Recession Proof

Recession-Proof Your Finances

Fortify Your Finances and Mitigate Future Recession Issues

There’s always the risk of an economic downturn due to unforeseen circumstances. In the last 15 years alone, we’ve experienced both the Great Recession in 2008 and the effects of COVID-19. However, as the economy recovers, it could mean that we see an acceleration thanks to efforts to return the world to normal.

Of course, even in times of stability and profit, you should always have a way to secure what you have. Perhaps times of economic prosperity are actually the best times to protect your finances from a potential recession since you will likely have more resources to save, invest, and find new sources of income.

There are many ways to protect your finances from experiencing the downturns that inevitably hit markets and businesses. Here are some of the best ways you can do that:

Begin Paying Off Credit Card Debt

Credit card debt accounts for most personal loan issues that people encounter. It’s so easy to pay for something in advance, expecting you’ll eventually get the money to pay for it. However, you are using someone else’s money and have to pay more than what you borrowed if you don’t make payments on time. If you fail to do that, you could spiral into deep debt.

Like most loans, interest accrues with credit cards. If you don’t begin paying off the principal, the amount you pay only climbs up with each missed payment. You can protect yourself from problems during a recession by paying off this debt. Use credit cards to your advantage, but make sure you don’t overspend.

One way you can reduce credit card debt is to overpay during collection. Pay a little more than usual so that it hits the principal. Even small amounts will allow you to pay off your debt over time.

Track Your Budget

Small purchases can add up. Most people who don’t track their spending are in for a surprise when they take note of their expenditures. Even your morning coffee routine can cost hundreds of dollars down the road. For example, if you bought a $2 coffee every day for a year, that adds up to $730 minus tax.

You don’t have to sacrifice most of your conveniences, but by tracking them, you can see areas where you might be overspending.

From there, it’s a simple task of rebalancing and setting limits. You have to learn to live within your means or at a lower one when a recession hits. Here are some things that may be eating your income:

  • Monthly subscriptions

  • Entertainment

  • Dining out

  • Hobbies

  • Travel

As mentioned earlier, you don’t have to cut spending off from this to prepare for a recession. You only have to make sure that you aren’t going over the limit of what you find comfortable, especially if you want to start recession-proofing your finances.

Build an Emergency Fund

An emergency fund is a pool of money that’s easily accessible when you need it. Since a recession can last for long periods, having a lot of cash is crucial. Having at least a year’s worth of your monthly income can keep you comfortable as you start getting your financial house in order.

While it should be accessible, you should create a barrier to entry so you can avoid impulse withdrawals. Store money in a separate account, and use over-the-counter withdrawals only.

Having money sitting down doing nothing is not an ideal move. You can place it in a high-interest insured account. That way, the money grows over time, and you also have some form of protection. With it, you’ll be less dependent on loans so you won’t have to take on debt during a recession.

Seek Extra Income Sources

It can be challenging to seek out other means of income when you have a full-time job, but now is the time to do it. While you still have the means to live comfortably, you’ll need to seek out money sources on the side to accelerate your preparation.

It doesn’t have to be a job with fixed hours of commitment. Today, there are many ways to begin earning money without too many resources. Some examples include:

  • Online selling

  • Consulting

  • Building a passive income stream

  • Freelancing

  • Investments

By having multiple income streams, you’ll still have sources of cash when you lose your job. You may not have as much money before, but at least you’ll still have a little that can help when needed.

Build Your Investment Portfolio

Investments are there to make your money work on your behalf. You have different ways to invest, from placing money in stocks or even more volatile markets like crypto. Often, these markets take a hit during the recession, but they can steadily grow over time despite it. As long as you have a view for the long term, market dips and crashes won’t bother you as much.

A common question people ask is, “When do I cash out on my investments?” The best answer for that would be when you need to cash it out for something. Many people make the mistake of withdrawing their money for the sake of profit alone. They do that only to regret it when the asset continues to grow in value.

