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New Mexico’s Legal & Financial Weekly
January 3, 2020
Vol. 10.100 No. 1
FORECLOSURE SALES: 1 PROBATE: 14 AUCTIONS: 8 NOTICE OF SUITS: 6 OTHER: 33 SPANISH NOTICES: 0
A Desire to Live Debt-Free Spurs Many New Year’s Resolutions
W
ith the start of a new decade just around the corner, Americans are feeling optimistic about their current and future financial situation, but reducing the burden of personal debt will be a priority for many who acknowledge they bit off more than they could chew in 2019. According to Fidelity Investments’ 2020 New Year Financial Resolutions Study, 82 percent of respondents said they’re in a similar or better financial position than last year. Perhaps surprisingly, most credited their success to their own good habits - saving more (47 percent) and budgeting (29 percent) - rather than their investment gains (18 percent) from a stock market that made one high after another. Less than 25 percent put it down to having been able to work more hours in a strong economy. And, as the study makes clear, they want to keep the momentum going. Of the 67 percent considering making a financial resolution, “saving more” and “paying down debt” topped the list, respectively, at 53 percent and 51 percent. “Living a debt-free life was the biggest motivator for them,” said Melissa Ridolfi, Fidelity’s vice president of retirement and college products.
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Boomers, the study found, with 29 percent crediting being better off financially at year’s end to having refinanced, paid off, or reduced debts or loans. Generation X, the next oldest, trailed at 21 percent, followed by 19 percent of millennials, and just 6 percent of Generation Z. “Boomers are getting the message that the closer they get to retirement, the more essential it becomes to get their debt under control to make the most out of retirement savings,” Ridolfi said.
Certainly there’s no law that says you have to make a New Year’s resolution - financial or otherwise - but even a huge chunk of those surveyed who Heck, given the choice between the classic New Year’s resolution of weren’t contemplating explicitly doing so still said they were planning losing five pounds or socking away $5,000, a resounding 84 percent in the on, say, building up emergency funds. As for what you might call the national survey of 3,012 adults opted for savings. “traditionalists” out there? Fidelity has some tried-and-true tips that can help ensure your financial vows don’t wind up being among the 80 percent But you want to know some of the biggest and smallest mistakes or of all resolutions that U.S. News says, alas, fail by the second week of setbacks they fessed up to, right? See if you can relate to any of these: February. * Dining out too much (36 percent). * Spending too much on non-essentials like unused apps, streaming media services, and subscription retail boxes (29 percent). * Taking on debt or adding to existing debt (28 percent). *Splurging on something they couldn’t really afford (28 percent). * Unexpected medical expenses (24 percent). * Failing to save as much for retirement as they should (18 percent).
The firm also has an impressive, free online “Moments” tool designed to help you plan for lifestyle changes or react to a myriad of curveballs - i.e., the unexpected medical expenses cited as a big setback in the study - that life throws at you. And accessing the Fidelity Retirement Score gives you a quick look at where you stand with your savings.
Oh, and here’s one last thing to see if you can relate to: Seventy-eight percent of those surveyed predicted they’d be even better off financially in So with all the interest in getting a grip on debt, who seems to be faring 2020. -(NewsUSA) the best at it?
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Home Improvements For Safety
esearch shows that most older adults want to live in their homes and Many older adults who need to modify their homes don’t know where communities for as long as possible. Most homes, however, were not to turn for advice or assistance—or even what modifications they may built to support the mobility, sensory and cognitive changes that often need. That’s where the Eldercare Locator, a public service of the U.S. accompany aging. Administration for Community Living, comes in. It connects older adults and caregivers across the country to Area Agencies on Aging and other Fortunately, older adults and caregivers can make simple updates such resources—that can help determine what needs to be done, how to find a as clearing clutter from the floor, improving lighting and removing rugs contractor to do it and look for ways to pay for it all—that can help ensure to help prevent falls—all of which can make homes meet the changing their homes meet their evolving needs. mobility, sensory and cognitive needs of the older adults who live in them. Other changes such as installing a stair lift or renovating a bathroom are To that end, the Eldercare locator created a brochure, “Modifying Your more complex and require outside assistance. Home for Healthy Aging.” For a free copy and further advice, call (800) 677-1116 or visit the Eldercare Locator at eldercare.acl.gov. -(NAPSI)