Should You Use Retirement to Pay Off Debts?

Retirement (Photo credit: Tax Credits)

If you're experiencing financial stress, it can be logical to look for a source of money to pay off your debts. For most folks, the largest chunk of change they have is their retirement fund. But does it make sense to "borrow" from your future to pay for your past? Let's examine both sides: 

Pay Off the Debt 

Taking money out of your retirement account to pay off hefty debts can make sense. If you're over 59 and a half, you can withdraw from your account with no penalties. While you'll be taxed (at your income bracket) for the money, if the interest rates on your debt are high, it could still be worth it. Think about it like this: If you're facing a 20% interest rate on a credit card, but only a 15% taxation on your withdrawal, you're putting yourself ahead +5%. You can start putting that 5% each month back into your retirement account to build it up even faster. 

Plus, paying off your debt comes with a whole slew of benefits. You'll pay far less in interest over time, you'll improve your debt to credit ratio and you'll have more available money each month to save or contribute to your expenses. However, there are serious downsides to pulling the money from your retirement account. 

Don't Touch That Account! 

Every story has two sides, and debt repayment is one of them. If you're younger than 59 and a half, you'll face a 10% penalty for early withdrawal from your 401k. On top of that, you'll also face taxes on the money you withdraw. While you could still come out ahead, even with those mitigating factors, it's more of a risk. Plus, your retirement fund functions as savings for a serious emergency. If you find yourself unable to work for some reason, you'll want to have the money available. Using it to pay down debt could seriously weaken your long-term financial position if you're not careful. 

Other Factors to Consider 

If you suspect that you'll pay off your debt only to have it accumulate again, then absolutely don't borrow from your retirement fund. If you build the debt back up, you emptied your retirement fund for nothing. Using your retirement savings to pay off debt means committing to living as debt-free a lifestyle as you can manage. 

This is especially bad if you decide to pursue bankruptcy at a future date. Your 401k is typically protected under bankruptcy law, and if you emptied it only to rack up more debt, you may have lost a significant portion of your savings for essentially no reason. 

The Verdict 

If you think the penalties are worth it to you and you have a financial plan moving forward that includes far less debt, then pull from your retirement account. However, try to look for alternative solutions first. First, immediately stop accumulating new debt. Cut out the non-essential "goodies" from your life and put that extra money toward your debt. Look for a credit card with lower interest, if you can. Take steps to pay off your debt with your current income. 

Remember, at retirement, you can realistically only withdraw 4% each year to make sure your money lasts. If you have $600,000 saved up, that's only $24,000 a year. Borrowing from your retirement account now reduces your starting capital and decreases the amount of money you'll have each year in retirement. Although in some cases, you can withdraw money from your retirement account to pay your debts, it's never a decision you should make lightly. 

About the Author 

Carly Lance loves to blog about personal finances whenever she can. She also is employed as the blog and marketing manager at Personal Bankruptcy Canada, a company that deals with people going through bankruptcy in Canada.

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Opportunities in Human Resource Specialist Careers

Human resources team works to improve customer service (Photo credit: USACEpublicaffairs)

If you are looking for a career in becoming human resource specialists will enjoy interesting work and exceptional opportunities. According to the governments statistics on human resources jobs, the number of jobs will grow faster than the national average for all types of jobs. It's predicted that between 2012 and 2020 the number of jobs in H.R. are expected to grow by a healthy 21 percent. The growth will be the most in the employment services sector, where jobs are expected to grow at a rate of 55 percent.

You will find that human resource directors have a college degrees and usually have a major in business, human resources or associate fields. The applicants with high school diplomas may be eligible for some entry-level hr jobs in interviewing or job recruiting. In some cases, experience in human resources can substitute for education.

There are skills associated with human resource work. The most important skill you need to succeed in human resources is the ability to get along with all kinds of people. You should have outstanding interpersonal, speaking and listening skills. Decision-making skills are also critical, as is the ability to pay attention to detail.

