Are You Prepared for an Economic Downturn?

When the economy is strong and our personal and financial situation looks rosy, we seldom consider planning for a future time of trouble. But good times never last forever and when the roll ends many of us are caught scrambling to make ends meet. That ultra modern car, credit card debt and multi-room mansion become a heavy financial burden. Parting with them becomes a necessity but not easy to do in a depressed economy.

But if you are to be frugal with your financial affairs, you need to start planning during those years when everything is going your way. Planning for that inevitable rainy day is a wise move before the bank forecloses on your home.

With so many choices it's easy to get confused as to where you should start your savings program. Starting a savings plan and salting away a little from every paycheck is a wise move. If the economy doesn't make an unexpected downturn, you might be downsized, your skills no longer necessary as your company shifts to cheap labor overseas.

There's more to saving for a rainy day with a few extra bucks in your bank account. Being frugal in what you buy and how you handle your money can save in the long run, especially if you form good habits today:

--BUDGET: You've heard it said before, but budgeting is something we'd rather put off. Most of us don't watch our spending and that means we end up short between paydays. A lot of money goes toward things you don't need and can live without. One of the largest is what you spend during your lunch hour. Bringing a sandwich shaves off a good deal than buying at the company cafeteria, the chip wagon or that Cap at Starbucks.

--PLAN: Once you know where you are wasting your money, you can set up a plan. Planning means more than just where you want to go during your vacation. Most people spend more time planning for their vacation than they do with their day-to-day financial affairs. For example, how often do you go shopping without a shopping list? Impulse buying wastes a great deal of money. Whether you have a large family or live alone, shopping for only the essentials will help salt away a great deal of extra cash.

--We have a love affair with cars. There's a great urge to own the newest, fanciest, speediest and biggest car we can drive without much concern toward the costs that getting a new car every three years may bring. Considering that a new car loses half its value within the first year of purchase, you're wasting a great deal of money just to keep up with the neighbor as he goes out to purchase that Hummer. With the proper maintenance, a car can last 3 times longer than the time the average owner keeps his car for. Cars are depreciating assets no matter at what price they sell for.

--Credit cards are one of the biggest drains on your finances. The average family owns up to 8 credit cards, a good invitation to overspend and rack up a heavy debt load. If all you ever do is pay off the minimum balance every month, it will take you 20 years before you see a zero balance. Convenience has a sharp edge. Use them in conjunction with your budget and have enough to pay off the total balance when the next statement arrives.

--Your mortgage is likely not set into stone. Likely, your mortgagor allows you to make additional payments so you can shave off a lot of interest payments. Just one additional payment every year either as a lump sum or in monthly increments can reduce a 30 year loan down to 18 years. That translates into considerable dollars on interest.

--Set aside 10%. Believe it or not, setting aside just 10% of your hard-earned money is not likely to impact your lifestyle. Whether it's a portfolio of stocks, bonds, GIC, RRSP or IRA, that money left alone will guarantee a comfortable retirement or anything else you want at the end of the savings term. Consult a financial adviser who can help you find better ways to earn interest beyond just a savings account at your bank.

Savings accounts at your bank won't earn you much interest, so use it for emergencies. With the onset of winter heating and electrical expenses go up. Most people don't plan to have additional funds when winter hits.

The above is just a few of the things you can do now to prepare yourself for tomorrow. There's a lot more you can do on a daily and consistent basis. But by doing things now during the boom times can insure that your future doesn't go bust as it will for the millions who fail to plan ahead.

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