What To Do If You Feel Overwhelmed By Your Financial Situation
It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed when it comes to your finances. While it may not seem easy to overcome, it is absolutely possible. Here are a few steps anyone can take to reframe their mindset around money.
#1
Be kind to yourself.
We are usually our own worst critic. Our inner voice can be cruel or disheartening. “I don’t deserve to be rich.” “I’ll never retire.” “I’m terrible with money.” “I’ll never make as much as ______.”
A negative thought pattern can keep us from reaching our goals and living the life we want to live. It’s helpful to reframe this thinking as if you’re speaking about a third person. Most people will not be as vicious to others as we are to ourselves with our inner monologues.
Pretend you’re talking to a friend about their finances rather than yourself and you may hear a different tone in your head. A positive mindset is key in eliminating the overwhelming feelings derived from money.
#2
Establish goals.
It’s hard to reach for something when you don’t know what you’re reaching for. Having financial goals gives you something to work towards and keeps you focused.
If you have credit card debt, what’s the monthly repayment plan? When will you be debt free?
Saving for a big goal? Reverse engineer the outcome and figure out how much you need to save monthly to reach your goal.
Each time a goal is achieved, there is a sense of accomplishment and positive momentum starts to build. Studies have been done to show that “success breeds success.” Small wins can roll up to big ones so it’s okay to start with small achievable goals.
#3
Have patience and track progress.
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Unless you’re lucky enough to receive a windfall, building wealth takes time, as does paying off debt. Have patience with yourself and the process and know you’re working towards a larger goal.
By tracking your progress, you can see how far you’ve come and appreciate what you’ve accomplished (or are in the process of accomplishing). Working with a Wealth Coach can help keep you engaged and motivated as you move towards the financial success you seek and deserve.
OneEleven Director of Wealth Coaching
Jason is a Certified Financial Planner™ and earned a B.S. in Economics from Penn State University and a M.S. in Accounting-Tax from Southern New Hampshire University. Jason worked on Wall Street for over 15 years and has always been fascinated with the stock market. Throughout his career, he has enjoyed sharing that passion with his clients. He also loves helping people with their finances so that they can live the life they’ve always wanted to live. Outside of work, Jason enjoys spending time with his wife and three young kids. He is an avid distance runner, huge sports fan, and amateur hot sauce maker.