Soho Pbx World Uncategorized Ask a financial coach: What types of savings buckets should I have?

Ask a financial coach: What types of savings buckets should I have?

Saving Money is hard. We get it. The truth is, most of us never feel like we have “extra” cash lying around that we can just hide away in a savings account. So, if you’re wondering how to start, congratulations. That’s an important first step to creating a budget and savings plan to help you manage your financial future.

GIVE YOUR MONEY A JOB

Look at the money you have and give every dollar a single job. Set money aside money for bills, groceries, gas, energy bills, utilities, and phones—all your monthly expenses. As you track your spending, you’ll see where the money goes and get a clear picture of what’s left for non-monthly expenses.

Paying closer attention to your spending habits will also help you identify spending that may not be necessary or important. Can you unsubscribe from some of those streaming service apps? Do you actually use that gym membership? Are those impulse buys on Amazon really that important? As you dial this nonessential spending in, your savings will increase.

Consider the following groups of expenses when it comes to savings:

THINGS YOU HAVE TO SAVE FOR

These are non-monthly expenses that you know will occur at some point. Some of them are entirely predictable, and others are

 not. Examples of both types include:

Predictable Non-Monthly Expenses:

  • Annual car registration
  • Holiday shopping
  • Annual subscriptions

Unpredictable Non-Monthly Expenses:

  • Car repairs
  • Medical and dental bills
  • Vet bills

THINGS YOU WANT TO SAVE FOR

Now that you’ve covered the essentials, let’s get down to the fun. Start by identifying the Things you want to save for. Consider starting small, like saving for new clothing or tickets to a show you really want to see. But you can start planning for a trip to Paris or a ski vacation in Aspen too. Set up your accounts, and watch the balances grow. Your budget can help you make this happen.

Setting up Your Sub-Accounts

Determining your savings categories will help you budget accordingly so you can track your progress and know where you’re at when you need to access funds to pay a bill or deal with a problem. Consider the following categories to start:

Emergency savings

Ideally, setting aside three to six months of income in case of a job loss or disaster would be great. But it’s a lot. A $1,000 emergency fund is a good place to start but consider aiming higher once you get there.

If you’re risk-averse, a bigger emergency fund category can give you more peace of mind. If you have large financial responsibilities like kids or a house that needs maintenance or repairs, a bigger emergency fund might make sense.

Health and medical savings

Set aside funds to cover copays, uncovered balances, prescriptions, eyeglasses, elective treatments, and other cash outlays that health insurance doesn’t pay in full. Consider a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA). Both are designed to help you cover qualified Medical expenses, but they are different.

What is an HSA?

Designed to cover qualified medical expenses, an HSA can either be sponsored by an employer or opened by an individual. To open an HSA, you must:

  • Be covered under a qualified high-deductible healthcare plan (HDHP)
  • Not be covered by Medicare or any plan that is not a qualified HDHP
  • Not be claimed as a dependent

HSA contribution limits for 2024 are $4,150 for single individuals and $8,300 for families.

What is an FSA?

An FSA also allows you to save for medical expenses, but you don’t need to be enrolled in a high-deductible plan to qualify. Your employer only has to offer an FSA benefit. The FSA contribution limit for 2024 is $3,200 regardless of whether it’s for an individual or a Family..

CAR REPAIR OR NEW CAR SAVINGS

This one’s pretty straightforward. If you own an older car that requires regular maintenance, set aside enough to cover expected repairs, oil changes, tires, wiper blades, etc. Consider setting more aside in case a big repair is necessary. There are reliable estimates for annual car repair costs online. You may also consider setting aside funds for a new car down payment if that’s your goal. Calculate the price and decide what you can afford. The larger the down payment the lower your monthly loan payment will be.

Have a question for our Canopy financial coaches? Sign up for a financial coaching session today by clicking the link below. 

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Refinance Home Loans

 

There are several reasons that people may look to refinance home loans.  Probably the most common is to take advantage of lowered interest rates.  Some of the other reasons people refinance home loans is to pay off high priced credit cards, make home improvements, and rebuild credit rating that has taken a turn for the worse. 

 

What is involved when borrowers look to refinance home loans?  When you refinance you normally just pay off the old mortgage and sign a new mortgage.  Now this will also mean most of the same costs you had when you signed the original mortgage.  Depending upon your State or the terms of your mortgage you may pay a penalty for paying the note off early.  Best Mortgage Rate Orlando!

