Author name: Brian Del Terzo

You’re scanning the shelves at a local pharmacy, grocery, or convenience store, and your eyes land on a sales tag. At first glance, it looks like you can get a product for a deep discount. But take a closer look. Will you get a discount today? Or will you have to pay the full price today and get money off a future purchase? Keep an eye out for creative math on store tags and weekly ads. It might look something like this: In this case, you’re not really getting this product for $2. You have to pay $5 at the register today — and then you’ll get a $3 discount off of something else you buy in the future. That is if you remember to use your points — or bring and use your coupon or gift card — before they expire. We’ve long told businesses they shouldn’t obscure important terms — of course, that includes the price. Still, as a shopper, it pays to take a moment to review and understand the offer. If you find that a retailer is hiding important facts about the price, you can take your business elsewhere.

Seventy-one percent of non-homeowners repaying their student loans on time believe their debt is stymieing their ability to purchase a home, and slightly over half of all borrowers say they expect to be delayed from buying by more than five years. This is according to a new joint survey on student loan debt and housing released by the National Association of REALTORS® and SALT®, a consumer literacy program provided by nonprofit American Student Assistance®. The results also revealed that student debt postponed four in 10 borrowers from moving out of a family member’s household after graduating college. Nearly three-quarters of non-homeowners polled in the survey believe their student loan debt is delaying them from buying a home. Broken down by each generation and debt amount, the percent share is the highest among older millennials approximately aged 26 to 35 (79 percent), and those with $70,000 to $100,000 in total debt. Regardless of the outright amount of student debt, more than half of non-homeowners in each generation report that it’s postponing their ability to buy. The survey, which only polled student debt holders current in their repayment, yielded responses from borrowers with varying amounts of debt from mostly a four-year public or private college. Forty-three percent of those polled had between $10,001 and $40,000 in student debt, while 38 percent had $50,000 or more. The most common debt amount was $20,000 to $30,000. Lawrence Yun, the NAR chief economist, says the survey findings bring to light the magnitude student debt is having on the housing market and the budget of even those financially able to make on-time payments. While obtaining a college degree increases the likelihood of stable employment and earning enough to buy a home, many graduating with this debt are putting homeownership on the backburner in part because of the multiple years it takes to pay off their student loans at an interest rate that’s oftentimes nearly double current mortgage rates. “A majority of non-homeowners in the survey earning over $50,000 a year – which is above the median U.S. qualifying income needed to buy a single-family home– reported that student debt is hurting their ability to save for a down payment,” he says. “Along with rent, a car payment and other large monthly expenses that can squeeze a household’s budget, paying a few hundred dollars every month on a student loan equates to thousands of dollars over several years that could otherwise go towards saving for a home purchase.” Among non-homeowners who believe student debt is delaying their ability to buy, over three-quarters – including over 80 percent of millennials – said their delay is because they can’t save for a down payment. Additionally, 69 percent don’t feel financially secure enough to buy, and 63 percent can’t qualify for a mortgage because of high debt-to-income ratios. A little over a majority of those polled (52 percent) expect to be delayed by more than five years from purchasing a home because of repaying their student debt. One in five anticipates being held back three to five years as well as over 60 percent of baby boomers. Not surprisingly, those with higher amounts of student loan debt and those with lower incomes expect to be delayed the longest. “REALTORS® work closely with our clients and consumers every day; we understand the severity of the problem. This is not an abstract issue for us. This is why Realtors® is leading the real estate industry in the discussion of student loan debt and its impact on housing by generating the most encompassing research on this topic,” says NAR Vice President Sherri Meadows, a REALTOR® from Ocala, Fla. Student debt preventing many young adults from leaving the nest The survey also found that student debt is affecting the overall housing supply by holding back some current homeowners who otherwise would like to sell. Nearly a third of current homeowners (31 percent) said their student debt is postponing them from selling their home and purchasing a new one. Of those, 18 percent believe it is too expensive to move and upgrade to a new home, 7 percent have problems with their credit caused by student loan debt, and 6 percent are underwater because student debt has limited their ability to pay more than the minimum payment on their mortgage. “It is imperative to the nation’s economy that we find immediate and practical solutions to financially empower the 43 million Americans with student debt,” says SALT® President John Zurick. “SALT® is committed to demystifying the college financing process by giving consumers information, instruction, and individualized advice. No one should fail to realize the full potential of their formal education simply because of finances. We invite the higher education community, the U.S. government, the private sector, and others to join with us in this movement.” In April 2016, SALT® distributed a 33-question survey co-written with NAR to 75,000 student loan borrowers who are current in repayment. A total of 3,230 student loan borrowers completed the survey. The survey had a response rate of 4.3 percent. All information is characteristic of April 2016, with the exception of income data, which is reflective of 2015. For more information, visit www.realtor.org.

