Many people fret about money around the holidays and the start of the New Year. Where will my next paycheck come from? How will I pay for presents and rent? What can I do about inflation? If those questions bog down your daily life, you might feel jealous of those cruising through their days. But how do they do it? How do they remain calm in a world obsessed with putting numerical values to worth?
1. Money Mentor
Money mentors are therapists for your hard-earned cash. They will coach you on where to put your money, how you should view it, and the best way to save up to maximize your resources. Monetary mentors work with people experiencing financial burdens and heavy stress toward funds daily. They would love to help you.
2. Abandon Preconceived Notions
Were you a devoted Extreme Couponing fan in the early 2010s? I know I was, so much so that I tried the art of extreme couponing but ran into considerable dread and doubt surrounding the planning. You can save money without extreme lengths of stacking coupons over coupons so a store pays you. If something doesn’t work for you, get rid of it.
3. Auto Payments
Instead of wondering when you have to turn in your next payment, examine your preexisting bills and enroll in autopayments. This way, you take charge of your finances and get ahead of the game. Ensure you have adequate funds in your account each month and note when the payments are withdrawn from the account. This simple step relieves so much stress regarding bills.
4. Meditate
Worrying about money won’t make it appear or disappear. In exchange for biting your nails, try taking a moment or two per day to calm down your heart rate while tuning into your natural breath. When nagging thoughts of saving enough money pop up, refocus your breath on the present. Inhale relaxation, exhale doubt, fear, and the like.
5. Live
People who spend their entire lives worrying about money never experience positive moments. I know not everyone can travel worldwide and live like the Kardashians. Still, there are milder ways to enjoy this life without spending every waking second in fear. Take walks, go to the beach, spend time with friends and family, watch a favorite movie or TV show, anything to get your mind off the stress of bills.
6. Organize Wealth
This tidbit goes hand in hand with auto payments. Once you’ve reviewed what you make and what your bill payments boil down to, you can set up an online spreadsheet or a physical organizer to calculate your expenses. If you receive $3,000 a month, spend $100 a month on physical training, $700 on bills, and $1,000 on rent, you see where the remaining $1,200 ends up.
7. Make a Plan
After organizing your wealth, formulate several plans to follow up with. First, make a monthly planner. What do you hope to do in the next month? This includes what you want to save, as well as how you save it and what you hope to spend or pay off while saving. Then add what you hope your budget looks like in six months, then a year, then five years.
8. Stick to the Plan
You can write all of the schedules, to-do lists, and plans you want, but nothing will change if you don’t tackle them head-on. Hold yourself accountable with a family member or money mentor to verify you follow through with what you plan. Account for everything—Apple monthly storage, I’m side-eyeing you—to stay on top of your billing cycles and progress.
9. Adjust the Plan
Say you have $10,000 in a savings account, $5,000 in an emergency fund, and you have $2,000 in checking. You discover you need emergency surgery but are scared to offset your plan. Adjust to your needs and prioritize your health. You can always transfer money and rewrite plans. You can’t neglect your needs.
10. Understand What Makes You Slip
Even the best money handlers in the world have a vulnerable side. Something that they try to resist, but it pulls them into their orbit each time. Video games, car enhancements, or (my guilty pleasure) promising yourself you will put it on your credit card and pay it off with the next paycheck. These actions add up, and while they create discontent in ourselves, they will happen. As long as you keep an eye on them and don’t let them take charge, you won’t run into immeasurable debt or stress.
11. Have an Emergency Fund
Aside from a savings account, you need to set up an emergency fund. An account you can dip into whenever something goes wrong. We encounter several unexpected happenstances each year. With the rate of inflation, it isn’t cheap to upkeep. Dole out small amounts into the account each paycheck. Five dollars goes a long way when you save it every paycheck.
12. Hop off the Shame Train
Basking in financial shame won’t pay your bills or help you progress toward a stable financial future. Approach money with a new attitude and forgive yourself for past financial “mistakes.” Social media plays a huge role in comparison culture, but remember, you never know how a person funds their life. They may live a lavish lifestyle but are hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. Focus on your own goals.
13. Spend Less Than You Make
This sounds obvious, but too many people fall into a habit of cashing in more than they have in their bank accounts. As the saying goes, live beneath your means. Budget enough money to pay bills, have fun, and save, but don’t go over the top and buy a helicopter when you don’t have enough money to buy a car.
14. Invest
Luckily, today’s market provides countless avenues for investors. Investing teaches discipline and patience when handling money, as you need to set aside X amount to gain X amount down the line. In a money-hungry market, endless influencers share their knowledge on the best and smartest ways to invest. Click any tutorial on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, X, etc., for an introductory lesson on investment.
15. Speak With Others
Maybe you aren’t ready for a financial advisor. That’s fine! Discussing financial concerns with close friends may lift financial stressors off our backs. However, if you speak about financial issues to an extreme point, you may experience stress. Set boundaries regarding the conversation, and shift the chat to a different subject if anyone violates your boundaries.
16. Educate
Most people deal with financial stress in their lifetime. Whether they struggle to pay bills or worry about where their next meal will come from, monetary burdens are no joke. Additionally, those who don’t know much about money worry about it. Avoid the worry by educating yourself on the financial market, learning about investment, and doing all that you can to cancel out the fear.
17. Add Another Income
Delivery driving is an easy way to start adding extra dollars to your monthly income. I’ve done it, and I have friends who do it. Harping about it is part of the job, but if you have a car and a license, it’s a simple way to jumpstart adding extra revenue streams. If you don’t have a car, take up online tutoring, babysitting, or anything to bring in a few more dollars.
18. Change Your Mindset
You’re not alone if you believe losing your job is the same thing as losing your life. Losing jobs could open doors to better jobs with greater pay and benefits. Losing a job could allow you to navigate new interests and markets before settling back into your career. Forego the toxic mindset of thinking everything is over if you lose a job. Hone your skills and go find another one.
19. Read the Fine Print
Credit cards promise 0% APR up front with wonderful travel package deals, but what does the fine print say? Does the APR go up after a year? What unexpected expenses will you give to the company holding your debt? Grab your magnifying glass and pore over each term and condition when signing for a new credit card or loan to circumvent panic when your interest rates increase.
20. Talk to a Therapist
A money coach can only do so much. When financial burden overtakes every aspect of your life, you might benefit from seeking a therapist. Air your grievances and doubts about your financial livelihood in a safe space, as the therapist gives you tools to cope with the worry. Therapists won’t give you impeccable budgeting hacks, but they can ebb anxiety around finances.