The modern workplace is an increasingly varied and challenging environment. Jobs often feature flexible hours, telecommuting, collaborative employees who may be based anywhere in the world, and project teams that form and fade away seamlessly as needs dictate. Human resource (HR) specialists oversee all of these moving pieces and try to make sure workplaces run smoothly, that the best new talent is recruited and hired, and that existing employees are properly compensated, fairly managed and evaluated, and, if need be, trained, disciplined, or even fired. HR specialists often deal with all employee levels in an organization, including the very top management. 

These positions are increasingly specialized with the size and scope of an employer. Large employers may require specially trained HR specialists for recruiting and hiring, training, compensation and benefits oversight, performance evaluations, employee assistance and relations, and other specialized needs. At smaller companies, an HR manager may wear many, if not all, of these hats. 

A college degree usually is required, including strong business and management course work. There is a good career advancement chain at larger companies. Top performers can reach high management positions, or may move to an HR consulting firm.

Living and Working in Egypt Provides an Opportunity to Save

English: The Nile River as it flows through the city of Cairo, Egypt. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Anyone moving from the United States to live and work in Egypt will notice almost immediately how the cost of living there is so much lower. Therefore, savings opportunities are easily possible. But, like anything else in life, opportunities have to be grabbed in order to turn them into reality and good savings habits are vital in this respect. For it's just as easy to blow your monthly salary living it up in Cairo as it is in the city of New York. 

It's no big deal opening a savings account in Egypt, providing you've lived in the country for at least a few months. The banks in Cairo or any of the other big cities and towns will certainly be happy to provide you with the same sorts of personal banking services that banks back home do. Thanks to the internet, it's a fairly easy matter to view available current accounts from HSBC, for example, or from any of the other multinational and indigenous banks operating in the country.

Pop into the nearest branch of the bank of your choice and fill in an account opening form. Staff there should be able to advise you about the interest rates offered by various savings accounts. You'll need to take along some official documentation, too, just as you would when opening an account back in the States. The process is fairly similar.

The sorts of documents required include your passport, work visa and your residency certificate. Take along a utility bill, too, to provide evidence of an Egyptian address. A letter from your bank back in the USA, confirming account details and the length of time you've banked with them, will also help with the application process. Some banks may also want to see the last three monthly bank account statements. Finally, take along a couple of passport-size ID photographs which will be used by the Egyptian bank for record purposes.

So how better off are you likely to be living in Cairo instead of New York? For this far from in-depth comparison, let's assume at the very least the salary earned living in either city is about the same. All the comparison figures come from the excellent website Numbeo.

In broad-brush terms, consumer prices in New York are more than twice that of Cairo. Include rent in the figure then the differential rises by over 200%. A straight rent price comparison between the two cities sees the figure jump to nearly 600%. Restaurant prices in New York are about 140% higher and groceries about 125% higher. Opportunities to save? You'd better believe it.

A meal at an inexpensive restaurant in Cairo will likely set you back about $5; the equivalent figure in New York is around $13, a 162% difference. A Coke or a Pepsi will cost you $0.49 in Cairo and $1.50 in New York. There's a 500% difference in the price of an average bottle of water. In Cairo it costs about $0.25, while in New York you'll pay about $1.50.

There's a 200% difference in the cost of a loaf of white bread. A packet of cigarettes costs about $2.10 in Cairo and more than $12 in New York. Local transport costs are also much cheaper, the equivalent monthly pass costing about $13 in Cairo and more than $100 in New York. Basic utilities such as electric, gas and water are also so much cheaper in Cairo. Expect a difference of about 400% between equivalent-sized apartments.

Click here to go to Numbeo.

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Rebuilding Credit has Positive Outcomes for the Future

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bad credit scores seem to be a growing epidemic, whether it is from job loss, injury or illness, or perhaps from overspending. When funds are limited, many people are turning to their credit cards to finance just about everything. They are using them to pay the rent and mortgage, car payments, and other household bills that require payment. 

While it may seem like a good idea at the time, over usage of credit cards can have a negative effect. Some individuals are racking up their credit cards to pay other bills and in turn, they are unable to pay the credit card bills when they arrive. 


