Americans are being forced to make hard choices when it comes to how to spend their money during this uncertain time.
But as Amanda Brandeis learned, there are some experts – all over the country – who are offering their help free of charge.
THESE HARD TIMES ARE FORCINGMANY AMERICANS TO MAKE HARDCHOICES... WHENIT COMES TO SPENDING.BUT AS AMANDA BRANDEIS TELLSUS... SOME FINANCIAL ADVISORSARE WILLINGTO HELP..
FREE OF CHARGE.IN A COVID-19 SURVEY, 9 OUT OF10 PEOPLE SAID THE CRISIS CAUSEDSTRESS ON THEIR PERSONALFINANCES.KRISTIN PUGH, PRO BONO FINANCIALADVISOR15:43 "I'VE GOT TO PAY THIS,THIS, THIS AND THIS, WHICH ONEIS THE MOST IMPORTANT?
ALSOWE'RE GETTING A LOT OF CALLS OFPEOPLE JUST CONTEMPLATINGBANKRUPTCY."KRISTIN PUGH IS A PRO BONOADVISOR WITH THE FINANCIALPLANNING ASSOCIATION PRO BONOMEANS SHE HELPS CLIENTS FREE OFCHARGE.5:40 "IN SHORT, GROWING UP POORMADE IT SO I HAVE A PARTICULAR,WANT, OR NEED TO HELP THECOMMUNITY." PUGH AND ADVISORSAROUND THE COUNTRY ARE BANDINGTOGETHER TO HELP THOSE HIT BYCOVID-19AND ARE MAKING AN OFFER TO HELPANYONE PLAN NEXT WEEK'S BUDGETOR NEXT YEAR'S.
FOR FREE.
NOSTRINGS ATTACHED..BUT THEY'RE NOT GETTING MANYCALLS.13:12 - ""FINANCIAL PLANNING"EVOKES HAVING MONEY, OR HAVINGWEALTH I SHOULD SAY, STOCKS ANDBONDS, THAT'S NOT THE CASE."SHE SAYS REGARDLESS OF YOURINCOME, ANYONE WITH BILLS ANDMONEY TO MANAGE CAN BENEFIT.36:46 "THERE'S NO SUCH THING ASA DUMB QUESTION WHEN YOU'RETALKING TO A PRO BONO PLANNER."THE HELP COULD RANGE FROM A FEWPHONE CALLS TO A 6-MONTHRELATIONSHIP.RIGHT NOW PUGH'S ADVISING MANYCLIENTS TO TRY AND GET BILLSLOWERED OR POSTPONED,LIKE YOUR CREDIT CARDS OR CELLPHONE BILL.SUSAN CAPRA, LOST JOB IN 2008RECESSION17:24 "I LEARNED A LOT ABOUTCALLING UP THE AGENCIES ANDSEEING WHAT THEY CAN DO, YOUNEVERKNOW UNLESS YOU ASK, PICK UP THEPHONE AND ASK WHAT ARE THEYDOING TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE INYOUR SITUATION."SUSAN CAPRA LEARNED THIS DURINGTHE 2008 RECESSION AFTER HERDREAM JOB IN THE FASHIONINDUSTRY WAS ELIMINATED.9:49 "I REMEMBER WALKING OUT INCOMPLETE SHOCK, THINKING MY LIFEWAS OVER."BUT THEN SHE GOT SCRAPPYINSTEAD OF RENEWING HEREXPENSIVE CAR LEASE SHE OPTED TOPUT A LITTLE MONEY DOWN ON AUSED CAR WITH LOW PAYMENTS.15:32 "FOCUS ON THE BIGGESTBILLS YOU HAVE AND FIGURE OUTHOW TO EITHER REDUCE THOSE BIGBILLS, DEFER THOSE BIG BILLS,GET HELP."ONE OF PUGH'S CLIENTS DID THISWITH A COLLECTION AGENCY,NEGOTIATING A LOWER LUMP SUMPAYMENT.26:53 "I THINK IT WAS SOMEWHEREFROM $500 AND WE WERE ABLE TOGET IT DOWN TO $300."SHE SAYS TAKING THESE STEPS CANALSO HELP PROTECT YOUR CREDITSCORE WHICH IS CRITICAL FORYOUR FUTURE.SUSAN CAPRA21:10 "THIS IS NOT THE FIRSTFINANCIAL CRISIS WE'VE BEENTHROUGH, IT'S NOT THE LAST.
THISISEVERYONE'S OPPORTUNITY TOEDUCATE YOURSELVES AND KNOWTHERE'S LIGHT AT THE END OF THETUNNEL."ALL IT TAKES IS A PHONE CALL.IN SAN DIEGO, I'M AMANDABRANDEIS REPORTING.OTHER ADVICE FOR LOWERINGEXPENSES... CALL YOUR CELL PHONEPROVIDER.RIGHT NOW... SEVERAL PROVIDERSAREN'T CHARGING LATE FEES ORCANCELLINGSERVICE FOR MISSED PAYMENTS...BUT YOU MUST LET THEM KNOWYOU'RE GOINGTHROUGH TOUGH TIMES.COMCAST AND A-T-AND-T ALSO OFFERLOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS INTERNETFOR TENDOLLARS A MONTH.FOR A LIST OF PRO-BONO FINANICALADVISORS HERE IN MICHIGAN... GOTO THEWEBSITE YOU SEE LISTED ON YOURSCREEN
Six in ten Americans would consider moving to a less populated area in order to better protect themselves against the second wave..
