Consumer Debt vs. Government Debt

Many people like to equate government deficit spending to using a credit card. While the government is using borrowed money similar to a credit card, this comparison does not hold up very well when you dive a little deeper. As mentioned earlier, government spending tends to spur economic growth during periods when the economy is not robust. In theory, a stronger economy means more people and businesses making more money, which in turn means more tax revenue for the government. Taking on personal credit card debt rarely produces more income for the individual spender.

Ultimately, both personal credit card debt and government debt must be re-paid to maintain healthy finances. To reduce debt, consumers and governments will generally employ some combination of increasing income/revenue and reducing expenses. When a consumer with outstanding debt passes away, their assets are liquidated to pay off their creditors. This results in fewer assets being passed down to heirs. Unlike humans, Governments exist into perpetuity. When the U.S. Government plans to spend more than what they receive in tax revenues, they issue new debt in the form of U.S. Treasury Securities. Governments, pension funds, mutual funds, and citizens rely on these securities as a substantial part of their investment portfolios. Yet, similar to credit cards, these Treasury Securities eventually need to be paid.

U.S. consumers should be conscious of their spending habits to make sure they are not over-leveraged. While the U.S. Government plays by different rules when it comes to deficit spending and debt, ultimately, the general goal remains reducing debt while stimulating the economy.

2. Put Your Bills on Autopay

Some companies, including many student loan providers, offer incentives for consumers who put their bills on autopay. By setting up autopay on your main bills, such as rent, utilities, credit cards, student loans, and other recurring expenses, you can take advantage of these incentives while also making sure everything is paid on time and you don’t get any late payment penalties.

3. Use Credit Sparingly

While it is true that one has to build credit in order to have credit, there are risks associated with credit cards, especially those with high interest rates. While it’s easy to make the minimum payment, it’s important to remember that you should only use credit cards if you can afford to pay the complete bill each month. You could spare yourself hundreds of dollars, or more, per year by avoiding interest charges, and you build your credit score at the same time.

4. Save for Retirement and Take Advantage of 401(k) Plans

Although it might seem too early to contribute to a 401(k) plan when you are beginning your career and just finished tossing your graduation cap into the air, the earlier you begin saving, the better you are preparing for your future. Even starting with small amounts, by investing early you will amass more money to support yourself in retirement. Furthermore, many employers encourage their employees to invest in 401(k) plans by “matching” the employee’s contributions. To see if you qualify for this win-win situation, check with your company’s HR staff as soon as possible.

5. Don’t Ignore Your Student Loans

Because of the rising cost of education, the typical college student graduates with $37,000 in debt and the biggest financial concern of many recent grads is their student loans. When you graduate, take charge of the situation and review the terms of your loan. You need to determine how much you owe and how your payments fit into your new budget.

The very first step to creating a solid financial base is to establish a cash reserve of at least 3-6 months of expenses. After this is established, and if your lender allows it, you may consider making extra payments and asking the company to put the additional amount towards the principal balance of the loan, rather than the interest. Paying more than the minimum can shave years off the length of the loan, save you money over the years, and help you qualify for a better mortgage or auto loan.

No matter your situation, reviewing your finances does not have to be an intimidating ordeal. Taking control of your finances early actually empowers you to set yourself up for a more stable and lucrative future.

3. A mid-2017 report from Your Castle Real Estate states “Our market inventory continues to be near record lows, with only 7,081 single family homes on the market as of June 30 2017 (16,000 – 18,000 is considered a balanced market).” When supply is low, prices increase. What would inspire an increase in supply to help create balance with demand? One option is building new homes. Colorado builders are expected to pull 23,700 single-family permits in 2017 and 26,000 in 2018, according to the University of Colorado’s Colorado Business Economic Outlook. While that looks robust compared with the sluggish pace of homebuilding seen after the recession, the CU forecast notes that builders pulled around 40,000 permits a year in 2004 and 2005, when there were 1 million fewer people living in the state.
4. The Denver Post takes a more practical view of the difference in price point: “More than 60 percent of the homes on the market in Denver are in the top third of the price distribution, while just 15 percent are in the bottom third, according to Zillow.” This issue makes home buying under $500,000 especially difficult from a competition standpoint. 5280 magazine sums it up nicely with their Panic Meter:

Your budget: $1,000,000+
Your level of panic: Low. You could find your dream home—and actually buy it.

Your budget: $750,000 to $999,999
Your level of panic: Moderate. There are houses available, but you’ll still need to match list price.

Your budget: $500,000 to $749,999
Your level of panic: High. You’ll be competing against more buyers than usual due to people stretching their budgets to get into a less intense section of the market.

Your budget: $499,999 and below
Your level of panic: Very high. You might find the perfect house, but so will 20 other buyers.

5. Contrary to popular media, millennials are “getting off the couch” and buying homes. A mortgage company reports “According to an industry-wide analysis, millennials accounted for 43% of all mortgage requests in Denver, between August 2016 and February 2017.” This statistic may help sellers understand the buying pool and how to structure a sale.

Buying a personal residence or an investment property is not a decision to take lightly and we suggest visiting with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ to see how the decision fits within your personal financial goals. Call Sharkey, Howes, & Javer at 303-639-5100 to schedule a complimentary consultation.