Neglecting credit card payments can result in bad credit. Some may not think a credit score matters, but if you have ever wanted to finance anything, such as a car, home, or if you happen to need a loan, that score on your credit is going to make a difference. Banks tend to turn away from people holding a negative credit rating, even if your credit issues are a thing of the past. Circumstances and specific situations don't matter to them. They consider anyone with bad credit to be high risk. In many cases, several people are going without because banks and other financial institutions won't take a chance on them. 


It is very important to try and keep your credit untarnished, but in some cases, it just isn't possible. There are some people who have no choice but to use their credit cards. Unfortunately, the time did arise for me. I had no choice at the time. Due to job loss, I had to use my credit cards for groceries and other necessary bills. Once I found employment, it was difficult to catch up with current and past due bills. Some bills went unpaid and those events can leave you with less than perfect credit. I knew I had to take care of it so I decided to have rebuilt my credit. 

Some may not realize the embarrassment that is involved when you have bad credit. Some people may feel ashamed. They may feel that others are judging them because of it. That is why it is so important to do what you can to clean any discrepancies you may have. Once your credit has been rebuilt, it will give you a whole new sense of pride. That is why I had rebuilt my credit. 


Regardless of the reason for bad or less than stellar credit, the results will usually be the same. Taking care of what you can and getting your credit back to par is essential. It will not only affect you now, but there will also be repercussions in the future as well. If for some reason you feel that you are unable to fix the problems yourself, there are many institutes that have trained individuals that will be more than willing to help you repair rebuild and fix any credit problems that you may have. 


Carol Roberts freelance writer and mother of two. I have been currently writing for a home finance blog as well as a parenting blog. I know firsthand how important it is to have healthy credit, that's why I had rebuild my credit.

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Maximizing Renovation Bucks: Where to Invest

Are you getting ready to sell your home? You probably already know that this could be a long and arduous experience. You know that there are a few “problem” areas within your home. So how do you go about determining the best areas to renovate that will result in the highest return?

Rely On Professionals and Software

Real estate professionals can certainly help point you in the right direction. Most agents are very knowledgeable about your area and its homes. In addition, there are applications such as FreedomSoft real estate software that can also provide many helpful tips.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the information by top-selling agents; along with some real estate investment software that will let you get top dollar for your house.

Get The Facts About Your House and Neighborhood

First, you do need to understand that certain areas will offer a high return on your investment, while others just will not. In addition, you’ll want to research your home’s location and the area’s price point.

Additional points that you’ll need to examine are the neighborhood and the city in which your home is located.

Kitchens and Bathrooms

Typical buyers in today’s market want to see kitchens and bathrooms that are updated and remodeled. Kitchens are perhaps any home’s focal point. Therefore, presenting an updated and well-appointed kitchen can become a top-selling feature. 

Remodeling dollars spent in the kitchen area will definitely result in a major return for your investment dollars. Bathrooms follow kitchens as a close second in the “to be remodeled” area, and they are also a great return on your remodeling dollars. 

Statistics provided by professionals have shown that up to 80 percent of your investment may be recouped when your home is sold. That’s a pretty good turn around for your dollar.

Offices, Windows and Decks

If you upgrade or remodel office space, windows, and/or decks, you can see as much as a 70 percent return on your investment. Additionally, these types of investments add a significant boost to your home’s appeal, at a relatively low cost. 

- Where is the Housing and Mortgage Industry Going in 2021 -

Also, keep in mind that dressing areas and workout areas do not significantly add to a home’s value, so perhaps you may consider turning that workout area into a well-appointed home office.

Use Quality Materials for Your Update

While it may seem expensive, use the highest quality materials you can for your update or renovations. Stone counters and hardwood flooring are great investments—just make sure they are the best you can afford. 

This will let you see a higher return on your investment. This philosophy also applies to other finishes such as molding and cabinets, as well as lighting.

With just a little research, you certainly get a significant return on your remodeling or renovation dollar.

