1 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:08,959 Speaker 1: Hey, hey, vaham, it's time. Wait, I sound a little pathetic. 2 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,959 Speaker 1: I just realized, y'all, I'm not feeling too well. It's 3 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: been back to school and one of my two little 4 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: boys has brought back a bug already. And I don't 5 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:21,759 Speaker 1: know what it is that I got. Maybe it's just 6 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: a case of the mid twenty twenty five blues or flu. 7 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: I don't know, but not feeling my best. So for 8 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 1: anyone who's listening, who, oh Lord, have mercy, there's a 9 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: cricket on my microphone. Okay, well, at least I was 10 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: able to just liberate a cricket from my studio. Oh 11 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 1: my gosh, in my like, is that? Do I have 12 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,560 Speaker 1: like seven years of good luck Netmark? Little tiny green 13 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: crickets supposed to be good luck? Or was that just 14 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: from mulan And I don't know, but yeah, I'm not 15 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: feeling my greatest. That being said, I'm excited to be 16 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 1: here and I'm really excited to listen into today's question. 17 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: We actually had a listener who took the time to 18 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: send a voice note to me on IG and I 19 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: just thought it was really sweet. So I'm actually going 20 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 1: to play the question for y'all. Meant to this listener 21 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 1: who shall remain anonymous. But before I do, I just 22 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 1: want to say that all of the mixed feelings that 23 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: y'all are feeling in the wake of the assassination on 24 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 1: Charlie Kirk's life this week, I am feeling the exact 25 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:29,959 Speaker 1: same things. I feel like Michelle Obama not going to 26 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: the inauguration at the beginning of the year. And I 27 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 1: know that y'all know exactly what it means if someone 28 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: sends you a picture of Michelle Obama in response to 29 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: an RSVP for an event. I'm just gonna issue my 30 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 1: Michelle Obama jpeg file. Just download, upload that to the Internet, 31 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,919 Speaker 1: and you know, there we go. I have uploaded that file. 32 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 1: I also want to bring this spotlight back to us. Okay, 33 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: I am hosting in a couple of weeks here September 34 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: twenty five, at eight pm, I'm doing a webinar that's 35 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: totally free. I'm going to be sitting down with y'all 36 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 1: anyone who wants to join, and we're going to work 37 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: through together some of the most popular AI tools that 38 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 1: are available. But I'm going to show you how to 39 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 1: use those AI tools to get on top of your 40 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: finances and also to do what you can to beef 41 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: up your career prospects during a really challenging job market. 42 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 1: So I'm going beyond just how do I judge up 43 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: my resume chat GPT or how can I make my 44 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: resume fit for this job. I'm going beyond that, and 45 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: I'm hoping that I'll see some of y'all there. So 46 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 1: if you want to join, registration is still open. You 47 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: can go to the show notes of the podcast now 48 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:44,519 Speaker 1: and register. It is. It's going to be a good time. 49 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 1: It's going to be a supermatenty fith eight pm, and 50 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: I hope to see y'all there. All right, let's get 51 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: into today's question. It is a juice you want. This 52 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: question comes from a listener who is challenged by a 53 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 1: couple of different types of debt, including some tax Let's 54 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 1: get into a bafan. 55 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 2: Hi, Mandy, I just started listening to your podcast in 56 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 2: this past year as I've for the first time in 57 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 2: my thirty four years of life, had started to look 58 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 2: at my finances and decided to stop being afraid of them. 59 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 2: And I listened to your eleven thousand dollars credit card 60 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 2: debt episode. I also have about eleven thousand dollars of 61 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 2: debt and credit card in credit cards. However, I also 62 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 2: have probably about four thousand or five thousand in debt 63 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 2: from the years when I worked as a contractor with 64 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 2: the Smithsonian and a freelancer pursuing that you know, nonprofit 65 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 2: art life that our immigrant parents did not want for us. 66 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 2: And I don't know how to tackle this debt, and 67 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 2: I feel really stuck. I think I should probably do 68 00:03:55,120 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 2: my tax debt first, but that seems intimidating, and you know, 69 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:02,119 Speaker 2: I'm trying to figure out how to do it all 70 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 2: to be realistic, and I get in that cycle of 71 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: I'm not doing enough, so why do anything at all? So, 72 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 2: you know, working through that with my therapist, but I 73 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 2: just wanted to know if you have very tangible strategies 74 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 2: for dealing with it and ways to cope with the 75 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 2: stress from it. And yeah, I'm ready. 