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Financial Predictions

by Gary Foreman

Each year experts share their predictions for future events. So in an effort to help you do well financially, I'd like to announce the following Dollar Stretcher predictions.

I predict that sometime over the next twelve months, you will be tempted to buy something big that you cannot afford. It could be a house, car, wide-screen TV or anything big and expensive. Originally, you'll be tempted by a television ad, a purchase your co-worker or neighbor makes, or the desire to feel good about yourself.

I predict that you'll find a variety of reasons that you should make the big purchase. You'll think of different ways that you could handle the payments. You'll begin to picture yourself owning the coveted thing and tell yourself that you "deserve" the item.

I can't tell whether you'll give in or not. If you do, you could be facing years of payments. It probably won't make you feel any better, but many of the people in mortgage trouble today fell victim to the temptation a few years ago.

I predict that during the next year, you'll be offered unnecessary credit. It could come in a variety of forms. It could be a store credit card that offers 10% off of your first purchase using the card, an increase in the limit on your existing credit card, or a bank offering you a new credit card.

They'll tell you that the offer is made because you're special, a preferred customer or someone who manages their money well. Don't believe them. The reason that they'll offer you more credit is because they want you to use it. It's easier to spend money you don't have when there's credit available. And that's when the real fun starts.

I predict that sometime during the next year, you'll face an "unexpected bill." The most likely sources for the bill are a home repair, car repair or a medical bill. Most people don't have any money saved for this type of financial emergency. After all, who can tell when an unexpected bill will come in. Since you don't have money saved, you'll charge the bill and begin making monthly payments on it. You'll find the payments frustrating since you really don't have anything new to show for them.

I predict that something you couldn't live without a few years ago will become a burden this year. There are a number of reasons this will happen. It could be that the item didn't deliver as promised. Maybe it's just gotten old. In fact, maybe it doesn't work at all any more. Even though the fun is gone, you might still be making payments on it. Regardless of the cause, if you look around your house or garage, you'll find something that was irresistible before you bought it that you wish you could sell now.

I predict that you won't save enough. Yes, you'll save more than you did a year or two ago, but it will still only be a percent or two of your take home earnings. You'll avoid thinking about things that could make you feel bad about not saving, such as college for your kids, financial emergencies and your own retirement.

I predict that you'll accumulate more "stuff." In the last 35 years, the average home size has gone up by 50%, and self-storage places are cropping up all over. So you'll have more stuff twelve months from now. It could be something you're collecting, or just routine shopping. I further predict that all this stuff will cause you to wonder whether your present house or apartment is too small. You'll be tempted to move to a bigger, more expensive home.

I predict that one of your neighbors will fall into serious financial trouble. Their past spending and use of credit will cave in on them. You might even see their home vacant and offered for sale by the bank in a foreclosure sale.

You've probably noticed a trend among these predictions. I'm not much of a fortuneteller and the predictions are not very bold. In fact, most of them are so common that anyone could predict them. In fact, that's the point. You can be pretty sure that these things will happen. Wouldn't it be wise to be prepared for them?

Gary Foreman is a former financial planner and purchasing manager who currently edits The Dollar Stretcher.com website and newsletters. You can also follow Gary on Twitter or on his blog.

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"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.

Financial Predictions

by Gary Foreman

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