National nonprofit ACCC offers consumers personal finance tips to take advantage of the stronger economy in Las Vegas.
Boston, MA – May 21, 2014
The Las Vegas economy is beginning to emerge from the recession as its population, employment rate, and housing market are starting to rise. The stronger economy has also increased consumer confidence in the market and, therefore, increased consumer spending. However, it is going to take a long time to fully bounce back from the recession and consumers should be smart about their current spending habits and budgeting for the future. American Consumer Credit Counseling is offering tips to help customers budget their personal finances and spend their money wisely in a continuously changing economy.
“Across the U.S., the economy is slowly starting to come back. Employment rates are rising, and people are beginning to feel confident enough to spend money and become more active in the financial market,” stated Steve Trumble, President and CEO of ACCC. “It is important to remember that while the economy is growing, consumers should be smart about budgeting their money, and leveraging the stronger economy to grow their personal finances”
Las Vegas was hit hard during the recession as unemployment rates climbed to an all-time high and many people started to leave the area to look for jobs elsewhere. In the past two years, Las Vegas has experienced a significant increase in population, due to the development and growth of construction, healthcare and tourism industries. Housing prices are starting to rise again and the economy of Las Vegas is becoming more stable. Consumers are also spending more, spurring the economy and bringing Las Vegas out of the recession.
While consumer spending is good for the economy, consumers should be smart about spending and budgeting their personal finances. ACCC offers tips to consumers on how to use the upward economy to their advantage:
- Organize Finances – Evaluate your current situation and determine where you stand financially. Assess how much money was spent during the recession, and start mapping out a plan to get back on track.
- Budget – Creating a budget is the best way to keep your finances in check. Write down how much you are planning to spend during the month and stick to it.
- Assess Income v. Spending – Evaluate your monthly expenses and compare them to your income. See where you can cut back in order to stick with your budget, or reinvent your financial goals.
- Set Financial Goals – Develop a plan for short and long-term goals, for example, maybe you want to save $1,000 in 12 months or want to renovate your kitchen in the next 5 years. It is easier to manage your money when you are working towards a goal.
- Pay Outstanding Bills – Use the stronger economy to get caught up on outstanding bills that may have accumulated during the recession. Pay bills and debt first, then create a savings or investment plan. Interest builds up on outstanding payments, so it is better to take care of those first.
- Savings Plans – Reactivate any old savings plans such as a 401k with your employer and consider increasing your monthly contribution.
ACCC is a 501(c)3 organization, that provides free credit counseling, bankruptcy counseling, and housing counseling to consumers nationwide in need of financial literacy education and money management. For more information, contact ACCC:
- For local credit counseling, call 702-952-2846 or toll free 800-769-3571
- For bankruptcy counseling. call 866-826-6924
- For housing counseling, call 866-826-7180
- Or visit us online at ConsumerCredit.com
About American Consumer Credit Counseling
American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering consumers to achieve financial health through education, counseling, and debt management. ACCC provides individuals with practical solutions for solving financial problems and recognizes that consumers’ financial difficulties are often not the result of poor spending habits, but more frequently from extenuating circumstances beyond their control. As one of the nation’s leading providers of financial education and credit counseling services, ACCC works with consumers to help them with the best plan of action to reduce their debt and regain financial stability. ACCC is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and holds an A+ rating. It is also a member of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies. For more information or to access free financial education resources log on to ConsumerCredit.com or visit TalkingCentsBlog.com.