76 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 1: All right, I'm gonna call you, Beth. I'm gonna keep 77 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 1: you anonymous, but Beth, thank you so much for your question. 78 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: I chuckled a little bit at the fact that, you know, 79 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: the trying to live that nonprofit art life that our 80 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 1: immigrant parents did not want for us. So you're a 81 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 1: little rebel. Huh, you try to work the Smithsonian. It's 82 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: not the kind of thing where you know you. I 83 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: don't want you to feel like your parents. My parents 84 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 1: were right, I should have never gotten into this space. 85 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: But it does sound to me like you did that 86 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: on a contract basis, and like so many you know, 87 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 1: first time contractors, consultants, anyone who's working on a ten 88 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: ninety nine, it's really challenging to then be completely responsible 89 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 1: for setting aside money for taxes. Same boat club over here. Okay, 90 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,479 Speaker 1: I don't think anyone who's listening who on their very 91 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 1: first you know, contract gig where they earned. I think 92 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: you have to think it's something like if you get 93 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:29,279 Speaker 1: more than six hundred dollars on a ten ninety nine, 94 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: then you owe taxes on it, you know, obviously depending 95 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 1: on the income source. But yeah, it's completely understandable. It's 96 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: this whole tax system is so jacked up. It is 97 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: so set up for the super rich to get off 98 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 1: scot free and for the everyday you know, solopreneurs, small 99 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: business owners, you know, individual taxpayers to really struggle and 100 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 1: to feel like you're constantly in like some sort of 101 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 1: like researchers game, like mouth trap or pac Man or something. 102 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 1: So I get it, and my mandy money makers know 103 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: very well that I have a lot of anxiety when 104 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: it comes to taxes myself. I can't think I haven't 105 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 1: particularly ended up in a ton of tax debt. Where 106 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: I have ended up struggling is like I make goals 107 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 1: to pay myself first, like contribute to my four one K, 108 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 1: my solo for one K, or my step ira and all. 109 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 1: My accountant will sort of make her plan for my 110 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 1: taxes based on the amount that I said I was 111 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 1: going to contribute to those retirement accounts, and then I 112 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 1: just won't end up doing it. And then she's like, girl, 113 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: you owe yourself. I think one year, I owe myself 114 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 1: eighteen thousand dollars. I said, I don't know if I 115 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: can come up with this eighteen k. I said, I 116 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 1: was going to contribute, but it was an issue, right 117 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 1: because she had sort of been putting together her my 118 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: tax liability plan and you know, trying to get me 119 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: to oh the least amount possible and by not contributing 120 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: that eighteen thousand, which in a sense meant I wasn't 121 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: reducing my taxable income by eighteen thousand. I wasn't sheltering 122 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 1: that money from taxes. I was kind of jacking up 123 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: her plan. I was making it harder for her to 124 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: do her job. I did end up finding the eighteen K, 125 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 1: and I'm so glad I did. But yeah, taxes as 126 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: a an entrepreneur, solopreneur, you know, even just someone who 127 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: has a side hustle, it's difficult. It sure is. But 128 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: you don't need me to tell you that. You're already 129 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: living in the challenge. You have that four to five 130 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 1: thousand dollars in debt from those years that you worked 131 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: as a contractor. You also have about eleven thousand dollars 132 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: of credit card debt and different credit cards. So what 133 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: is it about that number eleven thousand. I know you 134 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: said you listened to that episode. I did from another 135 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: listener who had about eleven thousand dollars of debt. So 136 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: all I can say is, y'all ate alone. Y'all already 137 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: know that. But when you're looking at these different types 138 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 1: of debt and wondering which one to tackle first, I 139 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 1: think taxes have to come first in this case. Oh wait, 140 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: I didn't do my spiel. I am not your financial advisor. 141 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 1: I'm not your investment advisor. I'm not a professional you 142 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 1: certified in any of those things. So I'm just a 143 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: girl with some advice and some knowledge based on my 144 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 1: experience and obviously decades of work in business and finance journalism. 