Emergency !!!!! there is only one thing going around in News, Social media or in any conversation, we have with anyone now a days. – Coronavirus or infamously known as COVID – 19 has wreaked havoc in everyone’s life. In fact now people are scared even to sneeze or randomly cough in public in fear of being ostracized. Along with the health concerns, the financial ramification of this virus is also worrying everyone. Moody’s predict that we might never come out the economic ramification of this virus. And top leaders of our country passing statements that we will be going back by 21 years in this 21 days lockdown, definitely dampens everyone’s spirits. With countries being in lockdown and markets and businesses being shut down everywhere, there is an almost certain global recession looming large in the future. These are exactly those emergency times for which Financial Planners warn people to be prepared for.
We can’t do much about the medical emergency of this virus, but we can definitely create a plan for the financial emergency which we are facing today and for the uncertainty looming about our near future –
Assess your current situation – with businesses shutting down, it is hard times for all of us for a foreseeable future. Assess your financial situation. How much liquidity do you have with you right now and how much will you need in the near future to tide over this crisis? With government announcing Three Months Moratorium you might say nothing to worry. But would disagree as if you have liquidity would recommend to continue your loan and not take moratorium. And even if you opt for a moratorium trust me this problem is not going to vanish overnight. It is always best to be prepared. You need to be prepared for at least the coming three months. So make a list of your mandatory expenses –
- EMIs of loans or Rents
- Insurance premium
- Utility Bills – electricity, water and phone.
- Daily essentials
- Credit card dues
You need start accounting for these above expense heads and multiply it by times 2 or 3 and then assess whether you have enough funds to cover these basic expenses for at least the next 2-3 months.
Talk with your bankers (or Landlords)– everyone were relieved when RBI announced a three month Moratorium that is from 1st March to 31st May 2020. ( What is a Moratorium – A legal authorisation to debtors to postpone payment.) Moratorium of the loans which includes all types of loans including credit card dues. But you need to understand that your interest is getting accrued and will be payable either as EMI or your tenor will accordingly increase along with slight increase in your EMIs. Do check with your banks as to how are they planning to give the three moratorium and how are they planning to collect these dues. Same goes for credit card dues. Penalty will not be charged but interest will keep on accruing. If you have liquidity with you do not take the moratorium. Keep on paying your loans and finish it off. If you have limited liquidity would recommend to finish off credit card dues. Remember even if you opt for moratorium it will not affect your credit ratings. Same way talk with your landlord for rent payments. In a few states landlords are requested to go easy with rent. Talk with the landlord and work out a payment schedule.
Investments continue hold or sell – many an investors do not know what to do with businesses on hold and for how long no one knows. If you have Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) going on analyse your situation and take a call as to whether you want to temporarily stop them or you can continue without any strain on your finances. But please do restart them once your finances are back on track. Same goes for all your investments. Do not let this detour from financial independence path become a permanent detour. Once your life is back on track better to do a complete financial check up to see where you stand and the way forward.
Do not panic sell – remember do not panic sell your investments. In case you are short of liquidity then it is a different scenario but please avoid PANIC selling.
Check with your insurance agent – check with your medical insurance agent regarding the diseases covered in your medical insurance. If not how much is covered and what can be done. Again, be it whatever do not let your insurance lapse. Be sure to pay the premiums on your insurances.
Involvement of family – do not bear the stress of finances alone. Sit down with your family. Discuss your finances with your family. This exercise has a dual advantage – 1 – sharing helps with your stress and you can work as a family to lessen your financial burden. 2 – In case you fall sick, your spouse or family member is updated with all the financial matters and can take it in their hands.
Emergency funds – last but not the least if you already have an emergency fund or liquidity in place then you do not need to panic. But if you do not have one, then although a little late but not everything is lost. With talks about extension of lockdown its still not late to create an emergency fund. How much should your ideal emergency fund be? After calculating your existing finances and expenses, we would recommend to keep aside at least two months worth of sum equivalent to your EMIs of loan and insurance premium and utility bills and any unforeseen expense that can arise during this period. Even if you have taken moratorium of EMIs but still after three months the load will be there. (Although you need to keep aside cash equivalent to all the above heads mentioned but if liquidity crunch then even keeping aside money for EMIs and utility bills and insurance premium.) Ideal is three months but with the entire economy at halt and would recommend to start with two months. Once you are through this rough patch, always remember to keep aside an emergency fund. A word of caution – ‘ Your emergency fund is not an investment, it is an insurance with one purpose – to protect you and your family’ as rightly said by Dave Ramsey an American, show host, businessman and author. Do bear this in mind.
Remember always be prepared for emergencies, as emergency itself means something which is not in our hands. Be safe everyone – Physically and Financially !!!!