How “Keeping up with the Joneses” can Send You into Bankruptcy

What exactly is “Keeping up with the Joneses”?

 

“Keeping up with the Joneses” is a phrase that originates from a 1913 New York Globe comic strip by Arthur (Pop) Momand. The use of this coined phrase now refers to the actions of striving to keeping up with one’s neighbors in reference to social status and spending. “Keeping up with the Joneses” sometimes begins to happen for an individual when they bear witness to a neighbor or loved one coming into a large financial windfall – perhaps by winning the lottery. The neighbor may start to spend their newfound money on luxuries like cars, vacations, clothing, etc. This inspires said person to begin spending money outside their means to compensate for jealousy of the newly rich neighbor. Unfortunately, these actions can lead to debt, financial crisis, and bankruptcy.

 

Take the story of NJ lottery winner Pedro Quezada, formerly from the Dominican Republic. Quezada was from Passaic, New Jersey, and winner of $338 million. After hitting the jackpot, Quezada (owner of a local bodega) proclaimed he was thrilled because he could properly take care of his family.  Spending immediately began, but maybe not in the exact way his neighbors anticipated.  He was constantly approached by frequent customers of his bodega and friends of his looking for handouts, some traveling from as far as Colombia. There were even several false reports on news outlets claiming he declared to pay the rent for his neighbors, and eventually this led to a falling out with them. In fact, Quezada was even sued by his live in girlfriend of ten years for half of his winnings a year after winning the lottery. Eventually Quezada’s attorney won the case because the couple had never been married therefore his ex-girlfriend was not entitled to any of the winnings.

 

Unrealistic expectations

 

Suppose you have a neighbor (or family member) who just won the lottery. They decide to throw a lavish party to celebrate and show off their windfall. Maybe they add in that in-ground pool they have always wanted, or purchase that car or boat they had been dreaming of, and while they’re at it they make upgrades to their landscaping and home. These types of actions can cause a trigger effect with neighboring individuals who begin to look for ways to get rich quick or take out a loan much larger than they are capable of repaying just to be able to unrealistically and irrationally upgrade their lifestyle to keep up with their newly rich friend or loved one. This is a common theme that leads more often than not to bankruptcy and financial crisis.

 

Managing your money well

 

Watching someone win the lottery may seem like a super exciting event, and you may feel inspired to make rash decisions which can then result in irresponsible spending. Our advice? Forget about “Keeping up with the Joneses.”

As an NJ bankruptcy attorney firm, we at Veitengruber Law focus on aiding individuals with managing their debt and finances more realistically to protect their assets in order to avoid bankruptcy. If you feel as though you are lost in your expenses and debts because you’ve tried to live beyond your means, please reach out to us PRONTO. We can help, and we WANT to help.

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Self-Employment Budgeting Tips

When you’re not working a 9-5 job with a stable, predictable salary dispensed into your bank account on a set schedule, budgeting for recurring monthly expenses can be a bit tricky. While being self-employed can afford you the freedom to work flexible hours, have a varied office location and the ability to do something you love, it does not always provide the easiest and most consistent stream of income to rely on. This is where careful, diligent budgeting comes in handy.

 

1) Always budget for the necessities first!

While you are most certainly deserving of a dreamy resort vacation this summer, that doesn’t mean it qualifies as a necessity, as your vacation can easily be delayed until you can truly afford it. Necessities solely include staples like your rent or mortgage payment; groceries, gas, medical insurance, car insurance and car payment or other required transportation costs; utilities like electricity, phone, internet, water, sewer and garbage. It is also critical that you budget for your income taxes, as they will no longer be automatically deducted from your income. Anything else not featured on the aforementioned list does not qualify as a necessity and therefore you can live without it and save up for it before purchasing it.

 

2) Establish an emergency fund.

If you haven’t done so already, creating an emergency fund that has enough money to sustain 3-6 months worth of your necessary expenses is an absolute must for the self-employed. Not only does this provide you with added financial security and stability, it also buys you time to find a new job or side gigs if your self-employment opportunity does not prove lucrative enough to afford your expenses.

