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Budget Tips for Valentine's Day

The day of Valentine's Day It's just around the corner – and whether you love or hate this date, it's a good reminder to examine the role money plays in your relationship.

Unlike that gift-wrapped box of heart-shaped chocolates gone in an instant, making some sensible financial decisions now could improve the chances that you and your partner will enjoy many happy years together.

San Valentín (Foto: Pixabay)
Valentine's Day (Photo: Pixabay)

So while roses are red, violets are blue, here are some financial tips especially for you – from Justmoney. This personal financial website provides the busy and digitally savvy with easy access to financial products, services and information.

First, it's important to understand your own feelings about money before you talk to your partner. “This topic can be very emotional for some, triggering deep-seated feelings like fear or guilt,” says Justmoney business manager Sarah Nicholson.

Some people believe they don't deserve wealth or feel guilty when they do well, knowing that others are struggling. The balance between emotions and money is important.

As in romantic relationships, opposites attract, and a big spender might team up with someone who is frugal. Tensions can increase when couples have different financial incomes, expectations, and priorities. This is compounded when they are faced with a large unplanned expense. It can also be the heartbreaking discovery that a partner has secret spending habits or is deep in debt.

As in personal relationships, communication is key. A regular date for money sounds scary, but it could be as simple as spending 10 minutes a week discussing family finances. Ignorance is not bliss, and it is important to establish a solid financial foundation. What if one of you loses your job, or a family business goes under, for example?

In your discussions about money, try to be open and honest, avoid judgment, and try to compartmentalize your financial challenges with other issues in your relationship.

It might be worth making an appointment with a financial adviser or family lawyer if you are considering a major change in your life, such as moving in together or buying a property.

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When you commit to each other, you need to know what assets your partner has and what debts they owe. Keep in mind that there is good debt, such as a home loan, while problems could be brewing if your partner has committed to a short-term, high-interest loan. Revenge spending is never a good idea.

Once you've agreed on how to manage your money wisely, how do you make a gesture of love without blowing the budget? this day of Valentine's Day, a thoughtful and heartfelt gift could mean so much more than reserving a table at an expensive restaurant. How about a picnic in a romantic location, with a handwritten note telling your partner what you love and appreciate about them? Find more tips on how to avoid overspending on the day of Valentine's Day here.

“Justmoney” also has a “deals” section where you can discover restaurant, spa and shopping deals, discounts and vouchers. This way, you can plan ahead for a special treat without breaking the bank,” says Nicholson. See offers for ideas

6 Ways You Can Cancel Your Credit Cards

Unlike loans, apartment rentals, and many other contracts, lease agreements Credit cards they are not that hard to break. You can decide to cancel a credit card at any time for any reason, and the credit card company has the same right.

In general, it is much more common for consumers to cancel their cards. The companies of Credit cards they generally focus on adding and keeping cardholders, not getting rid of them. However, there are several reasons why a credit card company might decide to close your card.

tarjetas de crédito (Foto: Pixabay)
credit cards (Photo: Pixabay)

1. Inactivity
If you never use your card, the card company Credit cards they may eventually shut it down. There is no set timeframe for when this occurs, as every card issuer is different. I've had cards that were closed for inactivity after a year, but I've also had cards that I haven't used in over five years that are still open.

To avoid this, be sure to use the Credit cards that you want to keep every three to six months. Another option is to set up a card as the payment method for a small recurring bill, so you have at least one transaction each month. If you're worried you'll forget to sign in and pay your credit card, you can set up automatic payments.

 2. Missed payments
Although the companies Credit cards they will give you some leeway if you don't pay on time, this patience only lasts for a while.

When your minimum payment is 90 days or more late, you're in the danger zone where your card could be cancelled. Your card can stay open longer, but 180 days past due is the limit where almost any credit card company Credit cards will cancel the card.

Your card could also be canceled if you regularly do not pay, even if you are never 90 days late. This not only puts you at risk of having your card cancelled, it also costs you money in late fees and can hurt your credit score.

3. Bankruptcy
Most of the companies Credit cards They have a policy of automatically canceling the cards if the cardholder files for bankruptcy.

This policy applies even if the card had no balance and was not part of the bankruptcy filing. From the card issuer's perspective, filing for bankruptcy makes you more vulnerable as a cardholder.

If you need to file for bankruptcy, assume that all of your Credit cards they will be cancelled, because that is the most likely scenario.

 4. Misuse of the Card Rewards Program
Card issuers have cracked down on consumers suspected of gambling their rewards programs. If a credit card company thinks you're using underhanded methods to earn more rewards, they might cancel any cards you have with them.

