It’s now possible to activate all 5% category credit cards for the third quarter of 2024, including the Chase Freedom, Chase Freedom Flex, Discover IT, Citi Dividend, US Bank Cash+ and some smaller cards. In this post we’ll provide the activation link for each card and links to track your spend, along with strategies to help increase spend in these categories.
Dates: July 1st – September 30, 2024. Store purchases can usually be done until the last minute while online purchases should be given a buffer zone since the charge typically posts on the shipping date.
Chase Freedom – Gas, EV, Entertainment
Activation Link / FAQ / Sample Stores & Exclusions / Our original post
With the Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cards, activate to earn 5% back this quarter on up to $1,500 in spend at gas stations, on EV charging, select live entertainment and movie theaters.
Gas and EV charging – Useful for gas and also for buying gift cards inside some gas stations and similar convenience stores
Select live entertainment and movie theaters
Tip: Click this link (login required) to check how far you are along the $1,500.
Discover – Grocery, Walmart
Activation Link / Our original post
With your Discover card, activate to earn 5% back this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases at Grocery Stores and at Walmart.
Grocery Stores – always a useful category. Grocery stores also sell a wide variety of gift cards to other retailers.
Walmart – Walmart store purchases, online purchases, and gas purchases are included. You can buy a Walmart gift card online or in-store and then use that for Sam’s Club purchases as well. Walmart sells third party gift cards too.
Activate to earn 5% Cashback Bonus at Grocery Stores and Walmart from 7/1/24 (or the date on which you activate 5%, whichever is later) through 9/30/24, on up to $1,500 in purchases. Grocery Store purchases include those made at supermarkets, meat lockers, bakeries, smaller grocery stores, and grocery delivery services. All purchases made from Target, convenience stores, wholesale clubs, and discount stores are not eligible. Walmart purchases include those made at Walmart.com, through the Walmart app, in-store at Walmart Discount Stores, Walmart Supercenter Stores, Walmart Neighborhood Market Stores, Curbside Pickup, Walmart +, and Walmart Gas Stations. Purchases using Walmart Pay with your Discover Card will also be included. Purchases from individual merchants and stand-alone stores within physical Walmart locations may not be eligible for this promotion. Sam’s Club purchases are not eligible. Purchases made through affiliates of Walmart.com are not a part of this promotion. The Walmart.com logo is a registered trademark of Walmart Inc. Listed merchants are in no way sponsoring or affiliated with this program.
Tip: Login, then click this link to see you how far along the $1,500 you are.
Citi Dividend – Gas
Landing Page | Our Original Post
With your Dividend card, activate to earn 5% back this quarter at Gas Stations. Citi is different than the other cards in that you have a $6,000 annual cap rather than a $1,500 quarterly cap. You can get 5% back on up to $6,000 in this quarter or you can save the entire amount for a different quarter, or you can use part up each quarter.
Excludes gasoline purchases at warehouse clubs, discount stores, convenience stores or other merchants that do not use the gas station merchant category code.
U.S. Bank Cash+/Elan – Select your Categories
Activation link | Merchant List | Our Original Post
U.S. Bank Cash+ and Elan Max offer 5% cash back in two categories, up to $2,000 combined total per quarter. Keep in mind that Car Rentals was recently replaced with TV, Internet, and Streaming Services.
Here are the current options:
TV, Internet, and Streaming Services
Home utilities
Select clothing stores
Cell phone providers
Electronic Stores
Gyms/Fitness
Fast food
Ground Transportation
Sporting goods
Department Stores
Furniture Stores
Movie theaters
Tip: Login here, then scroll down and click on the red “View Your Cash+ History” button.
U.S. Bank Shopper – Select your Categories
Our Original Post
The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards comes with a $95 annual fee and offers 6% cashback on your first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter with two retailers you choose. Options include Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Target, and many more. You must enroll each quarter into two retailers.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards
Our Original Post
The Cash Rewards card from Bank of America offers 3% back on one selected category, up to $2,500 per quarter. If you don’t select anything it defaults to gas. Once you selected a category for one quarter, that remains your category in the future unless you change it. Each calendar month you can change it if you’d like, but you’re always limited to $2,500 for the entire quarter.
Gas and EV charging stations (default category)
Online Shopping; this category also includes cable, streaming, internet, and phone plan
Dining
Travel
Drug Stores
Home Improvement/Furnishings
This category is especially lucrative for those who have Preferred Rewards status with Bank of America which can get you 5.25% back on one of these categories at the higher relationship level.
Lots of useful categories here. Important note: the Cash Rewards card also offers 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs up to $2,500 per quarter, and that $2,500 limit combines with the Category Selection limit. After spending $2,500, you’ll earn 1% back on everything.
Other Cards with 5% Category
Nusenda FCU – Gas, Hotels, Airfare, Education
Landing Page | Our Original Post
Earn 5% this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases on Gas, Hotels, Airfare, and Education.
This is on top of the regular 1% for a total earn of 6% back. (apparently no longer the case?)
Langley FCU – Walmart, Wholesale, Gas, EV
Landing Page | Our Original Post
Langley Federal Credit Union offers 5% back each month in one selected category, on up to $100 cash back total ($2,000 spend).
The category options at time of this writing: Walmart, Wholesale, Gas, EV.
