People are often frustrated with their finances because they don’t know what to look for when problems arise. They’re not used to analyzing their finances and figuring out what’s happening. They’re also not used to having their financial picture examined by someone who is unbiased.
Money can be a difficult subject to talk about, and even more difficult to talk about calmly. That’s because people are often fearful of what they don’t know, and the quandary of how to get out of debt. But the truth is, many people who are in debt don’t even know what they’re doing.
Choosing what to buy is easy—you can just go online and grab what seems like the best thing out there. But dealing with the aftermarket? That’s a little more tricky. That’s where you get into the good-old-fashioned world of gear repair. For most of us, this means (expensive) trips to the dealer, or (even more expensive) calling a mechanic. But there are a few things that anyone can do to spot problems in their finances and fix them themselves.. Read more about financial problems solutions and let us know what you think.
If you think you have money problems, don’t take it lightly. Several studies have shown a link between financial problems and mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse. When we have health problems, there are usually distinctive signs. It could be a cough or weird lumps that make you want to go to the doctor. But that’s not the case with money. Cracks can form under our feet and we are unaware of them until we fall into them. And by then, the damage may have been done. Fortunately, there are many security checks you can use to verify your financial situation. To find out if you’re on the right track, here are seven important questions to ask yourself honestly that will help you spot potential problems. We will also look at some follow-up strategies you can use to address these issues immediately.
1. What is the status of your relationship with money?
Nothing affects the way we handle our money more than the way we think about it. And if the relationship between you and your money isn’t right, it can be a slippery slope that leads to other problems. A guy I worked with, John, is a good example. John was one of those stereotypical coworkers who was a miserable asshole to talk to. Everything was always a problem, and he liked to play the victim and tell everyone how the whole world wanted it. As you can imagine, this approach to life influenced his work and finances. Because of his negativity, John was constantly rejected from promotion opportunities. This only fanned his contempt, as other colleagues around him rose in rank and made more money; some of them worked much less than John. John also kept saying that he was on the verge of bankruptcy. He was already a bit older and should be at a point in his life where he was considering retirement. But according to John, he was doomed to work until he died, simply because it was his fortune.
What you can do to fix it
There’s no good way to put it: Don’t be like John! In John’s mind, he thought lack of money was the root of his problem. But in reality, it was the opposite. He couldn’t see that his negativity was destroying his relationships with everyone and everything, including money. The problem with this is that it’s a crutch. It’s a way of blaming everyone and everything. Why? Because it is easier to blame others than to think and take responsibility for your own actions. The other extreme can be just as bad. You can love money and how it makes you feel! But make your self-worth and value dependent on the size of your bank account or the amount of stuff you own. It could also be a case of bad thinking. Money is a good thing, but we have to ask ourselves what we get out of it and why we want more. We don’t want to be pushy, but we can’t hate either. We need to understand the role it plays in our own lives. This is an important but often overlooked step when it comes to how we think about and deal with money. We must understand that we use the money and the money does not use us. All the good that happens in our lives must come from you and the progress you make, not from anyone or anything else. If you find yourself acting like John from time to time (and we all do), stop and think about it. Really ask yourself:
- What have I done lately to improve my finances?
- What do I have that would make someone pay me more?
- What aspects of my life can I control so that I have the best chance of success?
Understand that you are the one at the wheel. If you want to take your finances to a higher level than ever before, it’s time to take on that role and make sure it happens.
2. Do you always feel like you don’t have enough money?
You get your paycheck and a week or two later you wonder where your money went? Do you often flirt with a zero balance in your bank account? You’re not alone. According to CNBC, 63% of Americans live from paycheck to paycheck. And it will only get worse as the cost of almost everything continues to rise due to inflation. I was in this situation when my wife and I were newlyweds. We got paid and watched our money go away almost as fast as we received it. It’s never been anything fancy. Between apartment rent, groceries and a few other necessities, it didn’t take long for the old source of money to dry up. This is a particularly dangerous situation, as unexpected expenses or a higher than expected bill are only a matter of time. This means you are exposed to overdraft fees, which can lead to costly and unnecessary overdraft fees.