 

3) Once you have your emergency fund in place and have mastered budgeting comfortably for the necessities and have some wiggle room left over in your budget each month, you can start budgeting for “little luxuries.”

When I say little luxuries, I mean just that. Not living large, but treating yourself to small and affordable indulgences in moderation but on a regular basis. This may include something as mundane as ordering a Netflix subscription and Chinese takeout once a month, or something as exhilarating as a night out at a rock climbing gym with friends depending on your tastes and interests.

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Pro tip: seek out experiential luxuries whenever possible as they don’t generate physical clutter that you’ll have to deal with down the road. The memories you’ll gain are much more valuable in the long run.

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4) Think big: now that you’re managing all your monthly expenses (including little luxuries) like a pro and have a solid emergency fund in place, it’s time to consider your long-term financial goals.

When you’re self-employed, saving for retirement is even more important than it is for your peers who participate in employer-sponsored retirement programs. Given that you don’t have the opportunity to participate in employer-based matching programs, you will need to be proactive and learn to not only save diligently toward your retirement fund, but also actively invest your money wisely to make it work for you. There are tons of great retirement-planning resources available online, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of managing your own retirement accounts, consider consulting with a local retirement specialist who can help get you on the right track. If you’re more concerned about meeting more immediate financial goals like purchasing a home or a new vehicle (or even that resort vacation), a financial planner will be able to help you adequately allocate funds for each important goal while still contributing to your retirement so that it can continue to grow as you meet your other major milestones.

Veitengruber Law can guide you through your NJ asset management needs as you get older; with advances in medical care extending life expectancies, you may be facing difficult choices over health care and your legacy. We also have close relationships with expert financial planners and NJ CPAs with whom we are happy to connect you.

Budgeting Basics

Creating a budget is certainly not a walk in the park. Budgeting is an ongoing process and for most people, your budget has the possibility of changing from month to month. Your first try won’t be perfect, but don’t get discouraged.  As with most things in life, the more you practice budgeting, the better you’ll get. Once you figure out a flexible and successful process that works for you, you’ll be ready to go! Before you start, make sure you have 30 to 45 minutes set aside to work through each step. Let’s get started!

Income

Let’s begin at the most obvious place: your income. As we all know, your income is going to determine your budget, or in other words, how much money you have to spend. Your income can come from a variety of sources: your main day-to-day job, side jobs, child support, or even rental properties. It includes any source that brings money into your household each month. To start creating your budget, record the total amount of money that you’re making.

It’s important to take taxes into account, so make sure you’re recording your monetary income post-taxes. Some people refer to this as your “take home pay.” If you’re married, you’ll potentially be combining your incomes, so record them on the same budget.

Plenty of people are self-employed, which makes a budget all the more important. Your month-to-month income may be unpredictable depending on your business. If you have no reason to believe that your income will significantly drop in the upcoming month, average your monthly income for the last 3 months and use that for monthly income.

Expenses

The next part (that no one likes to think about) is what you spend your money on. Though expenses have their own categories, you always have regular “offenders” every month like your utilities, mortgage, or car payment. Sometimes utilities can sway a bit from month to month, but in general, they stay consistent.

You can’t forget about the other necessities like groceries, gas, clothing, household necessities, and other miscellaneous items. For your budget, it’s important to take into consideration everything that is going to require money. Depending on your family’s spending lifestyle, do you need to add or delete any categories? Think about this before moving on to the next step.

Set Priorities

Maybe you have student loans to pay off or maybe you and your spouse have a baby on the way. No matter what situation you find yourself in, your budget health relies on how well you prioritize.

• Groceries: You have to feed you and your family, so first and foremost, set aside enough money for food. This should come before you worry about other bills. You may have to adjust it a bit depending on other expenses.
• Utilities (Electric, Water): You have to keep the water running and the lights on, so these should take next priority. You might be asking, “isn’t my mortgage more important?” Well, living in a house without lights or water is no fun. The utility company won’t wait to turn your water and electric off if you don’t pay them. You tend to have slightly more leeway with your mortgage payment.
• Mortgage or Rent: Don’t put this off unless it’s a dire emergency. Stay on top of it and don’t let it slip to the bottom of the pile!
• Gas/Fuel: You have to put gas in the car to get to work, and if you can’t get to work, well, you’re not going to need a budget. (This is not a good thing!) Pay the monthly car payment and keep some gas in the tank. Tip: Be smart about your trips or try carpooling.
• Clothing: You need to look appropriate at work and the kids need to be dressed for school, so if you’re only spending money on necessary clothing, that’s great! Don’t feel required to buy name brand clothing or accessories.

