Refinancing And Financial Planning
Articles - Mortgage
The most common reason usually for refinancing is to use the equity to consolidate those high interest cards and other debts. Home mortgages will have lower interest rates than credit cards and unsecured credit, so it should lower your overall monthly budget. But it could raise your monthly mortgage payment.
by JohnDashwood


The most common reason usually for refinancing is to use the equity to consolidate those high interest cards and other debts. Home mortgages will have lower interest rates than credit cards and unsecured credit, so it should lower your overall monthly budget. But it could raise your monthly mortgage payment.

Borrowing against the equity in your home will make your mortgage payments higher and will increase the term of the loan. If you are ten years into a thirty year mortgage, you will now have another ten years of mortgage payments over your current mortgage. By switching from an adjustable to a fixed rate mortgage, you will stabilize your mortgage payments and not have to face an unexpected increase in your monthly bill.

Higher mortgage payments will mean restructuring your budget and your life style. In order to stay out of debt you will have to stay within your income each month. There won't be much to spare for extras like dining out and entertaining. Every member of the family will have to make sacrifices so that you don't jeopardize your home with additional debt. You will need to develop and live on a monthly budget.

If you are earning $5000 a month and you have to live on $4000 monthly, you have to let go some luxuries e.g. dining out, enjoying nightly home movie marathons, shopping, and filling up your car's tank. The grocery list has to be adjusted too. All these sacrifices will go on for years, so are you ready for a refinance?

People living with a refinance always look for a second job they can do weekends or at home after a long day at work. Taking a second job can make up for the $1,000 you are paying monthly. Your spending may remain the same but then you are working double time to make up for the budget gap. Or you may scrimp and save to live comfortably and without worrying about bill collectors.

The first thing you have to do is review your expenses against the $5000 to live on. This is tough so you have to go over the new budget with your family so everybody knows where the money will be going and why every one has to minimize their spending.

Explain to your children that they are going to have to make sacrifices now so that the entire family can have a better future. Teach about living on a budget and not always having everything they want. Don't give in to impulse at the check out counter and spend that dollar or two. Those dollars add up faster than you may think.

It is important to include savings, a retirement plan and life insurance in your monthly budget. These costs are part of a total financial plan to secure your family's future. The reason for getting in a position where you had to refinance your home was a lack of financial planning. Don't make the same mistake again. Plan for tomorrow.

If you are planning on refinancing, be prepared to make the higher mortgage payments and have a financial plan in place. It will mean sacrifices, probably for several years, but the in the end you will keep your home and restore your credit. It will help your children learn how to budget and live on their own later in life. With proper financial planning you will be able to retire in comfort.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.