Photos via Flickr by Marcia Todd, Lauren Wellicome, New Ispiration Home Design, edenpictures, Granite Charlotte Countertops

Review Of Discover More Card – 18 Month 0% APR On Balance Transfers

The Discover More Card – 18 Month Promotional Balance Transfer offer is a great time-limited promotion only for new sign-ups in the US. For those of you who want to consolidate your high-interest credit card debts or store card debts and want to stop paying any interest on them, listen up. Australian readers can get 15 months balance transfer here https://www.hsbc.com.au/1/2/personal/credit-cards/balance-transfers

0% introductory APR on all your purchases. You will also enjoy the benefit of having a 0% introductory APR on all your purchases for 6 months, after that you will have to pay the regular APR, which is between 10.99% – 20.99%, depending on your credit score. Remember that even though you’re in an introductory period and your APR is 0%, you should still make all your payments on time.

Earn 5% Cashback Bonus in rotating categories. Unlike many other 0% balance transfer cards, this card offers you cash rewards when you make purchases with it. It can help you save a lot of money by giving you 5% cash back in rotating categories such as gas, travel, restaurants, etc, which change throughout the year. Important note: You must enroll for each 5% program every quarter! If you spend more than the specified amount for each 5% program, the excess will automatically earn up to 1% cash back.

Receive up to 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases. You will receive an unlimited 1% rebate on all the rest of your purchases, but only once your total annual purchases exceed $3000. Purchases that are part of your first $3000 earn 0.25% rebate. Keep in mind that warehouse purchases or 5% category purchases do not count towards your total annual purchases.

Some of My Favorite Things About this Card

• Redeem Cashback Bonus for gift cards, merchandise, or cold hard cashin the form of a direct deposit to your bank account or a credit to your Discover card account in $50 increments, starting at $50.
• Get up to double Cashback Bonus. You can earn up to double Cashback Bonus when redeeming your rebates for gift certificates from participating retailers. To give you some examples, a $40 rebate can be redeemed for a $80 Carnival Cruise or $80 Celebrity Cruises gift card or instant eCertificate; a $40 rebate can be redeemed for a $100 certificate from Hyatt Hotels & Resorts; a $20 rebate can be exchanged for a $40 Samsonite gift card!
• Rebates don’t expire. Your rebates never expire unless your credit card account is inactive for more than 36 months.
• Earn rewards for paying your monthly household bills with your card. Set up automatic recurring payments for your cable, cell phone, insurance, internet etc on your Discover Card, and you earn Cashback Bonus with every bill you pay!
• Travel insurance. This credit card can also be very useful for your travels since it provides up to $500,000 in travel accident insurance, as well as car rental insurance and many fraud and security protection services.
• $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee. If there are any unauthorized transactions on your Discover card, you won’t have to pay a single cent for it!

My Least Favorite Things About This Card

Only receive 1% cash back if you spend more than $3,000 a year. You only start earning the 1% rebate on all your purchases after you spend more than $3,000 during the year. So if you’re not planning on spending so much money, you will get a smaller amount in cash back percentage.

This Discover More Card – 18 Month Promotional Balance Transfer is, without a doubt, the best rewards card in the US that offers the longest period (18 months) of 0% intro APR on balance transfers. This is a promotional card offer that is only for NEW sign-ups who apply. For those who want to consolidate their high-interest credit card debts or store card debts, you should take advantage of this offer because it means you don’t have to pay any more interest on your existing card balance, and have up to 18 months to repay it all – interest free! Not only will it save you tons of money, you will also become debt-free faster.

The Discover More Card – 18 Month Promotional Balance Transfer is also a rewards card, giving you cash back whenever you make purchases or pay bills with this card. This lets you save even more money. With no annual fee, you have even more savings, and have a lot to gain from having this card.

This is not a permanent card offering, so don’t miss it if you want to take advantage of the 18-month 0% balance transfer deal. Apply online for the Discover More Card – 18 Month Promotional Balance Transfer, and you’ll get a response within 60 seconds. Also be aware you must have a credit rating of "Excellent" to be approved for this offer.

Apply Now for the Discover® More Card - 18 Month Promotional Balance Transfer