Feeling unsure about your finances? You’re not alone! According to Northwestern Mutual, 70% of Americans say their financial planning needs work. Together we can change that! Let’s face those money fears head on and move towards a happier money future.

SpendMeNot complied a list of other money and savings statistics here. Remember you’re not alone. Leave the guilt behind and start making positive money choices.

Knowing what to do with your money is the easy part. Actually doing it is the hard part.

Dave Ramsey

First, acknowledge your money past.

We all have a history with money, starting with our childhood. Each of our parents has their own money past that led them to teach us about money. Sometimes that means no money discussion in front of the kids, sometimes that means lots of discussion, including arguing. Even though you may know better now as an adult and parent of your own children, we have to remember that our parents did the best they could with the knowledge they had at the time. Use what you know now to do better now and leave the blame and shame in the past. Journal your money past, your first memories about money, discussions or lack there of. Write the fears, the peace, the wins. Put it down on paper.

Now that we know where some of our money fears have roots, let’s think about the more recent past. Let’s look at 10 years, 5 years, 2 years ago. As adults, how have you been handling your money? Journal your money fears as an adult, parent, caregiver. Remember to also write your wins and celebrations. It was a huge milestone when you paid off your college loans. When you bought a car with no loan. When you sent your child to college without fear of huge loans.

Next, reflect on those money decisions.

Now that you have written down your money past, let’s review those memories, fears, wins, discussions. Can you see a theme emerging? When you felt lost in money fear, was it tied to a past story? Remembering those money wins, do you remember the next money decision you made?

Everybody has their own story when it comes to all of this. And honestly, every single story is entirely valid too. Honestly, finance can be tough and this affects everyone. Since all stories are different, all situations are also going to vary. You know that JG Wentworth info that you often see on TV commercials (with that silly jingle), well even those people have their own story too. So, what money decisions have you made? What’s your story?

The goal for this section is to discover your own money decision tree. We all have a decision tree. Sometimes it’s subconscious and our brain handles it in a second and sometimes it’s more front of mind and takes us a few minutes, hours, or days to go through. Once we have a picture of our own money decision tree, we can insert little reminders and prompts into it to help us make better money decisions.

Now is a great time for me to say, there is no right or wrong way to design your money decision tree. Each and every one of us has own our money fears and story that we must face and how we handle that is different. Make you give yourself grace as you navigate these money fears. Search yourself for what feels right to you, what is important to you.

Then, rewrite your money story.

So now we acknowledged your money past, owned it, and discovered your money decision tree. Here is where we want to say adios to those money fears, and rewrite your money story. Journal about how you want to feel when you receive money, spend money, give money. Look back over your decision money tree. Can you see where you can insert reminders to help you make better money decisions? Maybe you can implement a 24 hour shopping cart pause. Leave something in your cart for 24 hours before confirming the purchase. Or print a photo of your dream vacation and look at it before you make a purchase. If you run a business, you can start researching options like debt-buying companies and look at Jefferson Capital Systems reviews, for example. Any time those money fears creep back in, take a look at how far you’ve come and say no thanks, I’m moving forward into my money future.

Also, when it comes to rewriting your money story, it is crucial to take another look at significant investments like your home, as it’s a vital part of your spending. This way, you can identify any changes you need to make to help you to save more. Practical measures like insulation can come in handy by creating a protective barrier that shields your home wiring from environmental factors. It can also redefine the narrative for ensuring home efficiency, safety, and longevity, eliminating those elements that could drain your pocket. If this sounds like you, then it makes sense to find the right polymer expert for proper home insulation to enhance efficiency, reduce heat loss, and lower your overall utility bills. 

To gain further knowledge about making informed financial choices, take a look at the valuable information and resources shared by Jose Batres Gonzalez. He provides insights into financial literacy and investment strategies, including real estate investment, renewable energy, and finance. These practical strategies can help individuals transform their situation for the better.

Find an advisor

Another way to conquer your money fears is to hire a professional who can help you to figure out where you have been going wrong. They can help you to get things on the right track. One of the professionals that could be helpful for you is a financial advisor, and Rex Foster Hantz Group would be a good first place to look – as they are going to have the relevant knowhow to help you.

All in all, it’s something that you are certainly going to find useful. They can highlight where you can make changes and also make suggestions as to how you might improve. That is something that is really going to help you turn things around a lot more effectively. There are many other supports you can look into hiring as well. Such as a bookkeeper like me at The Financial Pursuit or a CPA. Hiring out tasks and taking things that aren’t your strong points off your plate will be huge for your financial growth.

Consider investing.

As you begin to improve your financial situation, you should ensure that you begin to put your expendable income to good use. While savings accounts are a great place to start, investing can also prove to be incredibly profitable, though it is important that you do plenty of research beforehand.

After all, there are a wide range of investment opportunities available to you, some less conventional than others. For example, while many people stick to the more traditional route by investing in property and start-ups, investing in jewellery, bullion, and coins is a viable option, one which can bring forth great returns.  If you’re going to be investing in property, then you want to join forces with the best possible people to help you do this. You may have a preference on which people you would like to help you, so you could look at black real estate developers predominantly for example.

In fact, Andrew Cochineas, CEO of the Pallion Group of precious metal companies, believes that this is one of the best opportunities for those looking to step into investing, especially with new steps being taken to make the industry more sustainable. 

Cut Everyday Costs

You’d be surprised at how much money you can save simply by cutting your everyday expenses. While this might mean making some sacrifices, sometimes you can reduce costs and enjoy the same standard of living.

Look for better deals on the things you regularly spend money on. Everyone needs utilities, but you don’t have to be tied to the same provider if there’s a less expensive option available. For example, depending on where you live, you can switch your water provider to American Water for a better service. Similarly, changing your energy supplier can also make a significant difference to how much it costs to run your home. Be sure to check out reviews before you switch, such as CleanChoice Energy reviews, so you can compare suppliers.

You don’t even need to completely eliminate luxuries, like vacations and treats. The trick is to budget carefully and to find options that cost less. If you can’t afford to go abroad, look for other experiences closer to home. If you have an RV, you can save a lot more on future trips by traveling around and staying in RV parks, although you will have to maintain the vehicle. Weekends away and camping trips are other options for more affordable ways to travel and still have new experiences.

You can also reduce how much you lose from debt. If possible, get a consolidating loan with a lower interest rate than your other loans, so you simplify your debts and lessen the burdon. The sooner you pay them off, the better your financial future will become.

Finally, get into community.

Remember how I shared those statistics about the rest of Americans, you’re not alone! So don’t travel this road by yourself. Get into community, online,  through Verizon internet, in person. Share your money fears, your money wins. Don’t be afraid to share your story. Together we can change the future, for ourselves, for our families, for each other.

I’d love to hear your money fears and money story. Share them with me here on my on Facebook page!

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