Rebuilding your Financial Confidence
Don’t let financial fears paralyze you into a state of indecision; it’s time to take the reigns and regain control of your financial future.
As the economy starts to recover and jobs may not be quite as hard to come by, it’s time to regain a sense of purpose and empowerment when it comes to your finances. Here are some practical steps that may help you recover from and begin getting your fiscal future back on track:
· Evaluate your financial health: Prepare an updated list of your income, expenses, assets and liabilities. A job loss or financial hardship can deplete your savings. If you’re looking to get your finances back on track begin saving for the suggested six to eight months of emergency cash stashed away, now is a good time to really pinch pennies to help make sure that money is there when you need it
· Analyze your spending habits: many people don’t realize how much they spend on weekly trips to the market, afternoon lattes or dry cleaning. Aim to eliminate a portion of these expenses – start with maybe cutting back by 25% – more if you’re willing. And be honest about what you really can live without. Brewing your favorite cup o’ joe at home may not be as fun as a frothy latte from the corner café, but shaving four dollars a day from your food budget adds up to $120 a month in savings.
· Call your creditors before you fall behind. Many people avoid calling their lenders and credit card companies until the default notices start piling up. But these days many companies are willing to work with you, even deferring or temporarily lowering payments while you look for employment. Make those calls as soon as you suspect money will get tight and explore all your options.
· Re-define your financial goals: Even if previous plans have taken a detour due to financial hardship or job losses, taking a moment to redefine where you see yourself in 5, 10 or 15 years will help stave off discouragement and empower you to look forward. You may not be able to retire when you expected to, or pay outright for a four-year college, but instead of saying “I can’t afford it” begin looking for new goals and asking the question: “How can I afford it.”
· Meet with a financial professional. Even if you’ve done this in the past, getting professional guidance about investment losses, financial products, insurance coverage and other important issues is essential. You need to know how you can help meet your goals and objectives keeping in mind your present and future resources.
When you experience a financial loss, the emotional toll can be as high as the monetary one. Making choices based on a new reality will go a long way towards rebuilding your self confidence and your bottom line.
0307384-00001-00, Ed 07/13/2017, Exp 07/13/2018
Provided courtesy of Prudential. For more information, contact Shirley Cemaj, CA Insurance License 0L66424. Shirley Cemaj is a Financial Professional with The Prudential Insurance Company of America’s Frontier Financial Group, located in Omaha, NE. Shirley Cemaj can be reached at (402) 861-3680. Prudential Advisors is a brand name of The Prudential Insurance Company of America and its subsidiaries. Offering insurance and securities products and services as a Registered Representative of Pruco Securities, LLC (Pruco). The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, NJ and Pruco are Prudential Financial companies. 1-800-201-6690.