Vantage West [AZ] – Select your Category
Landing Page | Our Original Post
Get 5x points on the category of your choice, up to $1,500 per quarter. Eligible categories:
Safe Credit Union Cash Rewards Visa card offers 5% this quarter on your choice of one category each quarter (with no apparent limit). This quarter the categories are:
Enjoy complimentary access to top ideas and insights — selected by our editors.
Three years after a condominium building collapsed in Surfside, Florida, killing 98 people, policies have changed regarding the safety of condo buildings — as well as mortgage lending for residents within these buildings. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have both updated policies, especially as condo living is on the rise due to a recent lack of housing inventory.
The number of condominium and homeowner associations is set to increase from 365,000 in 2023 to as much as 370,000 in 2024, accounting for almost one-third of U.S. home inventory, according to a recent Foundation for Community Association Research study and forecast.
“Approximately 67% of the homes completed in 2023 were in a homeowner’s association, condominium or housing co-op. That’s a big number,” Dawn Bauman, executive director of the foundation and chief strategy officer at the Community Associations Institute, recently told National Mortgage News.
Read more: Congress must act to fix Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, FHFA says
Community associations new and old now account for around 30% of overall housing stock. While the association component of new home construction is considerable, the sector does also include a significant number of older buildings more than 40 years old, Bauman said. Because of this, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae established more rigorous guidelines for ensuring the safety and soundness of these residential buildings.
Lenders and associations haven’t argued with the need for some rule changes following the Surfside condo collapse, but have looked for improvement in communication regarding which buildings have issues that bar financing and processes available to remedy such concerns.
Both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have responded with plans to improve transparency for both associations and lenders.
In addition, Freddie is extending the use of attorney opinion of title letters to loans collateralized by condominiums and those with deed restrictions, such as properties that are part of a homeowners association.
While broader use of options like attorney opinion letters has gotten pushback from the title insurance industry, saying they’re insufficient given the risk, efforts to explore this are moving forward due to the potential to save borrowers hundreds of dollars upfront per loan.
However, American Land Title Association CEO Diane Tomb said the letters are likely to rarely, if ever, result in savings and “will expose additional consumers and lenders to unneeded risk and weaken protection of their property rights.”
One-third of title claims are for issues not found in routine searches conducted for an AOL, the cost of insurance has fallen almost 8% since 2004 “seller-pay” regimes in many states minimize buyer costs for insurance. Condos are considered particularly vulnerable to risks, according to ALTA.
Read more about the recent policy changes both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have made on condo buildings.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
Budgeting is such an adulting term.
Nothing can make you feel more like an adult when you need to learn how to budget your money, stop buying frivolous things, and save for retirement.
A budget just sounds like no fun.
Is it possible to learn how to budget money and still enjoy life?
However, the bright side to budgeting (and normally overlooked aspect) is by setting up a budget is you start to live within your means and start your path to financial freedom. Here are all the advantages of budgeting.
Personally, financial freedom is way more enticing!
So, that means a budget is necessary. A budget is key. A budget will change your life forever.
Just FYI…Here at Money Bliss, we like to call it a Cents Plan. Why? A budget sounds constricting. Take your money cents and put it with your head sense to make your Cents Plan.
We will detail what is the proper way to budget for money.
But the question remains how to budget money without pulling out your hair and still enjoy life. (It is easier than you think!)
Do you Need a Budget?
First, let’s answer this age-old debate. Do you really need a budget?
The simple answer is it depends on what you want out of life.
Do you want to live paycheck to paycheck, struggling with money, straddled with debt? Or with financial independence where you control your destiny?
Stress vs. joy. The choice is yours.
With human nature, our tendency is to spend money. While there are some savers in the room, it is typically a learned trait. Society wants quick results and with material items so cheap, it is easy to go overbudget.
Does extra income really solve someone’s money problems?
Last I checked, there are plenty of people who made millions are in bankruptcy because of overspending, not living within their means, and a budget wasn’t a term they used.
Here is a quick test…
If you have read this far into the post, then you need a budget. Keep reading. We have plenty of information to help you succeed. Also, you will learn various ways to budgeting that work for you.
Longer Answer & Must Read: Money Bliss Steps to Financial Freedom – this is the long term answer to “Do You Need a Budget?”
Purpose of a Budget
Okay, so we figured out that you need a budget. But, you aren’t truly convinced about why you need a budget.
What is the reason or main purpose of a budget?
The purpose of a budget is to first decide where you plan to spend/save money and then, see if you followed through on your plan.
Are you under budget? Are you over budget? Specifically, are you making progress to your life’s vision?
That is the role of a budget.
It is a guide for your money. Like we have said many times before you can manage your money or have your money manage you.
Personally, we use a budget to reach financial freedom faster and to make sure we have money set aside to travel. We have chosen to live a little more frugal than our neighbors (some might say much more frugal). However, the trade off for us is to travel now. Not wait until “retirement.”
For us, the purpose of a budget helps us to travel each year plus work our way towards financial freedom.
For you, what is the purpose of a budget? What do you want out of life?
Use on of these methods of budgeting as a guide to develop your budget.
Importance of Budgeting
There are many benefits of budgeting. However, most people struggle with a budget because saying no to yourself can be hard.
Let’s look at the bigger picture.
Do you want to manage your money? Or have your money manage you?
