February 19, 2014 – By Claes Bell
The line between a future of financial solvency and one of distress is thinner than you might think.
Unfortunately, many people don’t realize they’re on the wrong side of that divide until it’s too late, says Jessica Cecere, South Florida regional president for CredAbility, a nonprofit credit counseling agency.
“I call it ostrich syndrome. You know that things aren’t good, but you just don’t want to face up to it right now,” she says.
But the earlier you realize you’re having issues with debt, the better chance you have of fixing them, Cecere says.
Bankrate offers eight signs you’re flirting with financial ruin. If four or more of these signs sound familiar, it’s time to seek help, Cecere says.
Cecere recommends looking for a free, nonprofit credit counseling service. You can search for a free or low-cost counseling provider in your area by visiting the National Foundation for Credit Counseling website or by calling (800) 338-2227.
Another alternative is contacting a fee-only financial planner. The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors maintains a database of fee-only planners on its website.
Here are the telltale signs you’re heading for a financial fall.
PAYING LATE FEES AND JUGGLING BILLS
Frank Boucher, principal of Boucher Financial Planning Services in Reston, Va., says habitually running up late fees typically has one of two causes.
“If you’re paying late because you can’t pay on time, that’s a clear indicator (of future financial trouble),” Boucher says. “If you’re paying late fees because you’re just lazy about it, you’re throwing money away.”
A more serious symptom of financial distress is juggling monthly bills by making payments big enough and frequently enough to keep services flowing, but never paying balances on time and in full, Cecere says. Your debt worsens every month as balances grow.
“You’re thinking ahead of time, ‘I don’t really have enough money to pay my bills,’ and you’re sort of living paycheck to paycheck,” she says.
COUNTING ON A FUTURE WINDFALL
Basing your plans for financial stability on a future payoff, such as an inheritance, a run-up in the value of your home or a big tax refund can put your finances in dire straits.
It’s also a symptom of a bigger problem — rationalizing when it comes to your debt, Boucher says.
“You’re planning on a bonus that doesn’t materialize, or what we saw happening not too long ago, with people saying, ‘I can always suck more equity out of my property,'” he says. “If you think like that, you’re really setting yourself up for a fall.”
MULTIPLE CREDIT CARD HOCUS
Credit cards are best used as a convenient way to make purchases without having to carry cash and to earn rewards, Cecere says.
“If you’re a savvy consumer and you can use credit cards and you can get points for them … then you’re charging groceries and gas, but you’re paying for them at the end of the month,” she says.
If your credit card debt is consistently rising and you’re unable to make more than the minimum payments, your balance will continue to rise. And if you fail to make the minimum payment for more than 60 days, your rate could jump, making your financial condition even worse.
While cardholders can stave off trouble temporarily by making the minimum payments or shifting balances to new cards, any kind of sudden change in your finances, such as a rise in gas prices, can destabilize your finances, Cecere says.
FIGHTING WITH YOUR PARTNER OVER FINANCES
Most couples have occasional fights about debt, but if you regularly fight with your spouse about money, it can be a sign there’s not enough disposable income to finance the family’s spending, Boucher says.
Likewise, Cecere says if you’re regularly suffering from stress over heavy debts, it could be an indication that your financial situation is unsustainable.
“It’s on your mind, but you don’t want to talk about it. You can’t sleep at night because you’re worried about your bills,” she says.
REGULARLY PAYING OVERDRAFT FEES
If you’re constantly incurring fees for overdrawing your checking account, you could be on the brink of financial disaster, says Wayne Blanchard, senior partner at Money Professionals Group in Orlando, Fla.
He compares nonsufficient fund fees, or NSF fees, to the nautical flags raised to warn of dangerous wind conditions.
“If you’re getting a lot of NSF notices, that’s a hurricane warning flag. It’s here,” Blanchard says. “That’s not a warning, that’s a real problem here now.”
Regular overdraft fees can occur for a couple of reasons, says Blanchard. Many serial overdrafters are struggling financially and don’t have income available to cover their debts, meaning they’re likely on the verge of having to declare bankruptcy.
YOU HAVE A SAVINGS RATE OF ZERO
If you’re unable to set aside a small amount of money for savings in your budget, your finances are on unstable footing, says Boucher.
“Savings is an expense, and it’s something that should be budgeted for just like any other expense,” Boucher says. “What’s going to happen is something is going to come along — an unexpected car repair or a home repair or an interruption in income — and you’re going to be in a very bad place.”
He says that while saving may be difficult, not saving puts you at risk of financial hardship. “With no savings, you’re really standing on the edge of a cliff,” he says.
Blanchard agrees. He says many people rely on credit for their emergency backstop, but credit isn’t effective as an emergency savings fund. If banks see you regularly adding abnormally high charges, they’ll clamp down on your limit.
In order to be financially healthy, you need to set aside money for unexpected emergencies and for your future retirement, Blanchard says. While an emergency may never come, retirement certainly will, and you’ll need to be financially ready.
COVERING EXPENSES WITH RETIREMENT SAVINGS
Borrowing or withdrawing retirement funds from your 401(k) is a common thread in many of the cases of financial distress that Boucher has seen as a financial adviser.
Boucher says, “401(k) loans are usually a bad idea under any circumstances, but when you have more than one, that’s a sign that you’re not managing your cash flow very well.”
Regularly pillaging your retirement savings isn’t just a warning sign you’re living outside your means, it could have serious consequences for your retirement. It lessens the beneficial effects of compounding that help retirement funds grow.
TREATING YOUR HOME LIKE A PIGGY BANK
Using your home equity as a financial crutch is something Boucher often sees with clients heading toward financial distress.
Boucher says such moves are especially ominous if they’re not due to a serious financial need but to a desire for “wants” like a vacation or a new car.
“You’re paying for a vacation with a home equity loan and you’re amortizing that over 15 or 20 years. That just doesn’t make any sense,” Boucher says.
