3 TIPS TO KEEP YOU FOCUSED Don’t Drive Distracted
Paying off debt and saving money are the building blocks of a healthy financial life, but the statistics are dire: One-third of Americans haven’t saved a single penny for retirement, 38% of households have credit card debt, and 44% don’t have enough cash saved to cover a $400 emergency expense. If you see yourself in those numbers, there’s no better time than now to start working on healthier financial habits because April is Financial Literacy Month. Even with myriad apps available to help, budgeting can still feel intimidating. So, why not keep it simple with these two systems you can implement today? THE 50-30-20 STRATEGY Before she was a U.S. senator, Elizabeth Warren was a tenured law professor at Harvard, specializing in bankruptcy. During that time, she published the widely acclaimed personal finance book, “All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan.” Some 16 years later, her advice still holds up. That’s because Warren’s approach to money is simple and flexible. She suggests allocating 50% of your income to needs like housing, groceries, and utilities; 30% to wants like entertainment, vacations, and eating out; and 20% to savings, which starts by building a three- month emergency fund and then allocating savings to a retirement fund thereafter. If you have credit card debt, Warren suggests allocating that final 20% to debt repayment before you start saving. Otherwise, you’ll just backslide as interest mounts on your existing debt. If you’re able to save more than 20%, adjust the ratios accordingly. If you can’t save 20% just yet, start with less (even 1% each month adds up!) and make a goal to increase your savings by 1% each month or quarter. THE ANTI-BUDGET STRATEGY If Warren’s budgeting strategy feels too complicated, try financial expert and “Afford Anything” podcast host Paula Pant’s anti-budget. Each time you get paid, skim 20% (or whatever your current savings goal is) off the top, put it in a savings or retirement account, and spend the rest however you’d like. Pant’s logic here is that if you tell yourself you’ll save “whatever’s left over at the end of the month,” you’re unlikely to save anything. Free yourself from the worry by saving first, then spend the rest guilt-free. No Spreadsheets Required 2 Simple Budgeting Strategies You Can Implement Today
Distracted driving is a serious issue. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2,841 people lost their lives in 2018 due to distracted drivers. Yet, despite knowing how dangerous it is, people are still likely to divert their attention from the roadway. Whether it’s checking a phone, applying makeup, adjusting the radio, or even drinking a cup of morning coffee, any second your eyes are removed from the road can cost you. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, which strives to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities caused by distracted driving. To refresh our knowledge about how to prevent distracted driving, here are a few tips to follow. A Potential Lawsuit NURSING HOME NEGLECT AND COVID-19 Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, there have been more than 485,000 cases and 7,700 deaths in Missouri. Though many people took and continue to take precautions to keep their loved ones safe, people are still getting sick. What’s even worse is when a family is unable to do anything but watch as an elder family member becomes sick under someone else’s care. Senior citizens with existing health conditions, such as those often living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, are most at risk of dying from COVID-19. If you have lost a loved one in a nursing home in Kansas City due to the virus, you may have a potential lawsuit. Here’s what you need to know. COVID-19 AND NURSING HOME NEGLIGENCE The law does not expect nursing homes to prevent 100% of COVID-19 cases or deaths. It does, however, expect nursing homes and their staff to guarantee the reasonable safety of their residents. All nursing homes have a legal responsibility to implement precautions and protect their residents with the following actions:
• Prohibit or limit nursing home visitors
• Actively check anyone coming into the facility for virus symptoms
If 20% feels like too lofty a goal, start with whatever feels doable and work to increase that by 1% each month or quarter.
• Keep an adequate number of employees on staff
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