The Federal Reserve is gearing up to cut interest rates as soon as next month, which could bring relief to people with mortgages, credit cards and car loans. But it could be a bumpy ride until then.
A weaker-than-expected jobs report Friday triggered a sell-off on Wall Street this week from which markets are struggling to recover. And there’s still uncertainty around how deeply the central bank might slash rates, if it does so as expected when it meets in mid-September. Many consumers are looking for some financial stability in the short term while planning to benefit from lower borrowing costs in the medium to long terms.
That balancing act isn’t easy, Bankrate senior economic analyst Mark Hamrick acknowledged. “We should hope for the best,” he said, but “prepare for some possible outcomes that are less than optimal.”
Here are some financial do’s and don’ts experts suggest in the meantime.
DO take advantage of high-yield savings
Now’s still a good time to stash money in accounts paying generous interest.
“Circumstances can occur that are damaging to our personal finances, outside of recessions” or stock market turbulence, said Hamrick, who noted that nearly 60% of U.S. adults are uncomfortable with their current emergency savings. “How we prepare for those things, including how much savings we’re either inclined to or able to put away, are ultimately what helps us to manage through those difficulties.”
Most analysts don’t expect the Fed to cut its…