Once you’ve covered these 5 categories, you can move on to other sections of your budget that may vary from person to person. If you still have money left in your budget, you can include things like: Date Night, Cable, Family Entertainment, and other fun categories that should only be a part of your budget if you can afford to spend real money on them (not credit).

Final Touches

Many websites have free budgeting templates that will get you started. These make it pretty easy to figure out spending for monthly bills, since they don’t change much. You will have to make an estimate for gas and groceries. We suggest looking over your spending for those categories throughout the past couple of months and then finding an average. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but you do want the most accurate idea of where your money will need to go.

Once you’ve figured out your grand total of expenses, you want to make sure that it doesn’t add up to more than your total income. If you end with a negative number, you’ll need to go back through and see what unnecessary spending can be cut out. If Income – Expenses = $0, you’ve successfully created your first budget! Some people prefer to have their final number greater than $0, just to provide a little wiggle room. This is naturally preferable so that you can begin to build up a small savings.

As you go through the next few weeks, chances are, you will have to make some edits to your budget. This is more than okay. Remember, it’s a process and it takes time to figure out. Don’t be discouraged at the thought of having to create a budget; instead be proud of yourself for taking a step towards managing your money skillfully.

Top Ten Money Saving Tips for Healthier Living

Cut coffee out of your budget (or at least brew it at home!)

If you have a daily caffeine habit you’d like to kick, let all the money you’ll save by cutting it out of your daily routine serve as an extra incentive to help you achieve that goal! However, if you are among the lucky folks who can enjoy coffee in moderation, there’s no need to deprive yourself even from a daily coffee habit. Just try to avoid coffee stands and restaurants where coffee is costly. Instead, consider investing in a home coffee machine like a cartridge coffee maker or an espresso maker, a reusable travel mug and even a milk frother if you prefer more gourmet-style drinks. These fancy gadgets can be more affordable than you think and will easily pay for themselves within a month or two if you’re a regular coffee drinker. Home coffee makers are convenient and easy to use, and reusing your own mug everyday also has a positive impact on reducing your carbon footprint to help protect the environment.

 

Clip online coupons from the convenience of your home computer

When people think about clipping coupons, it often sounds tedious to go through the newspaper and find relevant coupons each week. However, there are dozens of reputable websites online that offer both printable coupons that can be used in-store and coupon codes that can be used at online retailers. Anytime you’re about to make an online purchase, be sure to search your favorite coupon sites like Retail Me Not or Coupons.com to make sure you’re not eligible for any additional savings, a free gift or free shipping before committing to a purchase.

 

Seek out deep discounts at the grocery store

Did you know that every grocery store puts items on sale that aren’t even advertised in their weekly circular? That’s right! By knowing where to look you can save yourself even more money on your weekly grocery bill. If you’re looking for a dinner to cook the same night you shop, check out the butcher’s counter or the deli counter for discounted items that are close to their expiration date. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the reduced price food items, but they need to be prepared and consumed within a day or two in order to be guaranteed fresh. Many grocery stores also have a clearance section filled with pre-packaged, non-perishable and often seasonal items (think organic Easter candy!) they are closing out.

 

Cook and meal prep at home more to avoid buying lunches out

While eating out can be a fun experience to occasionally treat yourself to, eating out regularly can really dent your budget and your health! Even cheap fast food meals add up quickly, not to mention they aren’t the healthiest options with which to fuel your body. By always bringing a lunch and/or snacks to school or work you will be less likely to succumb to the temptation of eating out or pulling up to the drive-through window when hunger hits. Bringing lunch from home will save you a ton of money over the course of a year and even over the course of a month.

