This Dividend Stock Will Help You Retire Motley Fool
&Nbsp; ) . If any of you Foolish readers have these stores near you, let us know about their organic offerings at the end of the article in the comments section. Financial fortitude
Whole Foods is also a dividend-paying stock. But with its yield of just 0.6%, why would I think it's such a big deal?
Because the dividend is a sign of financial fortitude.
Back during the financial crisis of 2008, Whole Foods found itself in quite a bind. Profits were drying up, and the company had only $31 million in cash while sporting a long-term debt load of close to $1 billion.
Today, the tables are turned. The company has $554 million in cash and short-term investments, while the debt load has shrunk by almost 80%, down to $208 million. Should another financial disaster hit, causing consumers to trade down for groceries, Whole Foods is in a much better position to weather the storm.
And even the dividend looks mighty healthy. Last quarter -- the first in which the company has offered a payout in three years -- Whole Foods needed to use only 25% of its free cash flow to give investors their dividend. The rest of that free cash flow can now go toward financing expansion. And once that expansion subsides, Whole Foods will have plenty of room to raise its dividend.
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Can u help w/guilt over purchase?
First, some brief backstory: I am a full-time student and I also work full-time. I am an honors student and work very hard, no time to spend w/friends. A few months ago, my husband quit his job (I only worked part time then) and I charged bills, groceries, gas on credit cards to keep us going while he looked for another one (he took over a month but that's another story).
So I have been working to pay off the debt, and my car. I will be debt free in 4 months, if I keep on track!! I have not bought anything frivolous in months, pack lunch for work, and make meals at home. But I just bought a ticket to see my fav band!!! I feel so guilty!! It was $65...
I hate being in debt, I want to be free so bad, but I have always wanted to see this band. I missed them a few years ago when they were in town. Is what I did right? What do you think? Will this make me spend more money now b/c I broke my discipline or will it be okay?
I think you'll be okay...and to prove it, would you be worrying so much if you were an overspender?
No.
And bands have ways of breaking up...I missed out on seeing a lot* of great bands because of that, and you don't want to look back on all the time you've spent liking this band and regretting the fact that you never got to see them live.
Just don't lose focus and let this be your only frivolous expense.
Also if you don't think about it as "cutting back" it'll just become a way of life and not like torture.
Good luck... stay on track 4 months will be over really soon.
You will appreciate it more because you're have worked harder to get it and understand the costs to your situation that going to see the concert will impose.
You will understand that this is a one off treat. Don't punish yourself for going to see the concert. You are obviously on track and as long as your goals stay foremost in your mind, you will be okay.
Enjoy the concert. Take a sandwich! LOL
Best wishes
Any tips on getting out of debt faster?
We are on a good plan (e.g., paying of high-interest loan first), saving, working more, etc... and we have consilodated most of our debt with one of our banks and are already paying a low interest rate. Following this course of action, we would probably be debt free in about 4 years paying about 400 a month over that time.
Is there a way, other than the obvious ways mentioned above, to pay off debt quicker... Any other suggestions (stock market? tricks? anything?)
Thanks...
Make a list of each card and what the total amount owed is.
Then, put the list in numerical order from least to most.
Figure out the monthly payments of each (keeping them in order from least owed to most owed).
Next, pay each monthly payment, BUT figure out how much EXTRA you can add to the very first payment on your list (can you forego a cup of coffee each day and add $10-15 to that payment each month?).
Pay each monthly payment adding extra to the one that you owe the least on until the first one is paid off (cut up the cards).
Then, take the amount you paid on the FIRST card and apply ALL of that amount to the payment on the next card on the list. You can even add your home mortgage or car loan to this.
For instance, if you have three credit cards, one you owe $200 on, one $250 and one $600...
Minimum payment on each (this is just an example I am making up):
1. $15
2. $20
3. $30
Month 1: Pay $30 on card 1
2. Pay $20 on card 2
3. Pay $30 on card 3
Do this for 6 months ($30 on first card x 6 = $180) then you'll pay the $20 on the first card the 7th month to pay it off.
Month 8: 1. Card 1 is paid off
2. Pay the original $20 PLUS the $30 (from the money you used to pay on card 1) to make a $50 payment on card 2 (you only owe about $130 on card 2 at this point)
3. pay $30 on card 3 as usual
By Month 10, your first two cards will be paid off. Then you take the $50 from card 2 and add it to the $30 for card 3 making the payment you give to card 3 $80 per month.
You won't feel any difference in your living conditions because the money was going out for bills in the first place. And you'll pay off your debts a lot sooner than just making the minimum payments.
Good luck! :)
These can help to get more funds which will help you pay back your debt quickly. I am already into it & started earning rewards. Thanks , All the best, be financially debt free.