145 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: But what I will say is the IRS don't play. 146 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 1: The IRS has many ways to recoup a debt in 147 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: many different in different and more potentially damaging to your 148 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 1: life ways than just a credit card would. So the 149 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: thing about the IRS is they can put a lean 150 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: on your property. So if you own property like a 151 00:08:56,280 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 1: home that's most typical, Typically what happens the IRS can say, oh, 152 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: you don't actually own this, we do now for four 153 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:08,839 Speaker 1: to five thousand dollars of debt. That's not enough for 154 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 1: them to like take over ownership of your house, but 155 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:15,559 Speaker 1: it can be something that goes. You know, they can 156 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 1: put a lien on it, and then if you were 157 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: to ever sell, like they would make sure they get 158 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 1: their cut. They can also potentially garnish your wages in 159 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: the future if the debt gets delinquent for too long 160 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: and then they sue you, And that is a possibility. 161 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: If you're not making payments on a tax debt, it 162 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 1: is likely that you could end up being sued and 163 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: then taken to court, and unless you're able to mount 164 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: a strong case for why you're unable to pay that debt, 165 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: the judge may rule. And a lot of people don't 166 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: even show up to fight those types of complaints, you know, 167 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:53,079 Speaker 1: when it comes to tax debts, and so they end 168 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: up the judge will automatically rule in favor of the creditor, 169 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 1: whether it's a credit card company, the lender, or in 170 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 1: this case, the IRS, and say, okay, we're going to 171 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: garnish any w two wages you earn. We're going to 172 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 1: garnish for a certain amount. I believe it's up to 173 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 1: fifteen percent. And even like Social Security income can be 174 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 1: garnished and you may face other penalties, late penalties, things 175 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: like that. So it can be riskier to leave tax 176 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:25,679 Speaker 1: debt unpaid. And I would say, when it comes to 177 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: tax debt, I need you to be on the phone. 178 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 1: And this is really hard to do, right because the 179 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: IRS has never been I don't know if it has 180 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 1: been as under resourced as it is now. Maybe there's 181 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: other times in history, but they've had mass layoffs. They 182 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: got doged, and even before they were doged, they were 183 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: struggling with understaffing and old systems and all that. But anyway, 184 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 1: you want to try to get on the phone with 185 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 1: the IRS and ask to be put on a payment plan. Also, 186 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:55,560 Speaker 1: make sure that you are actually filing your tax returns 187 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 1: each year, so even if you haven't been able to 188 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: pay your taxes, you still have to file your tax returns. 189 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: If you are really overwhelmed by the debt and you 190 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: don't have any additional funds to pay toward it, you 191 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 1: can ask them to do something called an offer in compromise, 192 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 1: which basically is the equivalent of settling a debt for 193 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 1: less than ode. The IRS does have an office called 194 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 1: the Taxpayer Advocate Service, so you could reach out to them. 195 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 1: I'll put a link in the show notes where you 196 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: can find more information. Taxpayer Advocate Service is really put 197 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:32,679 Speaker 1: in place to protect us, the taxpayer, from predatory practices 198 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: from the whole IRS process in general, So if you 199 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: ever have a complaint about an experience you had, you 200 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 1: can reach out to them. But also they may have 201 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:46,559 Speaker 1: some resources for just everyday taxpayers who are struggling to 202 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 1: pay back their debt, and it can at least offer 203 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 1: you some guidance I think the scariest thing about this 204 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 1: advice that I'm giving is probably like getting on the 205 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: phone with the IRS? Where do you even like, what 206 00:11:56,920 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: even is the phone number to get on the phone 207 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:01,439 Speaker 1: with the IRS. I'm like this. I think heading to 208 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: IRS dot gov as your first stop is a good 209 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 1: first step. Again, because they are so understaffed. I think 210 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 1: there's a lot of someone was doing their job. They 211 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: create a lot of documents, a lot of PDFs through 212 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 1: the IRS dot gov that have a lot of like 213 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 1: evergreen information. They have a lot of evergreen content, So 214 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:20,839 Speaker 1: at least somebody was doing their job, got us, you know, 215 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: set up for success in spite of all these firings 216 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: and layoffs that have been happening. So I'm gonna put 217 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 1: a link in the show notes to like your first 218 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 1: you know, starting place at IRS dot gov. It's the 219 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 1: help page. So if you scroll down to Payments and Penalties, 220 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:41,560 Speaker 1: they have some links here to different payment options, payment 221 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: plan or installment agreement requests. You can view your balance 222 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: and payment activity, and again it has a link to 223 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: that offer and compromise option that I talked about. There's 224 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: additional links on understanding if you'd get a federal tax