TAX REFUND? Be Sure to "Pay Yourself" First!

By popular demand, we are repeating an article from March 2011.

So you received a tax refund check – Lucky You! Getting a lump sum of money is fun. Sometimes I think that dreaming of all the ways you could spend it are the biggest part of the fun – a well deserved vacation, a shopping spree, down payment toward a car……you can spend days dreaming and planning. However, before you make your final decision, think about “paying” yourself first! Seriously, would you like to would you like to make 47% on an investment? Sounds like a ponzi scheme or something but the savings are real and you can turn part of your tax refund into some serious money for yourself.

If you follow this Blog, then you know that I am a huge proponent of making small additional payments to “chip” away you student loan debt. However, paying larger sums toward your student loan will also help, significantly – even if it is only a one-time payment! Let’s look at two scenarios, to see how making a lump sum payment can benefit you. Each of these will be based on a $20, 000 loan debt, at 6.8% interest, with standard 10 year repayment plan.

Scenario 1: Payment of $1,000
No Extra Payments                                             With Extra Payments
Monthly Payment $230.16                                   Monthly Payment $1,230.16
10 years Pay-off time                                           7 years 8 months Pay-off time
$7,619.28 Interest Paid                                       $6,149.15 Interest Paid

Advantages of Additional Payments:
2 years 4 months Time Saved $1,470.13 Total Interest Savings

Balance Schedule for Scenario 1:
Year ---No Extra Pymt                        With Extra Pymt
2012 ---$18,553.54                             $18,553.54
2013 =-$17,005.60                              $17,005.60
2014 -=$15,349.06                              $15,349.06
2015 --.$13,576.29                              $12,524.12
2016 =-$11,679.15                              $  9,489.03
2017 =-$  9,648.90                              $  6,240.99
2018 =-$  7,476.21                              $  2,765.07
2019 =  $  5,151.09                             $         0.00
2020 = .$  2,662.83                             $         0.00
2021 =. $         0.00                             $        0.00

Scenario 2: Making $500 additional Payment
No Extra Payments                                                 With Extra Payments
$230.16 Monthly Payment                                       $730.16 Monthly Payment
Pay-off time 10 years                                               Pay-off time 8.75 years
$7,619.28 Interest Paid                                           $6,733.53 Interest Paid

Advantages of Additional Payments:
1 year 4 months Time Saved $885.75 Total Interest Savings

Balance Schedule for Scenario 2:
Year =-No Extra Pymnt                          With Extra Payments
2012 =-$18,553.54                                 $18,553.54
2013 =-$17,005.60                                 $17,005.60
2014 =-$15,349.06                                 $15,349.06
2015 =-$13,576.29                                 $13,050.21
2016 =-$11,679.15                                 $10,584.09
2017 =-$  9,648.90                                 $  7,944.95
2018 =-$  7,476.21                                 $  5,120.64
2019 =-$  5,151.09                                 $  2,098.19
2020 =-$  2,662.83                                 $         0.00
2021 =-$         0.00                                 $        0.00

If you would like to see how different amounts of “lump” sum payments can help you clear those loans faster, visit http://www.mortgagecalculatorsplus.com/calc-additionalpayment.php .

PAY YOURSELF FIRST – You Deserve It! It is tempting to splurge and spend your tax refund check on something fun or frivolous – I am not talking about using your whole refund to pay toward your student loans. I am a believer in having your cake and eating it too. However, if you will take just a small amount and pay toward your student loan debt, you can significantly shorten your repayment period. Think of all of the ways you could spend the money you currently have to pay on your student loan monthly payments once they are GONE! Now that’s something fun to dream about!

Don’t Let the Season Carry You Away!

TrueCredit.com Survey Reveals U.S. Consumers are Trimming Holiday Spending Credit Experts Share Shoppers’ Insights and Offer Easy Tips to Avoid Overspending: “While clipping coupons and bargain hunting are effective ways to pinch pennies, now more than ever, consumers need to plan for long-term savings,” said Lucy Duni, vice president of consumer education at TrueCredit.com by TransUnion. “During the holidays, it’s important for consumers to take a holistic approach to their spending, to ensure they don’t rack up debt that will impact their credit long after the holidays are over.”

The experts at TrueCredit.com compiled a list of helpful tips and insights to help consumers navigate the holiday shopping landscape:

Wallet Makeover: Surprisingly, the survey found 55 percent of people say they do *not* feel they’re more at risk of ID theft during the holiday shopping season. As more shoppers hit the stores, so do identity thieves, so it’s important for consumers to protect themselves. To reduce your risk, do not carry extra credit cards, your Social Security card, birth certificate or passport with you unless needed.