What could be considered a misuse of a rewards program? Here are some examples that could lead to problems:

High spending on gift cards or other cash equivalents, particularly at stores where your card earns bonus rewards

5. A drop in your credit score
If your credit score drops by a significant amount, credit card companies Credit cards They might reevaluate keeping you as a customer. Your credit score is one way creditors determine the risk of lending you money. A drop in your credit score means you are at greater risk than before.

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You don't have to worry if your credit score drops by a small amount. But if it drops by 50 points or more, that could be a problem.

6. The card is no longer offered
A card issuer might decide to stop offering a credit card you have. In most cases, card issuers will close applications but allow previous cardholders to continue using the card.

However, there is also the possibility that a security company Credit cards close the requests and cancel the card entirely. When that happens, card issuers often give customers the option to transition to a similar card.

5 things to consider before sharing a credit card

For Mike Caligiuri and his fiancée, buying a home together inspired them to also share a credit card.

«We were going to pay the same mortgage, and we had many common expenses. So, just for administrative reasons, it made sense,” says Caligiuri, a certified financial planner and founder of Ohio-based financial planning firm Caligiuri Financial.

Compartir una tarjeta de crédito (Foto: Pixabay)
Sharing a credit card (Photo: Pixabay)

Though it sounds like it's more about logistics than romance, he acknowledges that love plays a role, too: "You want to show the other partner that you trust him or her, and one way to do that is through joint finances," he says. .

While many card issuers don't allow joint accounts or cosigners on credit cards, it's usually relatively easy to add someone as an authorized user, which is what Caligiuri and his fiancée did. (She added it to her existing card.)

If you are thinking of share a credit card With a loved one, addressing burning issues early—such as spending limits, who pays the bill, and what the rewards strategy is for starters—can help avoid disagreements later.

Here are five conversations to have before sharing a credit card with your partner:

1. What is your credit history?
If you have credit card debt or have had problems with it in the past, it's important to let your partner know before you start share a credit card to avoid surprises later, suggests AnnaMarie Mock, a CFP based in Wayne, New Jersey. "It's vital that both partners understand the severity and cost of credit card debt because it can become a huge financial burden," he says.

That conversation is not always easy. According to a recent NerdWallet survey, about 1 in 5 Americans have lied to a significant other about their credit card debt or the amount of the debt. Still, more than 2 in 5 believe it's important for a couple to discuss their credit scores before moving in together, and the vast majority of those who combine finances with their partner – 86% – say all married couples they should combine at least some of their finances.

2. Who is going to pay the bill?
If one partner is the primary cardholder and the other is the authorized user, then the primary cardholder is ultimately responsible for paying the account. Paying it off in full and on time each month means you can avoid paying interest and late fees. If you open a new credit card together, you can decide who will take on that role.

Caligiuri and his fiancée, for example, decided that she would still be responsible for paying off the card each month. (She tells Caligiuri how much to transfer to their joint checking account before making that payment.)

3. What type of expense should be discussed in advance?
While everyday expenses like coffee or groceries probably don't require detailed discussion, Mock suggests deciding what level of spending does.

For example, one person probably shouldn't spend a $500 plane ticket without first checking with the other person. Large purchases can strain your card's credit limit or make it difficult to pay your bill in full at the end of the month, which could result in interest charges.

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4. How will the problems be addressed?
If you have a larger-than-expected monthly bill racking up, or if you're hit with a late fee or two, it's a good idea to have a communication plan in place, says Taylor Venanzi, a CFP and owner of Activate Wealth, based in in Philly.

He suggests establishing regular meetings once a month to review the card, spending habits, and savings goals.

5. How will you share the rewards?
Credit card rewards can be part of an overall strategy to help finance vacations, and couples can rack up points faster if they share cards, says Eric Simonson, certified financial planner and owner of the firm Abundo Wealth, with headquarters in Minneapolis. If travel isn't on their plans, they can also use rewards to earn cash or points toward shopping or gift cards, among other options.

Apple Pay will go on to dominate 10% of the world's credit cards

Apple Pay It's a multi-billion dollar sleeper business.

We've seen Apple's services and subscription revenue skyrocket in recent years as the company moves away from hardware revenue and toward value-added services. One of them is Apple Pay, a purchasing technology that uses the traditional mechanics of credit cards, but dresses it with modern, simple and powerful technology.