The only suggestion I'd make is to be sure to build up some savings and conntribute to your 401K at work concurrent with paying down your debts. This is especially important if your employer offers a match...you don't want to leave money on the table.
If you do that, you'll find it extra gratifying in a few years when your debt is gone and you see a nice chunk of change sitting in your emergency fund and 401.
Good luck!
First you Debt Snowball
Pay the Mins on all payments, and then pay all the Extra to the Smallest bill you have. Once that is paid off, you keep working to the biggest.
In fact - follow the plans by Dave Ramsey in the book Total Money Makeover.
You can also grab his radio show (it is online free if you cant catch it locally).
I was able to loose my $70K in debt in only 16 months. I am now - Debt Free!!!
It is an awesome feeling.
One thing to check is your tax withholding. There is a calculator on IRS.gov. Make sure you will not owe a lot at tax time. Over 1000 and you will pay unnecessary penalties. In your situation I would aim for a refund of around 200. If you are getting a bigger refund, I would leave my withholding for a few months. Then after being sure that the debt repayment plan is working, I would adjust my withholding to give me more money to apply 1/2 to building savings and 1/2 to reducing debt.
If you are able to squeeze a little more out of your budget than $400/month, I would put it in savings to build a buffer to avoid additional borrowing. Once those reserves are built up, I you might increase your debt payments if you have a consistent surplus.
Also apply any raises to savings/debt reduction. If you make 3000/month and get 2 4% raises that is $244/extra a month(unfortunately taxes will take a good chunk). I would also use those 50%/50% to build savings and reduce debt.
One thing even if it delays retiring your debt, make contributions to your 401K that get a company match.
How much are you really saving, maybe its too much and more should be put into your loan payments. What accounts are you putting these savings into? Mutual funds would be a good start, look especially at dividend funds, higher interest rates, easy to convert to cash in emergencies.
Most people who pay this neglect to look at their EXPENDITURES. Look and see where you can cut costs, mainly little things. I have to admit, I struggle with this cause I love to eat! eg. a meal out a day, plus snack can easily be $10+, 7 days a week = $70 = $280 per month.
Hope this helps.
For 12 months eliminate cable TV and go to Over the Air TV
For 12 months take on a part time job
Take a weekend and have a garage sale --- getting rid of stuff you do not need and use and putting the proceeds against the debt.
Commit to eating out ONLY once per month for 12 months
Consider raising deductibles on auto ins to 1000 dollars (usually good for 150 dollars or more over a year
Call and ask for discounts on cell phone plan -- explain your situation and tell them you do not need more service and will extend your contract for a loyalty discount --
Picka bad habit and Comit to eliminating it -- smoking -- drinking -- sodas --- something and use the $$ to the debt
Graduating College Debt free or close to it.
well here's my plan
1. obtain many scholarships, hopefully a full one
2. join the Coast Guard reserve, to have the government pay whatever the scholarships won't cover.
3. Graduate undergraduate school, and repeat 1 and 2 for Med school
4. Use what my parents have saved up for Med school, and then complete my residency for anesthesiology. Hopefully I will graduate and start a career debt free this way. any suggestions, Am I doing this right or is there something I'm missing? Thanks. I might get deployed once in the Coast Guard, but It's something I think I would enjoy, there are few things I enjoy more than the water.
Medical school is going to run you well over $200,000 by the time you get there if you follow that "plan." You'll be well into your 30s when you start your residency and very few people I've met have ever gone the full distance without debt, even if they've had a good job for a few years. The reason I succeeded without any debt is because my parents put aside money for my education, including graduate school, based on projections made by our accountant in the 80s.
I should mention that getting a full ride to any school can be pretty difficult. I think the only people I ever met that had those were athletes.
I'm not sure what you mean by missing steps or repeating going through the Coast Guard. Please clarify, as it makes no sense either syntactically or in practice.
How much money do you earn each year and what kind of work do you do?
1) Are you happy with your income?
2) If you have a spouse, what is his/her income?
3) Are you debt free?
4) Are you able to meet your bills pretty well?
5) What would you like to do if you're not where you really want to be?
$43,000 as a second grade bilingual teacher, plus nominal side job as an interpreter for the police department.
1) It's a good start. When I need more $$ for home improvement or education expenses I get a side job for a few years. (Besides the interpreter thing, that's a constant, oh yeah, we eBay too, but that's not in the $43,000.)
2) Spouse is full-time student, part time pizza delivery "boy"; income is a pittance because gas is so expensive and we live where hardly anyone tips the delivery boy.
3) No
4) Yes, because we live below our means and raise a large garden.
5) I am where I want to be, but I also aspire to teach a college course part-time and I'd like to be a motivational speaker for teachers.