lean. 225 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 1: Like I mentioned earlier, there's the Office of Appeals. There's 226 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 1: also for the future if you do take on additional work, 227 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:02,960 Speaker 1: and I hope you do, because I don't want this 228 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 1: to stop you from ever doing project based work. I 229 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: think it's a lesson. It's not a cheap lesson, but 230 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 1: it's a lesson that you can take moving forward and 231 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:16,719 Speaker 1: hopefully like, Okay, you're smarter your experience. Now you know 232 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: what's what. You can use this link and you can 233 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:24,199 Speaker 1: use this tax withholding estimator tool that the IRS offers 234 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,200 Speaker 1: maybe the next time that you get a contract role 235 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: and then you can you know, kind of set that 236 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 1: money aside in advance. And then there's also a form 237 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 1: even to ask for relief in terms of IRS penalties. Okay, 238 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 1: so I'll put that in the show notes for you, 239 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:44,560 Speaker 1: my darlin. And then let's walk about that credit card debt. 240 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 1: Oh so while you're paying off this tax debt, it 241 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:49,959 Speaker 1: may make sense like I would say, let's look at 242 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 1: how we can get the eleven thousand of credit card 243 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:55,439 Speaker 1: debt kind of situated. I don't know what your credit 244 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: score is. By the way, if y'all are submitting questions, 245 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:00,439 Speaker 1: it really helps me actually to understand and what your 246 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 1: credit score is, because that will dictate what some of 247 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,839 Speaker 1: your best options are. I'm never going to have all 248 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:08,119 Speaker 1: the information I need to give y'all like a completely 249 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: holistic here's a great game plan answer for y'all. Y'all 250 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 1: know that you listened to the show before, but still 251 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:15,960 Speaker 1: understanding your credit score range or credit score would be 252 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 1: very helpful. I'm just going to assume you have decent credit. 253 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 1: You have this debt, but you've been making your payments 254 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 1: on time. Maybe it's like in the mid six hundreds 255 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: to low seven hundreds right now. You may qualify for 256 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 1: a balance transfer, so you could get some of that 257 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 1: credit card debt and moved on to a zero percent 258 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: interest credit card for twelve months, eighteen months, and some 259 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: of the options are. If you're looking for different options, 260 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: I usually would just go to nerd wallet or bank 261 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 1: rate and see, you know, what the best balance transfers are. 262 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: You know, and also you may just be getting you know, 263 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: letters in the mail with balanced transfer offers. Don't obviously 264 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: just take any offer you get in the mail. You 265 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 1: should check the legitimacy of that, but a balance transfer 266 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 1: could at least maybe help you move some of that 267 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: debt onto a zero percent interest card card, which will 268 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: then you know, then you kind of can make the 269 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 1: minimum payment on that card while you're putting the majority 270 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 1: of your extra money that you have for your debt 271 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: payment toward that tax payment. So the debt snowball method 272 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,920 Speaker 1: is when you put the debt in order of lowest 273 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 1: balance to highest balance, and then you start to pay 274 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: down the lowest balances first and work your way up. 275 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 1: And research there was a study that came out saying 276 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: that the debt snowball actually is the most effective in 277 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 1: terms of like consistency, because you build that momentum by 278 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 1: paying off small balances first. You start to get more 279 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: excited and you keep going. However, the best you know 280 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 1: on paper technique is the avalanche, where you order your 281 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 1: debt payments in order of most expensive interest to least 282 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 1: expensive interest, and that'll save you the most money over 283 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:54,200 Speaker 1: time because you're tackling the most expensive debts first. In 284 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: your case, However, that may look like, oh, I should 285 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: pay my credit cards off first, because your credit card 286 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: interest rates are probably twenty five twenty six, you know, 287 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 1: twenty nine point nine to nine percent. These days, it's nuts, 288 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: whereas IRS debt, you are charge penalties and interest. But 289 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 1: I don't think it's anywhere near that high. So it 290 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 1: may look like, okay, the credit card debt should come first. 291 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: It's higher interest, but the IRS is scarier. They can 292 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: take your stuff, they can. I think I mentioned wage 293 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 1: garnishment leans. I will even forgot to say, like if 294 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: you have a debt unpaid, they can take your passport. 