The choice is yours.
A budget is just a spending plan written out in advance.
You manage money your way!
That is a huge importance of budgeting. Personally, I would much rather decide how I want to spend my money. That is one of the biggest reasons we decided to pay off our debt in one year.
The importance of budgeting is to make sure you are living within your means and have the ability to pay for your expenses.
A budget doesn’t have to be complicated. It helps you lower big ticket expenses like housing, food, and transportation and then make sure you have enough remaining for the rest of your expenses.
If debt is a part of your life, then you are able to pay off debt faster by knowing where you spend money (and specifically what is worth spending money on). If you are debt-free, then you can continue paying in cash rather than racking up debt.
By moving towards a budget, then the foundation is laid to build a solid money journey.
You know where and how your money is spent. Then, you’re not left at the end of the month wondering if and when you will run out of money.
Another key importance of budgeting is it forces you to be organized with your finances. Then, you know where your money is going.
Creating a budget shouldn’t be overcomplicated or hard. That is something we will teach you how to do.
Benefits of Budgeting
Too many times people have good intentions of creating a budget and give up too quickly, then they never finally understand the benefits of budgeting.
It will take a few months or paycheck cycles to truly notice the benefits of budgeting (AKA spending less than you make).
You need to learn how to budget money and get into the groove of it.
No matter what we do…we can’t change how fast the days move. This is hard when you are working hard on your budget for the first time and want to see progress faster.
Consistency makes budgeting actually work.
A few of the benefits of budgeting include:
Stop fighting about money
Ability to reach your goals faster
Prioritize spending
Did you realize we only listed a few of the benefits of budgeting? Learn all nine Surprising Advantages of Budgeting your Money. (#7 may save your marriage)
As paychecks roll in and the months go by, you start seeing the bigger and bigger picture on the benefits of budgeting.
How to Manage Money
Now, that you read you need a budget, the purpose of a budget, the importance of budgeting plus the true benefits of budgeting, let’s learn how to manage money.
Specifically, how to manage your money.
Remember you have the choice to manage your money or have your money manage you. The choice is yours.
So, how can you manage your money?
One place to start is look at what others are doing. What makes them successful or not successful.
You can manage your money based off percentages like the Cents Plan Formula.
You can look at the household budget percentages to see how people spend money according to the statistics.
Ask a friend or family member how they manage money. (Some may tell you others won’t say a word.)
You can also go in depth with My Ultimate Money Blueprint.
Just remember, in the end, you want to manage money your way.
Steps on How to Budget Money
Managing money is more than just a budget.
It is about giving you choices in life.
These steps on learning how to budget money are very global. They aren’t specific tactics for budgeting. You can learn that in the 7 steps to making a budget.
These is the overarching themes that guide you on how to budget your money. Let’s budget your life and change your finances.
1. Life’s Vision
Before we starting truly budgeting, we just tracked our spending. Without fail each and every month, there wasn’t money leftover to do what we wanted in life. Things just didn’t seem fair.
Then, I got this hair-brained idea to pay off all of our debt in 1 year.
Let me tell you…it was the best decision we ever made. You can read about our journey to be debt free.
By paying off our debt, we decided to put us first and what we wanted in life.
Extra money was going towards all of debt each month. So, that meant everything else was hacked to make paying off debt possible.
During that time, we truly understood what we wanted in life, what was important to us, and how we would get there. I guess you could say we began to budget our life.
Do you know what your life vision is? Your why? Your next money goal?
If not, then start here on making money goals.
2. Live Within Your Means
While this seems blatantly obvious, it is one of the hardest things for people to do.
Simply put…
Income > Spending
Your income is greater than your spending (and hopefully savings is included in that number too).
One of the fastest ways to start living within your means is with a no spend challenge.
Plus it will help you uncover your life’s visions and what truly matters to you.
If you have been spending more than you make, then you are letting money manage you.
By living within your means, then you are managing your money your way.
Learn Exactly… How to Live Below Your Means and Love Life
3. Be Okay Being Different
The comparison trap is real.
With social media, it is hard to escape any type of comparison game. It used to be “Keep up with the Joneses’” and that just meant the neighbors and friends around you. Now, it is comparing yourself to influencers and people you will never meet in your lifetime.
The key to long term success on how to manage money is doing it your way, which means that your priorities will be different than everyone around you. And you have to be okay with being different.
Need ideas to stay on budget? Find 101 Fun Things To Do With No Money.
Need the motivation to live in a minimalist home? Could You Live In a Minimalist Home? (Real Life Minimalists) Hint: We were featured because while less is more.
4. Find a System to Work for You
The recommendation I always make when starting out with a budget is to use paper and pencil. Something tangible that you can touch and feel. Then, it becomes a constant reminder of your new ways of managing money.
Over the long-term with budgeting, you must find a system to work for you. Maybe an app? Maybe a spreadsheet? Possibly a software?
The key is finding a system that will work for you. And if you combine finances, it has to work for both of you.
This is where most people fail.
There are so many options for free and paid budgeting apps today. It may seem overwhelming. But, you can’t go back to other habits.
Today, we use Quicken and a personalized spreadsheet. Thankfully, Quicken does all of the hard work of downloading transactions, categorizing them, and creating reports.
