By Zach Scheidt
This post Shutdown Survival Guide! appeared first on Daily Reckoning.
Welcome to the first work week of the government shutdown!
(That is, unless you’re one of the 850,000 “non-essential” government employees being furloughed.)
If the government shutdown keeps you from going to work today, it might be a great day to check out my Big Book of Income — which gives you 47 work-free ways to generate some extra income on the side.
You can see how to get your free copy of my book here.
For the rest of us, the government shutdown shouldn’t make that much of a difference in our daily lives. I had to change my running plans on Sunday because the trails at a local national battlefield park were closed. But otherwise, it’s not as big of a deal as it sounds.
So today, let’s take a quick look at what is — and what is not — closed due to the government shutdown.
Here’s What To Expect From The Shutdown
As I write to you Monday morning, the Senate is planning a noon vote on a bill to extend funding for a few weeks. There’s no telling whether the bickering group of teenagers — I mean lawmakers — will make a deal or not.
But in the meantime, here are the most important changes with the government shutdown:
Park and Monument Closings — If you’re planning a trip to national parks or monuments, you’ll need to switch to plan B. This is especially frustrating if you’ve been planning a trip for a long time.
Passports and Visas — Don’t expect to get your passport renewed until the shutdown is over. This is particularly frustrating if you have a family emergency. But if you already have a passport or visa for where you’re traveling, you’re in good shape.
National Health Studies — The National Health Institute will not be enrolling new drug or treatment schedules. If you’re already involved in a study or treatment, your schedule should still remain the same.
Some Mortgage Approvals Delayed — This is perhaps the biggest disruption for most Americans. If you’re closing on a mortgage, the IRS and the Federal Housing Administration are closed. So necessary documentation may be difficult to come by.
Delay in Tax Refunds — The IRS also won’t be processing tax refunds. Just so you know, that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook for filing taxes. And if you have an installment payment plan with the IRS, you still need to meet your obligations.
Small Business Loans — Your bank may find it difficult to close on a new business loan because of some of the same challenges that affect mortgages.
Now that we’ve covered the biggest things that will change with the government shutdown, let’s take a quick look at some of the areas that will NOT be affected.
Still Operating as Normal…
National Security — The military will continue to operate along with homeland security and other national security agencies.
Safety and Order — I’m traveling to New York this week to talk with some …read more
Source:: Daily Reckoning feed
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