How do interest rate fluctuations affect your money?

 

Why should you be bothered about nterest rates?

"Interest rates are to asset prices what gravity is to the apple. When there are low interest rates, there is a very low gravitational pull on asset prices." - Warren Buffett.

Prices of assets, cost of borrowing and rewards for savings are tied to the rise, fall and stability of interest rates.

Interest rate for borrowing (cost of borrowing) is the percentage of the loan amount. The higher this percentage is, the more the interest to be paid back in addition to the principal..

At lower interest rates, borrowing to buy big assets is more attractive than borrowing to aave. 

At lower savings rate, a percentage of savings paid into a savings account is less than at higher savings rate. So, it makes more sense to borrow to spend and buy assets rather than borrow to save and be rewarded with low interests.

At lower interest rates, spenders pay less interest and have more money to increase their spendings on consumer goods. This leads to increase in the production of goods and to the creation of more job opportunities.

Higher interest rates are going to force you, the consumer, to reduce your spending as you're going to have less money to spend. Why would you have less money to spend?

It's obvious that a higher interest rates, banks would give more stringent conditions to prospective borrowers. The result of tough requirements would produce few with the capacity to meet them. Therefore, fewer loans are going to be given

Why Is Understanding Opportunity Cost Important?

 

It’s very difficult to achieve financial prosperity without puting the concept of opportunity cost to use in your spending.

It’s normal to have many wants competing for your money, which may not be enough to get all of them for you.  So, to get the best out of your spending, you must understand the value attached to the best alternative foregone.  This is opportunity cost.  

Understanding ande applying the concept of opportunity of cost to your personal finance, are going to help you achieve the following seven personal financial goals;

1.Spending  Within Budgetary Provision:

A good budget should be a financial plan that accommodates absolutely necessary expected spending within expected income.  Obviously, a good budget is not possible in the absence of opportunity cost as you wouldn’t be to put in the budget, only things which enhance personal financial health.  

So after the budget has been set up with the help of opportunity cost,  you would stay within your budgetary spending limits if you stuck to your budget.

2. Acquisition of Only Relevant Current Assets ;sm

This is possible with the aid of opportunity cost.  When the value of the best alternative is foregone, it means an alternative with a higher value is chosen.  When current assets like vehicles, and furniture are purchased on the basis of durability, most flexible usability and best maintenance option, then only relevant ones are chosen and acquisition of toxic assets are avoided.

3. Elimination of the Purchase of Toxic Assets:  

As mentioned above, the purchase of toxic assets is avoided when opportunity cost guides every purchase.

The elimination of toxic assets from your current assets is important as wasteful maintenance costs are eliminated.

Apart from the elimination of the leakages through wasteful maintenance costs, valuable space is saved for relevant current assets. And .more money is freed up to fund financial growth.

4. Money is freed up for savings:  

No money spent on toxic assets means more money saved.

As more and more potentially redundant assets are struck-off your spending list, more and more money is saved.

5. More Money Saved means significant: Capital (or equity) for investment in other streams of income.

What is the significant of this?

It gives financial health to your money because your saving begins to outweigh your spending..

6. Opportunity Cost is a good guide to good investment:

Opportunity cost if applied objectively and professionally, should help to narrow your options to the most viable investment opportunities available.  

You should be able to rank investment opportunities in terms of highest returns and quickest pay back periods then go for the one that best guarantees your investment.

7. Credit Rating / Worthiness Improvement:

A consistent application of opportunity cost to your spending should naturally help you to lower your indebtedness and consequently improve your credit rating.