What you can do to fix it
If this is how you think about your finances, it’s time to come out of the darkness and pay more attention to where your money is really going. How do you do that? Budgeting begins immediately. Budgeting is planning your expenses in relation to your disposable income. If you force yourself to think ahead and anticipate your bills, you will be better prepared. Budgeting also forces you to cut back on unnecessary expenses. Expensive restaurant visits or impulsive purchases will quickly backfire. These are the kinds of savings opportunities you’ll want to take advantage of to reallocate your income to more effective and useful purposes. Don’t get me wrong, treating yourself to a nice meal every now and then can be a great treat, if you can afford it. However, unnecessary expenses, such as shopping at Gucci and eating at a steakhouse, are luxuries, and cutting back on these can save you a lot of money in the long run. I remember it being a revelation to me when I started budgeting. I became much more aware of our spending habits, which allowed me to focus on the areas where I could improve the most. Not only did it give me more control over our finances, but it also gave me a real sense of security. There are many ways to make budgeting a habit. You can:
- Use a spreadsheet like Excel or Google Sheets (that’s how I do mine).
- Download a handy application that keeps track of your bank accounts and credit cards.
- Write everything down (if you feel more comfortable doing so).
The most important thing is to check your progress regularly and make sure you don’t stray from the path. The more disciplined you are about sticking to your plan, the better off you will be financially in the future.
3. Are your debts in control?
As an adult, it’s amazing how many opportunities there are to buy almost anything you can imagine on credit. And this habit can get out of hand very quickly if you’re not careful. When my wife and I were in our twenties and needed new things for our home and children, we were quickly convinced. Besides the mortgage, we paid off the rest of our loans:
- Our cars
- New furniture
- New devices
- New carpet
- Fence around the garden
- Loan secured by a property
- And much more!
At the time, no expense seemed like such a big deal. …. 100 bucks here, 200 bucks there. However, if you are spending one expense after another, it won’t be long before you are spending thousands of dollars each month that you may not have the means to spend.
What you can do to fix it
If you think you are in more debt than you should be, use this little test that banks use all the time. This rule is called Rule 28-36, and basically says two things:
- Housing costs (principal, interest, taxes and insurance) should not exceed 28% of your gross income.
- Revolving debts should not exceed 36% of your gross income (including housing costs).
In particular, check the 36% figure. For example, if your gross monthly income is $5,000, you may not spend more than $1,800 on your mortgage and other debts (such as those mentioned above). If that’s the case, it’s time to make debt repayment a priority. Take a good look at your budget and see where you can free up money to pay off that debt as quickly as possible. Ruthlessly delete anything that doesn’t get you closer to that goal. The best way to pay off your debt is to be as strategic and systematic as possible. Two very good approaches that have worked well for thousands of people:
- Debt snowball method – Pay debts in order from smallest balance to largest.
- Avalanche of debts method – Pay your debts in order of highest to lowest interest rate.
In any approach, when you pay off a debt, you transfer that payment to the next debt. Let’s say you pay $200 on debt A and $300 on debt B. After you pay off debt A, you add the $200 payment to the $300 payments on debt B, leaving you with $500 a month in the end. By repeating this cycle with each successive debt, you are investing more in the underlying debt each time. This will speed up your payments and help you get out of debt faster than with a normal schedule and leave more money for things you can really afford, want or need. 
4. Do you struggle to find money to save?
Do you feel that no matter what you do, you can’t set aside enough money to achieve important financial goals? I remember when I started budgeting a few years ago, I thought I was doing everything right! I prioritized our spending, tracked my progress, and worked diligently to reduce unnecessary expenses. By the end of the month, however, there was little or nothing left. Then I realized that budget and spending are just two pieces of the puzzle. I have been working on these issues, but I have failed to work on something so important: Our income.
What you can do to fix it
Income is a tricky concept because most people think they are only worth what their current job pays – case closed. But this is not true at all! In my career, I was lucky enough to have my salary triple in my first year. That’s because I’m a good worker and also because I make strategic moves from time to time to get where I want to go. But there’s also a whole world of opportunities outside of work. For the past ten years, I’ve had a side hustle and experimented with different ways to make money. Some of these companies have provided our family with hundreds, even thousands of dollars of additional income per month. And the great thing is that these are all things I already love to do, like blogging or writing, so it doesn’t even feel like work. If you want to do more to increase income in your financial equation, there are two areas to focus on. The first is to maximize your career potential. Take an honest look at your current situation and ask yourself:
- Is this the right job for me? Am I paid based on the market or on my ambitions?
