For most loans, the important thing is to make sure that the payments get to the right place on time. If you like the book, keep using it. If not, you’ve got other options. If you’ve misplaced or discarded your book and you want it back, it’s easy to get a replacement. Pros, Cons, and Alternatives There’s nothing wrong with using the coupon book, but those booklets can be cumbersome: you need to keep track of them, and they can feel a little old-fashioned....

Say hello to Making Cents, a weekly advice column from The Balance. Each week, Kristin will answer real questions submitted by readers just like you. From managing multiple investment accounts and helping a loved one with their estate, to paying nannies under the table and filing back taxes, Kristin’s here to help you figure it out. All submissions are kept 100% anonymous, and your question could become the subject of one of our weekly columns....

As investors, the materials sector can also be beneficial to a portfolio. Materials investments can be used to diversify a portfolio, hedge risk, or just increase exposure or take advantage of an opportunity. So, if you are looking to invest in the materials sector, what better way than with a materials ETF. You won’t have to corner the market on materials companies, nor battle the pricing of a materials index....

Sincerely, Retired Dear Retired, Markets are in a tailspin right now, so I completely understand your frustration as you watch your retirement accounts go lower and lower, and also the reasonable fears and anxieties you have about your remaining funds. As the markets take a swing at your retirement savings, you might need to get more flexible with your retirement spending. While it’s generally advised to not withdraw more than 4% of your retirement savings each year, you can extend your savings further by reducing your spending and cutting any unnecessary expenses....

Understanding NPV and IRR can help you make sound financial decisions about an investment opportunity or project. Learn how the measures work and when to use them. Evaluating Net Present Value A basic principle of investing is that the value of one dollar today is worth more than one dollar in the future. That’s because the dollar today can be invested and earn a return over time. NPV translates future cash flow generated by an investment into what those dollars are worth today, assuming a rate of return called the “discount rate....

Charging someone for overdrawing their bank account has become increasingly unpopular in recent months, particularly since the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said it was eyeing banks that heavily relied on such fees. Banks have reduced, relaxed, or completely eliminated several types of charges, including fees for people with insufficient funds and fees for providing overdraft protection (meaning the bank prevents a check or debit from bouncing.) By definition, overdraft fees disproportionately affect people living paycheck to paycheck, raising philosophical questions about whether banks should help fight income inequality by empowering people to pay their bills on time....

Still, bearer bonds play a meaningful role in global finance and popular culture. Learn more about bearer bonds and how they work. Anonymous Investments Bearer bonds are bonds that are not registered to any owner. Instead, whoever “bears” (or has possession of) a bond is the owner. Also known as coupon bonds, bearer bonds feature coupons that bondholders remove and submit for interest payments. Bearer bonds date back to at least 1648, although they were undoubtedly in use before then....

Among the industries hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic have been hospitality and service—particularly in New York City, where hundreds—if not thousands—of beloved bars have temporarily or permanently closed. One of those industry veterans directly impacted by COVID-19 was Aubrey Slater, a bartender and beverage director for Derossi Global who witnessed not one, but multiple businesses she worked at restructure operations or close for good. Speaking to The Balance in July and September, the 45-year-old East Village mainstay discusses the shutdown and its impact, unpredictable income, and how she’s getting by....

Every unemployment filing, furlough, and closed business reflects a personal experience. As the statistics pile up, we’re committed to sharing stories of how COVID-19 continues to shape people’s lives and livelihoods—how they’ve coped, what they’ve learned during the crisis, and how they’re moving forward. Among the industries hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic has been hospitality and service, with studies showing that over 26,000 restaurants closed in the U.S. as of mid-July 2020....

Minimum payments make it appear easier to afford something you normally couldn’t. It typically costs much more in the long run than if you made payments in increments of more than the minimum required. There are many reasons to pay more than the minimum; avoiding compounding interest might be the top reason to do so. Interest has a compounding effect, which can cause the balance to rise quickly. Higher credit scores depend on continuous low balances and timely payments keep your score up when you run a balance....

“I’m much more worried about falling short of a complete recovery and losing people’s careers and lives that they built, because they don’t get back to work…and the damage that will do not just to their lives, but to the United States economy—to the productive capacity of the economy—than I am about the possibility, which exists, of higher inflation,” Powell said during a virtual press conference following a meeting of the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee....

This statement shows the revenues and expenses of the business, and resulting profit or loss, over a specific time period (a month, a quarter, or a year). When Do I Need to Prepare a Profit and Loss Statement? Periodic P&L. Every business needs to prepare and review its profit and loss statement periodically - at least every quarter. Reviewing the profit and loss statement helps the business make decisions and to prepare the business tax return....

Here is why you need to take a company’s financial statements with a grain of salt when making future projections. Complexities of Projections Projecting future earnings is especially complex due to several factors. First, not all of the relevant financial information on a company can be found by analyzing the income statement, balance sheet, or cash flow statement. Not all of the answers will be discovered in the annual report or Form 10-K filing....

So should you get a travel card, and if so, how do you decide which one to get? Before you start your search, weigh the pros and cons. Pros and Cons of Travel Cards There are several reasons to consider a travel card: Many travel cards offer points or miles on everyday spending as well as travel purchases, making it easy to rack up rewards even if you don’t fly that frequently....

Last week she confirmed that her remaining student loan balance—$49,552.18—was being forgiven as part of a massive overhaul of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program meant to correct past failings. In 2019, Wolf was devastated to learn that she would not be getting the forgiveness she’d been promised after paying her loan dutifully for the required 10 years. In fact, none of her payments actually counted, she was told, and she would have to start over, at age 64....

Dispute Errors If you have a collection or charge-off that’s not yours or that’s not reported correctly, you can dispute the error with the credit bureaus. To dispute a credit report error, write a credit report dispute letter explaining why the account is inaccurate. Include a copy of any proof you have, to help the credit bureau with its investigation. If the error isn’t deleted after you dispute with the credit bureau, you can dispute the account directly with the business that listed it on your credit report....

The following five day-trading setups, or entry strategies, have a tendency to emerge in the market at some point on many, but not all, days. By learning to recognize these trading setups, a day trader may take actions that could improve their chances of seeing a profitable return. Based on the direction of the initial impulse, wait for a breakout from the consolidation in that same direction. A breakout in the opposite direction of the impulse isn’t traded....

Keeping detailed financial records is important in the daily operations of an investment property, and it’s equally important for potential investors if you’re considering selling your property. Rent rolls can help landlords manage their finances and increase profitability, and they can help you sell your investment property when and if the time comes. What Is a Rent Roll? A rent roll is a statement of the value of investment rental property....

Companies that banks consider higher risk will have more restrictive covenants. Companies that banks consider to be lower risk will have fewer restrictive covenants. The risk is determined on a number of factors by the bank including creditworthiness, financial statements, cash flow, collateral, business insurance, and your business plan. Other factors may also be used to determined restrictive covenants. Affirmative or Positive Loan Covenants Affirmative covenants are things that the small business or borrower must do while it is repaying its business loan....

What Is the Retirement Age for Women? In the U.S., the actual retirement age for women (as opposed to when they’re eligible to receive full retirement benefits) is 66.1, compared to 67.6 for men, according to a 2017 study by the Organization for Cooperation and Development (OECD). Around the world, the women’s retirement age ranges from 59.4 to 73.1, but the same gender gap of one to two years applies in most of the 36 countries examined by the OECD....