5. Celebrate Successes
This is something that doesn’t happen as much as it should with money goals. Too many times, we are so focused on saving money and living frugally, we forget to live and enjoy life.
You need to stop and smell the roses.
In this case, you need to celebrate your wins along your journey.
Here at Money Bliss, we like to focus on…
Life. Money. Enjoy.
Life is first. You need to enjoy your life and figure out how money relates to your life. You need to budget your life.
Don’t be afraid to celebrate your success. And if you don’t believe us…One of the steps in the Money Bliss Steps to Financial Freedom is about celebrating success and doing something for you.
How to Set up a Budget
Setting up a budget shouldn’t be hard or complicated.
Don’t overanalyze. Don’t give up.
Most people have to work on setting a budget that works for them over a couple of months. Each month making small refinements.
The end goal is to set a budget that works for you.
A High-Level View of Budgeting:
Determine what your money goals are
Figure out your income
Track how much you are spending
Set up a Budget or Spending Plan
Track your progress
Yes, this is a very high-level view of setting up a budget. At this point, you don’t have to divide up into budgeting categories if you don’t want to.
There are plenty of resources on our site to help you finalize a budget that works for you.
Find detailed resources on how to make a budget.
The key to setting up a budget is be realistic.
You want to set yourself up for success – not instant failure.
One of the key ingredients to make you a success is pocket money. Personally, I believe this one category can make or break your budget. Understand how pocket money (AKA slush money) works.
When setting up a budget for the first time, set aside time to work through the budgeting process. A solid budget that will work (remember that is a key ingredient for success) needs to be based on your life’s visions. Not just slapped together in 5 minutes.
Learn How to Budget Money
Learning how to budget money is completely doable.
Budgeting shouldn’t be cumbersome or overwhelming. In the long run, the benefits of budgeting outweigh living paycheck to paycheck or stressed about money.
A budget makes sure your expenses (and savings) are below your income. From there you can decide how detailed you want to get with your budget.
The purpose of a budget is to help you successfully reach your life’s visions. The point where you start managing your money and not being managed by your money.
Further resources on budgeting:
Make sure to download our free budget printables!
From all of the free and paid budgeting apps, here are our top budgeting apps to check out!
This section may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. Please read the full disclosure below.
Empower Personal Wealth, LLC (“EPW”) compensates Money Bliss for new leads. Money Bliss is not an investment client of Personal Capital Advisors Corporation or Empower Advisory Group, LLC.
Personal finance and money management software allows you to manage spending, create monthly budgets, track investments, retirement and more.
Save 40% off on new memberships.
Enjoy guilt-free spending and effortless saving with a friendly, flexible method for managing your finances.
Change your relationship with money!
Personal Capital is wealth management for the Internet Age. The online platform combines digital technology with highly personalized service to provide a holistic view of a unique financial picture (AKA your net worth).
Make sure to connect all of your accounts within 7 days to set up your Personal Financial dashboard.
Tiller is the only tool that automatically updates Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel with your spending, transactions, and balances each day.
Start your free trial.
Automate your financial plan with set-and-forget money tools that fit right into your daily life.
That’s why Qapital puts your goals front and center, then helps you plan your spending, saving, and investing around them.
Manage your money less in 5 minutes each week. Reach your money goals with confidence! The personal finance app gives you something to look forward to.
“The easiest, most comprehensive way to both see where your money is going and plan for future expenses.”
Your automated financial assistant and budget tracker are designed to put you back in control of your money.
Stay on top of your spending, easily track bills, cancel unwanted subscriptions, and find ways to improve!
Photo Credit:
moneybliss.org
HoneyMoney increases your awareness about your money habits. Being fully aware of your money naturally changes how you spend it.
Great way to use cash flow budgeting. Plus uses “envelopes” to budget.
Start your free trial.
Moneyspire is user-friendly personal finance and small business accounting software that brings your entire finances together in one place.
Have total control over your financial life in one click.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
Safe deposit boxes are storage units located in banks that offer a secure way to store important items you may not want to keep at home, such as critical documents, collectibles, and family heirlooms.
Due to the growth of online banking and digital storage, safe deposit boxes aren’t as popular as they once were. However, there are some situations where these boxes can be useful. Here are key things to know about safe deposit boxes.
What Is a Safe Deposit Box?
A safe deposit box (also called a safety deposit box) is a secure locked box, usually made of metal, that stays in the safe or vault of a federally insured bank or credit union. They are typically used to keep valuables, important documents, and sentimental keepsakes protected from theft or damage.
Safe deposit boxes often come in two different sizes, usually 3” by 5” or 10” by 10,” and can be rented for an annual fee. In exchange for the fee, banks provide security measures to protect your valuables, such as alarms and surveillance cameras. In addition, the safe deposit boxes are stored in vaults that are designed to withstand natural disasters such as fires, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes.
Unlike a bank account, however, the contents of a safe deposit box are not protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). As a result, there is still a small risk that you could lose the items in your container due to theft or damage.
Recommended: What Are the Differences Between FDIC and NCUA Insurance?
What You Should and Shouldn’t Keep in a Safe Deposit Box
Safe deposit boxes can be a good place to keep hard-to-replace documents and small valuables that you won’t need to access frequently. However, you generally don’t want to keep any items that you may need to grab in a hurry in the box, and certain items are prohibited.
