How to Handle Financial Stress
You might be wondering, “what does money have to do with my stress and sanity?” The answer is simple: a lot. If you have ever experienced financial stress, then you’re a part of the majority of people who take a hit not only to their bank account, but also to their mental state. Managing money is a big part of life, so the fact that financial stress is one of the most common forms of stress in the world isn’t a surprise. Financial stress is defined as “a state of worry, anxiety, or emotional tension related to money, debt, and upcoming or current expenses.” People will inevitably worry about it at one point or another, so the key to reducing your financial stress is learning how to manage it. True Sky Credit Union has your back when it comes to how to handle financial stress, so keep reading!
How to Know if You Have Financial Stress
Although financial stress is typically self-diagnosed, it is a very serious matter that is often described as being similar to symptoms of anxiety. In more severe cases, the symptoms can mimic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Suppose you sense your mood, thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors changing negatively around the topic of money. In that case, you are experiencing financial stress which can affect your social life and even worse, it will take a toll on your overall health. If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms to the point where it’s affecting your everyday life, then it’s time for you to create a proper financial plan.
Symptoms:
- Ashamed or embarrassed of your financial situation
- Canceling social plans and avoiding friends
- Avoiding phone calls, emails, and other contacts with creditors
- Feeling like you are or have lost control of your finances
- Are seemingly always in debt, not able to catch back up
- Worry, concern, hopelessness about the future
- Anger or irritability with people who are involved with your money, like a boss or someone you live with
- Trouble sleeping due to thinking about money concerns
- Lack of interest in self-care as a way to save money
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Unexplained physical pains and aches which could be a combination of poor diet and bad sleeping habits (see above points)
How to Handle Financial Strain
If you’re feeling stressed about money and finances in general, the first step is to get a handle of the financial situation and go from there. Looking at your finances alone can be overwhelming, so we recommend you ask a friend or family member for help, or even stop by one of True Sky’s multiple locations. Someone will be more than happy to help you devise a plan to reduce your financial strain. In the meantime, we have compiled four ways to handle financial stress.
-
Calm yourself down
As we mentioned before, sometimes handling your financial situation all by yourself can make things even worse and cause you to look at it with a more negative view since it’s regarding your finances. Don’t get worked up, though. Calm yourself by having a snack, a glass of water, taking a few deep breaths, or even meditating–anything to help you calm down. Start with planning a day where you specifically look at your financial situation. That way it doesn’t affect your daily life. If you start to worry about money, you can put it on the back burner until the designated day you set to specifically look at your finances.
-
Ask for support
Don’t be ashamed to ask for financial help and support. Financial stress
is a very common issue and it is nothing to be embarrassed about. The fact that you are looking to gain control over your finances is respectable in any sense. Read blogs, books, and anything else you can get your hands on to fully understand what makes a good financial plan. There are also so many free applications and financial services available if you feel that you need professional help.
-
Create a budget
Financial stress stems from uncertainty which is the result of a messy budget, or no budget at all, for that matter. The easiest way to conquer your fear of future financial uncertainty is to create a clear and consistent budget–AND STICK TO IT! Oftentimes people don’t complete that last step, but it is crucial for you to follow your budget in order for it to be effective. Having a budget doesn’t mean that you don’t get to go out and have fun. Include extracurricular activities and shopping in your budget so you don’t have to worry about missing out on fun! If you need help creating a budget, then come on into True Sky and we can create a budget together!
-
Practice being mindful when spending money
Anytime you deal with finances, unfortunately stress is lingering not far behind. Practicing mindfulness is the key to helping yourself stay calm, stick to your budget, and overall being aware of your spending habits. If you’re reading this blog, then you’ve already taken the first step in understanding how to handle financial stress.
True Sky Credit Union Financial Plans
It’s important to acknowledge that your financial problems will not be resolved within the day you start your financial plan. Give yourself credit for taking the time to be realistic and getting your finances under control, be proud of yourself! Rest assured that whatever your financial situation looks like currently, True Sky Credit Union is here for you! We have a multitude of services available including checking and savings accounts, credit cards, loan options, a credit builder program, and more! If you’re interested in becoming a member with us, want to know about our financial plans and how we can help you, give us a call or visit our website to find the closest location near you.
We look forward to helping you learn how to handle financial stress!
Phone