Check it Twice: Before you shop this holiday season, check your credit report to get an up-to-date view on your balances and to ensure everything is accurate. After the holidays, check your report again to make sure there isn’t any fraudulent activity on your report.
Trim the Tree: Talk to your friends and family about scaling back on extravagant gifts to ensure the holiday season is more economical for everyone. Try making a list of people you plan to buy gifts for and set a spending limit for each one.

Buyer Beware: According to the survey, more than half of Americans have between one-to-five retail credit cards, and 2 percent say they have seven or more! Avoid the temptation to sign up for every credit card you are offered while shopping. While the promotion may be enticing, it can also make it easier for you to rack up more debt.

Go Green: Go to the ATM and take out the amount of cash you plan to use for the day. Put it in your wallet. When your wallet is empty, stop shopping.

Eyes on the Prize: Maintain good spending habits and a healthy credit report during the holidays and throughout the year. Budgeting ahead for holiday and other spending extravaganzas can help limit financial stress while also keeping your debt accumulation to a minimum.

Final Tip: If you are lucky enough to get that lovely green stuff for a gift (otherwise known as cash), consider giving yourself a real gift and make an additional payment to your student loan principal. Remember, since interest is "fee simple" the faster you pay your principal down, the less your loan will cost!

To see the full results of TrueCredit.com’s survey and learn more about credit management, log onto www.gotruecredit.com and visit the learning center.

Tax Refund? Be Sure to “Pay” Yourself First!

So you received a tax refund check – Lucky You! Getting a lump sum of money is fun. Sometimes I think that dreaming of all the ways you could spend it are the biggest part of the fun – a well deserved vacation, a shopping spree, down payment toward a car……you can spend days dreaming and planning. However, before you make your final decision, think about “paying” yourself first! Seriously, would you like to would you like to make 47% on an investment? Sounds like a ponzi scheme or something but the savings are real and you can turn part of your tax refund into some serious money for yourself.

If you follow this Blog, then you know that I am a huge proponent of making small additional payments to “chip” away you student loan debt. However, paying larger sums toward your student loan will also help, significantly – even if it is only a one-time payment! Let’s look at two scenarios, to see how making a lump sum payment can benefit you. Each of these will be based on a $20, 000 loan debt, at 6.8% interest, with standard 10 year repayment plan.

Scenario 1: Payment of $1,000
No Extra Payments -----------------------With Extra Payments
Monthly Payment $230.16 -----------------.-Monthly Payment $1,230.16

10 years Pay-off time ============ --==7 years 8 months Pay-off time

$7,619.28 Interest Paid Inte=====..===rest$6,149.15 Interest Paid

Advantages of Additional Payments:
2 years 4 months Time Saved

$1,470.13 Total Interest Savings

Balance Schedule for Scenario 1:
Year ---No Extra Pymt ---With Extra Pymt
2011 ---$18,553.54 --- ===$18,553.54
2012 =-$17,005.60 =====-$17,005.60
2013 -=$15,349.06 ==.== .$15,349.06
2014 --.$13,576.29 ===..=-$12,524.12
2015 =-$11,679.15 =====-$9,489.03
2016 =-$9,648.90 ======$6,240.99
2017 =-$7,476.21 =====-=$2,765.07
2018 = $5,151.09 ====== $0.00
2019 =.$2,662.83 =====.,,$0.00
2020 =.$0.00 ======.==$0.00

Scenario 2: Making $500 additional Payment
No Extra Payments ================With Extra Payments
$230.16 Monthly Payment ===========$730.16 Monthly Payment
Pay-off time 10 years ==============..Pay-off time 8 years 8 months

$7,619.28 Interest Paid =============-$6,733.53 Interest Paid

Advantages of Additional Payments:
1 year 4 months Time Saved

$885.75 Total Interest Savings

Balance Schedule for Scenario 2:
Year =-No Extra Pymnt =With Extra Payments
2011 =-$18,553.54 =====$18,553.54
2012 =-$17,005.60 ====-$17,005.60
2013 =-$15,349.06 ====-$15,349.06
2014 =-$13,576.29 ====-$13,050.21
2015 =-$11,679.15 =====$10,584.09
2016 =-$9,648.90 ====.=$7,944.95
2017 =-$7,476.21 =====.$5,120.64
2018 =-$5,151.09 ====.=$2,098.19
2019 =-$2,662.83 ====.=$0.00
2020 =-$0.00 =======-$0.00

If you would like to see how different amounts of “lump” sum payments can help you clear those loans faster, visit http://www.mortgagecalculatorsplus.com/calc-additionalpayment.php .

PAY YOURSELF FIRST – You Deserve It! It is tempting to splurge and spend your tax refund check on something fun or frivolous – I am not talking about using your whole refund to pay toward your student loans. I am a believer in having your cake and eating it too. However, if you will take just a small amount and pay toward your student loan debt, you can significantly shorten your repayment period. Think of all of the ways you could spend the money you currently have to pay on your student loan monthly payments once they are GONE! Now that’s something fun to dream about!