats having to think about going back to work at 70. Can’t afford to buy an extra handbag when you have 3 others? Big deal! Those were the responses when I reminded them of where they had come from.
If others can do it, you can too. When faced with one of these hurdles, here is how you can get on the right track.
Living Large. Do you find it hard to save on a monthly basis? Then your answer is to downsize! Cut expenses you don’t need, and lead a more modest lifestyle. For instance, go with a smaller home. Take public transit or opt for a used car. Give yourself a budget for dining out. No matter if you earn $30,000 or $100,000 a year, everyone can afford to save. Don’t just take it from me. Look at how Suze Orman reacts to a millennial who spends $720 a month on a car when she makes $80,000 a year. At least she makes her own coffee.
Retirement Loan Vs. Withdrawal. Normally taking out retirement savings before retirement is a big no-no, but when faced with financial hardship, there might not be a lot of choices. If a retirement loan is allowed, that is the better option compared to a withdrawal, assuming you can pay back the loan later. You will lose out on the opportunity for market gains that you could have seen with that retirement money, but you don’t have to wash away your hard-earned savings. With either a loan or withdrawal, not staying invested will likely carry some impact to retirement. This may mean delaying retirement age or adjusting what life looks like in retirement. Since the rules have changed with the CARES Act of 2020, consult a financial or tax professional before taking a loan or withdrawal from your retirement.
Credit Card Debt. One of the hardest money challenges to get out of is credit card debt. It’s a vicious cycle. Just when you’re done paying one thing, something else strikes and you’re stuck with a new debt. It’s tempting, too, since you’ve done it once, what’s borrowing again? To get out of the cycle, you need to understand the root cause for debt. Where are you spending your money that it’s landing you in debt? If you’re spending more than you make, then you need to draft a budget and stick to it. Freeze or cut your credit card in half and instead use a cash allowance for everything on your budget. If you’re living within your means but still encounter debt, was it the result of an unanticipated expense? Chances are that your emergency fund is too low or that you don’t have one. Rather than putting all available income towards paying off debt, set aside a portion to bulking up your emergency fund. That way, if another unexpected event occurs, you have cash to pay for it, not your credit card.
With a change in perspective and a lot of work and discipline, you can turn around any money situation. Financial challenges can happen, but remember, there is hope!
Homework: What did you take away from watching Suze Orman’s video commentary? Name some of the good and bad financial choices reflected in the video. How can you apply these lessons to your life?
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