The US government hit its $31.4 trillion debt ceiling — triggering fears of a nasty fallout for Americans. Here are 3 harmful ways it could really impact you

The U.S. officially hit its $31.4 trillion debt ceiling on Jan. 19 — launching a ticking time bomb toward a potentially “calamitous” debt default.

Unable to break the political deadlock in Congress, the Treasury will now take “extraordinary measures” to ensure the government can pay its bills.

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The emergency measures are due to expire on June 5, according to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen - triggering fears of a nasty fallout for Americans.

Here are three ways it could hurt you.

Freezing social support

The Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) - an agency that advises the President on economic policy - has painted a grim picture of life after debt default.

Every single American could feel the impact.

“Payments from the federal government that families rely on to make ends meet would be endangered,” the CEA explains. “The basic functions of the Federal government—including maintaining national defense, national parks, and countless others—would be at risk.

“The public health system, which has enabled this country to react to a global pandemic, would be unable to adequately function.”

What does that mean for individual households?

It means that the government could delay various paychecks that help millions of Americans, such as Social Security payments, Medicare and Medicaid, and benefits to veterans.

Read more: You could be the landlord of Walmart, Whole Foods and CVS (and collect fat grocery store-anchored income on a quarterly basis)

Market turmoil

History has a tendency of repeating itself and this does not bode well for America’s eleventh-hour debt ceiling decision … or your investments.

In 2011, Congress approved a debt ceiling extension with just hours to spare before the Treasury would default.

This close call prompted credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s to strip the U.S. of its prized AAA (outstanding) rating, removing it from its list of lowest-risk countries. The agency cited dysfunctional policymaking in Washington as a factor in the downgrade.

Skittish investors reacted quickly and the stock market tanked. It took the S&P 500 index almost six months to recover.

What’s happening today is similar.

The coming months of “extraordinary measures” look set for a long, drawn-out political wrestling match, with opposing Republicans using their votes on an extension as leverage to seek spending cuts.

As things stand, another down-to-the-wire debt ceiling extension seems likely.

This could cause a storm for the S&P 500 index, which sufferd a 19% decline in 2022.

Credit card and mortgage rates

Credit card interest rates, as well as other interest-bearing loans like mortgages and auto loans, are tied to the health of the U.S. economy - which is facing dire straits in this debt default debacle.

The Federal Reserve raised its key short-term interest rate by another 0.25 percentage point earlier this month, pushing borrowing costs to the highest level since 2007.

When the fed funds rate goes up, the prime rate - the interest rate banks lend to customers with good credit - also increases.

This means borrowers must pay higher interest rates on their credit card balances. Mortgages could also become more expensive for American families.

According to the CEA: “These and other consequences could trigger a recession and credit market freeze.”

A precious way to protect yourself

With the U.S. balance sheet in such a precarious position, your 401(k) or IRA — and your retirement itself — could be at risk.

You could try to adjust your retirement accounts for better protection, but there’s a lesser-known alternative that could pay off big.

A Gold IRA is a type of individual retirement account that allows you to invest in gold and other precious metals in physical forms, such as coins, instead of stocks, mutual funds and other traditional investments.

It’s a great alternative because unlike the U.S. dollar, which has lost 98% of its purchasing power since 1971, gold’s purchasing power remains more stable over time.

Opting for a Gold IRA gives you the opportunity to both diversify your portfolio and stabilize your finances.

If you want to open a Gold IRA, there are reputable services that’ll let you roll over your current 401(k) or IRA into this new account — and quickly.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.