 

Cut back on trips to the salon by DIY

While treating yourself to an occasional trip to the salon should not be forbidden, try to limit the number of times you go to the salon every year. By purchasing a couple bottles of nail polish in your favorite colors and investing in a good quality nail file, with a little practice you can often achieve a salon-quality result at home. Recruit your best friend or significant other to trim your hair between salon haircuts. You can also successfully deep condition your own hair at home and even color your own hair at home for a fraction of the cost if you have a willing helper and a little patience.

 

Call your cable, internet and phone service providers to negotiate a discounted rate—whether you’re a new customer or not!

If you’re in the market to switch companies, now is the time to capitalize on the new customer discounts! Make sure to always inquire about their new customer rates any time you switch service providers. However, even if you’re an existing customer, it’s always worthwhile to call your providers periodically and ask them about any current promotions in your area and customer loyalty specials. You’d be surprised by the amount of money you can save just by asking.

 

Review your insurance policies

Call your insurance company to find out if you’re eligible for any multi-policy or multi-car discounts, non-commuter policies and safe driver discounts. If you have teenagers behind the wheel, ask if your insurance company offers a discounted rate for good grades. Your insurance company may also offer a discount for having extra safety features on your vehicle.

 

DIY your own all-natural cleaning products

Chemical cleaning products are not only expensive, they are also bad for your health! There are several inexpensive and effective alternatives that are much safer than most pre-made cleaning products you can buy at the store. Baking soda, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide are all extremely affordable cleaning staples that you likely already have on hand in your pantry or medicine cabinet that can be used as key ingredients to make multiple cleaning products (think window cleaner, dishwasher tablets, toilet cleaner, etc.) easily and at a fraction of the cost of what you would pay to purchase each product individually. There are many informative video tutorials available online that will walk you through how to make your own all-natural cleaning products from scratch. After you’re done making your own products, you will have a powerful, safe and effective arsenal of cleaning products at your disposal.

 

Use apps to find the lowest gas prices

There are so many free and inexpensive apps that can help consumers uncover extra savings nowadays, even on necessities like gas! Special gas tracker apps find the lowest prices in real time and even show you where the gas stations are located on a map. This is a great option if you live in or nearby a city with multiple gas stations to choose from. Prices are always changing, so be sure to check before you fill up your tank each time.

 

Try consignment shops for clothing—buy, sell and trade!

Consignment shops are a great way to save on high-quality, gently used and sometimes even never-been-worn clothing. Even if you’re not in the market to purchase any new clothes, consider consigning, trading or selling your gently used clothes to a consignment shop to earn some extra cash and clear some clutter out of your closet while you’re at it!

How To: Overcome Financial Stress and Get Your Finances in Order

Before the Great Recession, financial stress was the number one worry of over 70% of Americans. Since the Great Recession, money issues have become increasingly depressing for some people. With the loss of a job or a decrease in income, many people can have a prolonged stress that sits like a ton of bricks upon their shoulders. This chronic financial stress is extremely detrimental to the body, and you will begin to affect the lives of those around you. Before you know it, you may start to rely on bad habits to relieve your stress. How can you get a foot in the door of overcoming your financial stress and straightening out your money matters? Well, it obviously doesn’t happen overnight, but if you keep reading, you may gain some insight as to how you can begin.

Setting Goals. 

Though you can’t control all of your circumstances, you can initiate steps towards improving them. One of the most important first steps is setting a goal. This might sound simple, but that’s because it is! Before you can even think about your goals, you need to take a step back and review your finances. Doing this on a monthly basis could be beneficial for you, and don’t forget to check out your budget to know where exactly your money is being delegated.

Once you’ve had a chance to look over and get really familiar with your debts and income, set some goals. We are always setting goals in life – (financial, fitness, education, etc) and this goal is just like the others. It should have a purpose and a particular plan of action that will help you to attain the goal. Rather than setting a broad goal, attempt to set specific goals. Maybe your goal is to have $5,000 in your bank account within the next 2 months. You can break that broad goal down into smaller goals, like making yourself more valuable to your employer or improving your business plan. No matter the goal, review your financial state, set a goal, and clearly define the parameters and steps needed to reach it.

