The Umbrella Lesson... Why Credit is Hardest to Get, When You Need it Most!
Don't Let This Happen to You!
Have you ever noticed how life has a funny way of teaching lessons when you least expect them?
Recently, while traveling to a large city, I checked into my hotel and noticed a stand full of umbrellas by the door. I thought, That’s a smart idea… I’ll probably need one later. The forecast called for rain, and since I prefer walking in cities, I figured I’d grab one before heading out.
But I didn’t.
Later that day, as the skies opened up, I came downstairs ready to head out — and every umbrella was gone. Just like that.
Instead of a brisk walk through the city, I found myself waiting for an Uber, paying for the ride, and fighting through traffic. What had been free and easy earlier, suddenly became costly and inconvenient.
That’s when it hit me — credit works the exact same way.
When the sun is shining, and you don’t really need it, credit is easy to find and inexpensive. Banks are happy, rates are low, and approvals come quickly. But when the financial storms roll in — job loss, income reduction, or unexpected medical issues — that same credit can become nearly impossible to find… or painfully expensive.
I see it happen more often than you’d think.
Take the home seller who finds their dream house before selling their current one. They’re told by their Realtor and lender that a Bridge Loan or Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) could make their offer stronger, maybe even the difference between winning or losing the home. But they hesitate. Then, when they finally need that loan… it’s too late. The bank says no, or the cost skyrockets.
The truth is, most homeowners could protect themselves by setting up credit before they ever need it. A HELOC, for example, doesn’t cost anything until you borrow from it. It just sits quietly in the background, ready for life’s surprises — whether that’s an unexpected move, a job change, or a health setback.
And for non-homeowners, having an extra credit line or card in good standing builds both protection and opportunity. It’s the modern-day umbrella.
Here’s the takeaway:
Money and credit are hardest to get when you need them most — and easiest when you don’t.
The key is preparation. Get the umbrella before it rains.
If this story hits home — or you’d like to understand how this idea ties directly to home financing, bridge loans, and income protection — click below to read the full Ken’s Korner story. It dives deeper into the “why,” shares real-world examples, and might just change the way you think about credit forever..
Get the full blog post and video here: https://vid.us/utz3k5
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