There are a lot of things in life that can cause you stress. Everything from work to family to trying to keep up some semblance of a social life. However, there's no doubt that one thing causes more stress for the vast majority of people than just about anything else. That thing is, of course, money. Now, whether we like it or not, most of our lives are ruled by money, but if you're struggling in any way when it comes to your finances, that can start to have a seriously negative impact on your life. It can impact your general well-being, your relationships, even your health! To prevent that from happening, here are a few ways to stop your finances from ruining your life and get organized.
Deal with Your Debts
Few things create a bigger knot in the pit of many people's stomachs than the word debt. It's one of those things that can make it feel as though you've failed as a person. However, it's important to remember that debt is just a part of modern life that everyone must learn to manage. Of course, if your debts start to pile up then that can be pretty scary. Luckily, there are ways to deal with it. Consolidating your debts with a single loan can be incredibly useful. Check out this debt consolidation loan calculator to figure out how much you could save on a month-by-month basis. Solving debt with more debt might seem backward, but it helps only to have one payment that you need to make each month.
Curb Your Spending
Here's the harsh truth that a lot of people want to ignore: most of us spend too much money. We end up spending far more than we can actually afford because we don't keep track of what we're spending it on. You might think that you're frugal with your money since you don't make any huge purchases but the truth is it's the little things that empty your bank account. A coffee here, a little souvenir there, and soon those little purchases have added up so quickly that your account is empty. Make sure that you keep track of all your spending so that you don't end up wasting all your money.
Set Up a Budget for Healthy Finances
Do you know what your monthly income and outgoings are? Well, if you don't then it's no surprise that you're worrying about money. By setting up a clear budget, you can keep track of all your spending as well as figure out where you can cut back and save money on a regular basis. One really easy way to track your money and create a budget is through the use of mint.com. Mint gathers your financial information from your bank accounts, billing accounts, loan accounts and more to help you create a doable and accurate budget as well as savings goals. Mint even offers a more centralized way to pay your bills.
One of the most important things to remember is that money often only has as much power as you give it. Sure, there are plenty of things in life that you cannot do without money, but if you spend all your time thinking about it, then you're never going to be able to see the value in anything else. Try to adjust the way you think about money and put less of your energy into obsessing over it.
Gained control over your finances by creating an accurate, do-able budget through Mint.com!
Dealing With Financial Stress
Do you ever find yourself checking your bank account and immediately feeling tense or stressed? That’s because money is a huge source of anxiety in our lives. So if you’re anxiously awaiting your next paycheck, don’t worry—you’re part of the 72% of Americans who feel stressed about money.
Stress and anxiety can manifest itself in our bodies in many different ways. Muscle tension, poor digestion, and high blood pressure are just a few. People with high debt are also more likely to struggle with mental health issues like depression.
Thankfully, there are some self-care actions we can take daily to help alleviate money-related anxiety. From an Epsom-salt bath to meditation sessions and a tall glass of kombucha, this infographic provides self-care inspiration and money mantras for a peaceful and prosperous life.
This post was written in collaboration. Collaborative writing means that while I have contributed to this post and edited its content and formatting, I am not its original author. By posting this content on my blog, I receive financial compensation. Want to write a post for Jihi Elephant? Learn more here.