Make it measureable.

As covered in the last paragraph, clearly defined goals will be of more benefit. A goal such as “having a lot of money” does not have clear parameters. Some financial professionals suggest keeping 3-6 months of expenses in your bank account. Rather than setting a goal of “I want to always have 6 months of expenses in my account, sit down and put an actual value to that 6-month amount. This will focus your mind on a specific number instead of a vague sum.

Realistic and Reachable.

When you are setting your goal, it’s crucial to ensure that it’s one that you can actually attain. If you don’t have a good chance of reaching the goal, what was the point in setting it? Since you’ve already reviewed your finances and budget, you know whether or not a goal is realistic. If the goal is realistic, in your mind, you know that it’s attainable. Maybe your goal is adding $500 to your savings account each month. If you’re currently struggling to pay rent and have a low income, that goal may be a little out of reach. Work with what you have.

Deadline.

If you have no time limit on your goal, it might take you forever to reach it, which in turn makes setting the goal a waste of time. Part of defining a goal is listing a deadline so that you are able to separate your one big goal up into smaller chunks. Focusing on reaching your goal week to week can be mentally easier than seeing a huge number in front of you and stressing about how to climb that mountain.

Financial stress can take a toll on your mental, physical, and emotional state, which is why it’s so crucial to alleviate at least a small portion of that worry. Now that you have a few pieces of advice on how to overcome your financial stress, don’t wait until you find yourself in a desperate financial state. If you aren’t sure how to go about everything on your own, don’t hesitate to get in contact with a professional debt resolution/credit repair expert. They will be able to help you in setting a proper budget as well as raising your credit score and negotiating with any creditors to whom you may owe outstanding payments.

Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner on a Tight Budget

While everyone around you is hyped about the upcoming holiday(s), you feel an uneasy sense of dread anytime you so much as think about how much money the months of November and December are going to cost you. Living on a tight budget is particularly challenging when holiday festivities are in full gear, and you want desperately to join in on the fun.

While Thanksgiving isn’t quite as costly as the gift-laden holidays coming up in a month or so, there are without a doubt some hefty expenses that go into planning a family feast. If you’re on deck to host this year, your head is probably swimming with dollar signs and question marks.

Your best option here would have been to preemptively (and gracefully) bow out of hosting Thanksgiving dinner at your house. Most families would be understanding of your money struggles, and in general, there’s always someone eager to take on the task. With that being said, Thanksgiving is almost here, so if you’ve already committed to making the big meal happen in your kitchen, take the following tips to avoid spending more than you can afford.

Create a Thanksgiving budget

Take stock of what is most important to you and your loved ones on this holiday. Is it more important to be together and share quality time with those you may not see very often? If so, the food may be less of a focal point (and therefore less of an expense.)

On the other hand, if your guest list includes people who you see on the regular, maybe you’d all like to get creative this year and start some new traditions.

Once you’ve determined what is your main focus for the day, you’ll be better equipped to determine how much money you’ll need to make it a reality.

Become an even savvier shopper

Some grocery store chains offer a free turkey, ham or game hen when you spend a certain dollar amount there during the months preceding Thanksgiving. This is an easy, and somewhat obvious way to cut a nice chunk of money from your budget.

If you aren’t able to get your main dish free – consider going meatless. Meat is very expensive, and there are plenty of vegetarian options that are quite delicious. Even if you aren’t strictly vegetarian, it can be an adventure to try something new, while saving money at the same time.

Stock up on all of your sides and necessary ingredients over several months prior to the big feast. Only buy items that are on sale – this is why starting early is important. BONUS: If you hit some spectacular sales, buy two of everything non-perishable on your ingredient list (less expensive items like canned vegetables, bread crumbs, gravy, brown sugar, etc) and donate the extra items to a local food pantry or shelter.

Consider making your Thanksgiving a BYOD meal

Bring Your Own Dish meals, or potluck-style gatherings, can actually be really successful and fun. Not only does it take the financial pressure and performance anxiety off the table for the hosts, but it can also be an adventure for your taste buds.

