*Contributed Guest Post
We are all guilty of letting money troubles overwhelm us, and unfortunately, money is one of the biggest causes of stress in the UK. Whether you are struggling to make ends meet, you’re worried about your bills, or you’re in debt, worrying constantly about money will only make you feel worse. Instead, we should control what we can and find methods of coping with money stress. If you are sick of worrying about money, here are a few ways to stress less about it.
We Don’t Need as Much as We Think
Money makes the world go round, and everything has been commercialised to the point where we think we need lots of money and lots of things. What truly makes you happy? Is it spending money, or is it the people you spend time with and the satisfaction you get from treating yourself? There are many ways we can treat ourselves without having to spend a lot, and we don’t need the newest gadgets to be happy. If you take a step back and look at what you’re truly thankful for, it probably isn’t that new handbag. Society is now a place where people believe owning everything makes you happy, but there are many benefits of becoming minimalist.
Control What You Can
We cannot control everything regarding our money, but if you are in a sticky financial situation, controlling what you can will make you feel better. There is no use worrying over and over about something that you cannot do. It may be that you need to spend less on luxury items each month, but if this is what it takes to get out of any debt you may be in, it certainly is worth it in the long run. Being constantly stressed by money will only lead to poor mental health and can even lead to physical health problems. Set up that direct debit every month to begin paying back what you can and speak to a financial advisor if you are really struggling.
Devise a Way to Control Your Money Better
Often financial worries wouldn’t be an issue if we learnt how to control our money. We are all guilty of complaining we have no money and then eating out several days of the week. In order to be better with our money, we must make lifestyle changes. STOP spending money on things you don’t need if it’s truly stressing you out. This may be stopping smoking or not having a holiday this year. Before spending money, you need to think about if whatever you’re purchasing is a priority in your life at the moment, or if being in a better financial situation should come first. If you are in debt, spending money on the wrong things could slowly build-up your debt until you are no longer in a position to pay anything.
Find Cheaper Alternatives
An easy way to rid yourself of money stress is by cutting down your bills, nights out or even food shopping bills. You can find cheaper alternatives for anything and shopping around is the best way to do this.
For instance, purchasing food when shops are close to shutting means you can pick up reduced items that are going out of date. This could save you a lot of cash in the long run.
For monthly bills, consider using price comparison websites to ensure you’re getting the best deals. When searching for cheap car insurance in the UK, for example, Quotezone allows you to enter your vehicle registration and check in seconds if you could be paying less. You can check through hundreds of providers and find a policy that suits you and saves you money. It’s always a good idea to keep your car in good condition to avoid costly expenses!
If you are in serious money trouble, you should speak to a financial advisor who may be able to help you. Don’t let money worries keep you up at night – Citizens Advice are there to help UK citizens struggling with debts and money issues.
