Atlantic Blog

The COVID-19 pandemic is not only causing fear and uncertainty about our health but our livelihood as well. Many wonder, “What happens to my family and me if my employer has to lay off people or my hours are cut?”

Now more than ever, it’s essential to keep track of your expenses to make sure you’re not spending more than you make or increasing your credit card debt. If you feel like you live paycheck to paycheck, now is the time to take a hard look at your expenses, see where you can make adjustments, and take firm control.

1. Create a budget.  Do you know much money is coming in each month and how much is going out? Know precisely what you’re dealing with – how much money is coming in each month and how much is going out. To get a clear picture, create a budget. It can help to see how big of a chunk each expense is taking from your take-home pay.
   
   
2. Cancel non-essential subscription services temporarily. If money is tight, then reduce expenses. Cancel a video service. Cancel a music service. Cancel your gym membership. Review the automatic subscriptions being charged to your credit card. You can always restart them when things get better. 
   
   
3. Get rid of Credit Card Debt. Look for opportunities to transfer your credit card balance to a credit card with lower interest rates on balance transfers. Atlantic Visa Credit Cards could be a great option with no annual fee and no balance transfer fee. Look to transfer the balance from the highest card to a lower interest card and then pay more than the minimum whenever possible. Also, until you have paid off the debt, only use your credit card for emergencies.
   
   
4. Refinance your auto loan. What is your current auto loan rate? Find a better deal and reduce your monthly cost. Start by looking at the Atlantic Auto Loan rates. Use the Atlantic auto loan calculator to compare your current rate and see your potential savings. Shop around and find the best rate.
   
   
5. Beef up your emergency savings.  It is true; saving is not easy. Especially when living paycheck to paycheck. You can start with as little as $5 a week. Simply save $5 consistently each week, and when you think you can add a bit more, increase your deposit. If you can fund success with the above four steps, you will have a little extra to put away. Make it easy by setting up an automatic transfer from your checking account.

Ideal situations are often rare. Dealing with the uncertainty of a pandemic makes it more extraordinary, but you can redefine the ‘ideal situation’ if you choose.

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