In the face of rising inflation, your finances can sometimes be the source of great stress. If you find yourself losing sleep or feel your anxiety taking a toll on your health, then it’s time address your stress triggers and find some ease. Although it may seem difficult to do, your financial anxiety should not hinder your mental wellbeing. Here are a few tips we have gathered to help you improve your financial anxiety:

Identify Sources of Financial Stress

Before you can take an initiative to help reduce your financial anxiety, the first step in your plan should be identifying the root causes of your stress. You might find that you spend too much time thinking about your credit card bills or perhaps you have student loans looming over you. Determining what is causing you to stress will help you create a course of action. We suggest writing down your biggest financial challenges in a short list so you can help minimize feeling overwhelmed. As you work through your finances in the year, be sure to revisit this list and make any adjustments as your situation changes.

Find Time for Regular Money Check-Ins

Did you know that self-care can also apply to your finances? Just like having a self-care day, it’s a good rule of thumb to take some time to sit down and examine your financial situation. You might also want to use this time to involve your partner if you have shared expenses. Use the time to check-in and see how you are doing with your money goals and address any immediate actions you need to take.

Create an Emergency Fund

One piece of financial advice that we can’t stress enough is the importance of creating an emergency fund. An emergency fund will serve as a cushion in case any unexpected expenses come up and you don’t have to chip into your savings. With your emergency fund, you can start by making small contributions whenever you can and work your way up when you have more discretionary income. If it helps give you peace of mind, most experts recommend setting aside six months’ worth of expenses in your emergency fund to get you in good shape.

Set Money Goals

After assessing your current situation and determining what gives you financial anxiety, it’s time to set money goals that reflect what you are aiming to accomplish. Saving money does not come easy so setting concrete goals will serve as a roadmap to get you to where you need to be. As you set your goals, ask yourself the following questions:

• What do you want to achieve with your money?

• What types of debt do you have?

• Do you have any large expenses you want to work towards?

Spend Mindfully

One of the most proactive actions you can take towards your finances is tracking your spending. Financial anxiety can oftentimes be derived from spending more money than how much you are bringing in each month. When tracking your spending, a budget is your best friend because you’ll understand exactly where your money is going. As you create your budget, it’s important that it reflects your monthly income. In your budget, make space for needs, wants, and don’t forget to factor in spending money for fun. After you have a better understanding of your spending, you’ll be able to pick up on habits that you might want to change or what areas of spending you can alter to make more room for saving.

Set Up Automatic Contributions to Your Savings Account

If you are wondering how you are going to take the plunge and get started on saving, one of the easiest ways is by setting up automatic contributions to your savings account. Depending on your bank and its mobile app, you can log on and set up these custom transfers so you make contributions before you even realize your paycheck hits your account. With automatic transfers, you can commit to saving without having to set aside money consciously.

Say Goodbye to Financial Shame

The way you may have managed your money in the past or the causes of your financial anxiety may lead you to feel embarrassed of your money situation. Whether you feel as though you don’t have enough money or you haven’t made adequate payments towards your debt, it’s easy to hold onto past mistakes and give yourself a hard time about it. In this scenario, it’s important to remind yourself that you are doing what you can to work for your future.

Speak with a Financial Advisor

If you want to take your financial planning a step further and need more guidance, you might find that speaking with a financial advisor will give you the peace of mind you are looking for. A financial advisor can guide you through examining your finances and outlining long-term goals to get you on a healthier path. Together, you can monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed. Talking to someone whether you decide to talk to a professional or a trusted family member can help take a lot of pressure off of yourself.

Experiencing financial anxiety is not easy and at times it may feel as though you don’t know when you’ll get a mental break. Looking after your finances is important, and so is looking after your mental health. Financial anxiety is not something you should feel ashamed of but with some self-care and planning, you can take the necessary steps to help reduce your stress.

At Brink’s Money, we offer solutions for your personal finances so you are in control of your money. With the Brink’s Money Prepaid Mastercard, you get peace of mind for your money through free budgeting tools so you can work towards your financial goals. Learn more about how we can help give you the benefits and features you deserve.