What I’ve Been Up To

This Week In Your Wallet: Two Candidates On The U.S. Economy

“It’s the economy, stupid.” James Carville coined that phrase as a strategist for Bill Clinton’s first run for the presidency in 1992. Today’s nominees would do well to listen. For 84 percent of investors surveyed by UBS, the economy is still issue #1. It ranks higher than healthcare (for 79 percent), national security (for 78 percent), terrorism (for 70 percent) and immigration (for 57 percent) as the biggest issue.

But what, specifically, about the economy does each candidate propose changing? Clinton’s aim is to cut taxes for the middle class and introduce more jobs by way of spending on clean energy. Drumpf, on the other hand, hopes to free the country of its $19 trillion debt (and fast), as well as introduce big tax cuts without significant changes to Social Security or Medicare.

We’ll be talking more about this as we get closer to November. Now, onto the other headlines…

A House Full Of Emotions

Many investors already know that it’s a good idea to separate emotion from their portfolios. But you may want to extend the same line of reasoning to your real estate sales and purchases. Our emotions play a major role not just in the homes we choose, but the prices we pay for them, reports The Wall Street Journal. They can even blind us to facts about the current real estate market — or make us prioritize some emotional needs over others that could emerge later.

For example, you may want a certain size or style of house and to spend more time with your family. But if you prioritize the former over the latter, you may underestimate the longer commute to work it involves or the extended overtime hours you’d need to put in to pay for it. On the other hand, if you’re selling, you might be so emotionally invested in your house that you expect it to increase in value — or sell for — more than it will. That can cause you to stick with your original asking price for longer than is realistic to net a buyer.

Girl Power

“Who run the world? Girls.” Beyoncé may have tapped into an increase in the financial confidence of women. For the first time, women’s feelings of financial security are higher than those of men. Specifically, women note both improved job security and an increase in comfort with their ability to carry debt, according to Bankrate.com. Greg McBride, CFA and the site’s chief financial analyst, thinks recent growth in household income could be a contributing factor — especially since a lot of women are running the household finances. But he also notes that these confidence levels are something that Bankrate measures on a monthly basis, and this could be an anomaly. We’ll keep an eye on it for you — and aim to keep the numbers rising via HerMoney.

Back-To-School Savings

Have you started back-to-school shopping yet? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone. According to a recent study of K-12 parents (and parents of college-bound freshmen) by Rubicon Project, more than one-third have already dipped a toe in the water. The average planned expenditure? A whopping $917 per child. For most, most of the budget is going towards technology, with 49 percent of parents planning to buy a laptop for their child. (Amazon is the top tech purchasing destination.) If you’re one of them, keep an eye out for deals.

The back-to-school season (especially around July and August) is when laptop deals heat up. And with a valid student email address, your child can access a couple of great deals, says David Dritsas, tech editor at Brad’s Deals. One of these iseducational pricing at Best Buy — up to $150 off — and it usually still counts for things that are already on sale. Another is Apple’s education site, which can offer 15 percent off (for students or educators). Dritsas recommends checking prices at Best Buy and small online retailers like B&H Photo Video before pressing “purchase” via Apple’s website or store. He also recommends Office Depot and Staples for deals on back-to-school supplies.

Have a great week,

Jean