How To Prepare For An Economic Downturn

How To Prepare For An Economic Downturn

If you’re like many, the recent swings of the stock market aren’t necessarily keeping you up at night—only around half of us are invested in the stock market at all, and of that, “the top 10 per cent of wealth holders in the United States own an estimated 85 to 90 per cent of stocks,” according to the Washington Post. Rather, the thought of a weakening job market is what really matters to you. A dip in the S&P doesn’t mean nearly as much as your company laying off more workers.

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/08/prioritise-building-up-your-cash-reserves/” thumb=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/09/iStock_85060485_SMALL-410×231.jpg” title=”Now Is The Time To Build Up Your Cash Reserves” excerpt=”The current bull market’s longevity has people worried. It all has to end some time, and some economists are predicting a recession by the end of 2020. Assuming that holds true, that gives you around two years to get your finances in order. What should you be prioritising?”]

Jonathan Clements, founder and editor of the Humble Dollar, has a few suggestions.

Contribute to a managed fund

Financial experts love managed funds, and if you qualify to contribute to one, there are a number of reasons you should do so, all outlined here. But as Clements writes, the economic uncertainty adds another wrinkle: they can be used as a sort of back-up emergency fund, because you can withdraw your contributions (just not gains) at any time, often without penalty. That means if you start contributing now and then lose your job and need funds, you can easily access some money.

Pay Off Credit Card Debt

Banks are raising interest rates, and that means any debt you have is getting more expensive (weird how credit card rates rise immediately, but not savings accounts rates, hmm?). Paying off your debt should always be a priority, but it could become even more important should you lose your job and need to rely on your credit lines to float you for a bit.

Additionally, if you’ve taken a loan, repaying it should be a top priority.

Rethink Major Financial Decisions

If you’re worried about your job, now’s not the time to take on new financial obligations. “For instance, you might keep your current car for a few more years,” writes Clements. “If your job is at risk, this probably isn’t the best time to take on a car loan or use your spare cash to buy a new vehicle. What if you still have money owed on the last car you purchased?”

Likewise, take stock of your current obligations and see if there’s any way to downsize or make things easier. Maybe you could make a few extra car payments now to lessen the burden on yourself in the future, cut out cable or start shopping at a less expensive grocery store.

These are just a few of the small steps you can take to prepare yourself and your family for potentially difficult times. If you’re interested in more savings tips, we have some here and here.


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