Saving for rough times is a crucial part of your financial planning as having some spare cash stashed in an easily accessible place to cover disasters is a good idea. At a certain point common sense dictates that you’re going to run into an unforeseen expense and not having funds to pay for it you’re going to have to use poor borrowing practices. The average surprise cost when such events do occur is thought to run a few thousand dollars however whether it’s a gigantic amount or a very minor amount a disaster fund is needed to cover it.
You don’t need to hide this money under the mattress for it to be available. The best way to conserve this fund is by using a quick access savings account that pays a good rate of interest and hopefully is tax exempt. You could set up a simple bank transfer and allot a small amount into your bank account each pay check. You should also be sure that your savings account is low risk as you wouldn’t want to lose the money by trying for high interest payments. For example: don’t invest the money in the stock market, as stocks and shares can change in value, depriving you of much needed money at a critical moment.
Treat any interest your disaster account earns as a perk and not the main reason for having the account. In a pinch you’ll need quick easy access to your money and this is more useful than a little more money in interest can ever bet. Do not allow your disaster fund to grow into a fortune as the extra money would be more wisely invested, growing more in a better investment vehicle. Keep just enough to cover a rainy day so a few thousand should be more than enough.
Don’t be tempted to use your existing account to create up your rainy day fund. Your existing account makes it easy to “borrow” from the savings without knowing it and this usually means you won’t have enough money when you really need it. Also most checking accounts don’t pay high interest rates. To avoid the accidental spending of your disaster fund keep your checking account for normal bills and expenses.
By: Joe Duggins
Posts Tagged Rate Of Interest
Saving For Hard Times
Nov 11
There are many ways of getting loans. Some require you to pledge a valuable asset as collateral. This type of loans will not only grant you a large amount of money, but also charge comparatively low rate of interest. Your home equity is one of the assets that can be put up against these loans.
The equity of your home is its monetary value remaining after deducting any mortgage or claim upon it. For instance, if the real value of your home is £130000 and there is a mortgage of £75000 upon it, then your home equity is £55000. Loans which are secured against this market value are known as home equity loans. You can use for home improvement, auto financing, education or medical bills or a holiday. The choice is up to you.
Home equity loans are available under two schemes:
* Closed home equity loan- where the loan amount can be obtained as a lump sum and interest rate calculated according to this amount
* Home equity line of credit (HELOC) – where you can withdraw amounts as you need from an agreed sum of money. Rate of interest is calculated according to the withdrawn amount
Home equity loans come with their added benefits. You can take a loan amount up to 100% of the equity. The average range falls between £3000 and £100000. The repayment period can be extended up to 25 years. The interest rate is also low and tax deductible. You have thus an easy repayment arrangement that can be carried out in easy monthly installments.
Home equity loans are offered by various financing companies. Online mode will help you find the more profitable deals in a matter of minutes. Moreover, you can interact with your lenders from home with the processing free of cost and with less hassle.
The equity of your home can act as a savior when there is financial shortfall in your life. But do remember you are putting it at a risk. Therefore, exercise wisdom and prudence while choosing the loan amount.
By: Dina Wilson