Archive for the ‘Bootcamp’ Category

Day 17: Tackle Retirement Accounts In Five Steps

Total Action Time: ~20 Minutes
So, you have a sense for the differences between the retirement vehicles, but which one is right for you? Roll up your sleeves – it is time to get serious about your financial future!
Learn:
Let’s talk about your options:
1. If your employer offers a 401(k) matching plan, enroll! Contribute as much as you can (up to the $16,500 limit) to get your full matching benefits. If your company does not match and you can save more than the $5000 IRA contribution limit, you should definitely still contribute to your 401(k)!
2. If your company doesn’t sponsor a 401(k) [...]

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Day 16: What’s An IRA/401(k) And Why You Should Care NOW

Total Action Time: ~10 minutes
The topic of retirement is daunting, we know. So deep breath, we’ll make it easy!
Retirement is expensive. We’re not just talking about fancy vacations; we’re talking about critical expenses like proper healthcare and visits to your children.
Learn:
Experts suggest that the amount you’re estimated to need for paying bills during retirement equals about 70% of whatever you made in the years before that. Saving early makes a real difference.
If you contributed to a Roth IRA every year starting at age 20, you could retire as a millionaire! Here’s why time is your biggest asset: Chelsea and [...]

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Day 15: Report For (Credit) Duty

Time: ~17 minutes
Okay, you got your credit score yesterday. Now, you need to review the underlying reports that determine your score. Your credit report is a file on you and your money, so it’s kind of a given that YOU need to read it!

Learn:
Your credit report includes all sorts of things:
• Your personal info (social security number, past addresses, etc.)
• A summary of your financial accounts (and how responsible you’ve been with them)
• Whether or not you’ve filed for bankruptcy
• Any inquiries that have been made on your [...]

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Day 14: Get Your Credit Score

Time: ~  7 minutes
Yesterday, you got in-the-know and figured out what a credit score is and that you have one. Now, here’s your big chance (i.e. your big non-optional chance) to check your credit score.
Learn:
Your credit score is the number associated with your credit report. There are five main things that go into that three-digit
1.    Whether you pay your bills on time. (Do you? The answer should definitely be YES. Remember those reminders you put in your calendar?)
2.    How much you owe, relative to your credit limit. (Your credit limit is what you can spend on all of your [...]

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Day 13: Get An A+ On The Credit Quiz

Credit score? Credit report? What the heck are those and how are they different? Well, they’re only some of the most important financial paperwork that exists on you and your financial history. In other words, you’ve got to figure out the answers to these questions. Don’t worry—we’ll break it down for you.
Learn:
Whether or not you regularly check your credit report and score, they are constantly being updated to reflect your financial track record. You need to know what both look like for you.
A credit report is a file on you, full of a lot of important info. Your credit history [...]

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