7 Things to Do When Your Finances Are Out of Control

Your finances can spiral out of control before you even realize it’s happening. Dealing with out of control finances can be stressful, but with time, effort, and patience, you can regain control of your finances.

Learn to say no – even to yourself. It’s easy to lose control of your finances when your money is allocated to too many different things. Take back control by cutting out unnecessary expenses, even some things that you enjoy. Be ok with saying no to friends and family when their plans conflict with your goals.

Make informed decisions. Some financial decisions – like which groceries to buy – are pretty simple. Others – like where to put your retirement funds – are a little more complicated. Make sure your major financial decisions are made only after you’ve done a sufficient amount of research.

Don’t let problems linger. Money problems don’t get better because you ignore them. In fact, they’re more likely to get worse if you do. Instead of dodging bills, face them head on with a solid plan of attack.

Get back to your budget. Your budget is the plan for how you’ll spend your money, so it’s easy to see how straying from your plan can lead to disaster. Returning to a budget is a critical step anytime you feel like your finances aren’t in your control.

Face reality. Start by assessing where you are. Take a look at your income, your financial accounts, debts, assets, and typical spending to get a good view of where you stand. Then, you can better decide how to move forward.

Check in frequently. You can’t go days without checking your accounts and expect to keep a pulse on your financial health. Having control of your finances means checking your accounts often, especially accounts that are used often like your bank and credit card accounts. Get in a habit of reviewing your financial accounts at least weekly so you know what’s going on and you can respond quickly to unexpected changes.

Take ownership. While there are some aspects of your finances you can’t control – like taxes for example, there’s much that you can control. Don’t allow yourself to feel like a victim of any circumstances. Instead, take responsibility for your financial life: your spending and savings habits, ability to make better decisions, and the power to increase your income. Deciding you’re empowered is one of the best steps you can take toward regaining control of your finances.