To many Americans, 2020 was nothing short of an economic wasteland, while 2021 stands as a year of promise and improving fortunes. However, one of the most important lessons of 2020 was that economic calamity is not always predictable. Before the devastation brought by the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 was actually on the path to be a bright year economically. Instead, America was hit with a sharp, deep recession and skyrocketing unemployment figures, not to mention falling investment values.
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No one can predict if and when such misfortune may strike again — or indeed, when the ongoing effects of 2020 will end — but there are some steps that all Americans can take to help protect themselves from future downturns. While it’s tough to prepare emotionally for such financial shocks, it’s important to remember that even in tumultuous times, the economy is cyclical. Having your financial affairs in order can help you make it through to the other side. With a little bit of preparation, you may be able to cushion the blow if a year like 2020 ever strikes again.
Last updated: Dec. 31, 2020
Build a Bigger Emergency Fund
Emergency funds were traditionally thought of as backstops for short-term financial difficulties. If you needed some cash for an unexpected car repair, a dental emergency or a short-term job loss, for example, your emergency fund was the perfect source.
However, 2020 demonstrated that certain economic shocks could have deep and long-lasting financial ramifications. Thus, traditional recommendations to keep three to six months of cash in an emergency fund may be insufficient. If you have the means, building an emergency fund that can last at least six to 12 months may be a prudent move. In the event of a future financial calamity, having up to a year of savings available to draw from could make life a lot less stressful for you.
Read More: Prepare For Uncertain Times With 23 Tips To Build Your Emergency Fund
Diversify Your Income Stream
One important economic lesson has been brought into sharp focus by the pandemic. Wherever possible, it pays to diversify your income stream. When you rely completely on one job or revenue stream for all of your income, you could face enormous financial pressure if that spigot is turned off.
If you have the time or ability, taking on an additional part-time job or a side gig in addition to your primary work is a way to help diversify your income stream. For others, investing in rental real estate or other sources of passive income can be the best way to keep income flowing even if your primary source vanishes.
Looking Back: How 2020 Changed the Way We Look At Money
Pay Yourself First
Many financial pundits and advisors recommend that you “pay yourself first,” but what exactly does that mean?
Paying yourself first means that the moment you get your paycheck, you divert some of it toward your savings and investments. Then, you pay your bills and spend on discretionary items with what remains.
The truth about human nature is that if you use your paycheck to “live” before you save, you’ll most likely end the month without any money left over. While it’s important to spend your paycheck on things like food, shelter and bills, if you also use your money for shopping and going out to eat before you save, you’ll likely find that you aren’t saving as much as you should be. By paying yourself first, you ensure that you meet your savings goals every month. This type of preparation can be critical when the next financial crisis rolls around.
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Watch Your Credit Card Spending
Credit cards are a useful tool, and many can provide benefits like travel rewards or cash back in addition to convenience. However, some Americans use credit cards as a bank account. If you aren’t paying off the full amount of your credit card balance every month, you’re likely negating the value of any perks or rewards you receive.
For example, let’s say you score a credit card that pays you 2% cash back on all your purchases. That sounds great, but if the card has a 12% interest rate — which is actually below the average credit card rate — your card is costing you an additional 10% on every purchase annually if you don’t pay it off in full.
Digging yourself into a 10% hole on everything you buy isn’t financially prudent; even worse, that interest is compounded, meaning your credit card debt would double about every seven years if you don’t pay it off. That’s a recipe for financial disaster during the next economic downturn.
Related: 10 Ways To Bounce Back From a Heavy Spending Month on Your Credit Card
Don’t Forget the Insurance
The guiding principle of insurance is to take a small, certain loss — your insurance premium — in exchange for protection against a catastrophic loss. For most Americans, this type of protection is absolutely essential, particularly during times of financial upheaval. Imagine if you lost your job and then your home was damaged and you had no homeowners insurance. Or, in a true worst case scenario, imagine if you’re the breadwinner of your family and you suddenly pass away or become incapacitated. Without life or disability insurance, your family may not have the funds to go on.