Hey "Pete" what state do you teach in? I've been in the racket for 10 years. . .and I'm well below you.
1) no
2) no
3) hell no
4) yes
5) either a stripper or an astronaut
UPDATE: after reading my responses to your questions, i decided i could drop out of school and become a stripper that dresses like an astronaut. THANKS, YOUR QUESTION CHANGED MY LIFE!
1) no
2)no
3)no - 30,000 in debt baby! Yeah higher education rocks!!!
4)it's ok
5)I'd like to be the winner of the lottery, but I would love to be a best selling author right now (like harry potter level)
Read my books . . . When I get them published
1) Reasonably
2) £36,000 or $65,000
3) Yuppers
4) As above
5) Hmmmm.... Park Ranger, or a Jet Pilot :)
1) Are you happy with your income?
Sure
2) If you have a spouse, what is his/her income?
No spouse
3) Are you debt free?
Luckily yes.
4) Are you able to meet your bills pretty well?
Don't even think about them, auto pay all of them.
5) What would you like to do if you're not where you really want to be?
I am happy where i am.
a) yeah
b) not in the least
c) getting there...
d) I love my work dont want to be anywhere else
1. It could be a lot worse.
2. Not married
3. No, but no credit card debt.
4. Reasonably
5. Space-Tyrant
Is there any way you can negotiate w/a creditor to lower the amount of debt owe? DESP Seeking Suggestions!!?
I have numerous debts owed to several different creditors from 4 years ago. Today is the day I am going to contact two of the creditors to discuss paying my debt owed (I am on my way to becoming debt free and rebuilding my credit!)
Is there anything I could say or do to negotiate the debt I owe? I owe Verizon $1100 and Victorias Secret $591. Also, what do I say or how do I go about making sure the "bad marks" are taken off my credit history?
I desp need help! 10 points best answer thank you!
The best chance you will have of lowering the amount you owe is to discuss with the company in question and convince them the alternative is for them to get nothing. If you tell them that you want to do what is right, but are about to declare backrupcy, then they would be more likely (not a definate!) to reduce the amount you owe in an effort to get something instead of nothing.
One approach is to indicate that you are willing to repay the entire debt in a lump sum if they will reduce the amount. For example, you could offer Victoria's Secret $400 to clear your account, or Verizon $750. They may accept or not, but you lose nothing by trying.
The bad marks will be taken off your credit history as you develop the habit of paying all your bills on time. It may take several years before the bad history is wiped out, but if you manage your money properly, you will be living correctly.
This may or may not be a good thing. Worst case, why go thru all the bother unless its for 100% of what you owe us; no sympathy. Best case, a "dead customer" willing to make a partial payment-found money! Now negotiate short and sweet, most important is to have creditor issue "debt settled" statement along with agreement to accept 50% payment. Do not make opening statement about how much you are willing to pay; do say you are trying to clear your debt burden with all your creditors or else you will be forced into bankrupcy. Sit back and wait for their response. You now have the advantage. My guess is they will initially ask for 70%; your response will be: I can't afford that. Next they will say 50% or will ask how much can you afford. In the first instance your response is the same and in the second you tell them I was hoping for around 20-25%, which I think I can manage. See where I'm going with this?
Lastly, don't worry about them offering monthly payment plans to recover the whole debt. Once you mention bankrupcy, only an idiot would re-extend credit. Good luck
Can someone help me on facts aboot the UK?
1) How has the relationship of Ireland and the UK changed since 1900 to present?
2) Who are some influential/important people of UK since 1900 to present?
3) What are some influential/important events of UK since 1900 to present?
4) What is UK's econmy like? Debt? Free Trad? Multinational Corporations?
1) In 1900 Britain ruled Ireland, then there was the Irish civil war in 1922, the mainly Catholic counties then became independent as Eire, the Irish Republic, the mainly Protestant counties stayed as part of the UK as Northern Ireland. From the 1960s to 90s there were many terrorist atrocities in Northern Ireland but a peace treaty was agreed and still holds good today. At present a majority of those in Northern Ireland want to stay part of UK.
2) Lloyd George, Winston Churchill, The Kings, The Queen (god bles yer ma'am), Clement Attlee, Maggie Thatcher, Tony Bliar, Frank Whittle, Francis Crick, Alexander Fleming, The Beatles, Sid Vicious, Richard Dawkins
3) Death of Queen Victoria, World War I, the depression, World War II, withdrawal from Empire, the swinging 60s, industrial unrest, Falklands, monetarism, Gulf Wars
4) All the above plus a lot of stuff from the European Union
How do you get out of debt when you are not in trouble yet?
Okay #1 I want to pay everyone back.
