8 Signs You're Headed for Financial Disaster
Financial crises don't typically happen overnight.
The seeds are usually planted at least months and often years before bankruptcy, eviction, repossession, foreclosure or other disasters ruin people's financial lives. Recognizing -- and correcting -- risky money behaviors is key if you want to avoid derailing your finances.
Here are some of the biggest red flags to watch out for:
You're surprised by your bank balance or credit card statements. In today's financial world, you can't be caught napping. "Float" -- the time it takes a transaction to clear your account -- has all but disappeared, and financial services are eager to penalize any lapses, such as a bounced check or an over-limit transaction, with hefty fees. At the very least, you need online access to your financial accounts, and you need to check them often -- at least once a week, more often if you've bounced a check or incurred any other fine in the past six months. Personal finance software like Money or Quicken can help you keep track of pending transactions and forecast your cash flow.
Read full article: 8 Signs You're Headed for Financial Disaster
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