Apple Pay (Foto: Pixabay)
Apple Pay (Photo: Pixabay)

Despite its launch a few years ago in only one country, Apple Pay it now accounts for 5% of all credit card purchase volume in the world, according to financial research firm Bernstein.
Apple Pay uses iPhones and Apple Watches to exchange payment information with contactless point-of-sale terminals. Adoption has likely accelerated with the early 2019 launch of the Apple Card. Instead of simply paying with other companies' credit cards, Apple becomes the credit card with Apple Card, which the company launched with Goldman Sachs and Mastercard.

The Global Payments Report says that global non-cash transaction volumes reached $539 billion in 2017, and were growing at 12% annually. Others have estimated the volume of global payments at around $1 trillion.

And that means Apple can rake in a lot of money along the way.

Apple Pay it doesn't return a lot of revenue to Apple per transaction: it's just another way to use your credit card. However, every time you use it, Apple gets a reduction of 0.15% of that payment. According to an estimate by 9to5Mac, if only 5% of transactions are made through Apple Pay, Apple would earn $525 million in the United States alone in 2018 transaction volumes.

At 10%, that's over a billion dollars.

And although you may not use Apple Pay all the time if you still have other credit cards, the customers who get the Apple Card are likely to use it almost exclusively, because then Apple can give you colorful reports and data on all your spending patterns.

(Plus, the Apple Card is privacy-safe, has no fees, and has a high money-back policy.)

The Apple Card is now available in the United States and Canada, in most of Europe, and in much of Asia. Add these other countries, add the continued growth of digital transactions, and add the continued penetration of Apple Card in the hands of the Apple faithful… and you have a multi-billion dollar business going.

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And that's the revenue that Apple can essentially sit down and collect. It's basically passive income, because Goldman Sachs and Mastercard do the heavy lifting, while Apple provides some hardware and software.

This should grow year after year.

That will probably worry some financial companies. What if Apple can convert all, or even a substantial fraction of Apple users to Apple Pay, or especially to Apple Card? Suddenly that multi-million dollar business grows even bigger.

Economy is growing but more jobs are needed

Inertia is a very important process. Inertia, like love, makes the world go round, and keeps it going. Moving bodies tend to keep moving. the eeconomies that are growing They tend to keep growing. So if you look at the January jobs report, it reminds us that the economy has momentum on its side. It has a reasonable head of steam. Growth is not the wow factor.

The economy is growing about 2 percent a year, which is pretty pedestrian by historical standards. Instead, it is about the potential of the economy. The reason potential growth is low today has to do with why the recent jobs reports have been raising a few eyebrows.

Economía está creciendo (Foto: Pixabay)
Economy is growing (Photo: Pixabay)

When a economy is growing, economists are always looking for the irresistible object, for whatever will stop the advance of the economy, and make an economy that is just at rest tend to stay at rest. This is not because economists love misery. It's only because the appearance of a hurdle to a growing economy gives us our next job to try to perpetuate growth or, if that hurdle does indeed cripple the economy, to restore growth.

The economy has been creating a lot of jobs month after month, which is surprising because the working-age population has been growing very slowly. Americans are graying, Baby Boomers are retiring, and there are proportionately fewer teens and millennials to fill their places in the workforce. As the number of jobs grows at an impressive rate month after month, economists are scratching their heads and wondering, where did all these people come from? In the quest for a lockout that could stop the bandwagon of jobs, and potentially economic expansion, when will those critics stop showing up in the monthly jobs report?

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But in the bigger picture, the picture is good. People continue to find work. People with jobs tend to be happy and spend their salaries, which in turn creates more jobs for the next month. Once again, moving bodies tend to keep moving. So economists looking at this jobs report don't see specific brush fires to fight, but continue to worry about dry conditions ahead. The working-age population continues to grow slowly, while the headroom for growth in our workforce continues to shrink.

Preparing not for the next monthly jobs report, but for the years and decades to come, which is what we should really be concerned about, requires that we try to accelerate the paltry growth of the labor force so that we can ramp up production more quickly and provide all Baby Boomers retiring the living standards they expect, with enough left over for our working-age population, and their children in turn, to have the kind of living standards and education funding they need.

To that end, we need to encourage more adult Americans to join or stay in the workforce, to upskill so they can be more productive and earn higher wages, and to attract the most talented from around the world. Every forward-thinking company in every country is looking for the best people from anywhere in the world to fill cutting-edge jobs so that those companies can take advantage of economic leadership. If the United States wants to maintain the lead, we need to compete aggressively. If we don't, trouble-sniffing economists will surely one day see trouble in the month-after-month employment reports. Economies at rest tend to remain at rest.