Having residual income in your bank account is a great feeling. This is the income that is left over after all the bills are paid each month. The mortgage payment is made. The utilities and the tuition is paid. After all the accounts payable are taken care of the residual, or passive income as it is often known, is the nice bit of money leftover.
The income that you have not put into the budget is the residual income that varies month to month. This residual income is obtained from sources over which you often do not direct control. The salary you earn is earned income. You make x number of dollars an hour or a year and you are there at work, putting in your hours on a regular basis. Residual income is different.
Determining residual income other than what is left from earned income is a little difficult to measure exactly before it comes in. Interest on an interest-bearing checking account will vary month to month because it is figured on the daily balance. Stock and bond dividends will fluctuate as the market does. Residual income is from a source put in place before it starts giving out the income. You work at a job and then retire. Your pension check becomes residual income.
If you have a mortgage on your home or the home you rent out, upon the complete payment of that mortgage, the funds you use to pay to the mortgage company is no longer needed there so it becomes residual income. It’s like there is now an empty space where money is no longer needed. You can stash that money away as residual or replace the mortgage payment with a boat payment. It’s up to you.
Banks lend money faster to individuals who have residual income of some sort. The borrower looks like a good risk and the bank can then have a better guarantee that the loan will be paid. Residual income is definitely a plus. If the interest on the loan is low, you are better off making the loan rather than cashing in a bond that pays a higher interest rate.
Income of all sorts pay needs to pay income tax. Pensions are dealt with on a state to state basis. The tax on the residual income doesn’t outweigh the benefits of getting that income. Residual income is a terrific way to supplement your finances. It could be your nest egg!
The more sources of residual income or financial responsibility you have could be extensive and taking care of the books for it is very time consuming. It is only logical at this point to hire an accountant or be a retiree good with numbers. You must keep accurate files. If you do not pay the government what is due or you do not understand what you need to pay, you are setting yourself up for problems. Pay the taxes on the residual income and be legitimate.
Look beyond today when you choose the money makers of tomorrow. Set up and put in place some sources that will provide you with residual income in the years to come. Be aware of how to plan for the future and how to use that planning to promote some residual income. The financial little extra can become your ticket for the future.