 

Individuals who refinance home loans look at several things before doing so.  Look for a company that may be willing to waive the normal fees.  These include such things as an application fee, legal fees and appraisal fees.  This are all normally associated with closing fees on a new mortgage.  This could save thousands of dollars.  It would give you a higher monthly payment but this could be still acceptable with a small rate decrease.

How long do you plan on staying in your home?   If the answer is just a few months the monthly savings may not have time to catch up to the costs involved if you were not able to secure a loan from a company who will refinance home loans but will not waive fees involved.  What are the new rates?  As a rule try and find a rate that is minimum 2 points below your current mortgage rate.  Florida FHA Loans!

 

Some who refinance home loans do so with the intention of building equity in their home faster.  Now with this type of loan your month cost will be higher even with a lower rate.  The benefit is you build equity faster and pay less interest over the length of the mortgage.  If you wanted to refinance a 30 year mortgage to a 15 but the cost was to high you may want to check about a 20 year mortgage to still be able to take advantage of the lower rates.

 

The last important point to remember with companies who refinance home loans.  Try and get a guarantee on the rate so that it is locked in during closing.  This will keep the rate the same even if it should go up prior to your closing.  You could even try and see if they will agree to a rate decrease if that should occur before closing.  The refinance of home loans is competitive enough that if a company will not do either of those option.  You may want to check with another company.  The ultimate goal is to reduce your payments or to increase the equity of your home in a shorter time.  USDA Loans Florida!

Choosing the Right Car Seat For Your Child’s Age and SizeChoosing the Right Car Seat For Your Child’s Age and Size

When it comes to selecting the appropriate car seat for your child’s age and size, the options can seem overwhelming at first glance. However, with safety being the utmost priority, it’s essential to carefully consider various factors to ensure your child’s well-being on the road. Each stage requires specific features to provide optimal protection and comfort from infancy through to booster seat age. By understanding the key considerations for each type of car seat available and the laws surrounding car seats, you can make an informed decision that suits your child’s unique needs and promotes a safe travel experience for the whole family.

Infant Car Seats

When selecting an infant car seat, prioritize safety features over aesthetics to ensure your child’s protection on the road. Look for seats with a secure five-point harness system, side-impact protection, and Energy-absorbing foam.

Ensure the seat is compatible with your vehicle and that it meets all safety standards. Remember, the safest spot for your infant’s car seat is in the back seat, preferably in the middle. Make sure the seat is installed correctly and securely, with no more than an inch of movement.

Regularly check for recalls and stay updated on safety guidelines to keep your little one safe during every car ride. Your child’s safety is paramount, so choose wisely.

Convertible Car Seats

Ensure your child’s safety continues as they grow by considering a convertible car seat that provides reliable protection and comfort on the road. Convertible car seats are designed to accommodate children as they transition from rear-facing to forward-facing positions, offering versatility and longevity.

These seats typically have higher weight and height limits than infant car seats, allowing your child to use them for an extended period. Convertible car seats feature adjustable harness systems and multiple recline positions to ensure a proper fit as your child grows. Additionally, they offer side-impact protection and energy-absorbing foam for enhanced safety.

When selecting a convertible car seat, make sure it meets all safety standards and fits securely in your vehicle.

Booster Seats

Consider upgrading to a booster seat to provide your growing child with the necessary support and protection during car rides. Booster seats are designed for children who’ve outgrown their forward-facing car seat but aren’t yet ready for just a seat belt. They elevate your child, enabling the seat belt to fit properly across their chest and lap. Make sure the shoulder belt sits snugly across the shoulder and chest, not the neck or face.

Booster seats come in high-back and backless options, with high-back boosters offering additional head and neck support. Always check the weight and height limits of the booster seat to ensure it’s appropriate for your child’s size.

All-in-One Car Seats

If your child is ready to transition from a booster seat, you may want to explore all-in-one car seats as a versatile option for long-term use.

All-in-one car seats are designed to accommodate children from infancy to booster seat age, offering a seamless transition as your child grows. These seats typically have higher weight and height limits compared to other types, allowing for extended use.

They can be rear-facing for infants, forward-facing for toddlers, and then convert to booster seats for older children. With an all-in-one car seat, you won’t need to buy multiple seats as your child grows, making it a cost-effective and convenient choice for many parents.

