Economic Wellness

Economic wellness does not just relate to our bank account, or wallet it can impact on our mental and physical well-being. The stress it causes can bring about anxiety, depression or even psychosomatic illness such as pain without an identifiable source, digestive troubles and headaches.

We’re being bombarded from every paper and TV programme we put on about the difficulties we need to face because of inflation caused by the world pandemic of covid and the war in Ukraine. How often do we sit down and look at our own finances? I expect if most people answered this question honestly, they would say never. Honesty about money is difficult for nearly everyone and during this difficult economic climate it is really important that we get to grips with our own financial situation. At this time of the year in the animal world it is a time for laying down reserves for the winter months ahead and it wouldn’t go amiss if we started looking at our own reserves or lack of them.

Most people have hang-ups about money and spending, some good, some bad. Monetary hang-ups are the bad habits and beliefs that keep people rooted in financial distress and may lead to depression, anxiety and relationship problems. Sometimes generational and sometimes learned or brought through from childhood these hang-ups are what we need to exorcise.

We are often so caught up in getting the latest goods and fashions because it appears to be necessary to our quality of life that we forget what is really important to us. How often have you used a credit card to buy something that wasn’t an emergency, of course you have, we all have. If you can’t afford it now and it’s not an emergency, then you don’t need it. Remember this everytime you shop.

How should we deal with the debt that mounts up without us hardly noticing it? There is no magic solution but it is important to get to grips with the situation now! Be honest about your spending and what sort of debt you have. Get out those bills that you’ve left un-opened and start dealing with the situation before it gets completely out of control. Start by making a list of all the credit and store cards in your wallet and how much you owe on each. The key to success is a will to achieve the goal of clearing these debts. Research on the internet for resources and books to help you. Always face up to the situation and if you are unable to pay ring the company up and ask to pay less than they are requesting. Be honest about your debt and spending, face up to it and make a start on getting it under control by making a plan. However much your debt is, the most important thing is to start somewhere, a small step may well be the start of the journey of becoming debt free.

Kairen