- Is there something more important or another job I could do to earn more than I do now?
- Wouldn’t it be better if I changed jobs or industries?
I have always found it helpful to have an open and honest conversation with my boss about potential opportunities. Not only does it open doors that you didn’t even know existed before, but it also shows your employer that you are ambitious. This can help get you on their radar and speed up the process of preparing for your next big role or responsibility. Another area where you can really increase your income is by setting up a side business. Check out this list of great suggestions here and see if you find any funny or interesting. Remember, you can do most side jobs at your own pace, without having to get up from your laptop. So there’s really nothing to lose. Either way, the longer you wait, the more you delay the potential opportunity to add a few thousand dollars more to your net profit each month.
5. Are you afraid that you will never retire?
Are you worried that you won’t have enough money to retire? If so, you have many friends. According to a USA Today poll, more than 50 percent of American adults between the ages of 40 and 65 say they are worried about not being able to retire. And even more amazing, this was a group where each participant had an annual household income of over $100,000! I cannot tell you how many times I have had this conversation with my colleagues. Many people in all income brackets feel that their retirement savings just aren’t enough, regardless of how many years they plan to work.
What you can do to fix it
I often hear people worry about the future of their retirement, but it’s not because they aren’t saving enough. This is usually because they have not yet understood what their goal should be. I had a friend who thought she needed at least $3 million to retire successfully. So we dug a little deeper into the figures. A good rule of thumb for determining the size of your goal is to take the annual income you think you need, and then multiply it by 25. It’s just the mathematical inverse of the 4% rule. In my friend’s case, we found that she and her husband would probably only need $60,000 a year. Multiplying that by 25, we determined that she should actually aim for $1.5 million to eventually retire. And the good news is that they weren’t that far away! Once you’ve done this simple calculation and know if you’re on the right track, the next thing to do is increase your retirement savings if necessary. Make the most of a tax-deferred retirement account, such as 401k and IRA plans. Especially in the case of your 401k, make sure you get every dollar from your employer if possible. If you’re saving for retirement, don’t forget to also invest for long-term growth. Investing in bonds or cash will provide you with a steady income, but you won’t make much progress in terms of overall growth. If you want to get as close to a double-digit return as possible, you should invest at least 50-75% of your roll call in stocks. You can take the guesswork out of fund selection by choosing a simple index fund.
6. Do you have emergency protection?
If something bad happens to you or your family, can you cover it? If you’re anything like the 61% of the majority of Americans, I’m afraid the answer is no. According to a survey by Bankrate, fewer than 4 in 10 people have enough savings to handle a $1,000 emergency. It’s especially destructive because we all know that, like it or not, bad things happen. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to deal with them:
- A medical bill not covered by insurance
- Unexpected car repairs
- the need to buy new equipment because the old one suddenly stopped working
- And the list goes on and on!
The hardest part about these emergencies is not so much that we don’t know when they will occur, but that we can’t anticipate or expect them to occur. And the situation can quickly go from good to very bad financially. It’s even scarier if something really bad happens and you don’t have enough insurance to cover it. When I had to stay in the hospital for a week, I looked at my medical bills and found that insurance had paid over $10,000 for my stay. Can you imagine what this would mean for someone without insurance? You are required by law to pay this bill out of your own pocket. And at $10,000 a day, they’ll soon be financially ruined.
What you can do to fix it
There is no reason to let an accident keep you out of bankruptcy. If you take the right steps from the beginning, you can prevent 99.99% of all accidents that can happen to you. First, make sure you are properly insured for all the important parts of your life:
- Health – medical, dental, vision
- Car – for you and anyone else who drives in your house
- House or tenant – get comprehensive replacement coverage for all your belongings.
- Live – at least 10 times what you and your spouse earn.
- Disability – in the event that you are injured and unable to work for an extended period of time.