Here’s a breakdown of things to keep — and not to keep — in a safe deposit box.
Get up to $300 when you bank with SoFi.
Open a SoFi Checking and Savings Account with direct deposit and get up to a $300 cash bonus. Plus, get up to 4.60% APY on your cash!
Items Typically Kept in a Safe Deposit Box
• Important documents: Documents that are difficult to replace and often needed for legal purposes are commonly stored in safe deposit boxes. These include: birth certificates, marriage licenses, car titles, divorce records, citizenship papers, property deeds, and mortgage documents.
• Valuables: Jewelry, rare coins, stamps, and other valuable collectibles can be safely stored away from potential theft.
• Financial Instruments: Stock certificates, bonds, and other financial instruments that require safekeeping can be securely stored in a safe deposit box.
• Backup data: You might store external hard drives or USB drives containing sensitive personal or business information here to protect against data loss.
• Personal keepsakes: Irreplaceable items like family heirlooms, photos, and memorabilia can be stored to ensure they don’t get lost or damaged.
Items to Avoid Putting in a Safe Deposit Box
• Cash: While you may be tempted to store some cash in your safe deposit box, you’re likely better off putting the money in a high-yield savings account at a bank or credit union, which will allow your money to grow. The cash will also be insured (up to certain limits) by the FDIC or NCUA.
• Original copies of wills: Original wills should not be stored in a safe deposit box because they may be difficult to access immediately after the owner’s death, delaying probate. You might instead store a copy of a will.
• Durable power of attorney: Similar to wills, these documents might be needed quickly in emergencies, and delays could cause significant issues. Consider storing a copy.
• Passport: If you need to travel urgently, accessing your passport from a bank vault could be problematic due to limited bank hours.
• Frequently used items: Any items you need regular access to should not be kept in a safe deposit box due to limited accessibility.
• Prohibited items: Banks and credit unions generally prohibit the storage of firearms, explosives, weapons, hazardous materials, illegal substances (such as drugs), alcohol, perishable items, and cremated remains.
How Much Does a Safe Deposit Box Cost?
Rental fees vary by the box’s size and financial institution. The average cost to rent a box at a commercial U.S. bank runs between $15 and $350 per year. Additional costs may include fees for lost keys or late payments.
Some banks and credit unions will offer discounts on a safe deposit box cost if you have a relationship with the bank. In some cases, an institution may offer free access to a safe deposit box as a perk to their customers.
How to Get a Safe Deposit Box
To rent a safe deposit box, you’ll generally need to follow these steps:
1. Research your options. Not all banks and credit unions offer safe deposit boxes. You’ll want to find an institution that both provides this service and is conveniently located.
2. Meet the requirements. Many banks require you to be an existing customer with a checking or savings account. However, some banks may allow noncustomers to rent boxes for an additional fee.
3. Provide identification. You’ll need to bring valid identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, to verify your identity. If you plan to allow another person access to your safe deposit box, they will need to be present and show ID as well.
4. Sign a rental agreement. You (and, if applicable, your corenter) will need to sign a rental agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the box rental.
5. Make a payment. You generally need to pay the initial rental fee upfront. Some banks may offer discounts for long-term rentals or automatic payments.
6. Get your key. Upon completing the paperwork, you will receive a key to your safe deposit box. The bank retains a second key. Both keys are required to access the box. If the bank offers keyless access, they will likely scan your finger or hand.
Keep in mind that every time you wish to access your safe deposit box, you’ll need to present your photo ID, as well as your key (if it’s not keyless). The bank may also require your signature before allowing you to open your box.
Recommended: How Long Does It Take to Open a Bank Account?
How Safe Is a Safe Deposit Box?
Safe deposit boxes are generally very secure. They are housed in a bank vault, which offers robust protection against theft, fire, flood, and other disasters. Banks employ multiple layers of security, including surveillance cameras, alarms, and restricted access to the vault area.
When you rent a safe deposit box, the bank typically gives you a key to use. The bank also retains a second “guard key” which must be used by a bank employee in tandem with your key. Some banks now use a keyless biometric entry system, where you scan your finger or hand instead.
However, it’s important to note that the contents of a safe deposit box are not insured by the bank or the FDIC. As a result, you may need to obtain separate insurance or add a rider to your homeowners or renters insurance for coverage.
Recommended: Are Online Savings Accounts Safe?
Pros and Cons of Safe Deposit Boxes
Safe deposit boxes can be a good way to protect your valuables. Here are some of the upsides of renting one:
• Security: Safe deposit boxes offer a high level of security, since they are stored in areas with limited access and stepped-up surveillance.
• Environmental protection: They can protect your valuables from environmental damage, such as a flood or fire.
• Privacy: The contents of a safe deposit box are known only to the renter, offering a high degree of privacy.
• Organization: Safe deposit boxes help keep important documents and valuables in one secure location, making it less likely you will misplace them.
But safe deposit boxes also come with downsides. Here are some to consider:
• Limited access: Access is restricted to bank hours, which can be inconvenient, especially in an emergency.
• Cost: There is an ongoing rental fee, which varies based on the size of the box.
• Not insured: Contents are not insured by the bank or FDIC. Separate insurance may be needed for valuable items.
• Delayed access for loved ones: In the event of the renter’s death, accessing the box may require legal processes that could delay access to important documents.
