Do you always mentally cross your fingers before checking your account balance, opening credit card bills, or balancing your budget during Halloween? Well, you are not alone. In fact, money is one of the top causes of anxiety in the US. That is why we’re rounding up 5 financial fears for you to overcome this Halloween.
The fear of money shouldn’t make you hide under the covers. Our childhood was filled with fears related to ghosts, goblins, and monsters under the bed. Financial concerns tend to scare adults more than children. Why not face your money fears instead of pulling the covers over your head this Halloween?
To prevent you from falling victim to five of the most common financial fears, this article brings the curated ways of confronting your top fears and getting rid of them for good this Halloween 2022:
Budgeting
Budgeting can be intimidating. It’s true that many people believe budgeting means depriving themselves of their good life. However, this is actually not the case. With a budget, you can plan your spending more purposefully, enabling you to reach your financial goals with confidence.
Nevertheless, if reviewing your finances makes you sweat, take small steps first to face your budgeting fears. Start by setting a budget for tomorrow if setting a monthly or even yearly budget is daunting. It will take time for you to see what is working and what isn’t so that you can make adjustments along the way.
Debt-trapped? It can seem impossible to pay off student, credit card, and auto loan debt once you accumulate them all. People without debt fear it even if they don’t have any. Make a plan to pay off your smallest debt first by setting aside some time to assess your overall debt. You are motivated to keep working toward paying off your other debts when you use this method to get immediate gratification.
Also know about: Celebrating Halloween in the midst of Covid-19
Losing a Job
A 2018 study found that 28 percent of respondents reported they had financial anxiety due to fear of losing their jobs. Although we may not expect “The Terminator” level takeovers, much of that fear has to do with technology.
Nearly 43 percent of Americans who are stressed at work fear losing their jobs due to artificial intelligence. Putting aside an emergency fund can mitigate some of the uncertainty that arises from an inability to anticipate the unknown. In addition, it’s helpful to have a backup plan.
Reviewing Bills and Expenditure
When we receive a bank statement or discover a bill hidden among a pile of papers, we feel a tinge of fear. Make sure you review your bank and credit card statements, as well as your bills, to ensure you aren’t paying for subscriptions or services you don’t need.
Taking a look at your insurance policies may also be a good idea. You can save more money by eliminating unnecessary fees by using personal finance tools that expose hidden fees on statements or in the fine print.
FOMO on Retirement
The good news is that this is an easy fear to overcome with a little advance planning. The majority of people enter the workforce in their 20s, so you have time on your side from the beginning.
When the time comes to retire, you will have enough money if you enroll in your company’s pension and retirement plans as soon as possible. You can also empower yourself to save for retirement by changing your mindset to prioritize your future over your immediate needs.
The Might of Credit Score
Your credit score can make or break you in the world of finance. The lender generally runs a credit check whenever you apply for any type of loan or postpaid plan.
Having a good credit report is great! As for the rest of us, well, think of it as that one “grudge” we don’t want holding against us.
Lucky for you, there are myriad ways you can do to help repair your credit score, like paying your bills on time and paying off bad debt. So unless you want your poor credit score to haunt you, now is the time to get started. However, in case there is irreparable damage to your credit, and you need funds for an emergency, we can help you.
Conclusion
Don’t let your financial fears get the best of you this Halloween. The only thing you’ll have to worry about this Halloween is spooky costumes knocking at your door for candy if you stick with a strategy.