There is no regret with the money you take if you have a purpose. That need is the reason you have an investment in the first place.

Another scenario you’ll consider cashing out is when you’re ready to retire. By then, your investment would’ve grown to a hefty amount to care for you in your later years.

Improve Your Credit Score

One of the things you should be building up is your credit score, especially when you have the means to do so. A higher credit score will provide you with more flexibility. You can get better loan options, interest rates, and payment plans with it since the credit score shows how risky you are as a borrower.

You can get into loans that won’t affect your income as much. Even if you’re paying off a mortgage or any other loans during the recession, you’ll be fine. Your investment in your credit score will pay off as the loans won’t have as big of an impact compared to others.

Invest in Yourself

It’s a trend to see several industries suffer greatly when a recession hits. During the housing market crash, real estate businesses began shutting down. When the coronavirus hit, retail and travel companies suffered the most from the lockdowns. You can’t be a one-trick pony if you want to stay ahead in the job market.

By investing in skills, and education, you can prepare yourself to transition when the worst-case scenario happens. Some industries flourish and build during recession towards the next economic boom. Those will become areas of opportunity if you want to make the most out of a bad situation.

Investing in your knowledge about personal finance can also help you avoid pitfalls that will lose you money. Learning about savings, investments, debt management, and the like will add up. Eventually, you’ll begin to make better decisions with your money.

Diversify Your Portfolio

Another mistake people make is putting all their eggs in one basket, so to speak. Even if sectors like technology are performing well, it doesn’t mean they won’t get affected in the future. The best way to protect your investments is to have different baskets that grow separately. That way, when one is down, another is up.

Diversification reduces risk by ensuring that your money isn’t going in one direction. Not only that, most of the time booms mean increases in all markets. You protect yourself from the downturn and take advantage of upward movements.

Think Twice Before Taking on Debt

Big-ticket items often mean new loans and more debt. Maintaining a good debt-to-income ratio is always something you need to consider. For example, if you are buying a new house, consider that you might be paying a mortgage for the next couple of decades. In that time, a recession could occur, especially with how frequent they’ve become in the past century.

Ask yourself, will you still be able to pay the debt when you lose a source of income? If yes, then the debt is still manageable. If not, you may want to weigh the risks before moving forward with your decision.

No One Can Predict the Next Recession

A recession hits hard and without warning. In 2020, no one expected that COVID would impact the world the way it did. Even with our increasingly globalized world and quick access to information, you won’t often see the effects of an event until it hits.

Development is also at a fast pace compared to before. It spurs rapid change, which means you never know what to expect. The best way to deal with the situation is to manage what you can control. You can control how much money you have and save. Preparation is the key to surviving any downturn.

About the Author

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Client Credit Report Authorization

You hereby authorize and instruct Debt Reduction Services, Inc. (DRS, dba Money Fit by DRS) and/or its assigned agents to:
  • Obtain and review your credit report, and
  • Request verifications of your income and rental history, and any other information deemed necessary for improving your housing situation (for example, verifying your annual property tax obligations and homeowner’s insurance fees)
Your credit report will be obtained from a credit reporting agency chosen by DRS. You understand and agree that DRS intends to use the credit report evaluate your financial readiness to purchase or rent a home and/or to engage in post-purchase counseling activities and not to grant credit. You understand you may ask any questions pertaining to your credit report. However, while DRS will review the information with you, the company is not able to furnish you with a copy of your credit profile. You hereby authorize DRS to share your information from your credit report and any information that you provided (including any computations and assessments produced) with the entities listed below to help DRS determine your viable financial options.
  • Banks
  • Counseling Agencies
  • Debt Collectors
  • Landlords
  • Lenders
  • Mortgage Servicers
  • Property Management Companies
  • Public Housing Authorities
  • Social Service Agencies
Entities such as mortgage lenders and/or counseling agencies may contact your DRS counselor to evaluate the options for which you may be eligible. In connection with such evaluation, you authorize the credit reporting and/or financial agencies to release information and cooperate with your DRS counselor. No information will be discussed about you with entities not directly involved in your efforts to improve your housing situation. You hereby authorize the release of your information to program monitoring organizations of DRS, including but not limited to, Federal, State, and nonprofit partners for program review, monitoring, auditing, research, and/or oversight purposes. In addition, you authorize DRS to have your credit report pulled two additional times to conduct program evaluations. You also agree to keep DRS informed of any changes in address, telephone number, job status, marital status, or other conditions which may affect your eligibility for a program you have applied for or a counseling service that you are seeking. Finally, you understand that you may revoke consent to these disclosures by notifying DRS in writing.

