Financial stress is very hard to avoid. If we don’t have money we can’t pay bills, it’s that simple. But we have to ask ourselves, why are we financially burdened?
Are we spending money on things that we really don’t need?
Take a look at ALL your bills. Decide if there are things you can live without. Look at your bills and make sure there are not added charges for miscellaneous things that you really don’t need. Such as your phone bill, do you need call forwarding (do you really have your calls forwarded to work or while you are having a night out?), or call waiting (is it possible they can just call back if it is important?) or caller ID (you can use an answering machine and mention all calls are screened and for the caller to start talking and if you are available you will answer the phone.) These are all little things but they do add up when grouped together.
Modern society has drilled in our head, that we NEED these extra advantages in our life, but remember, these extras did not always exist and people got by just fine in the past. Figure out how many subscriptions to magazines or book clubs you have and ask yourself if you REALLY need them. If you like to read, go to the library and get a library card and check out books for free at the library. Just make sure you return them on time so you do not have to pay late fees.
Also, when you pay any bill late there is usually a late fee, which is just wasted money. Do you have too many credit cards? Look into consolidating them into one payment. Try and cut back on everything possible, even if it is for a short time to catch up and maybe get ahead.
If you have cut back on everything possible in your life and still do not have enough to cover the essentials, then you may want to think about getting a better job, a smaller house or apartment, or going back to school to better your education for a better job.