Sequestration is now in place, and along with it came a good amount of uncertainty, causing many Americans to wonder how they will be impacted. By some estimates, more than one million employees of federal agencies may receive furlough notices.
Some workers are not adequately prepared to deal with a loss of income, even a short-term one. For those living from paycheck to paycheck or without significant savings, any income interruption is likely to put them over the financial edge.
For example, consider the statistics below from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) Financial Literacy Survey:
- Thirty-three percent of respondents admit to not paying all bills on time;
- Thirty-nine percent have zero non-retirement savings;
- Thirty-nine percent carry debt over from month to month, and
- Sixteen percent have utilized overdraft protection in the last 12 months.
Even if a person does not anticipate being impacted by sequestration, now is a good time for a comprehensive financial review. Whether due to an unplanned expense or a job loss, no one has ever regretted being financially prepared, and preparation starts with understanding where you stand today.
The NFCC advises consumers to take the following steps to put themselves in a better financial position, regardless of what the coming months may hold:
- Assess current financial situation – The NFCC's free financial self-assessment tool, MyMoneyCheckUp™, is a good place to start. The tool provides consumers with a means of evaluating four key areas of personal finance: budgeting and credit management, saving and investing, planning for retirement, and home equity. After answering a series of topic specific questions, a personalized assessment of the individual's overall financial health and associated behaviors is generated. With areas of concern identified, the analysis suggests changes that consumers are encouraged to implement in order to become more financially
independent. The traditional green, yellow and red traffic light colors signal whether the consumer should continue on their current money path, proceed with caution, or stop and make a change. Individuals can also complete an optional budget to further help them assess their financial health. The tool is available in English at www.MyMoneyCheckUp.org.
- Face the financial facts – After completing the financial discovery step, consumers may find the results surprising. Don't ignore them. Financial problems rarely resolve themselves, particularly in emergency situations. Take action sooner rather than later, as delaying only makes the problem harder to resolve.
- Take control – Admittedly, some things are beyond a person's financial control, but some aren't. Control what you can by doing the following:
- Review your credit report and score, both necessary to fully understand the current financial situation, and provide a framework for next steps.
- Create a cash-flow calendar listing all sources of income. Next, plug in the dates all bills are due. This will ensure that bills are paid on time and protect the credit report and score from future damage.
- Commit to paying down debt, and if necessary, suspend all charging, consistently moving toward solid financial ground.
- Reach out to a legitimate credit counseling agency for help creating a survival plan.
If there is a quick resolution to the sequestration, nothing has been lost by implementing the above steps. If not, consumers will be better prepared to face whatever comes their way financially.
To locate the NFCC Member Agency closest to you, dial (800) 388-2227, or go online to www.DebtAdvice.org. For help in Spanish call (800) 682-9832.
