Lively Women

It’s Hard to Feel Lively When You’re Stressed About Your Finances

by Kristen King on June 5th, 2007

You never have it when you need it, when you have it you can’t hold onto it, and when it comes along you don’t know what to do with it. Do you know what I’m talking about? Yup, money. If you’re like most women, money’s probably the biggest stressor in your life. In fact, a 2006 Health magazine article reports that women worry about money more than weight, wrinkles, or relationships — and those are all big stressors! So how can you take charge of your finances and save yourself from all that worry?

Well, there’s no instant answer to all of your money woes, but there are some things you can do right now to get a grip on your cash flow and work toward financial freedom — and life free from concerns about money.

What Goes Out Must Come In

One of the most important principles of good money management is that you can’t spend what you don’t earn. But the $8000+ credit card debt carried by the average US credit-card-using household (source) makes it clear that this is one rule many people believe was made to be broken. Statistics suggest that nearly half of American households spend more than they earn.

Going, Going, Gone…

The trick to shrinking and ultimately getting rid of your debt is paying it off as quickly as possible without accruing new debt. Easier said than done, right? But it can be done. You just need a financial plan that enables you to live within your means. And here’s how to develop one.

1. Figure out how much money you need to survive–and when you need it. Calculate your monthly can’t-live-without-it expenses such as rent/mortgage, transportation to/from work, utilities, car payment, insurance, etc. (Don’t forget to include groceries, too.) Also include minimum payments on any credit cards or other debt you’re currently paying off and include those. Once you figure out what they are, call up your various creditors and move your payment dates around so half of your expenses fall on the 1st and the other half fall on the 15th. By spacing out your due dates, you’ll also space out your expenditures and keep your cash flow more even. (After I did this, I also canceled all of my automatic deduction payments, which I found got me into trouble because I always forgot they were coming! Now I write a check for each individual bill.)
2. Figure out how much money you actually bring home. If you’re in a salaried position, this should be pretty easy! Just take a look at your most recent pay stub. If you’re self-employed, like me, it’s a little more complicated because, depending on what exactly you do, your income may fluctuate from month to month. (I found out that I’m making a lot more than I realized, so when I feel poor, it means I’m just managing my money poorly!)
3. Figure out what’s left over. This is what you have to work with for developing your savings, paying off your debt faster, and also where you’ll get your “spending money”: the cash you need for stuff like haircuts, coffee dates, a new pair of shoes, etc. (I gave myself a monthly allowance for spending money that I put in a separate checking account from what I use to pay my bills. When my balance in that account is $0, then I don’t get to spend any more on nonessentials that month! That way I can make sure I’m not overspending without realizing it, which I tend to do.)
4. Evaluate your debt–how much and what kind? Do you have a couple of low-limit credit cards? Why not pay them off quickly and close the accounts? Do you have a low-interest or 0-interest credit card that you could use for some balance transfers? The more debt you can get rid of and the more you can transfer to lower interest rates, the more money you will save in the long run.

Once you have the numbers, you can figure out a game plan for tackling your debt. You can also look for ways to reduce it by lowering bills and interest rates. Try calling your creditors and service providers and asking them, “What can I do to lower this bill?” or “What can you do for me as far as lowering this interest rate?” Most places don’t advertise it, but they’ll work with you.

As soon as you get your paycheck, take a look at what payments you have coming up. Pay your bills and your savings account first (you are saving at least 10% of every paycheck, right? If you need a savings account and don’t know where to go, e-mail me for a referral to my online savings bank.) Then, see what’s left. That’s your path to financial freedom. Even if you’re only paying an extra $25 a month on your credit card or car loan, it will make a big difference in cost savings over the life of your debt and will help you pay it off that much sooner.

You’re Worth It

When I took a really close look at my financial picture, I realized that I’d been stressing over the wrong stuff.  I was allocating my money in the wrong places! It took a bit of reorganization and some work to break bad spending habits, but now I’m on the road to stress-free finances, and even saying no to a luxury expense once in a while feels so good because I know I’m still saying yes to reducing my overall stress levels.

Being stressed out makes you tired, cranky, and just unhappy overall. You deserve to be happy. Give this budget thing a shot. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how great it feels!

Recommended Reading

Fabulous Femme Finances - From LivelyWomen.com

Attention, 20somethings: It’s Time to Start Thinking About Retirement - From LivelyWomen.com

What Is Your Freelance Financial Picture? - A must-read for self-employed contract professionals

Women and Money: Address Your Needs - From MsMoney.comTips, Tools & Tactics: The Best Resources for Women’s Financial Planning - From the National Center on Women & Aging

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POSTED IN: Encouragement, Finance, Real life, Stress