Back in the day, unwinding once the clock hit 5 P.M. meant a pow-wow with coworkers at a local watering hole.    But as work pressures have exponentially increased—admit it, you check office email in bed—lowering your cortisol levels requires more than just a happy hour. In fact, a study released by the Harvard and Stanford business schools found a direct link between work-related stress and serious health issues ranging from hypertension to depression. “It’s the relentless demand and constant change. There is no coming home and unwinding anymore—only the ever-present struggle to set boundaries for when you’re ‘on’ and ‘off,’ ” says Sharon Melnick, a business psychologist and author of “Success Under Stress: Powerful Tools for Staying Calm, Confident, and Productive When the Pressure’s On.”  If this all sounds frighteningly familiar, take a deep breath—literally… Because if you’re finding it exceedingly more difficult to deal with stress at work, then it will be difficult to thrive in your career—and keep building your financial security, which is also critical to your emotional health. “You can’t manage the things outside of you, but you can manage yourself—your physiology, your psychology,” Melnick says. To help you do just that, we’ve rounded up five wellness trends hitting the mainstream that are simple enough to execute from a quiet spot in your office. Although they may seem a bit out there to some—ever heard of tapping?—they could be just the thing to help you reclaim the Zen that works zaps out of you.     MINDFULNESS MEDITATION What Is It? A type of meditation derived from Buddhism in which you focus on your breathing in order to remain present and in the moment.  It’s garnered attention in recent years, thanks to high-profile converts like Steve Jobs, who practiced mindfulness meditation regularly, and Arianna Huffington, who describes it as a way to fight burnout in her 2014 book, “Thrive.”  They’re fans for a reason: A 2011 study found that eight weeks of practicing mindfulness meditation triggered changes in the brain, increasing grey matter in areas that help regulate emotion, learning, and memory. How to Practice It: Sit in a comfortable chair or cross-legged on the floor. Then close your eyes and simply breathe, intently focusing on each breath you take.    “Your mind will wander, and that’s normal. But bring it back,” says Jane Ehrman, a mind-body coach, and owner of the practice Images of Wellness. “The more you practice bringing it back, and just breathing, [the more] you’re teaching yourself to be present and far more aware of when your mind wanders.” Ehrman suggests starting with five minutes a few times a week, and then gradually building up to seven and then 15 minutes. Where to Learn More: Visit mindful.org for a video that can help guide you through your first mindfulness meditation session. You can also download the Headspace app, which was created by a former Buddhist monk and features daily mindfulness exercises. “When you’re coloring, all you have to do is stay in the moment. It gets you out of your head. That’s what’s so great about it.” ADULT COLORING BOOKS What Is It? As the name implies, it’s the childhood practice of staying inside the lines, except with more intricate patterns and pictures. And it’s gaining momentum among members of the grown-up set who want a little art therapy to help relieve stress. In fact, at one point, adult coloring books outsold Harper Lee’s hotly-anticipated “Go Set a Watchman” on Amazon.com’s best-seller list.    “When you’re coloring, all you have to do is stay in the moment,” Erhman says. “It gets you out of your head. That’s what’s so great about it.”     How to Practice It: Order an adult coloring book off Amazon.com, or download free patterns and pictures online. Then grab your crayons, colored pencils, or markers—and start coloring away. Consider it an alternative lunchtime activity to checking emails on your smartphone.     Where to Learn More: Check out this list to see what types of adult coloring books are available—from hypnotic patterns to whimsical scenes—and get recommendations on art supplies.    TAPPING What Is It? A stress-relieving psychotherapy technique that triggers acupressure points on your body by tapping them with your fingers.  Also known as EFT (emotional freedom technique), tapping has been around in its current state since the 1990s. But it garnered more mainstream attention after tapping practitioner Nick Ortner’s book, “The Tapping Solution: A Revolutionary System for Stress-Free Living,” made the New York Times best-seller’s list in 2013. Although it’s often been met with skepticism, a 2012 study in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease found that tapping reduced cortisol levels—and improved symptoms of anxiety and depression.    “It helps reverse your [negative] wiring,” Melnick says. How to Practice It: Start by using your index and middle fingers to gently tap the outer pinky side of your other hand, while stating a simple phrase aloud that acknowledges what is stressing you out, but affirms yourself regardless. For example: “Even though I’m up against a big deadline, I deeply and completely accept myself.” Then gently tap eight other acupressure points throughout your upper body, in order, while repeating what is troubling you. The designated points are the top of your head, your eyebrow, the side of the eye, the bone underneath your eye, the space underneath your nose, your chin, your collarbone, and under your armpit. If you can’t get enough privacy to tap at your desk, try a quick session in the office bathroom whenever you’re feeling anxious. Where to Learn More: Check out more detailed instructions from EFT founder Gary Craig here to make sure you’re tapping in exactly the right spots. You can also visit Ortner’s site for a slightly modified tutorial.  PRANAYAMA BREATHING  What Is It? Yoga-based breathing techniques provide a calming effect, like alternate-nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhana) and “cooling breath,” which helps lower your body temperature (Sitali). Studies have shown that not only does pranayama breathing reduce stress, but it also helps improve cardiovascular function and symptoms of asthma. And as more companies incorporate yoga and mindfulness into employee wellness programs, they’re also increasing awareness of controlled