Recommended: Different Types of Savings Accounts You Can Have
The Takeaway
If you’re looking for a safe place to stash vital papers or valuable possessions, you might consider renting a safe deposit back at a brick-and-mortar bank or credit union. Items stored in these containers are protected against theft, loss, or damage due to a flood, fire, or other disaster.
But the protection has limits: Unlike regular bank accounts, safe deposit boxes are not insured by the FDIC. Also keep in mind that safe deposit boxes aren’t ideal for items you may need to grab in a hurry, since access is limited to banking hours.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.60% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.
FAQ
What can I use instead of a safe deposit box?
Alternatives to a safe deposit box include:
• A fire-rated personal home safe: This can offer protection from environmental damage (such as fire or flood). However, a thief could potentially steal the whole safe.
• Digital storage solutions: Cloud services can securely store important documents and data backups.
• An attorney’s office: For legal documents, a trusted lawyer’s office may offer secure storage.
• Private vault facility: These are a viable alternative to a safe deposit box but tend to cost more.
Can safe deposit boxes be jointly shared?
Yes. When you open a safe deposit box, you can designate one or more corenters who will have equal access to the box. This is useful for couples, business partners, or family members who need shared access to important documents and valuables. Each renter typically receives a key, and all corenters’ signatures are required on the rental agreement.
Is it safe to keep money in a safe deposit box?
While it is physically safe to keep money in a safe deposit box, it is not recommended. Cash stored in a safe deposit box does not earn interest and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). You’re generally better off keeping cash in a high-yield savings account or other insured financial instrument that offers safety, liquidity, and interest earnings.
Do banks know what you put in a safety deposit box?
No. The contents of a safe deposit box are private, and bank employees do not have access to the items stored inside. When you rent a safe deposit box, you receive a key, and the bank retains a second key. Both keys are required to open the box, but only you can open it and see its contents. This ensures privacy and confidentiality.
Photo credit: iStock/AlexSecret
SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.
As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.
SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.
SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.
Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.
Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
*Awards or rankings from NerdWallet are not indicative of future success or results. This award and its ratings are independently determined and awarded by their respective publications.
Ultimately a Very Drama-Free Day; Back to Watching Data
By:
Matthew Graham
Tue, Jul 2 2024, 5:00 PM
Ultimately a Very Drama-Free Day; Back to Watching Data
Tuesday helped buck the recent trend of frustratingly counterintuitive selling sprees in the bond market. The amount of blame assigned to politics or to the arcane practices dictating monthly positioning in bonds can be debated, but there’s less urgency on that front with today bringing moderate improvement. Fed Chair Powell’s appearance at SINTRA was a non-event, but perhaps in a “no whammies” sort of way. Bonds gradually improved during his time on stage but lost some ground after the JOLTS data (as it should be, considering the higher than expected reading). Buyers held firm, however, and we hit the close with gains intact. To some, that’s proof positive that there’s no glacial repricing of risk following the presidential debate. To others, it’s a suggestion that it didn’t matter as much as it may have seemed. Either way, we have big ticket data to look forward to in the next two business days.
Job Openings (lower = better for rates)
8.14m vs 7.91m f’cast, 7.919m prev
Job “Quits” (lower = better for rates)
3.459m vs 3.452m prev
09:46 AM
Moderately stronger overnight with additional gains in early trading. MBS up more than an eighth. 10yr down 4bps at 4.423
11:00 AM
Some weakness after JOLTS, but improving again now. MBS up 7 ticks (.22) and 10yr down 3.1bps at 4.433
02:53 PM
Modest additional improvement with 10yr down 2.9bps at 4.435 and MBS up 6 ticks (.19)
04:54 PM
Closing at decent levels, right in line with the previous update.
Download our mobile app to get alerts for MBS Commentary and streaming MBS and Treasury prices.
As is often the case with internet headlines these days, the headline overstates the reality on the ground–or at least over-dramatizes it.
Considering the last notable “ceiling” was seen less than a month ago and that the last short term ceiling, less than a week ago, the word “finally” probably doesn’t apply. And then there’s the word “ceiling” itself. In this case, it’s used only because there isn’t one convenient word to say “a day where mortgage rates moved at least slightly lower after 2 or more days spent moving noticeably higher.”
In other words, that happened today.
It’s refreshing or reassuring any time rates stop moving higher after a somewhat abrupt jump remains in place for more than a day. In the current case, the past two days merely look like slightly bigger continuations of a gentle uptrend in rates that’s been in place since mid June.
From here, economic data will take center stage with important reports on each of the remaining two mornings of this week (Thursday is closed for Independence Day). Of those, it’s Friday’s jobs report that has far more power to cause volatility.
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.
Supported by
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
New Home Construction Slows as Mortgage Rates Remain High
Home building in May fell to its slowest pace in four years despite a supply shortage. That trend could put even greater strain on buyers.
Learn more
Housing starts declined in May on both single-family and multifamily dwellings.Credit…Kim Raff for The New York Times
June 20, 2024
Construction of new homes in the United States dropped below expectations in May as builders pull back on new residential projects largely in response to high interest rates, reinforcing concerns about stubbornly high housing prices.