Client Privacy, Data Security, and Client Rights Policy

NOTE: This sheet is to inform new or returning clients about our services, records, fees, and limitations that may affect you as a consumer of our services. This form also discloses how we might release your information to other agencies and/or regulators. If you do not understand a statement, please ask a Debt Reduction Services (DRS) counselor for assistance.

Debt Reduction Services, Inc. (DRS) has put into place policies and procedures to protect the security and confidentiality of your nonpublic personal information. This notice explains our online information practices and how we use and maintain your information to conduct our financial education and credit counseling sessions and to fulfill information and question requests. This privacy policy complies with federal laws and regulations.

To provide our financial education and credit counseling services, we collect nonpublic personal information about you as follows: 1) Information we receive from you, 2) Information about your transactions with us or others, and 3) Information we receive from your creditors or a consumer reporting agency. We do not share this information with outside parties.

We use non-identifying and aggregate information to better design our website and services, but we do not disclose anything that could be used to identify you as an individual.

You hereby authorize DRS, when necessary, to share your nonpublic personal, financial, credit, and any information that you provided (including any computations and assessments produced) with the following entities in order to help DRS provide you with appropriate counseling or guide you to appropriate services: third parties such as government agencies, your lender(s), your creditor(s), and nonprofit housing-related and other financial agencies as permitted by law, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online. We limit access to your nonpublic personal information to our employees, contractors and agents who need such access to provide products or services to you or for other legitimate business purposes.

Debt Reduction Services, Inc. complies with the privacy requirements set forth in the HUD housing counseling agency handbook 7610.1 (05/2010), including the sections 2-2 Mc, 3-1 H(2), 3-3, 5-3 F, and Attachment A.5. At all times, we will comply with all additional laws and regulations to which we are subject regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of individually identifiable information.

  1. Services: DRS provides the following housing-related services: counseling that includes Homeless Assistance, Rental Topics, Pre-purchase/Homebuying, and Home Maintenance and Financial Management for Homeowners (Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase); Education courses that include Financial literacy (including home affordability, budgeting, and understanding use of credit), Predatory lending, loan scam or other fraud prevention, Fair housing, Rental topics, Pre-purchase homebuyer education, Non-delinquency post-purchase workshop (including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners), and other workshops not listed above.

Please refer to DebtReductionServices.org for details of our services.

  1. Limits: Our services are limited to our normal weekday business hours. We do not provide individual counseling or education services after hours or on weekends, although our education courses are available 24/7.
  2. Fees: We do not charge fees for our financial management counseling and education. However, if you use them, you may have to pay for our Debt Management Program, Student Loan Counseling, Bankruptcy Certificate Services or certain financial education courses (homebuyer education, rental topics, fair housing, predatory lending, and post-purchase-non-delinquency including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners).
  3. Records: We maintain records of the services you receive, including notes about your progress or other relevant information to your work with us. You have the right to access and view your records by making a request to your counselor.
  4. Confidentiality: We respect your privacy and offer our services in confidence with the understanding that we may share such information with auditors and government regulators. Certain laws or situations may also lead to disclosing confidential issues, such as those involving potential child abuse or neglect, threats to harm self or others, or court subpoenas.
  5. Refusal of Services: You have the right to refuse services without any penalty or loss.
  6. Disclosure of Policies and Practices: You will be provided our agency disclosure statement.
  7. Sharing of Information: Sometimes we will need to contact other agencies or we may need to share your information, including your records, with other agencies or with regulators. We will do this only if you sign this form that gives us permission except for limited reasons; please see # 5 above for examples of such situations.
  8. Other: You have the right to be treated with respect by our staff, and we expect the same from you in return. We encourage you to always ask questions if something is not clear. We also encouraged you to express your thoughts and advocate throughout our services.

