Don't worry about the number and just keep paying the bill.

YNAB...handles credit cards that are paid in full each month really well.

How do you not have $15k in an emergency fund? Hell, I have that available and I make a small fraction of what you do.

Not something to worry too much about. Utilization has no memory so as long as you pay it off before any interest accrues you're fine. It will take a little while to recover but it will be as if it never happened.

Yes, credit utilization is how much of your credit you are using. If you bought something you haven't paid for yet, then you're utilizing your credit. They don't only report it on your billing date or after you pay it off. Someone maxing out their credit card is seen as a higher risk for non-payment.

If you can, use less of your limit until you can increase your limit.

And make sure you take a copy of your registration AND the letter from the bank saying it is paid off. They require it to get the title in your name only.

They can do that, sure. If you’re not taking out a big loan in the next 60 days, though, it’ll (very likely) have zero impact on your life.

Social Security and caretaker are different. The doctors,will determine if caretaking is,required and eligible for support. You could some research and offer the info to your brother if this is an option in their state...it might help ease the financial drain

Otherwise, this is their problem at this point.

I should have clarified its a private party sale of a very in demand "classic" 90s vehicle which should not last more than a couple weeks for sale, which is why I can't rely on saving a few months

> The IRS cares about getting its money at some point and they are actually quite flexible about payment plans.

THIS. The IRS represents the US Government, an institution that has been around for 234 years. They don't care how long it takes or how little you pay at a time. Re-payment plans can be a lifetime but they won't care because they will get it back eventually. For them it is a marathon not a sprint.

As someone who used to do what Optima does, you can screw your dad by talking to the IRS direct. The IRS will try to get financial info from you, like expenses, etc. There are some expenses that require proof, and some that don't. For the expenses that don't require proof, there is a set number the IRS will give you if you ask. But if you say a lower number, the IRS will take that and not tell you you could have said a higher number. If you say a low number and Optima says the set number, IRS will say "sorry, taxpayer already told me that expense." Which could cause your dad to have to pay more money. I think Optima charges too much, but if you've already paid them, you might as well see it through and don't undermine what they're trying to do.

Yeah, but with a wire, you don't have to spend the length of an international flight freaked out about the amounts of cash you have strapped to your body.

[removed]

No they can’t “force” you to sign out, but they own the property so they can just evict you and replace you with someone else.

How is this hard to understand?

It's a private party sale, which I could get a personal loan for at probably 10% interest and hit my credit report, whereas with the 401k loan I am paying myself the interest and the loan does not affect my credit

If you clear, the price of the car, every month. I dont see the need to pull from 401k. Save for a month or 2. Pulling from 401k has a bunch of steps and conditions. Pulling from your savings doesn't, especially when you can replace within 2 months

There are in fact many places in the world where cash is still king.

No no no not in California!!!!

If you’ve been there more than a year it’s almost impossible to change the terms

Why not just get a used car loan? You can pay it off in like two months.

But sure, do something stupid with your 401k instead.

I didn't know about FMLA, I worked through all of treatment. I feel so stupid. I'm solo and it was all so overwhelming.

You may find these links helpful:

• 401(k) Fund Selection Guide
• 401(k) FAQs
• "How to handle $"

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

I was quite surprised at how many people said to not communicate at all with the other insurance company and to direct them to my insurance company. I'm not sure I'd trust 2 external parties to coordinate with each other on my behalf in a timely manner, let alone 1 external party. Just seems like I'd be making it very difficult to resolve things if I just refused to talk to the other person's insurance

You may find these links helpful:

• 401(k) Fund Selection Guide
• 401(k) FAQs
• "How to handle $"

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

The only reason to invest is if you think the market will, eventually, go up. That’s been the trend, so that’s the thinking.

No one is any good at figuring out when it will go up or down in the short term. If this is the low point, of course you should buy! If it’s going to drop further, you should wait! But nobody knows.

Because the market on average tends to go up; at any given time investing now on average means you’ll capture more of that growth, and waiting means on average you’ll miss out out growth. Not always, like you saw over the last year, but usually.

The biggest mistake with a lot of investing is being too nervous. Missing the gains and only investing afterwards is also a way to at least lose in opportunity cost.

I'm not really hopeful for a lawsuit at all. Understanding how and why this happened is important to me, though. I can't move forward until I know who I've been this past year. I can't just accept missing a year of my own life and pick up the pieces as if nothing ever happened.