Extended Rear-Facing Seats

When selecting a car seat for your child, prioritize safety by considering extended rear-facing seats for optimal protection. Extended rear-facing seats are designed to keep your child facing the back of the vehicle for a longer period, providing enhanced protection for their head, neck, and spine in the event of a crash.

These seats are recommended by safety experts as they distribute the force of a collision over a larger area, reducing the risk of Injury. By keeping your child rear-facing for as long as possible within the seat’s height and weight limits, you’re providing them with the best possible safety measures in the car.

How To Locate Office Space For RentHow To Locate Office Space For Rent

Many businesses will need to find commercial office space for lease sooner or later. There is a different solution to looking through countless advertisements to be able to locate commercial real estate for lease or perhaps commercial office space for lease in the area.

The Best Way To Rent Office Space It’s vital that you know the market you are in and the actions needed to make certain you find the proper office space for rent,prevent mistakes,and negotiate the best deal feasible as the procedure for locating area and settling a commercial lease might be a lengthy and complicated procedure.

#1 Consider Acquiring Assistance From A tenant adviser You’ll find and negotiate commercial area by yourself even so in the event you do not fully grasp the local market and have not negotiated a lot of commercial rents you’ll be in a disadvantageous position. Property owners hire skilled real-estate agents to negotiate on their behalf to ensure they get the highest lease rates and best lease conditions feasible. They’re professional even so they are looking out for the landlord’s interest,not yours. Also,they only show you spaces inside their portfolio. Renter representatives only stand for renters,never landlords. This enables them to prevent conflicts of interest,show you every commercial area which will suit your requirements,and provide impartial feedback on your behalf. Having a tenant adviser in your corner will give you access to the same market expertise,tools,and experience. From site selection,to settlement,to occupancy they are with you every step of the way. Their service is free to you since landlords pay out their fee.

#2 Figure out Your Needs It’s important to fully fully grasp your company’s current and future needs. Bear in mind most rents are three to five years long so it is crucial that you do your best to organize and budget appropriately. During this assessment determine the perfect growth needs,location,budget,timeline,and size.

#3 Search for Office Space If you are similar to most businesses,you likely do not search often,making the procedure all of the more difficult. The growth of online commercial property tools has resulted in a spectacular change in the way in which companies search for area. Try using an online search device that has a friendly user-interface that has in depth listings to look your neighborhood for small business office spaces for rent and for lease. Look for a search functionality that could filter by property types including office,industrial,retail,among others. As our everyday life move more and more online,the appeal of commercial property search tools like will continue to draw tenants to look into commercial properties online. Even so,no online search device can compare to the deep market knowledge,connections and experience that A tenant adviser can offer. They are going to help companies like yours in the search,selection,settlement,and occupancy of commercial offices,warehouse area,and retail area for lease.

#4 Send Recommendations To Property Owners Now it is time that you can send out recommendations to the property owner agents. By now you have shrunken it down to the spaces that meet your most proper size,location,and budget. Do not be tempted to put all your eggs in one basket,particularly in a hot market. Ideally you would like to send out out multiple recommendations to be able to enable the landlords to compete for your tenancy. It would also give you back ups in case one area gets leased to a new tenant. If you are working together with a tenant adviser then they’ll write recommendations for you,or else if you’re doing everything by yourself then you’ll need to write the recommendations yourself.

#5 Examine the Recommendations If you take on a tenant adviser they’ll help prepare an evaluation of the property owner recommendations that you receive back. The objective is to complete a assessment of the different lease conditions and you would need to structure this evaluation within a method that makes them easy to evaluate. Property owners would prepare lease recommendations for prospective tenants and work out bargain conditions with tenants or their agents. The top real estate recommendations have one typical trait – they are seriously customized to match you,the customer whose business they wish to win. You would need to work together with your tenant rep in the event you hired one,along with your legal counsel to work out and optimize business and legal conditions and prepare recommendations and counter-proposals. Be equipped for some effort at this phase as the lease would likely be a long one and not easily changed once primarily agreed.

#6 Discuss The Deal By now you should have all the information you’ll need to smartly work out fundamental bargain points as well as the lease contract. You or your agent along with your attorney would work out with the property owner and the landlord’s attorney to make sure you end up with the smallest lease price and best conditions feasible. Once everybody consents on the fundamental conditions and terms then the landlord’s attorney would write a lease that you can review.

#7 Build Out & Move In When the lease is authorized now you can start the process of building out the area as needed. If you have a tenant agent they’ll be able to recommend vendors such as architects,building contractors,phone and data cablers,etc.