You acknowledge that this authorization will remain in effect for the duration of time that DRS serves as your housing counselor or financial education provider. You also acknowledge that should you wish to terminate this authorization, you will notify DRS in writing.

Disclosure  Statement

NOTE: If you have an impairment, disability, language barrier, or otherwise require an alternative means of completing this form or accessing information about our counseling services, please communicate with your DRS representative about arranging alternative accommodations.

Program Disclosure Form

Disclosure to Client for HUD Housing Counseling Services

Debt Reduction Services, Inc. and its financial education arm, Money Fit by DRS, offer the following housing counseling and educational services related to housing, personal finance, and bankruptcy certificates to consumers:
  • Housing Education Courses: DRS offers many online self-guided education programs classified as Financial, Budgeting, and Credit Workshops (FBC), Fair Housing Pre-Purchase Education Workshops (FHW), Homelessness Prevention Workshops (HMW), Non-Delinquency Post Purchase Workshops (NDW), Predatory Lending Education Workshops (PLW), Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops (PPW), and Rental Housing Workshops (RHW). These courses help participants increase their knowledge of and skills in personal finance, including home affordability, budgeting, and understanding the use of credit, as well as predatory lending, loan scams, and other fraud prevention topics, fair housing, rental topics, pre-purchase homebuyer education, non-delinquency post-purchase topics including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners, homeless prevention workshop, and other workshops not listed above relating to personal finance and housing. Course details are found below under “Housing Workshops.”
  • Home Equity Conversation Mortgage (HECM) Counseling (RMC): Via telephone and virtual platforms, we offer the required HECM counseling nationwide in addition to in-person counseling in Boise, Idaho. We also offer in-home counseling options in thirty counties across southern Idaho for an additional fee to cover our travel and additional staff time costs.
  • Home Maintenance and Financial Management for Homeowners (Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase) (FBC): Clients receive counseling and materials on the proper maintenance of their home and mortgage refinancing. Clients can find help and resources by phone, in our Boise office, or virtually on all topics related to stabilizing their long-term homeownership.
  • Services for Homeless Counseling (HMC): Clients receive phone, virtual, or in-person (Boise) counseling to evaluate their current housing needs, identify barriers to and goals for housing stability, establish a path to self-sufficiency, and connect with emergency shelters, income-appropriate housing, and/or other community resources (e.g. mental healthcare, job training, transportation, etc.).
  • Pre-Purchase Counseling (PPC): Clients receive counseling through the entire homebuying process. Assistance may involve creating a sustainable household budget, understanding mortgage options, building their credit rating, and putting together a realistic action plan to set and achieve homeownership goals.  Additionally, clients will receive materials and resources about home inspections and other homeownership topics relevant to successfully maintaining a home.
  • Rental Housing Counseling (RHC): Via phone, in-person appointments (Boise, ID), or virtual platforms, clients receive housing counseling relevant to renting, including rent subsidies from HUD or other government and assistance programs. Topics can also address issues and concerns having to do with fair housing, landlord and tenant laws, lease terms, rent delinquency, household budgeting, and finding alternate housing.
DRS also offers the following services:
  • A Debt Management Program (DMP) for consumers struggling to pay their credit cards, collections, medical debts, personal loans, old utility bills, and past-due cell phone accounts;
  • The Budget Briefing and Debtor Education Certificates that are required during the Bankruptcy filing process;
  • A Student Loan Repayment Plan Counseling and application service.

