Understanding Financial Stress And How To Navigate Money Anxiety

Financial stress is a common and shared experience for many people, regardless of income or age. Learning how to deal with money stress begins with understanding the underlying causes of it. If you’re often stressed about money, this article may help you learn more about your financial anxiety and ways to curb it. 

Financial stress defined

Financial stress is a state of worry or tension resulting from certain financial circumstances. This can stem from various factors such as outstanding debts, inability to meet monthly expenses, or the fear of financial instability.

Common emotions associated with financial stress are:

• Anxiety
• Embarrassment
• Helplessness
• Anger
• Desperation
• Shame
• Guilt

Identifying these emotions can help you understand the root cause of your financial stress and, in turn, handle it strategically.

Voice your concerns

Sometimes, just opening up about your financial worries can provide a sense of relief. Discussing your concerns with a trusted friend or partner can lead to shared perspectives and potential solutions. Remember, you’re not alone in feeling financial stress; seeking support is a significant step toward managing it.

Recognize the source of your financial stress

Understanding what triggers your financial stress is crucial. This could be anything from a lack of savings, mounting bills, or an unstable income source. Recognizing these stressors can help you focus on managing them better.

Here’s a simple way to identify your financial stressors:

1. Review your financial documents: This includes your budget, savings plan, bills, etc.
2. Identify the pain points: These are the elements that are causing you stress.
3. Prioritize your focus: Instead of worrying about every financial aspect, focus on the specific items causing you stress.

 Craft a financial plan

Creating a budget, savings plan, or debt-payoff plan may help you manage your financial stress more effectively. This provides a clear overview of your financial situation and allows you to take control of it. The free suite of financial resources at Best Egg Financial Health can be a great place to start.

If something isn’t working in your current financial strategy, take time to reassess and make necessary adjustments.

Prepare for financial emergencies

One of the primary causes of financial stress is the fear of unforeseen expenses. To combat this, consider starting an emergency fund. This may provide a safety net for unexpected costs, which could reduce money anxiety.

Educate yourself on financial matters

Understanding your financial matters can significantly reduce the stress associated with them. This can be anything from decoding your insurance policy or retirement plan, or even understanding your bills better. Knowledge is power and, in this case, a stress reliever.

More money, more problems

Contrary to popular belief, having more money does not eliminate financial stress. In fact, with more money, you may face new or different kinds of financial concerns. The key is understanding your financial habits and how they impact your financial health.

Remember the important aspects

Ultimately, money is just a tool to help you live the life you want. While it can solve some problems, it’s not a solution to everything. If you don’t address the root cause of your financial stress, no amount of money will alleviate it.

See the big picture

Dealing with financial stress is a journey. It requires understanding your emotions, identifying your financial pain points, and taking necessary actions to manage them.

Here are 5 quick ways to help manage your financial stress:

1. Create a budget or savings plan
2. Prepare for worst-case scenarios
3. Educate yourself about financial matters
4. Understand that more money does not mean less stress
5. Remember what’s important to you

It’s natural to stress about money. What’s important is how you overcome it and achieve financial peace of mind.

Keep identifying the factors that cause your stress and build your financial understanding to navigate it. Take one step at a time, and if you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to seek help from a financial advisor. After all, managing financial stress is not about achieving perfection but making continual progress.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide financial, tax or legal advice. You should consult a professional for specific advice. Best Egg is not responsible for the information contained in third-party sites cited or hyperlinked in this article. Best Egg is not responsible for, and does not provide or endorse third party products, services or other third-party content.