FINANCIaL
FIELd NOTES
I Got An Email From Experian - Equifax Settlement Follow Up
Back in 2019, I wrote on this blog about your options for the Equifax breach if you were one of the millions of people who had their personal information stolen.
Well, another two years went by before they finally sorted out the credit monitoring for all those that chose it. To be perfectly honest, I had forgotten about it. But then I got an email last week that read “Equifax Data Breach Settlement (Credit Monitoring Instructions and Activation Code)…”
Are 7.12% I-Bonds A Good Savings Fund In 2022?
One question I hear a lot is where should I put my emergency fund? Stocks are risky in the short-term and savings accounts are paying nearly 0%.
With inflation running high, one answer is potentially a good old-fashion US Government “I-bond”…
Three Fascinating Books I Read This Year
As the year comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your continued support. I have received notes of thankfulness, encouragement, and feedback - I appreciate them all!
Here are three books that I found particularly informative this year…
Is Saving In a 529 Plan a Mistake?
529 plans have long been the go-to for college savings. And for good reason - all the growth is tax-free if used for qualified educational expenses. But in recent years they have come under question as parents and grandparents wonder if all that college savings is for waste.
After all, many expect the education system to have some type of reform as the cost of college has ballooned over the past 40 years…
How To Set Up Sinking Funds
One of the most difficult parts about sticking to a savings plan is that no month looks the same. It’s easy to budget for fixed expenses like your mortgage, phone bill, and subscriptions. With time, you can estimate some variable expenses like eating out and groceries.
But it is much more difficult to plan for irregular expenses like out-of-pocket health care expenses, replacing an HVAC, a big vacation, or a broken transmission…
Do Lenders Really Know How Much Home You Can Afford?
“A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain” - Mark Twain
Individuals in the process of buying a home with financing usually get a “maximum loan amount” from the bank. Some assume this is a reasonable estimate for what they can actually afford…