295 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 1: It's a little bit scarier. So I think IRS gets 296 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 1: a little bit of a bump on the priority list 297 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: in this case. So in the meantime, with this credit 298 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 1: card debt that you have, you can look at a 299 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 1: balance transfers also the you know, if the it doesn't 300 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:45,080 Speaker 1: sleven thousand dollars is a lot, right, I don't want 301 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: to underplay that, But I don't think this is going 302 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 1: to wreck your life. I think this is the kind 303 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 1: of debt that with some you know, real intense focus 304 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 1: and budgeting and like aggressive budgeting and decreasing your expenses 305 00:16:57,720 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: and being ruthless about it. You can pay this down 306 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 1: the next year. I think you can find a thousand 307 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 1: bucks a month. I would look for five hundred extra 308 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 1: dollars a month, if not a thousand to start putting 309 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: toward these debts. Maybe you even need to start contracting 310 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:13,439 Speaker 1: again to you know, create an additional income stream so 311 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 1: you can start paying off this debt. But I really 312 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 1: want to motivate you because this is not un get overable. 313 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: This is not insurmountable. Eleven thousand plus five thousand in 314 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:26,399 Speaker 1: texts at sixteen thousand. I know you got this, girl. 315 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 1: I know you do maybe a year, maybe a couple 316 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:32,399 Speaker 1: of years. But I think what's really challenging in this 317 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: situation is that that feeling of like you're kind of 318 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 1: a deer in headlights because it seems really stressful. And 319 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 1: I'm just really proud of you for even you know, 320 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:44,479 Speaker 1: obviously leaving this question because it takes a lot too 321 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:47,879 Speaker 1: and you're so transparent about it. That's wonderful. But then 322 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 1: it's like sitting down to actually do the thing, to 323 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:54,920 Speaker 1: start chipping away at the debts that you have, break 324 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 1: up what you got to do into some small, realistic goals. 325 00:17:57,480 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 1: So you're listening to this, now, let's make the goal 326 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,199 Speaker 1: to go to the IRIS link that I sent and 327 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:04,200 Speaker 1: look through all of the options to see if you 328 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: can get on a payment plan or if you can 329 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 1: get an offer and compromise. But make that that's a big, 330 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:12,959 Speaker 1: kind of hairy, scary goal for one day, but not undoable. 331 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:16,359 Speaker 1: Let's make that your first task for one for the 332 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: next day, download some sort of budgeting app. I've been 333 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 1: using Rocket Money. I've also been using Monarch Money. Hear 334 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:26,159 Speaker 1: good things about those two. I like Rocket, I like Monernic. 335 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,920 Speaker 1: I think they're very similar. Rocket has this feature where 336 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:33,639 Speaker 1: it helps you identify recurring payments and offers to call 337 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:36,399 Speaker 1: and get rid of those recurring payment for subscriptions that 338 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 1: you no longer want. Although I've had really terrible luck 339 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 1: a lot of times they're not able to contact the 340 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: companies for whatever reason. But anyway, they do offer that 341 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 1: as a as a service. At least it makes it 342 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 1: easy for me to see how many subscriptions I have 343 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:50,639 Speaker 1: and then figure out which ones I want to get 344 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 1: rid of. But I want you to get one of 345 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 1: these apps. I want you to have everything in one 346 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: place and then look at your credit cards and order 347 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:01,760 Speaker 1: them the way that you want to tap them. You 348 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 1: can start make one day the day where you're going to, 349 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: you know, get those budgeting get those management money management 350 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 1: apps set up and at least have all your accounts 351 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:15,200 Speaker 1: in one place. I need you to make a decision 352 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,200 Speaker 1: about credit cards in general, it's really hard to get 353 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:21,640 Speaker 1: out of credit card debts while credit card debt while 354 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 1: still using your credit card. And the thing about the 355 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:30,200 Speaker 1: balance transfer I think about the balance transfer is it's 356 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 1: going to feel like once that money you know has 357 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 1: been transferred to a new card, it's going to feel 358 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:37,879 Speaker 1: like you have no more credit card debt on that card, 359 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:41,879 Speaker 1: and you may start to rack up more charges on 360 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:44,239 Speaker 1: that card. So one of the days, one of the 361 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:47,120 Speaker 1: tasks on one of the days you have to do is, Okay, 362 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 1: let's look at the budget and decide how am I 363 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: going to pay for my necessary expenses and not have 364 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:57,880 Speaker 1: to continue putting money on these cards. And I need 365 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:00,399 Speaker 1: you to have an answer for that. It may not 366 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:04,359 Speaker 1: be the most comfortable answer. Sometimes it may mean, well, damn, 367 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:06,920 Speaker 1: I had to find some extra income or else I'm 368 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: not going to be able to cover my expenses for 369 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,919 Speaker 1: the month. Things are just I don't got to tell y'all, 370 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 1: it's expensive out here, and it may be that your 371 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 1: expenses are just outweighing your cash flow for the month. 