Another important way to protect yourself is to build up personal insurance, called an emergency fund. An emergency fund is a reserve of money that you can quickly access in case of a major, unexpected event. This can range from calling the plumber for a leaky pipe to losing your job and looking for a new one in the next three months. Most experts recommend that your emergency fund be at least 3 to 6 times your monthly living expenses. The more you reach this number, the better off you will be and the safer you will be.
7. Fear of not being able to handle money
Have you noticed that other people seem to be doing better financially than you? Maybe they have better deals, take more exotic vacations, seem more confident, or worry less about money than you do. When I discovered the world of personal finance blogs, it was a happy coincidence. I was looking for advice on how to access my retirement savings before age 59 1/2, and that led me to discovering hundreds of stories of people who have successfully retired at age 50 or earlier. As I read what they do, I realized there are many things I don’t use to their full potential. Advice such as optimizing retirement accounts, managing side businesses and optimizing expenses were new concepts for me. It became clear that I could learn a lot from these stories. Whether your goal is to retire early or get out of bed, if you’re worried about not doing everything you can to succeed, you’ve already taken an important first step: Realize that there is much to learn.
What you can do to fix it
Nothing has helped me more in my financial journey than working on improving my financial knowledge. After learning all about money, I gained a sense of confidence about what works and what doesn’t, and what is the best approach for me. There are so many ways to learn good information about money:
- reading books
- Processing of blog posts
- Watch videos on YouTube
- Listen to podcasts
The interesting thing about this money is that it is both a mile wide and a mile deep. The more areas you choose, the more places you will find to expand your knowledge at will. And that just makes you curious about other related topics! I have found that the more I challenge my own knowledge about money, the more it strengthens my ability to succeed and overcome any obstacles that come my way. Nobody takes care of your money like you do. The sooner you take responsibility for your financial situation, the sooner you will be there. 
Baseline
Don’t wait until the problems in your financial life become so severe that they seem unbearable. You can recognize them now, while they are still small, by learning to recognize the warning signs early and then eliminating them. By focusing on things like improving your relationship with money, developing a budget, and systematically eliminating debt, you can repair the cracks where most financial leaks begin. By increasing your income, planning for the future and protecting yourself from emergencies, you will find more ways to keep the money you earn and protect it from outside influences. Finally, by developing your own financial knowledge, you will not only be more aware of potential opportunities, but also more confident about the direction you want to take in the future. From personal experience I can say that it is an investment that pays off every time. And there’s no more satisfying feeling than knowing you’re on your way to financial happiness.
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With the holidays around the corner, it is a good time to consider the traditional gift giving methods. While there are many ways to acknowledge family and friends, the most important is to ensure that the gift is useful, and even if you choose a present you know the recipient would want, it might be better to choose a gift that is more useful than a novelty item.. Read more about i am in financial trouble and let us know what you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you fix financial problems?
If you find yourself in the midst of financial problems, it can be helpful to take a step back and assess why you are faced with a crisis. The good news is that many of the most common problems can be solved by first identifying them. It can be hard to fix your financial problems, especially if you’re not sure where to start. We’ve put together some of the most common problems and how to fix them, so you can be on your way to great financial health.
How do you identify financial problems?
Financial problems are hard to say, much harder to admit to yourself, and even harder to fix once you have acknowledged them. They can happen for a host of reasons, from job loss to medical bills. When you are hit with a financial problem, what do you do? How do you fix it? If you’re looking for a quick way to get a handle on your finances, you could do a lot worse than to consult the work of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). The unit is a London-based company that provides solutions to help consumers better manage their money, and its website has some great tips on how to get a grasp on how to manage your cash.
How do you fix a bad financial decision?
To fix the bad financial decision you make, it’s important to know what the decision is. When you make a bad financial decision, you’re not just trying to make money on it. You want to make the decision work for you, to improve your financial situation. It’s not about making things that don’t work for you work. Many people create bad financial situations when they try to make things work for them, when they try to make money work for them, when they try to make their work-life balance work for them. It’s better to focus on the things that work. Once you’ve made an investment, you’ll probably want to know how best to protect it. You might even be tempted to try to sell a stock you previously bought at a loss. But you should know that neither of these practices is wise. Instead, you need to be sure that you are actually going to be able to sell at an attractive price in the future.
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