What’s your physical reaction when you start thinking about your money situation? Does your heart skip a beat, or does your stomach turn? In a Stress in America™ survey, the American Psychological Association (APA) revealed that financial stress is the second leading source of stress nationwide.
Money worries can have an overwhelming negative effect on both your mental and physical health. Chronic stress has been linked to heart disease, depression, high blood pressure, and unhealthy lifestyle choices. So, how can you achieve balance and well-being in all parts of your life? Here are some tips.
- Take the time to make a plan: Having a strategy in place to get your physical and financial life in order is the first step to success. By taking an honest look at your money and lifestyle choices, you can make well-informed decisions about where you are, and where you want to be. The more prepared you are, the less stress you’ll have.
- Choose healthier foods: Cutting out the expensive junk food, sugary sodas, and snacks loaded with salt equals a healthier you – and a fatter wallet. Discovering healthy recipes and creating shopping lists before you head to the store helps you buy only what you need; online shopping and pickup/delivery services eliminate the temptation of heading down the snack aisle altogether.
- Eliminate bad habits: The New Year is a great time to start making better choices for your body. There’s lots of medical reasons to quit unhealthy habits like smoking, vaping, or drinking excessively, but it also means that you’ll save lots of money that could go toward a vacation, school, to pay down bills, or even some new outdoor gear for your healthy new lifestyle.
- Manage debt and get a grip on your credit: Financially speaking, there’s nothing more important than reducing your bad debt and raising your credit score. They’re measures of how trustworthy you are as a borrower, and determines how much you’ll pay in interest on loans and credit cards. Paying your bills on time, not taking on too much new debt, and settling outstanding balances will help lower your money stress levels.
- Save for a longer, healthier future: The best thing about living a healthier and less stressful life means you’ll be around longer! It not only gives you an opportunity to earn more income throughout your life, it means you get to spend more time with friends and loved ones, and enjoy a fulfilling retirement.
Do you need help lowering your financial stress and creating a healthy money plan for now and the future? Let Nusenda Credit Union be a partner in your success. We’ve got lots of no-cost financial calculators, online education, money management counseling, and workshops. You can also stop by any of our branches for one-on-one service with our knowledgeable financial consultants.