Government data released on Thursday showed that new-home construction, or housing starts, fell 5.5 percent last month to an annualized rate of 1.28 million, a sign of more cracks in the already shaky housing market. Slower construction of both single-family and multifamily homes contributed to the overall drop. Building permits dipped 3.8 percent, pointing to less future construction.
This downturn in home building comes as the average rate on 30-year mortgages, the nation’s most popular home loan, has reached highs not seen in decades, though the rate dipped slightly this week to 6.87 percent, Freddie Mac reported on Thursday.
The magnitude of the decrease in construction last month underscores that high interest rates are both weakening housing demand and raising costs for builders — two dynamics that are ultimately contributing to builders’ reluctance to start projects. Home builder sentiment dropped in May to its lowest level this year before falling even further this month, suggesting relatively tepid home construction data in the coming months, Daniel Vielhaber, an economist at Nationwide, said in a statement.
log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
The lock-in effect that has kept U.S. housing market activity subdued probably isn’t going away this year or next year or even the year after that.
It could hang over prospective buyers and sellers of existing homes for six to eight years before finally going away, Bank of America warned in a note on Monday, locking down the market into the next decade.
“The wide gap between current mortgage rates and effective mortgage rates means most homeowners are unwilling to move unless forced,” analysts said. “Moreover we do not expect current mortgage rates to fall much even if the Fed cuts as we anticipate.”
When borrowing costs were lower during the depths of the pandemic as the Federal Reserve slashed rates to near zero, homeowners rushed to refinance, leaving U.S. households with the lowest effective mortgage rate ever on records going back to 1977, according to BofA. It has ticked up about half a percentage point from its trough, but the effective rate was still at a low 3.8% in the first quarter.
As the Fed began hiking rates in 2022 to fight inflation, current mortgage rates went higher as well. Now there’s a big gap in rates.
Earlier this month, a Realtor.com report said more than half of outstanding mortgages have an effective rate of 4% or lower, and more than three-quarters have a rate of 5% or lower. Meanwhile, the current 30-year fixed rate is still hovering around 7%.
With homeowners unwilling to give up their low effective rates, the supply of existing homes has been tight and this year’s spring selling season has been muted.
Sales of existing homes hit a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.14 million in April of this year, barely budging in almost 18 months, BofA noted.
The bank sees that pace staying relatively flat in the coming years, projecting sales of 4.1 million for all of 2024, 4 million in 2025, and 4.2 million in 2026.
“The US housing market is stuck, and we are not convinced it will become unstuck anytime soon,” analysts wrote. “After a surge in housing activity during the pandemic, it has since retreated and stabilized.”
With supply still constrained and demand still elevated from the pandemic-induced shock, BofA expects home prices to jump 4.5% in 2024 and 5% in 2025, before finally cooling off with a 0.5% uptick in 2026. But prices could surge another 5% in 2026 if pandemic-related factors persist, analysts warned.
And don’t expect much help from newly constructed homes. The bank sees housing starts averaging a stable 1.4 million units in 2024, 2025, and 2026, with sales of new homes averaging 650,000 those years.
But others in the real estate sector think even a modest decline in mortgage rates could unlock a burst of housing market activity.
Earlier this month, Compass cofounder and CEO Robert Reffkin told CNBC that he would “feel good” about a 6.5% rate, “but the magic number is 5.9999.”
“That’d be marketing magic, and would tell the world that mortgage rates are at a level where they should go and grab a property,” he said.
Subscribe to the CEO Daily newsletter to get global CEO perspectives on the biggest stories in business. Sign up for free.
Sarah Wheeler: Let’s talk about technology’s role in making these things easier for even smaller lenders. To that point, let’s talk about the new CFPB rule around AVMs.
Rohit Chopra: I think appraisals are such a big issue. We want to make sure, and we saw this, you know, 15, 20 years ago — the problems with overvaluation. And then we’ve also seen issues when it comes to appraisal bias and other issues of undervaluation. We really need accurate appraisals. And that’s really how the CFPB thinks about it. And of course, human appraisals and machine-driven appraisals are going to be part of the market.
So one of the things we’ve done is try to make sure that those algorithmic-based appraisals, particularly as there’s going to be advances in artificial intelligence, really have some checks on them when it comes to conflicts of interests, when it comes to bias. And I think we’ve put forward something pretty common sense to make sure that artificial intelligence and algorithms don’t just favor some people over others.
SW: I think that AVMs are one of those issues that we can really understand, common sense-wise. If you think about all of the properties that were valued during the refi boom — so many properties went through that process and we now have a lot of information on them. How does that figure into what you want to do with AVMs?
RC: I think our work on AVMs is really just about accuracy, but I think you’re asking more broadly about the role of technology and how automation is really going to be even more part of the plumbing of the mortgage system.
I think we heard a lot of concern around some of the big vendor and software technology mergers and consolidation. We always are hearing from mortgage lenders about ICE. I think there is a growing power of a lot of these big technology providers and that’s not unique to mortgage. We’re seeing that with small banks, who are very dependent on a couple of big software platforms. We see it with auto dealers. We see it in all corners of the economy.
And I think the big question is: who’s really going to benefit from automation? Are those benefits going to be broadly shared with consumers and lenders? Or is it just going to create a couple more gatekeepers who can levy a tax on every single mortgage in the country?
SW: What do you think the CFPB’s role in that is, as you see it? The ICE merger, for instance, was approved with some changes that they made — rolling out some different parts of the Black Knight universe to other companies. So what do you think the CFPB’s role in that is?
