THE HOLIDAYS & FINANCIAL STRESS

CREATE A BUDGET & STICK TO IT!

By: Greg Bradley, Certified Financial Coach By Dave Ramsey Solutions

Are you feel financially stressed? When you think of your financial status do you feel stressed and anxiety? Anxiety is described as worrying about something before it happens. If you feel stressed about your finances, there is a way to turn that around

In the first few years of our marriage, my wife and I lived in this state and I can tell you from experience, it is a scary place to be At one point, we found ourselves $2,000 overdrawn in our checking account and counting coins to get enough gas to get to work. It was an awful time in our lives and it took a toll on us individually and our marriage. Financial stress can affect you emotionally, physically and spiritually. But, there is Good news! No matter how far in debt you are, there is a way out!

One of the first steps to relieving financial stress, is to budget and make a decision to stick to it. I’m sure a lot of you just tuned me out when you read the word “budget”, but I am here to tell you from personal experience, creating a budget is a game changer.

As we go into this holiday season, it is very easy to over spend Just when you think you are done gift shopping, someone shows up with a gift for you and you feel obligated to get them one in return, so you spend more money than you had planned That’s when a budget comes in to play. In a real workable budget every dollar coming in is named, meaning it is designated as to where it will go The realistic budget will include emergency fund, living expenses, credit cards, other debts, entertainment, and blow money. Guess where the money for that unexpected gift will come from? Blow Money! Everyone blows some money. That daily stop at the convenience store for your soft drink and snack, that’s okay as long as you name which money will be used for that A budget doesn’t have to be scary or burdening but instead it is a way to take control of your finances and know where your money is going How many times do you run out of money before the next payday?

A budget can help you to control where and when money goes out The secret to it is discipline, and to stick to it During this time of year it is important to come up with a budgeted amount for Christmas and start saving up for it ahead of time.

Creating and following a budget is a life changer and will help you to get control of your finances instead of your finances controlling you I can tell you from personal experience, a budget changed our lives