MONEY UNDER STRESS

Make a Stand and Fight Back

by Lisa Chastain

I know firsthand what it is like to be overwhelmed with money worries. Seven years ago, my now ex-husband was unemployed, our credit score tanked, our home was sold at a short sale, we were drowning in credit card debt and living off of my IRA money.

At the same time, I was struggling to gain momentum as a financial advisor, but the job did teach me how to dig us out of the hole. Fast forward to today, after a difficult divorce and financial struggles, I am stronger than ever. I just want you to know that I come from where you may be now, and I am here to tell you that you can get through this.

Two weeks before Las Vegas shut down for COVID-19, I saw the signs that, as a city, we were going to be in trouble. I was on a news interview shaking, thinking about all of the jobs that would be lost from event cancellations and closures, let alone your needs are handled, then save our extensive service industry. I am a Las Vegas native and as a stagehand’s daughter; I know that the service industry is the lifeblood of our amazing town and it was going to hemorrhage badly. 2 aggressively; make it a game! How much can you save right now? Invest in yourself Join a free money minded meetup or mastermind, team up with a

I have been interviewed several friend and hire a financial coach, times since then and asked the enroll in free online training in a same question, "What can people new career or apply for a new job. 1 do right now to weather the financial crisis?" Having survived many financial crises of my own, here are my nuggets of hope that I believe will serve anyone who’s working through financial strain today: Stack your cash This is not the time to take drastic measures to pay off loads of debt 3 This is the perfect opportunity to reinvent yourself. Master your cash flow Understand what you make, spend and keep. Have the courage to look back three months. Make empowered decisions about changes in your life. Map out the next eight weeks of bills. Keep life and money simple. or invest in something wild. This Overcomplicating the basics will is the time to save and build up a add more stress to your plate that rainy-day fund. Focus on ensuring you don’t need.

4Don’t assume that everyone else has their life together The comparison game will kill any momentum or energy that you 6Sell your $tuff This is a great time to downsize, simplify and make room for new and amazing possibilities in your 8Simplify your food Eating simple, unpackaged food is healthier for you anyway. I learned how to use my Crock-Pot and could have right now to get moving life. When I had no income and my make meals stretch a long way. My in a new direction. The best thing former husband was laid off, I went son ate cereal more often (which 5 you can do is focus on yourself. Keeping it simple wins every time Trust me, I’m the master at overcomplicating life and money. Keep it simple, and cut back wherever necessary for you to gain more time and spend less 7 to my closet, kitchen and garage and took stock of everything I no longer needed or wanted. I made enough money selling clothes and kitchen gadgets for grocery money, and that made a difference. Pick up odd jobs I went to my tribe and asked if he loved anyway) and I stopped judging myself for not being able to create robust and complicated meals. Get creative. You have so much to offer. You are valuable. Money may be tight today, but it won't be forever. Remind yourself of that and get to work on creating an money. During times of financial anyone needed help. Turns out, my abundant simple life. stress, you must take time to audit sister-in-law wasn't ready to send not only your financial choices, my nephew to daycare and having You've got this. but also your choices in time me nanny was a win-win for both and with people. Be willing to say of us. There are many services you no and surround yourself with can offer (I saw some kiddos down Lisa Chastain is the owner and founder of people who will support your simplified lifestyle. the street selling lemonade last week), simple services, where $50 a Millennial Consulting LLC, Author of No. 1 bestselling book, "Girl, Get Your $hit Together." Lisa@LisaChastain.com pop can go a long way.