People eventually grow out of their piggy banks. Eventually, you grow out of your high school account. So how many accounts should you have?
Keep in mind; no one has to keep all accounts at the same bank. Shop around for the best account for your circumstances.
A college student
A typical college student needs just two accounts. One should be a checking account for spending and bills. This is where you paycheck or source of income lands. The other account should be a savings with three-to-six-months worth of necessary funds. It might not be possible for a college student to a mass that much savings immediately, but putting aside at least 10 percent of any income will but you closer to that goal. Try to have funds for $500 car repair or $1000 hospital visit. You can also use the savings account to save for goals and trips.
A single adult
In addition to a checking account where bills and spending are handled, a single young adult should try to operate two separate savings accounts. One account serves as emergency funds with three-to-six-months necessary expenses. This account you don't touch unless it's for an actual emergency. The second savings account is for goal-oriented saving. Save for a down payment toward real estate, graduate school, a car or other big-ticket items. As you get on your feet finically, investing or putting money a high-interest rate account like a CD or a money market deposit account can reward you for saving larger quantities of money. Open a retirement account.
A business owner
If you're a business owner or contact worker, separating money for your business and personal life makes taxes less complicated. If you have a number of business transactions, opening a separate checking account for transactions will keep things neat. Another option is getting a business credit card where you charge all business expenditures on the card. Then pay off the card with money from a business checking account. Be sure to maintain your personal finances and investments. If you are a freelancer or receive a 1099, be sure to have a savings account dedicated for tax quarterlies. Tax season can be less painful when you've paid ahead.
A married couple
This is where it gets more complicated. A couple should have the same long-term financial goals. Have a joint-savings account for long-term goals but have separate checking accounts for day-to-day use. A checking account for joint bills like the mortgage, utilities, car payments can organize money flow. A high yield account like a CD or money market deposit account can reward you for saving larger quantities of money but also increase savings toward goals like purchasing a house. Individual 401ks or Roth IRAs should be contributed into monthly.
Older empty nesters
Simplification is key. The fewer accounts the better. A checking account for bills and expenses and savings accounts for emergencies is essential. Accounts with both names help make sure funds are easily accessible or immediately transferable in case of death.
The Federal Reserve sets the guardrails for the federal funds rate, and through that helps control the money supply for the nation.
When you take out a loan for a car, charge something to your credit card, or get a personal line of credit, there is going to be an interest rate that applies to your loan.
A lot of different factors go into what you will be charged, including your own personal credit score. But even those with flawless credit still see a minimum charge that they can't get around. That all goes back to the Federal Funds Rate.
One thing consumers rarely realize is that all of our banks are lending money to each other every night. Banks are legally required to maintain a certain percentage of their deposits in non-interest-bearing accounts at the Federal Reserve to ensure they have enough money to cover any withdrawals that may unexpectedly come up. However, deposits can fluctuate and it's very common for some banks to exceed the requirement on certain days while some fall short. In cases like this, banks actually lend each other money to ensure they meet the minimum balance. It's a bit hard to imagine these multibillion-dollar financial institutions needing to borrow money to tide them over for a bit, but it happens every single night at the Federal Reserve. It's also a nice deal for those with balances above the reserve balance requirement to earn a bit of money with cash that would normally just be sitting there.
The exact interest rate the banks will charge each other is a matter of negotiation between them, but the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) (the arm of the Federal Reserve that sets monetary policy) meets eight times a year to set a target rate. They evaluate a multitude of economic indicators including unemployment, inflation, and consumer confidence to decide the best rate to keep the country in business. The weighted average of all interest rates across these interbank loans is the effective federal funds rate.
This rate has a huge impact on the economy overall as well as your personal finances. The federal funds rate is essentially the cheapest money available to a bank and that feeds into all of the other loans they make. Banks will add a slight upcharge to the rate set by the Fed to determine what is the lowest interest that they will announce for their most creditworthy customers, also known as the prime rate. If you have a variable interest rate loan (very common with credit cards and some student loans), it's likely that the interest rate you pay is a set percentage on top of that prime rate that your lender is paying. That's why in times of low interest rates (it was set at 0% during the Great Recession), a lot of borrowers should go for fixed interest rate loans that won't increase. However, if the federal funds rate was relatively high (it went up to 20% in the early 1980's), a variable interest rate loan may be a better decision as you would be charged less interest should the rate drop without the need to refinance.
The federal funds rate also has a major impact on your investment portfolio. The stock market reacts very strongly to any changes in interest rates from the Federal Reserve, as a lower rate makes it cheaper for companies to borrow and reinvest while a higher rate may restrict capital and slow short-term growth. If you have a significant portion of your investments in equities, a small change in the federal funds rate can have a large impact on your net worth.
Whether you're leaving a job involuntarily, departing for something new, or just want to prepare for the unknown, it is smart to understand all your options regarding your 401k.
diy gifts
Frugal gifting often gets a bad reputation. However, this shopping method does not make you cheap — it makes you practical. Frugal gifts often avoid waste and overspending and can be just as meaningful (if not more so) as any other present.
With the National Retail Federation predicting each consumer this holiday season to spend upwards of $1,000 on holiday gifts amidst an economic recession —this year might be the perfect time to reconsider your spending budget. We've formulated the ultimate list of frugal gift-giving ideas to get you started.