Give everyone ownership of the meal by asking them what they’d like to contribute. What dish is their “specialty?” As the host, you can be in charge of several dishes as well, and you can all come together to taste test what everyone brings to share!

How to Invest in Your Future When You’re Broke

If you find yourself “barely” living paycheck to paycheck, the worry of not having any money saved can eat away at you. The concept of planning for future events like sending your kid(s) to college, helping them get married, and enjoying your own retirement can feel impossible when you can hardly afford your current lifestyle.

Although it may seem completely unimaginable, you can make a plan for your future; in fact, strategic financial planning may be the one thing that also helps you live better now as well.

The main reason most people don’t have a real savings plan in place is because they simply feel they don’t have enough money to do so. The change that needs to happen isn’t in making more money (although that is obviously not a bad thing) but in getting a new mindset.

The first step in getting a new money mindset is to change your inner dialogue from “I’m broke! I can barely even pay my bills!” to “Let’s see if I can find ways to improve how I spend money.”

While you may feel that you are barely able to meet the financial demands of your life, most people find that they’re spending too much in at least one area that can be cut back. Take a good, hard look at where all of your money goes for at least one complete month. Write down each and every cent that’s spent, organized into three categories:

•  Necessary/survival: Housing (mortgage payment or rent), utility bills (electric, gas, water/sewer, trash removal), all forms of necessary insurance (homeowners/renters, car, health, life), food (for eat-at-home meals only), vehicle payment(s), vehicle maintenance, gas.

• Debt: College/student loans, credit cards, personal loans, and any other forms of debt.

• Luxury: These are things that, while dearly beloved by many of us, can be eradicated without causing you extreme hardship. Examples include: cable/satellite tv packages, streaming services (Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO Now), high speed internet connection, Xbox Live membership, restaurant meals, magazine/newspaper subscriptions, cell phone(s) and their service plans, gym memberships, satellite radio, hair/nail services, frivolous (unnecessary) purchases like new electronics, expensive clothing/shoes, and other items that you simply don’t need.

Once you have a clear picture of exactly what you’re spending all of your money on, you will be able to create a plan to start saving money – it’s that simple!

Your mindset must remain steadfastly dedicated to saving money in order for this to work, however. See that list of luxury items? You are going to have to decide which of them you can either cut out entirely, or scale back. You will likely be surprised at how many companies will be happy to work with you to lower your monthly bill when you explain your situation. They’d rather keep your business at a lower profit than lose you altogether.

Instead of having your nails painted professionally, invest in the supplies needed to do your nails at home. Listen to the (free) radio in your car or pop in a CD rather than paying for satellite radio. Cut out your cable tv and keep your streaming services. Cancel your gym membership and get outside to exercise or start an indoor workout program – there are a multitude of free exercise videos on Youtube.

Even something as simple as not stopping before work to get a coffee and breakfast on-the-go can make a difference. If you spend $5 every day for a breakfast to-go, you can put that money directly into your savings account by eating breakfast at home. This habit can save you over $1,000 a year!

Another potential way to save money every month is to negotiate your interest rates with any lenders or credit card companies. You may also qualify for a loan modification (even for your mortgage loan) wherein the terms of your loan would be adjusted in order to make your monthly payments lower.

After you have found several good ways to save money each month – be sure to put the money saved into the right place! The best way to make sure this happens is to put a set amount into your savings account before you pay any bills or spend any money. That way you will train yourself to live on the money you have left after you’ve already invested in your future.

 

How to Tell if You’re Living Beyond Your Means

The recent popularity of YOLO-based thinking (You Only Live Once) has encouraged many people to take life by the horns. Learning to stay in the present is beneficial for so many reasons. After all, everyone’s living on borrowed time, so really appreciating life’s little moments is a key factor in living a fulfilled life.

Some YOLO enthusiasts take the concept one step further, however – following a “Treat yourself!” mantra that goes beyond staying present and moves toward the idea that since you only live once, you might well “live it up.” This mentality can very easily lead to spending more money than you actually have on things that make you feel good – that new pair of shoes, the latest tech gadgets, getting your hair professional styled, a new car, etc.