Relationships with Industry Partners

Through such services, DRS has established financial relationships with hundreds of banks, credit unions, and creditors such as American Express, Bank of America, Barclays, Capital One, Chase, Citibank, Credit One, Discover, Synchrony, US Bank, USAA, Wells Fargo, and others.

No Client Obligation

The client is not obligated to receive, purchase or utilize any other services offered by DRS or its exclusive partners to receive financial education or housing counseling services. Alternatives: As a condition of our counseling services, in alignment with meeting our client services goals, and in compliance with HUD’s Housing Counseling Program requirements, we may provide information on alternative services, programs, and products available to you, if applicable and known by our staff. Alternative DMP services include negotiating better repayment terms directly with your individual creditors, paying your debts as agreed, or, in extreme cases, filing for personal bankruptcy. Alternative credit and education services can be found through MyMoney.gov or the Jump$tart Clearinghouse of online financial education resources. Housing counseling alternatives can be found through HUD at www.hud.gov/findacounselor.
Finally, you understand that you may revoke consent to these disclosures by notifying DRS in writing.

Housing Counseling and Education Fee Schedule

 

Online Education Program Fees*

Homebuyer Education Course: $59 per participant

  • Self-paced course available here, our online housing counseling and education center. Certificates will be automatically generated upon completion of the course (approximately 6-8 hours)

RentalFair HousingPredatory Lending / HOEPAPost-Purchase (Non-delinquency post-purchase workshop, including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners) Online Workshops: $49 per participant

  • Approximately 1 hour each

Other Self-Guided Financial Literacy Webinars (e.g. creditbudgetinghomeless preventiondebt prevention): $0

One-on-one Counseling Fees*

Pre-purchase Homebuying Counseling, Rental Counseling, Post-purchase Ownership Maintenance and Financial Management: $75

  • Session by the hour

Reverse Mortgage/HECM Counseling with Required Certificate:

  • $200†

Credit Report Fee: Paid Directly by Client

*Fees for all but our online education courses and workshops can be paid online by debit card, credit card, or PayPal or in person by cash, check or money order to: “Debt Reduction Services, Inc.” Registration fees are non-refundable 24 hours or less before the start of an in-person course or workshop. Certificates are non-transferable

*Fees may be waived for households with income of 150% or less of that identified on the US Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines Page

†Home visit counseling is available in 30 southern Idaho counties for potential HECM borrowers at additional costs to cover our travel (IRS reimbursement rates apply) and staff time ($50 per hour or fraction there).

Housing Counseling and Education Fee Schedule

 

Online Education Program Fees*

Homebuyer Education Course: $59 per participant

  • Self-paced course available here, our online housing counseling and education center. Certificates will be automatically generated upon completion of the course (approximately 6-8 hours)

RentalFair HousingPredatory Lending / HOEPAPost-Purchase (Non-delinquency post-purchase workshop, including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners) Online Workshops: $49 per participant

  • Approximately 1 hour each

Other Self-Guided Financial Literacy Webinars (e.g. creditbudgetinghomeless preventiondebt prevention): $0

One-on-one Counseling Fees*

Pre-purchase Homebuying Counseling, Rental Counseling, Post-purchase Ownership Maintenance and Financial Management: $75

  • Session by the hour

Reverse Mortgage/HECM Counseling with Required Certificate:

  • $200†

Credit Report Fee: Paid Directly by Client

*Fees for all but our online education courses and workshops can be paid online by debit card, credit card, or PayPal or in person by cash, check or money order to: “Debt Reduction Services, Inc.” Registration fees are non-refundable 24 hours or less before the start of an in-person course or workshop. Certificates are non-transferable

*Fees may be waived for households with income of 150% or less of that identified on the US Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines Page

†Home visit counseling is available in 30 southern Idaho counties for potential HECM borrowers at additional costs to cover our travel (IRS reimbursement rates apply) and staff time ($50 per hour or fraction there).