A recent headline in the Wall Street Journal went: “Mass Layoffs or Hiring Boom?” This curious title perfectly sums up the difficulty we are all facing: deciding where our economy is heading.
Like the seasons, our economy goes through cycles, but unfortunately these aren’t as predictable as “spring follows winter.” During an adverse cycle, like the high inflation we’re experiencing, we can’t eliminate the pain but can take measures to mitigate its impact. Cutting back on discretionary purchases, like a few less Starbucks, or keeping the old phone six months longer is a great start.
These days, as you might imagine, the Credit Union spends a lot of time trying to help our member-family address the immediate effects of inflation. Today I’d like to focus on this, and also touch on how we keep our eye on the longer-term: how we help members plan for a financially independent “happily ever after.” Also, a bit of news on a big initiative we’re working on for you.
I was thinking that on any given day, if many of you chose, you could spend the best part of your time online – reading, texting, checking posts, binging on the latest streaming recommendations, and doing Wordle of course.
If you want to buy a house in the next 12 months – you’ll need some hard work and a bit of luck. But you can improve your help your chances of success, and your wallet, with a plan.
Houses are rocketing in price and demand has been outpacing supply, spurred on by low interest rates and the fear that they will rise significantly through 2022. This is leaving prospective home buyers scrambling to find something affordable. But there are sensible strategies that can help you stay sane and in the game.
You may not realize it, but by paying down your debt, you ARE saving! Actively reducing debt means you’re saving on interest, avoiding late fees, and maintaining or increasing your credit score.