Of course, you can find yourself living beyond your means even if you never knew what YOLO stood for until now. Even spending slightly more than you have over a period of time will eventually catch up with you. Regardless of how you’re spending too much, when you reach the point of no return, you’ll realize that you don’t want to spend the rest of your life digging yourself out of debt. THAT is definitely no way to live.

You might be wondering, “Do I spend too much?” It can be difficult to know for sure if you’re living beyond your means, especially if you haven’t hit any significant bumps in the road thus far. You’re house isn’t in foreclosure, your credit’s ok, you’re not late on your car payments, and there’s always enough food on the table. Even when it seems as though everything’s alright on the money front, there are still some signs that should send up a red flag to indicate that trouble is coming.

• You have zero savings. Many Americans today don’t put as much effort into growing their savings as the generations before us did. The problem with this behavior is that no one really knows what their future holds. Your steady job may not last until retirement. You could become disabled or experience any number of truly stressful life events that will limit your income potential. Without any nest egg to fall back on, any hiccough in your life plan could have disastrous consequences.

• You charge everyday items to a credit card. Things like gas and groceries should be factored into your monthly expenditures and paid for with real money. If you regularly pay for necessities by credit card, it’s time to take a harder look at your spending habits.

• Paycheck to paycheck is your norm. If your bank account is drained in between each paycheck, you’re spending more than you earn. Period.

• The balances on your credit cards are headed up. Ideally, you should be working to pay down anything you’ve charged to your credit card(s) recently, which should only be more expensive purchases. If, instead, you find that your credit card balances just keep rising, you’ll be heading for bankruptcy sooner rather than later.

Get back within your means by cutting back on unnecessary spending now. Take a good hard look at all of your monthly bills and expenses compared with your monthly income. If you can find several areas to reduce spending – great! On the other hand, if literally all of your monthly income is earmarked for life’s necessities – you may need a professional’s help to get back on track.

Image credit: Cafe credit

How the Business of Debt-Buying Affects Consumers

Collectively, American consumers are currently over $12 TRILLION in debt. Out of that $12 trillion, more than $400 billion has been deemed ‘seriously delinquent.’ Outside of a library fine I once racked up because a book that fell into the crack of my couch, I get pretty panicked if someone tells me I’m seriously delinquent. Just the sound of the phrase rolls off the tongue in a negative way, doesn’t it?

As it should: debts don’t get earmarked as seriously delinquent until they are 90 days or more overdue. That may not seem like a long time in the grand scheme of life, but in the world of debt, three months of failing to make a payment is long enough for lenders to get good and fed up.

What is debt buying?

Because of the whopping trillions of dollars of consumer debt in this country, an entirely new industry has spontaneously developed, and it’s more than a little shady. Lenders don’t want to wait to get paid. Seriously delinquent debts are often sold by lenders to companies whose sole purpose is to buy debt for pennies on the dollar in order to make at least a tiny bit of money rather than none at all. This process is part of the dubious debt buying industry – where debt is bought and sold, bought and sold ad infinitum, potentially transferring hands a veritable profusion of times.

Astoundingly, debt buyers can collect on the full amount of an original debt, even though they will have paid a supremely small fraction of that amount when they purchased it from the lender.

What does this mean for indebted consumers?

The debt buying blitz in the United States is problematic for several reasons. Firstly, many original lenders don’t supply debt buyers with much information about the debts that are switching hands. Compounding this issue is the fact that debt buyers are often unscrupulous about whether or not the debts they purchase are even valid. That means that they may purchase debts with missing or incorrect data that can lead to them harassing you for money you don’t even owe.

Ruthless debt buyers and collectors typically don’t care whether they’ve got the right person on the phone or whether the debt has been discharged via bankruptcy. They don’t even check to see if the statute of limitations to collect on a debt has passed. They’ve got a list of names and contact information, and often times millions of dollars they can potentially pocket if they can convince enough people to fork over the money.