Although no one likes adding a monthly bill to their budget, if you’re underinsured, find a way to get yourself covered. The peace of mind alone will help you if you ever face financial difficulties going forward.
Read More: What Experts Say 2021 Will Look Like for Your Wallet
Consider Buying Instead of Renting
One of the few financial benefits brought about by the pandemic of 2020 is low home mortgage interest rates. Throughout the year, the rate for a 30-year home mortgage set record low after record low, settling below 2.5% as of December 2020. At those rates, homes that may have been out of your reach just a single year ago may now be affordable.
Over the long run, homeowners generally have more stable financial lives than renters. If your current monthly rent is in the same ballpark as what you’d pay on a home mortgage, you might consider making the move into your own home to build equity over the long run.
Find Out: These Are the 50 Best Cities for Renters
Maintain Your 2020 Spending Levels
A perhaps unexpected benefit of 2020 is that most Americans didn’t spend as much money. In fact, savings rates skyrocketed to a record high of 33.7% in April 2020 and remained elevated throughout the year as compared to December 2019. A number of reasons contributed to this, including lower commuting costs for remote workers and stay-at-home orders that prevented Americans from going out to eat or spend money at entertainment venues.
While no one wants to stay home for all of 2021, one way to prepare for the next financial crisis is to try to maintain your 2020 spending levels. If you’ve found yourself saving money by cooking at home instead of going out, you can continue that behavior in 2021. Similarly, if you can continue working at home, you can save money on commuting costs. By diverting those savings to your bank account, you can remain more financially flexible going forward.
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Check Your Eligibility for Government Assistance
In the midst of the 2020 pandemic, the U.S. government offered a number of programs to help struggling citizens. Direct payments of $1,200 per individual went out in the first half of the year, and legislation passed in December 2020 led to an additional $600 stimulus check per individual. However, other programs were also implemented, and you should check to see if you’re eligible for any of them.
In addition to the enhanced federal unemployment benefits that were paid for part of the year, the new December 2020 legislation allocates an additional $300 per week in federal unemployment benefits. If you own your own business, you may also be eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides forgivable loans for qualifying businesses.
Second Stimulus Check: Should You Spend or Save Your $600?
Automate Your Savings
Setting up automated transfers is another way to help counteract human nature when it comes to money and savings. When we rely on ourselves to make regular money transfers, we can often come up with excuses or reasons why we can’t do it “just this month.” But with automated transfers, the money is deposited in your savings without any effort on your part.
Once you adjust to automated savings coming out of your account, you might find that you’re able to adjust your lifestyle and comfortably live off less money. At that point, you might be able to slowly increase your monthly contributions, say in increments of an additional 1% per month or year. If and when the next financial crisis hits, you’ll be glad that your automated savings program has built up a financial buffer for you.
Read More: 10 Simple Habits of Money-Smart Individuals
Take Advantage of Low Interest Rates
Low interest rates, in some ways, are one of the perks of 2020. Although rough on savers, they are great for those looking to save on interest costs. For example, if you’ve got a high-rate mortgage or auto loan, you can refinance into a lower-rate loan and potentially save hundreds per month in payments. Your credit card issuers have probably lowered their rates, so if you have a balance, you’ve been saving on interest costs. However, if you can find a 0% balance transfer card, you could save even more. Look around and see what low rates are available and take advantage if you’re currently paying higher rates.
Find Out: Why Do Different Banks Offer Different Interest Rates?
Shop Around for the Best Savings Rates
Although low interest rates in 2020 benefitted those looking for home mortgages, they didn’t do any favor for savings account yields. According to the Federal Reserve, the average savings account annual percentage yield is just 0.05%, and many major banks pay a measly 0.01% APY.
If you’re willing to shop around, however, you might still find decent yields for your savings. Some online banks pay a 0.50% APY or even more, and most have no fees or minimums. That may not seem like a high rate, but it’s about 10 times the national average, and if and when rates rise, those rates will rise as well.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 11 of the Smartest Money Resolutions To Make in 2021
