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Post by chonies on Sept 11, 2011 14:47:31 GMT -4
Hey guys, I ordered my free yearly credit reports, and so far have received only one. Usually I get two, and a letter from the third requesting more information. But this year, I've only gotten the one. I like to see all three to see if they're saying the same thing. It's been about 3 weeks since I first made the request, should I contact the companies and see what the hold up is? Without a doubt, contact them and ask what the deal is. My own issue is that I can't talk about money with Mr Chonies without getting emotional. I don't think I'm being illogical, but it's frustrating because I hate being upset when I should be more direct or stubborn or something, and not just "omg! panic! I'm going to have to eat mealbug infested rice because I'm going to be broke!" |
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Post by Babycakes on Sept 16, 2011 19:00:17 GMT -4
Thanks chonies. I have no idea what happened, but I went ahead and ordered the two that I was missing, and one has come, and I'm still waiting for the third. I have no clue why it happened that way. I ordered all three at once, and yet only one "went through" so to speak. Weird. And I noticed that my utilities only showed up on one, but not the other. I wonder what the criteria is for what makes you credit worth? I would have thought that major utilities would be universal.  |
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Post by Sunnyhorse on Nov 9, 2011 11:21:59 GMT -4
Has anyone taken advantage of the federal program designed to help homeowners with underwater mortgages? I heard on NPR a couple of weeks ago that they'd made some improvements to the program to include more homeowners, and I think it might be of use to my sister and BIL, but I can't find anything on the HUD website. Thanks!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 28, 2024 4:50:19 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2011 18:06:05 GMT -4
It's not at HUD. The program is making home affordable. Makinghomeaffordable.gov.
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Post by prada on Nov 9, 2011 18:37:07 GMT -4
I need advice. I just turned 29 a few weeks ago and I am stressed out. My savings have been wiped out due to my last year and a half of layoffs and unemployment. My 401k is minimal right now. Even though I have a new job, I took a HUGE paycut, so I'm barely making ends meet, add that the money I am spending in gas for the 52 mile roundtrip I take daily to work. Plus I am trying to pay off my loans and a credit card, which the balance is $2,100. I am so, so worried I won't have any money when I retire! Plus I want to save, but I am barely making it. What do you guys think I should do in regards to saving?
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Post by ladyboy on Nov 9, 2011 23:35:44 GMT -4
Don't worry about saving right now. Get yourself through this patch. Pay off your credit card(s), make your monthly payment on your student loans or other loans - whichever ones have the highest interest rate, aim to pay them down first. Why spend money on interest? Get the balances down and put that money towards your savings once the loans are gone.
If you're barely making ends meet, you CAN'T save much, if at all. Try to save some money so you have a little savings for emergencies - ready cash that you can use is more valuable to you in your current situation than a 401K. Does your company have a 401K match? If so, try - TRY - to put something into it up to their match.
Remember - You are not retiring for a loooong time. (No one will have any money then either - practically no one saves enough for retirement, unfortunate but true.) Don't beat yourself up over the 401K - you have time to put money in there and build other savings. Right now, focus on getting through this time and let yourself not worry about retirement. Instead, put your mental energy into your career, improving yourself and your options going forward, and help yourself get to a place where you can earn more - and save more.
(I feel so preachy - sorry! Basically, you have permission not to save. For now.)
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Post by prada on Nov 9, 2011 23:44:18 GMT -4
Don't worry about saving right now. Get yourself through this patch. Pay off your credit card(s), make your monthly payment on your student loans or other loans - whichever ones have the highest interest rate, aim to pay them down first. Why spend money on interest? Get the balances down and put that money towards your savings once the loans are gone. If you're barely making ends meet, you CAN'T save much, if at all. Try to save some money so you have a little savings for emergencies - ready cash that you can use is more valuable to you in your current situation than a 401K. Does your company have a 401K match? If so, try - TRY - to put something into it up to their match. Remember - You are not retiring for a loooong time. (No one will have any money then either - practically no one saves enough for retirement, unfortunate but true.) Don't beat yourself up over the 401K - you have time to put money in there and build other savings. Right now, focus on getting through this time and let yourself not worry about retirement. Instead, put your mental energy into your career, improving yourself and your options going forward, and help yourself get to a place where you can earn more - and save more. (I feel so preachy - sorry! Basically, you have permission not to save. For now.) Not preachy at all. My company matches 1% of your 401k, which is basically nothing. The company I was with last year matched 50% of what you put, so yeah. Sucks. Thanks for the advice! |
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Post by americanchai on Nov 10, 2011 16:21:42 GMT -4
Prada, can you find a carpool at all? My last job that I worked at for 6 years was 60 miles round-trip and I carpooled all 6 years with three different people. We were a small company (20 or less people at any given time) but there was always at least one person who lived within a handful of miles or on the way or was willing to meet halfway or whatever. It helps!
I woudl also not stress about the 401K. I would save enough to have a small emergency fund but concentrate on paying off the credit cards/loans. Also look at your expenses and cut them to the bone for a while. Tell friends and family: no holiday presents for me because I can't get you any this year. Period. I've had to do that the last couple of years and it sucks but my family are pretty middle-class and everybody has what they need and more. Nobody needs anything. If the goodness of my heart created cash, I would buy them whatever they wanted but that ain't gonna happen.
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twopfan
Blueblood
Double Infinity
Posts: 1,269
Jan 20, 2009 13:41:19 GMT -4
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Post by twopfan on Nov 10, 2011 17:29:57 GMT -4
Prada, I love Dave Ramsey. He's got great advice for getting rid of debt and saving money. Also there are a ton of websites about saving money. I took the advice from Get Rich Slowly and negotiated $10 off my monthly phone bill!
About the 401k: yes, you shouldn't stress now, but don't put it off for too long. Yes, you won't be retiring for awhile, which is why you start saving earlier. It takes time to accumulate enough money to live on. Get your debts paid down and when you have a more stable cash situation, start saving again.
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Post by prada on Nov 11, 2011 13:06:51 GMT -4
americanchai- Sadly we all live very spread out, so no carpooling for me. And yeah, 0 gifts. Thanks for the tips!
twopfan- I'll look into Dave Ramsey. It's scary because I read an article that says that my generation will need to save $2million for retirement. And exactly where are we supposed to find that kind of money with the way things are going right now?!?
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