Whether it’s an after-effect of the pandemic or a challenge that has always affected you, financial strife doesn’t only limit your ability to thrive. It can affect your self-confidence, your self-worth, and your quality of life. Navigating out of this position is possible. However, it requires some honesty with yourself alongside goal setting and accountability. Here are five tips to help you navigate your way out of financial strife:
1. Choose Your Loans And Lenders With Care
There are many lenders out there. Some offer flexibility, others offer competitive rates, and then there are those promising what appears to be a quick and easy solution. When you have to apply for a loan, choose your lenders carefully. Only opt for low-interest loans from reputable institutions. If possible, it’s also worth seeing if you qualify for a no-interest loan from a non-profit lender. This will minimize the long-term repercussions of having debt.
2. Get To The Bottom Of Why You’re Experiencing Financial Difficulties
You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge. If you wish to experience financial freedom, you have to look at the reasons that lie behind your current money problem. It might be a temporary hiccup or it might be that struggle is all you’ve ever known.
Start by making a list of your expenses so that you can determine what your total cost of living is. Compare that with your current income. Your aim is to shift the discrepancy so that your expenses are no longer surpassing your income. You can choose to lower your cost of living by removing expenses, or you can plan a strategy around increasing your income to accommodate all of your expenses.
3. Develop A Strategy For Change
Taking action is important. Once you have established whether you need to decrease your expenses or increase your income, you can start to implement a strategy. This might involve upskilling yourself so that you qualify for better job prospects or it might mean canceling unnecessary accounts and subscriptions. The strategy doesn’t need to fix the problem immediately, but it does need to have a timeline, goals, and precise steps you are prepared to take.
4. Work With Debt Counsellors To Make Repayments Easier
Debt can deplete your monthly earnings if you honor each and every repayment with diligence. Sometimes, the repayments become unmanageable and you require help. Rather than turning to more debt, reach out to a debt consultant. There’s no shame in this. It is not necessary to wait until your credit record is affected before you seek help. A debt counselor can help you in a number of ways. You could consolidate your debt into one manageable repayment or reach agreements with your lenders that make the repayments easier to honor.
5. Upskill Yourself And Become Wise With Money
It’s tempting to get drawn into get-rich-quick schemes and risky ventures like cryptocurrency trading. While there are people out there that have made money in this way, it’s not a long-term answer to financial freedom if you’re struggling to make it through the month. Rather than researching shortcuts to financial freedom, spend your time finding reputable short courses. Adopting new skills and becoming smarter with money will teach you the skills you need to become wealthy and build yourself a life of abundance.
Uncover Your Full Potential
The first step to unlocking your full potential lies in discovering your own worth. Identify your skills and talents and find innovative ways to turn them into a lucrative side-hustle or full-time gig.
