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Where do you keep your money that you set aside for annual or semi-annual payments or for emergencies where you need extra cash quickly? You don’t want to draw funds from any of your savings or investment accounts - there may be a penalty for early withdrawal or it might be financially disadvantageous at that time.

Most people just keep what they have in their checking accounts where it earns nothing or next to nothing. Some don’t keep funds for emergencies and just hope for the best or depend on luck. .

“Luck always seems to be against the man who depends on it”.

-Unknown

Here’s another question. Do you set anything aside in case you need to pay the deductible on an insurance claim?

A good place to put funds for infrequent payments or for possible emergencies is in a money market account where interest rates are most often higher than savings accounts and are more accessible. Some banks offer even higher rates on Internet money market accounts. You really need to check your bank’s rates on various types of accounts to see which would be best. It’s good to compare banks. There can be a big difference. Money market accounts require a higher balance, but the amount you will need to keep in it will more than meet that.

The good thing about money market accounts is that even though there is a limited number of checks you can write on it in a given time period, it is usually more than enough for most people.

When you plan your budget, you will need to make payments to this account until the balance is sufficient to cover your home and auto annual or bi-annual payments and cover all your deductibles for your home, auto, medical and dental policies. Once this account is fully funded, the interest earned will be able to reduce your monthly budget payments that go to replace that which was used for insurance payments or for emergencies.

With this account in place, you will be able to take the highest deductible allowed thereby reducing your monthly insurance payment. If you pay your auto insurance quarterly or twice a year, you now will be able to make an annual payment, saving on the service charges.

Money market accounts may not earn the kind of return as a mutual fund or other types of investments but it is definitely better than most savings and checking account interest rates. Money market accounts have the advantage of easy access for your infrequent financial needs.

With a little self-discipline, you can give yourself some efficient financial security by enabling your money to work for you in several ways.

Richard Kimball is a successful entrepreneur, artist, and teacher. His latest project is to share the universal principles of success so that others can achieve prosperity and the fulfillment of their dreams.

Website: Building A Successful Life

Tags: budgeting, earning interest, financial security, insurance deductible, Money market accounts, savingbudgeting, earning interest, financial security, insurance deductible, Money market accounts, saving

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In August 2005, the people of the gulf coast United States suffered record losses of life, homes and businesses from Hurricane Katrina. Merely months before, thousands lost their homes and lives in Southeast Asia during a reckless Tsunami. Although it is hard to imagine the threat of natural disasters and emergencies until we find ourselves involved in one, it is always smart to plan ahead. Use the following three tips to help gauge whether you and your family are financially prepared for an emergency situation or disaster:

1. Start an emergency savings fund.

Many individuals and families find it difficult to save for the future. While it is important to save for your retirement or your child’s higher education, you cannot forget to plan ahead in case of an emergency. Insurance can help during a time of crisis, but very rarely does an insurance claim cover 100% of the damages incurred from a natural disaster or other emergency. By putting away small amounts of money each week, month or pay period, saving for an unexpected event can be very easy. Plus, with automatic online transfers and direct deposit, banks and credit unions can automatically transfer money from your paycheck each week to make your emergency savings much easier to swallow.

2. Stay insured.

Disasters do happen and it never hurts to be prepared. While it is easy to think, “it’ll never happen to me,” the monthly insurance cost will seem like pennies should you find yourself in an emergency situation without any insurance helping to repair or rebuild your home. If you live in a region traditionally prone to certain natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods or hurricanes, it is important to look into the specific types of insurance designed to financially protect you from the danger most common to your area.

3. Know what you own.

If you are a victim of a disaster or emergency and you place an insurance claim on property or belongings, your insurance company will want to know exactly what was lost. It is important to keep track of your most valuable belongings as well as proof such as photos and deeds to property. Make a list of all of your valuables, and be specific. Be sure to take pictures of the current state of each of these belongings, like your car and the different facets of your property, as proof of damage should a disaster strike. Make copies of your photos, as well as your family’s important documents. Keep these items in a locked safe or safety deposit box where at least one copy is out of harm’s way at all times.

ABOUT ACCC: American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering consumers to regain control of their lives through education, counseling and debt management. ACCC provides individuals with the practical solutions for solving financial problems and recognizes that consumers’ financial difficulties are often not the result of poor spending habits, but more frequently, from extenuating circumstances beyond their control. As one of the nation’s leading providers in consumer financial education and credit counseling services, ACCC works with consumers to help them with the best plan of action to reduce their debt and regain financial stability. For more information or to access free financial education resources log on to www.consumercredit.com.

Tom Palange

Education Programs Specialist

American Consumer Credit Counseling

Tags: ACCC, Banking, Banks, Credit, debt, Disasters, Emergency, Finances, insurance, Money, Relief, savingACCC, Banking, Banks, Credit, debt, Disasters, Emergency, Finances, insurance, Money, Relief, saving

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Feel like a lemming lately? Ready to follow the crowd into the great plunge of Ultimate American Consumerism? Just in case you need a little help, here is a tongue-in-cheek look at how to continue the process of becoming the Ultimate American Consumer!

1. Always spend right at the level of your after-tax earnings. Having surplus dollars is troublesome. It’s difficult to know exactly what to do with them.

2. Forget having 3, 6, or even 12 months of basic living expenses tucked into a liquid account such as a money market or CD. Why bother?

3. Purchase repeatedly, often, and preferably on credit, items that rapidly depreciate such as cars and consumer goods. Why pay all cash for something when you can use OPM (Other People’s Money)?

4. Maintain at least $7,000 to $12,000 of revolving credit card debt - preferably on store credit cards - and avoid reading the monthly statements.

5. Eventually revolving debt becomes a bit of a burden. Once that happens, take out a Home Equity Line Of Credit (HELOC) to alleviate monthly payments.

6. Seek out, and take advantage of get-rich-quick opportunities. They offer simple, easy wealth accumulation plans - with little effort, of course. Leave honest hard work to others. They don’t know any better.

7. Spend at least half of your allowable IRA contribution each year on Christmas and holidays, preferably on credit.

8. If you have an investment or asset plan, don’t review it too often. This can be tedious, boring and rather dull. Once every 6-10 years should be fine.

9. Where possible, avoid the toilsome task of creating asset accumulation strategies. Instead, have more dinners out with friends, or fun vacations. After all, you only go around once!

10. Invest in insurance. Wrap yourself in insurance protection from disability, death, dismemberment, accident and ill health - you just never know when you’ll need it. Insure your pets as well!

11. Only buy new automobiles for their quality and reliability. Used vehicles can cost as much as $150/ month in long term average maintenance.

12. Regular financial plan setting? Don’t do it!

13. If you have a home mortgage, refinance every couple of years to capitalize on low rates. Just think, you too can own your house for 20 years - and still have 20 to 25 years remaining on whatever debt is there at the time.

14. Don’t bother with financial coaches and truly objective advisors. They may assist you with your money plans, but those busybodies should find something better to do.

These 14 steps are a sure way to reach the rank of “Ultimate American Consumer”. Along with the title, you will reap all the privileges and benefits that this provides. All the best in your quest!

Eric Johnson is a regular contributor to the Investor’s Value View newsletter. To learn how to reach Mr. Johnson for comments or to subscribe to the Investor’s Value View newsletter, visit http://www.valueview.net

Tags: Advice, Finance, Improvement, insurance, investing, Money, Plan, saving, Spending, Wealth BuildingAdvice, Finance, Improvement, insurance, investing, Money, Plan, saving, Spending, Wealth Building

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