The pandemic frightened many individuals across the globe. Job uncertainty become a real concern, and people wondered if they would be able to visit their bank and withdraw cash. Furthermore, finding basic necessities became a challenge, and people found themselves overpaying for items they required if they were lucky enough to find them.
Know Your Current Financial Situation
Many people don’t know where they currently stand in terms of their finances, and this becomes a problem if they need to seek financial crisis help. Make a list of all expenses and determine where your money goes each month.
People often don’t realize how much they spend on incidentals such as a cup of coffee when they stop to get gas. This information becomes of great help as you work to resolve your financial difficulties.
Next, determine what income you have coming in. For most individuals, this will be their paycheck. However, funds might come from other sources, such as stock dividends. Include this money when calculating income to determine exactly where you stand.
Create a Budget
Now that you know how much money you have coming in and going out, it’s time to create a budget. People often take this step and then give up after a month or two because their projected amounts are off. Don’t give up. It takes time to fine-tune a budget, as people underestimate how much they spend in certain areas and overestimate how much they spend in other categories.
Create an Emergency Fund
Build an emergency fund for unexpected situations. There are several ways to do this. Establish a second account for this fund or leave it in your regular account and ensure the balance never drops below this minimum.
Men and women ask how much they should have in this fund. This depends on the expert. Some say you only need one month of savings in your emergency fund until you pay your debt down. Other experts believe every person should have a minimum of three months of expenses in this account, although they feel six months of expenses would be better.
Cut Unnecessary Expenditures
Go through the list of expenses to see where cuts can be made. Do you really need 275 channels on your TV? How many of these channels actually get watched on a regular basis? Try to cut the package back and save money each month. Any subscriptions or memberships that don’t get used regularly should go.
Reevaluate existing providers. Many people purchase car insurance and stay with the same companies for years. Call around and see if you can get a better rate. Price optimization remains a problem with insurance carriers, as these companies often penalize loyalty rather than reward it.
Benefit from Assistance Programs
Before borrowing money to deal with a financial crisis, look into assistance programs. Countless companies announced they would work with customers having financial difficulties. The company may be willing to waive late fees and penalties or alter the consumer’s payment plan. Local schools offered free meals for children and utility companies would allow customers to spread their payment over several months if they had to miss one.
Assess Credit Card Debt
People need to prioritize spending during a financial crisis. If you find you are struggling to make your credit card payments, take steps to address the situation promptly. Consider moving this debt to a new card that offers an interest-free period for new cardholders making a balance transfer. This cuts monthly expenses without harming the cardholder’s credit score. However, ensure you can make the new monthly payments before choosing this option.
Family First
One thing a person should not sacrifice during a financial crisis is protection for their family. Continue making insurance payments to ensure you remain protected if things go from bad to worse. Any type of disaster when you don’t have insurance could decimate your finances and haunt you for years to come.
Life remains uncertain. Individuals who can adapt to changing times find they weather any type of crisis better than those who struggle with change. Prepare for any eventuality, and you’ll find a financial crisis is nothing more than a bump in the road that you will soon be past.
