Increasing their savings
Boosting the family bank account was the single most popular way to prepare for the election. About 26% of respondents are setting more money aside, while 22% are specifically padding their emergency fund.
The economy is still stumbling, with a second and third wave of the pandemic hampering efforts to reopen businesses. Trump and Biden don’t agree on how well the country’s recovery is going, and voters may be afraid that one strategy or the other will make matters worse.
Most financial experts recommend keeping enough money on hand to cover at least six months of your normal expenses — things like rent, utilities, gas and groceries.
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High-yield savings accounts can earn you more than 100 times the interest you’d make by leaving your money in a traditional savings or checking account. The higher your interest rate, the faster your savings will grow.
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Read MoreCutting down their spending
The second most common tactic goes hand-in-hand with the first. Roughly 25% of those surveyed said they’re spending less in the leadup to the election.
While cutting down on your daily purchases can help, it’s equally important to reassess your automatic spending. A 2019 study showed that the vast majority of consumers underestimate how much they’re blowing on subscriptions, often spending twice as much as they thought.
You can use a free app called Truebill to tally and cancel any subscriptions you’re using — including ones you’ve forgotten about or didn’t know you signed up for. It’ll also inform you anytime one of your subscriptions goes up in price.
Next, see whether you can save money by getting a better rate on your essential expenses, like car insurance.
Websites like SmartFinancial will let you compare rates from multiple insurance companies for free, and the process only takes a few minutes.
You may be able to find the exact same coverage you currently have at a much lower price, potentially saving yourself up to $1,100 a year.
Paying off their debt
Just over 15% of Americans are making an effort to pay off their existing loans and debts before the election, according to The Ascent.
High-interest debts like credit cards will sap your finances month after month, making it hard to stay nimble and adjust to whatever the new reality is after Nov. 3. It makes sense to clear out as much of your debt as possible while you can.
If your credit score is in decent shape, you might want to consider consolidating your debts with a personal loan.
A good debt consolidation loan will let you trade in all of your outstanding debts for a single loan at a much lower interest rate.
You’ll only have one monthly payment to worry about, and depending on how much interest you currently pay, you could save hundreds (or thousands) of dollars and become debt-free years sooner.
A free service called Credible will allow you to quickly compare quotes from multiple lenders, making it easy to find the best rate possible on a personal loan.
Kiss your credit card debt goodbye
Millions of Americans are struggling to crawl out of debt in the face of record-high interest rates. A personal loan offers lower interest rates and fixed payments, making it a smart choice to consolidate high-interest credit card debt. It helps save money, simplifies payments, and accelerates debt payoff. Credible is a free online service that shows you the best lending options to pay off your credit card debt fast — and save a ton in interest.
Explore better ratesRevising their investment strategy
Close to 10% of Americans are changing up their investments as they keep an eye on the presidency. The year 2020 has been a particularly volatile one for investors, and the results on Nov. 3 will likely be another jolt to the market.
A Trump victory could mean more corporate tax cuts and support for the fossil fuel industry, while Biden may push green jobs and infrastructure programs. They may take different approaches to foreign trading partners like China.
If you’re worried that your portfolio may take a hit, or if you’re unsure how to proceed in such an unstable market, you might want to think about using an automated service like Betterment to manage your investments.
Betterment will recommend a balanced portfolio based on your financial goals and automatically readjust it in response to changing market conditions. No matter what happens on or after election day, you can feel confident that your portfolio will move in the right direction.
If you’re a more adventurous investor and you’re simply looking to diversify your current holdings, another option is to use the commission-free investing app Robinhood.
The ability to trade without fees is great, but another welcome feature is the ability to buy fractional shares. With Robinhood, you can own pieces of huge companies like Amazon without having to spend thousands.
Refinancing their mortgage
More than 6% of Americans are refinancing their mortgage ahead of the election, which makes a lot of sense if you’re looking to free up cash for an uncertain future.
Mortgage rates remain at historic lows in the wake of the pandemic, and if you’re a homeowner refinancing could save you tens of thousands in interest over the course of your loan.
You’re a good candidate for refinancing if you’ve got a solid credit score and at least 20% home equity.
It’s wise to act soon if you’re planning to refinance, as a new 0.5% fee on refis will come into effect on Dec. 1.
Don’t just jump at the first offer you see, though. A Freddie Mac study found that comparing rates from at least five lenders can make a $3,000 difference in how much you save over time.
You can use the tool below to compare some of today’s best rates.
Buying or selling a home
These record-low mortgage rates are also ideal for anyone looking to upgrade (or downsize). The Ascent found that more than 4% of Americans are preparing for the election by buying or selling a home.
Although Biden has stated that he’ll institute a homebuyer tax credit if he’s elected, you might not want to wait until January to start shopping around. Rates won’t stay at rock bottom forever, and it might be a good idea to make a big purchase while conditions are known to be good.
Just like with refinancing, you’ll want to shop around and compare quotes from multiple lenders before you commit to a new mortgage.
If you find that you’re having trouble getting approved for a mortgage, check out our guide on how to improve your chances.
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