The COVID-19 pandemic has turned life upside down, as 90% of the country is now under "stay-at-home" orders. It used to be that the only thing you could count on, according to ole' Ben Franklin, was death and taxes. Well, the taxes are still due... but now not until July 15th.
As we get used to social distancing and our "new normal", here's some articles and factoids that you may find useful.
Reply back and let me know if you figure out the puzzle section below the one with the 3 letters...
Also, if you've got questions about "skipping" your mortgage payment (what is actually a mortgage forbearance), please do reach out to me to discuss it first. You might be surprised at what information has been misrepresented through the media and what effects it can actually have on your credit and future mortgages.
And now, without further ado, please enjoy this month's content...
PERSONAL FINANCE
Check your bank account
There may be a deposit from the government there.
The Internal Revenue Service started distributing “stimulus checks” to American taxpayers over the weekend. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said 80 million people are expected to have received a direct deposit by today.
Most Americans are doing their personal finance profs proud. According to Netspend, the company that processed almost $1 billion in relief payments over the weekend, the infusion is being spent on food, gas, pharmacies, and withdrawing cash from ATMs.
Quick refresher: As part of the federal government’s $2.2 trillion rescue package, most adults with an adjusted gross income under $99,000 were promised a one-time check to give consumer spending a jolt. In total, about 125 million Americans are expected to receive a payment.
THE TRUTH ABOUT FORBEARANCE
Forbearance Facts that could save you from trouble later...
3 things to consider about forbearance, before you take action:
A forbearance agreement is actually a form of loan default, based on a temporary hardship that allows you to make a reduced payment (or no payment at all) during the terms of the forbearance. Although according to the CARES Act a servicer may not require proof of hardship, this program is not designed for you to take if you are able to make your payments.
While the forbearance won't affect your credit score, it will still be on your credit profile. This means it could be the reason you are denied a mortgage in the future, whether a purchase or a refinance of your current mortgage, or only be offered a higher rate.
Your payments are not just tacked on to the end. While this is a possible scenario, this deferment is not the usual process. Instead, it is more likely your missed payments will be due at the end of the forbearance period, in either a lump sum or possibly spread out over a longer timeframe (such as a year). Did you know that a forbearance alternative may be to refinance and stash some extra money in the bank?
If you'd like to know more about your options, please contact me anytime and we can talk about it.
LISTEN UP
Apple now offers AirPods Pro replacement ear tips
Sooner or later, any in-ear style headphones need replacement tips. Sooner or later, ear tips get gunky beyond cleaning and lose their pliability. Unfortunately, AirPods Pro uses a proprietary ear tip system, and generic ear tips won’t work. Thankfully, Apple has you covered now—it just started selling replacement AirPods Pro ear tips on its site.
If you need replacement tips, because you lost yours or they’ve seen better days, you can buy some now directly from Apple. The tips cost $7.99 for a pair and come in small, medium, or large. And the good news is, you can choose free shipping to keep the price down.
At just under $8 a pair, they’re not cheapest ear tips in town. But until 3rd party manufacturers fill in that gap, at least these work with your AirPods Pro. And you’re not taking a chance you won’t like the ear tips since they’re what you’re using now.
PUZZLE
Pick the three letters that, when placed in the same order, complete the following words:
E _ _ _ P
_ _ _ C K
S _ _ _ S H
L I _ _ _ D
T E _ _ _ L A
WORDS TO LIVE BY
MUSIC
One World: Together At Home
Global Citizen and the WHO announced an A-list musical event to benefit healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The special has already raised $35 million.
Hosts: Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert
The lineup, “curated in collaboration with Lady Gaga,” features appearances/performances from Billie Eilish, J Balvin, Kacey Musgraves, Paul McCartney, John Legend, and many more.
Set your calendars: Saturday, April 18 at 8pm ET. Got anything else going on?
PUZZLE ANSWER
The three letters are "q-u-i." Equip, quick, squish, liquid, tequila
YUMMY RECIPES
Some insanely easy weeknight dinners for April
Here are a few easy-to-make, yet delicious dinners, to try while you've got some extra meal time at home.