RC: Well, understanding mortgage tech is really key. And one thing I’m hoping that more in the mortgage industry can help us think through is: what is the digital future of the mortgage market? And as many of you know, the CFPB has been putting into place more rules to promote what’s known as open banking.
Open banking is the possibility of having a more frictionless and more competitive banking system for financial products. We have started that process by giving consumers the right to permission their bank account data, their transaction account data, to permission it to various types of lenders. But we’re trying to think about ways to make the mortgage system benefit from open technologies.
One of the ways we might address the issue of the price gouging on credit reports and credit scores is maybe thinking about how consumers may be able to permission their credit reporting information directly to lenders or to be able to provide their cash flow in new ways to lenders to provide for different ways of underwriting.
There’s so much of this already going on in the industry today and I think we want to make sure we’re supporting all the efforts that are helping consumers and lenders, but not just concentrating power in a couple of big technology companies.
Despite the industrywide drop in volume, four of the top 10 reverse mortgage lenders in the country recorded gains in June.
Finance of America (FOA) added 4.1% to its endorsement tally to finish at 534 loans, after lagging behind Mutual of Omaha Mortgage in recent months. Guild Mortgage also posted a gain of 19.1% to 56 loans, while South River Mortgage and HighTechLending also managed positive growth in June.
When asked if the decline in case numbers could lead to a more tepid summer of originations, RMI President John Lunde said it was likely.
“From a case number perspective I don’t think we’ll see dramatic growth in endorsements this summer, but more of a sideways action in the recent range,” he said.
Each type of reverse mortgage use case also declined in June. “Equity takeout” loans — reverse mortgages that are neither purchases nor refinances — dropped by 4.8% from May. Purchases fell by 10.8%, while HECM-to-HECM refinances saw a large drop of 27.5%.
“It doesn’t surprise me that refis declined since it was likely driven primarily by the lending limit increase earlier this year, which was always a very limited opportunity without rates declining significantly,” Lunde said of the data. “Purchase is one we’re watching closely with the recently implemented tweak to closing costs that we expect to open that door more fully. Equity takeout is the most stable as the largest segment so the lower volatility in May makes perfect sense.”
When asked how four of the top 10 lenders managed to avoid decreases in their endorsement totals in June, Lunde said that geography is a key predictor of how such things can play out. Individual choices that lenders make in appealing to potential clients often dictates their own performance.
“Geographic regions are usually more aligned with overall industry trends, whereas individual lenders can create significant performance gaps purely from business decisions like marketing spend increase/decreases, prioritizing or de-emphasizing endorsements from a resource perspective, or farming attractive in-house sales niches (like forward loan officer relationships or servicing portfolios),” he said.
Geographically, the region that endured the least severe drop is the industry’s most prominent one. The Pacific/Hawaii region fell by only 2.6% to 594 loans for the month.
As FOA and Mutual of Omaha continue to battle for reverse mortgage industry supremacy, Lunde and RMI will be watching closely, he said.
“I do watch with interest as these two compete for the top spot for the foreseeable future as they are very different stories,” Lunde explained. ”Mutual of Omaha has a great brand and customer base outside of reverse that provides a tailwind while FOA has led the industry for several years in wholesale and acquired the largest lender with a particular strength in retail. We’re excited to see both challenging to be the champion.”
As has been the case for a while, HMBS issuance remains at historically low levels, and is not expected to reach anywhere near the records set in 2022 by the time this year winds down, according to New View commentary that accompanied the data.
HMBS issuance fell by $29 million from May to a total of $497 million in June, but the same raw number of pools were issued in June as in May (86 pools). Among leading companies, FOA again claimed the top issuer spot with $159 million, a $2 million increase over May’s figure.
Longbridge Financial saw an $8 million month-over-month dip to $110 million, while Mutual of Omaha and PHH Mortgage Corp. — which will soon rebrand to Onity Mortgage — issued $95 million and $85 million in June, respectively.
When asked about the variance between the issuance levels of the top companies, New View partner Michael McCully said it doesn’t play much of a role.
“There is nothing to be read from any variance in issuance between the top four issuers; in the aggregate they have maintained a market share between 90% and 95% for years,” he said. “But, 11 issuers overall is over-capacity for an industry projecting to originate less than $6 billion in 2024.”
June’s original, first-participation production also saw a decline in June to $331 million, down from $361 million in May. Year over year, new loan production was substantially lower when looking at data from the same period in 2023, New View explained. Of the 86 pools issued in June, 24 were first-participation pools while 62 were tail pools with subsequent participations.
Changes on a monthly basis, McCully said, are largely immaterial.
“The industry is not in a good place with such low volume,” he said. “Let’s see how HMBS 2.0 affects the industry, and whether rates start to trend down more permanently.”
When asked about how New View is projecting issuance for the end of the year, McCully said it’s pretty simple to do.
“All else equal, doubling first half production gives a reasonable proxy for full year issuance,” he said.
New View also published updated HMBS issuer league tables for the first half of 2024, showing FOA with 31.9% of the overall market. It was followed by Longbridge (21.4%), Mutual of Omaha (18.4%), PHH (18%) and Traditional Mortgage Acceptance Corp. (3.6%).