372 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: So hopefully with that money app and kind of assessing everything. 373 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 1: You can get a sense of here's what I have 374 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:28,439 Speaker 1: coming in, here's all my bills and expenses. You know, 375 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 1: Rocket Money and Monarch can help you identify some of 376 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: your discretionary money, some of your extras that you can 377 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 1: you can get rid of to free up more money 378 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: and your budget each month. And you're going to have 379 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 1: to be really focused on paying down this debt, and 380 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: that's going to mean saying no to some experiences you 381 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 1: maybe want to have this year, some events you maybe 382 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:55,119 Speaker 1: wanted to attend, gifts you wanted to give. It's not 383 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 1: gonna lie. It's gonna suck. It's gonna suck while you're 384 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 1: paying this down. And I think that's a little bit of, 385 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:05,320 Speaker 1: you know, just a reality check there. It's not gonna 386 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: be fun. And I don't I don't think anyone. This 387 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 1: is not one of those like commercials for like weight 388 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: loss drugs or diabetes medications where it's like, oh, we're 389 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 1: canoeing and we are you know, painting on a mountaintop 390 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:20,440 Speaker 1: and it's all joyous while we're getting over these these issues. 391 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:22,919 Speaker 1: Now it's it sucks because it means you can't you 392 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,640 Speaker 1: can't do what you were doing before. You know as 393 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:29,400 Speaker 1: much because you have this new goal. But you're with us, 394 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: You're in the BA fam, and we're all on this 395 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 1: journey together. So check in with me like dm me. 396 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:37,679 Speaker 1: I wish you you could even join the Patreon and 397 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 1: keep BA fam. We have a chat function there you 398 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: can let us know how it's going. But find your 399 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:45,200 Speaker 1: people who can support you on this journey and people 400 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: who are who are just aware of what you're going 401 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:50,880 Speaker 1: through because they're gonna make it like the least painful possible. 402 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 1: You're not gonna feel like you're missing out because they're 403 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:57,800 Speaker 1: just gonna keep encouraging you. And that's what we're here 404 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 1: to do right now. On top of all this, I 405 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:02,960 Speaker 1: also want to encourage you to practice some self care. 406 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 1: Self care can be free, okay, but during the time 407 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:09,439 Speaker 1: when you're paying down this debt and even now, like 408 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:13,679 Speaker 1: there's stress, there's anxiety. I'm really happy to hear that. 409 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:15,120 Speaker 1: And you said you were working with a life coach. 410 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 1: I think you also mentioned in therapy, but like find 411 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 1: a way to check in with yourself mentally and to 412 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 1: save some space for yourself just to yeah, take a breather, 413 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: relieve some of the stress and remove some of the 414 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 1: shape around. This can be talking with a friend, it 415 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:33,200 Speaker 1: can be talking with you know, be a fan, whatever 416 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:36,679 Speaker 1: community that you want to turn to. But do something 417 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:40,200 Speaker 1: that pours back into you at least once a week, 418 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,440 Speaker 1: maybe even once a day. Little ten minute meditation a 419 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 1: day really keeps the scaries away sometimes. But use mindfulness, journaling, 420 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:52,919 Speaker 1: any regular routine to pour back into yourself and remind 421 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 1: yourself that you're okay, you got this. You'll get through this. 422 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 1: There's no shame in it. You have a strategy. It's 423 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:04,360 Speaker 1: just going to take time now, time and consistency and 424 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 1: discipline to get through it. And I know you got this. 425 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:12,200 Speaker 1: This okay, all right, va Fam, Thank you so much 426 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 1: for listening to the show. If you want to submit 427 00:23:14,359 --> 00:23:17,560 Speaker 1: your question, voice memos are more than welcome. You can 428 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:20,920 Speaker 1: DM me at Brown Ambition Podcast on Instagram. You can 429 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 1: also email me Brown Ambition Podcast at gmail dot com. 430 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 1: Thank y'all so much. I hope to see you at 431 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 1: my AI Strategy Workshop webinar later this month for twenty 432 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:34,880 Speaker 1: fifth Again, RSVP link is going to be the show 433 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:37,119 Speaker 1: notes and until that, ba Fam, I'm sending you so 434 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:40,360 Speaker 1: much love and listen if y'all want to send your 435 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 1: Michelle Obama RSVP to the Internet like I'm collecting them now. 436 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:47,639 Speaker 1: It's fine, don't don't. We don't got to be there, Okay, 437 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:52,879 Speaker 1: we got other things to do. We are otherwise occupied. Okay, 438 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:58,960 Speaker 1: take care of via fam. Bye.