Michael Tullberg/Getty Image Our top story of the week was around L.A.'s famous Sunset Strip and the plans for various hotel brands to set up shop there and take over the area. Also in the spotlight this week was Meijer supermarket who was found to be selling recalled products and Olive Garden who's standing up against Hedge Fund, Starboard Value's claims that they are wasting money and not satisfying customers.1. L.A.'s Sunset Strip Goes Corporate: Whisky a Gone Gone
2. 29 Money Moves That Millennials Need to Start Making Now
3. Olive Garden Investor Says: Back O! ff on the Breadsticks
4. Grocery Chain Pays Big Fine for Selling Recalled Products
5. 3 Reasons to Check Your Credit Report Today
6. Can You Learn a Foreign Language for Free? ¡Sí, Se Puede!
7. Shinola Touts U.S. Production of Watch Straps in New Video
8. Why Your Parents Had an Easier Retirement Than You Will
9. En Garde! Olive Garden Defends Its Breadstick Policy
10. 3 Things Every Spouse Must Know About Social Security
- 10. Not knowing how much you owe on a credit card
The first step is to know how much you currently owe on each credit card, said Gail Cunningham, spokesperson for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, the Washington, D.C.-based national nonprofit financial counseling organization.
If you don't know, you're doing personal finance wrong.
"Burying your head in the financial sand won't solve anything -- there are no answers down there," she said.
- 9. Your credit score is below 600
Reviewing your credit report and score in the past 12 months can point you toward any discrepancies or errors which you can dispute easily. Ensuring that your credit score is higher than 600 important and will enable you to receive lower interest rates when it comes to buying a car or house or obtaining other loans. Your creditworthiness is ranked from 300 to 850.
- 8. You're nearing the maximum limit on a credit line
Another indicator that you are heading for trouble is if you find yourself near the maximum amount allowed on your lines of credit. If you're considering applying for new lines of credit because the existing ones are maxed out, you'll only make matters worse, NFCC's Cunningham said. "The last thing you need is more credit," she said. "Instead, probe to see why you are relying so strongly on credit cards to support your lifestyle."
It's important to minimize "percentage utilization" and maximize "credit available," said Kevin Gallegos, vice president of the Phoenix operations with Freedom Financial Network, a company which helps consumers with debt issues.
"If you have a credit card with a limit of $10,000, and you owe $3,500 on it, that's 35 percent utilization," he said. "Anything over 35 percent is considered is high, a warning sign that you may be living beyond your means and can impact credit scores."
- 7. You're behind on vehicle payments
Consumers who are current on their vehicle payment are a step ahead of their counterparts; if you're behind, you're on a rocky financial road.
If you are facing a money crunch, prioritize your bills, including making payments for your apartment or house and your monthly auto loan.
- 6. You overdraw your checking account
Another indicator that you are nearing serious financial issues is you have overdrawn on your checking account more than twice in the past 12 months. The overdraft fees are only adding to your dilemma. Instead, use free budgeting software or load an app from your bank that allows you to check your balance as often as you need to, even if it is daily. Some bills take longer to clear, so your current balance may not reflect that.
- 5. You lack emergency savings
If you lack an emergency savings account, you could be headed for disaster if you run into car problems, lose your job or have a minor accident that prevents you from working. Only 51 percent of Americans have more emergency savings than credit card debt, according to a Bankrate.com (RATE) report. The survey also found that 28 percent of people have more credit card debt than emergency savings, the highest percentage in the past four years while 17 percent have neither emergency savings nor credit card debt.
"Since the recession, people recognize how important emergency savings is," said Bankrate's McBride. "They have less appetite for credit card debt. Despite that recognition, people have had a difficult time making headway for savings in an environment where income is stagnant."
- 4. You receive collections calls
Receiving collection calls and notices is another sign that you aren't living within your means. Many creditors are willing to negotiate your payment amount or waive some fees temporarily so consumers who try to seek a remedy before their debt goes into collection are facing less damage to their credit score.
Consumer spending can easily wind up being bad debt, which is debt that is used for the consumption of goods with little to no long-term value or goods with diminishing value, said Jason Ayala, a private wealth adviser in Phoenix for Ameriprise (AMP), the financial services company.
"An example of bad debt is carrying credit card debt that was used to subsidize a standard of living that exceeds your income," he said. "If used appropriately, debt can be a very powerful and beneficial tool -- if not it can derail even the best laid financial plans."
- 3. You take out a payday loan or borrow from your retirement funds
Even if it was a one-time occurrence, applying for a credit card cash advance, payday loan, title loan or borrowing from your 401(k) or IRA in the past 12 months is a sign that you need to regain control of your finances.
"Adding new debt on top of old is a financial death trap," Cunningham said. "Balances grow, and you end up paying interest on the interest. Digging out of debt is impossible unless this practice stops."
- 2. You spend more than 28 percent of gross salary on rent or mortgage
If you are spending more than 28 percent of your gross salary paying rent or your mortgage that hampers your ability to maintain a moderate standard of living. Some lenders approved mortgages for homeowners to borrow up to 35 percent of their income during the past decade, but experts advise against spending that close to the threshold. Consider refinancing your mortgage, obtaining a roommate or at least cutting back on other bills or expenses. The 28 percent mark is a good rule of thumb, but it may vary depending on where and how you live, Gallegos said.
"Someone who lives in the heart of San Francisco or Manhattan and doesn't own a car may have a higher percent for the home category, but a lower allocation for transportation," he said.
- 1. You're reliant on credit cards to maintain your lifestyle
Being able to maintain your current lifestyle without using your credit cards is a good sign. In July, total consumer revolving debt, which includes credit card debt, rose by 7.4 percent from June.
"This is a time when consumers can and should be saving more of their personal income compared to driving up debt," Gallegos said.
Consumers should aim to save 10 percent of their income.
Living within your means on a daily basis and using credit cards only in real emergencies is the best option.
"Paying down credit card debt is one of the best investments you could ever make since the effective rate of return easily can approach 20 percent," he said. "In addition, having no credit card debt is in itself a financial cushion. It will require strict discipline, belt-tightening and a revision of your goals."
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