Learning Financial Management and Freedom

Many people are financially strapped in the current economy and cannot figure out a way to return to their comfortable life. This is when financial stress can cause depression, heart problems, divorce and anger. When one parent or the other feels they are not providing for the family, they turn to what they have control over, which can be violence, affairs or alcohol. None of the options are healthy for any one person or a family.

Learning to deal with financial stress can help increase awareness and solutions to problems that are holding you prisoner of your own emotions. By following certain steps to relieve financial problems, you will also begin to relieve the stress on you and make everything better for your family.

Begin by sitting down and listing your total income and all the bills that must be paid each month. Do not include gas, food, sports, entertainment or anything can is not in the form of an actual bill. Subtract it from the total income amount and this is what you have left to live on each month. The left over amount is what you are going to subtract food and gas from for the month.

If you cannot budget food and gas from the amount, you have to decrease the amount from the budget for food and gas or you need to increase the income. There are a few options. Learn to live on simpler foods and take advantage of the local food bank. They will help each week with the basics and other products. Once a month at a good food bank will be commodities week. This is when they hand out government sponsored products like milk, cheese, meat and other items.

Network with other people and plan a garden or food trade time and share what you can. By increasing food products through growing your own or trading with others will keep the cupboards filled a little more and teach values regarding the land and the time it takes to bring food to the table. If you live in a small place you can grow small food sources on a window sill or in pots on the patio. Cherry tomatoes, strawberries, green beans up a trellis and herbs can fill in a lot of the food budget.

Pay off loans and credit cards as soon as possible. Start with the smallest amounts and pay them in full as quick as possible. Do not use loans or credit cards for any more purchases. You are going to pay cash only for everything. The credit cards and loan companies are taking a large amount of your paycheck every month. Look at all your bills and add the total of fees and interest charges only for the month. You may paying as much as $50.00 each month for their benefits.

Find a good financial advisor. This can be a friend who is very good with money. They will help you learn how your money works and how you can make it pay you, instead of it holding you hostage each month. They will hold you accountable to a budget and make you learn what you are doing wrong and how you are viewing money in the wrong way. Changing your though pattern on the use of money will decrease debt and increase wealth. It is a fast change when it finally happens, even if it is in baby steps to freedom.

Look for a second source of income. It can be a second job on a temporary basis, you can sell of pieces of furniture, antiques, sell crafts to friends or online and write articles for online sites. For every cent that comes in, think carefully how to use it. Invest a large portion of it into the savings. Use some to pad the food larder or use it to catch up on a bill or for the children. If you are going to use it for entertainment, make it family oriented and frugal. Rent movies for a night of family fun with pizza, go to a local park for the day with a pizza and soda, go to a lake and swim the day away or anything that is cost effective for the amount you have. Do not spend over the amount that is available for the activities.

Learn to shop cheaply. If you really do not need it, then do not buy it. If you need a feel good day shopping then go to a thrift store. You can find wonderful items for home décor, children's toys, children's and adults clothing, shoes, bedding and furniture. There are always lots of books to choose from. Set your limit on what you will spend at a thrift store for that day. Take inventory of what you would like to invest in. Curtains and drapes are inexpensive at a thrift store and it can change the whole look of a room if you just need a change to feel better.

Invest in hobbies that are good for you financially. Gardening is a hobby that will put food on the table or add beauty to your yard. But be frugal in your investment to create the garden.

Learn to sew and make clothing for the children, for yourself, for neighbors for a fee or items that can improve the look of the home or can be sold. Sewing can be fun for many reasons. It is relaxing and a great stress release. You can learn to recycle goods or up cycle product such as jeans into skirts, rag rugs, dolls and other home décor or personal clothing items.

Invest in yourself and learn about money, how it works, how to spend it in order to make more. While you are at the thrift store looking for a good book to read, find one on finances or investing that you like. It helps to make it through another day and then on to the next financial step in your life. You and only get the finances under control in your life through hard work and emotional change.