Fears of a looming recession have been growing over the last few months. Many consumers are worried about the impact a potential recession could have on their finances, especially investments and consumer debt. There is still some disagreement among experts as to if or when a recession will hit, leaving consumers uncertain about how to prepare. This Weekly Round-up will hopefully help you understand what’s going on.
ACCC has the latest scoop on recession fears.
This week’s news on growing recession fears:
- “Recession fears have hit an all-time high, a new Bank of America survey shows,” Business Insider
- “Stocks and bonds are sending conflicting signals about the economy. Which one is right?” CNN
- “Recession fears among fund managers rise to highest level in a decade,” CNBC
- “How likely is a recession by the 2020 elections? Here’s what top economists say,” Bankrate
With so much confusion, conflicting information, and differing opinions among economists, what should consumers do? Here are some tips for preparing your finances for a possible upcoming recession:
- Pay off debt as soon as possible. Recession or not, paying off debt is a good financial move to make. When you’re finished paying off any debt you have, you’ll have more room in your budget for saving money!
- Build an emergency fund. You should have 3 to 6 months’ worth of expenses saved up for emergency situations, such as being laid off due to a recession.
- Get a side job. If you aren’t able to save as much money as you would like to every month, consider getting a side job. You can put the income you earn from a side job into your emergency fund to build it faster.
- Adjust 401(k). If you are close to retirement, you should move your retirement funds into bonds instead of stocks. However, if you are still early in your career, you should have your retirement funds in stocks. Even with a recession, your investments will have enough time to recover and grow.
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Sign up for a free credit counseling session with us today.