Here is the deal. My family and I have about $25,000 worth of debt. Currently I am riding $10,000 of it on one of those 0% APR cards which will turn to 8.99% next March. I have a little here and a little there. I can't get a personal loan to cover it all with one payment unless I want to pay like 20% APR. I have never missed a payment on anything, Everyone involved has a credit rating of 750 or higher. Where is the help for the good guys who want their credit to remain intact and pay off the debt? Is there free help? I also owe $4,000 on a car, which will end, a few thousand on one personal loan that will end. $3,000 on a fixed 3.99% $350 on a card that is 0% for 12 months and will be paid off in time. I am a good person. Please help!
I have no trouble making the payments. I pay more than minimum. I just want the debt to go away faster. And I don't own a house. :(
Talk to a credit counselor: Start by looking around a good credit counseling company, and not become a victim of one of the various credit counseling scams that are prevalent today. Do not be misled by any ad that assures you quick fixes for your credit report. This is an impossible promise. Instead search for a honest company accredited to Consumer Credit Counseling Services.
Then fix a meeting with a professional credit counselor, and apprise them about your debt situation. Do not omit anything as they will require the entire information to draw up re-payment plan according to your situation.
where can i find help with credit cards Counseling in the Washington/metro-politon are? (Springfield/VA/DC)?
all of my crdt crds have gone to collections i spoke with one of the debt agencies/company/debtsolutions i think and they said they can't help anymore but the other one (freedomfinancial.com) is like "absolutely why not? just pay us 300 a month and we will take care of everything..thatz what we are here for..." is this optomitism the real deal or what? and plus i want to find somebody close to my home....and work with them face to face in order to avoid scam...it is freedomfinancial who is being optomistic...tell me plz anybody if you have worked with them and are they good? he said i'll be debt free in 4 yrs...etc i think thatz good but is it a scam or the real deal?
i stopped using them about a yr ago...and they have all gone to collections since my husband lost his job, i had to stop the lowest monthly payment right away...some of them were as high as 500...and the lowest ofcourse 10...but now he has a job on a contract and we want to work this out....but i hope itz not too late for that...by the way please some ANSWER MY QUESTION!
best advice: stop using credit cards and pay them all off in full.
Will I be able to purchase my first home?
I just got married and I am 25 years old and $25,000 in credit card debt with $25,000 in student loans. My husband is 23 years old and declared bankruptcy 2 years ago. He has no debt but will also have $25,000 in loans when he graduates in May. I have consolidated all of my debt and I am currently paying $490/month to the consolidation company. I should be debt free within 4 years. I am also paying $105 to my student loan. I have a really well paying job as does my husband, however, we want to buy a home soon and I am worried that I won't be approved for a mortgage. I am currently paying $650/month in rent and would rather be paying a mortgage. We can probably afford $700-$800/month. I have looked into Ameridream where they provide you with a down payment. Should I be as worried as I am that we won't get a home in the near future? What can I do to get a home?
Sorry for the confusion. I have been paying the $490/month for over a year now towards the $25,000, so I have a little over 4 years left and now, less than $25,000 in credit card debt.
You have received some information about some lending available after BK & with low scores. I just want to add this because I feel that your best financing option is a fixed rate loan at a reasonable rate. Most of the others will be 2/28-fixed 2 yrs and then adjust every 6 months with a higher rate & margin.
FHA will finance 2 yrs out of BK and are not heavy on score but need to be high 500's, no lates after BK, re-established showing good payment history. FHA does participate in most all of the down payment assistance programs (there are others besides Ameridream),
Your biggest issues are going to be the debt to income ratio, housing to income ratio, and being realistic about the mortgage payment. Remember that a mortgage payment will be the principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. Taxes tend to go up on a fairly regular basis so your mortgage payment will change everytime taxes change. Is the $700 to $800 a month payment going to include the taxes and insurance? Just some things to think over. If you came into my office to get pre-approved for a loan, these are questions I would be asking.
Need financial advice: I'm in debt 120,000 dollars, I will soon be making 65-70K a yr b/4 taxes.?
Should I pay my student loans off as fast as possible to avoid interest, or make minimum payments and try to save as much capital as possible over the next 3-5 years w/ the plan of starting my own business?
I don't want to go into the details of the business, but I'd just like to know, if you think I would be better off in five years being either:
broke and debt free OR
In debt for the same amount with enough money to start a business, of course w/ the help of another loan; but also w/ the hope of a higher income.
The loans are federally backed student loans and don't have an effect on my credit, which is in good standing at the moment.
I hate debt. Pay it off in the priority of descending interest rate (Highest rate first that is). If your student loans are the only liability you have, yes pay them.
I assume you'll need a business loan to get started. Having your personal finances in order will only help your application. If you can't sort out your personal money, why would a lender trust you to tend to those of a business?