Fueled by a strong desire for money, when debt buyers set out on their mission to collect, they’ll frequently go to unimaginable lengths in order to get you to pay. Threats, lies, scare tactics, cursing, impersonation, degradation, and humiliation are just a few of the strategies employed by people in the debt-buying and debt-collecting industry.

If you’ve experienced any of the above and feel that 1) you don’t owe the debt in question; or 2) a debt collector has acted illegally – you have recourse. Veitengruber Law helps people like you every day, and we’ve grown quite adept at dealing with distressing debt collectors. Want to find out if we can help you? Call us now: (732) 852-7295. We will not overcharge you and we’ll consult with you for a full hour free of charge. Best of all – we’ll put an end to your debt problem once and for all.

Image credit: Pat Pilon

Frugal Friday: Memorial Day Party on a Budget

If there’s one thing that all of us here at Veitengruber Law all have in common, it’s finding ways to save money. Often this comes in the form of us working to help a client: apply for a loan modification, get a fresh start with bankruptcy, negotiate outstanding debts and learn how to budget so that their financial future looks bright.

When it comes time for us to leave the office each evening, we then turn our attention to our personal lives, and part of that involves how to best keep our own finances in order. We are constantly on the lookout for money-saving life hacks, which we love sharing with our clients and blog readers.

As we approach the end of May, many people have started planning for Memorial Day parties. A day to remember and memorialize those who died while serving our country in the armed forces, Memorial Day has also become the unofficial start to summer. Although summer doesn’t technically begin for several weeks, the last weekend in May now sees a plethora of pool openings, family gatherings, cookouts and beach trips.

This year, if you’ve been nominated to throw a Memorial Day party at your house (voluntarily or not) – why not see just how frugal you can be while hosting an unforgettable party at the same time? Try implementing some of these party hacks to see just how little of your own cash you have to part with this year:

Avoid the “party store.” Buying pre-made party supplies and decor adds up fa$t. Making your own patriotic decorations and party favors is not only a great way to lower your party costs; it can be a lot of fun, too! Check out this site for some really cool money-saving patriotic decoration ideas.

Prepare your own food. It is undoubtedly a lot more convenient to fill up a shopping cart at the warehouse store with pre-packaged food – from burgers and buns to snacks and desserts. Just like the “party store,” however, you’ll pay a premium for that convenience. Instead of forking over hundreds of dollars at BJs or Sam’s Club, roll up your sleeves and get cooking.

In addition to putting your own culinary skills to good use, enlist the other party attendees to each bring a food item with them. This will enable you to focus only on the main dish(es) yourself, while your friends can bring sides, snacks and desserts. Consider making it into a challenge to see who can bring the tastiest goodies.

Make it a BYOB shindig. You may be thinking: “But I already asked them to bring a food dish. Now they have to bring their own drinks, too???” Well, sort of. As the host, you should have the basic bar necessities on hand (if you plan to serve alcoholic drinks). If you don’t already have them stocked, consider a visit to the liquor store for an affordable bottle of: vodka, gin, scotch and rum. Add in a few mixers and you’ll be able to stock your home bar for around 50 bucks.

Alternatively, you could come up with one signature drink for the party that fits in with a patriotic theme, and serve only that drink. For example, a drink called the firecracker settles into layers of red, white and blue. Let party-goers know that if they want to drink wine or beer, they can bring their favorite bottle(s) along. This alone will save you a significant amount of money.

BE the entertainment. The merriment of any good Memorial Day (or any summertime) cookout should center around good conversation with friends and loved ones. If you’re looking for something a little more organized – toss out some brain teasers or get several card games going. Alternatively, crank up the volume and turn your picnic into an instant dance party (talent not required).

One of the keys to living a life free from debt is to plan ahead for special events just like this. Waiting until the last minute will give you little choice but to swipe your credit card more times than you’ll want to admit in order to acquire the party supplies you need.

Proper planning, budgeting, and getting help when you need it (in this case, asking your friends to contribute food and drinks) will keep the cost of a party from getting out of hand. Aside from a slight headache from too many firecrackers or wine, you won’t have any regrets the morning after you throw a penny-pinching Patriotic party.

Image credit: JD Hancock