Organisation for Financial Health.
To start our month of Organisation I wanted to cover the subject of finances.
If you are not a key worker it is a lovely thought to be at home for the next 3 weeks/3 months and be able to get all of our outstanding ‘jobs’ done, have a good spring clean and enjoy the slower pace of life but if you are worried about finances it can cripple any motivation and cause feelings of anxiety and depression even if you are not predisposed to feeling like this. Not only that it can impact your health as you turn to self-comfort instead of self-care.
My family have been in a similar situation recently. We have a construction business and haven’t been able to secure work to start in the foreseeable future. This is extremely worrying and I know many people are in a similar situation, even if you are employed and have been guaranteed 80% of your salary this is still a massive blow when we all generally live beyond our means!
I wanted to share with you what I have done and some tips I have picked up, I hope it helps you.
Don’t put your head in the sand!
As scary as it is, make a list of all of your outgoings.
- What can you cancel now with no repercussions? Do this.
- Next make a list of subscriptions, TV, Magazines, apps etc, what can you cancel or put on hold?
- What are your biggest outgoings? Mortgage/Rent, Loans, Credit Cards, vehicle payments. Contact the companies who provide you with these BEFORE you are unable to pay them, most have dedicated teams to deal with people having financial difficulties due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
- Utilities, are any of your providers offering assistance?
Go into your online banking and get a list of all your Direct Debits and Standing Orders, have you missed anything?
Now you will now be in a better position to see what you need to cover financially.
Are you entitled to any financial assistance?
You’ve paid into it, right? Don’t be too proud.
- HMRC Website – Tax helpline
- HMRC Website – For Benefits information
- Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme – Cbils
- Banks – is your bank offering to assist with short term finance?
Tackling these difficult jobs will put you back in the driving seat giving you some control over your financial future.
Other possible income?
Have you any events or holidays booked that will now not go ahead? Contact these companies if they haven’t been in touch with you to ensure the refunds are coming.
Do you have any monthly payments into a saving scheme? For instance a payment to a service plan? You may be able to get a refund.
What can you sell? One mans trash is another man’s treasure. Start your spring cleaning and have a declutter (more on this next week!), make three piles, throw, donate, sell. Post your items to sell on local selling sites and arrange a socially distant collection.
Spare change, we all have it around the house, at the bottom of a drawer, in a random pot, under the sofa cushions. Count it up and spend it on groceries. If you feel a little embarrassed counting out your pennies at the supermarket till then use a Coinstar machine which counts your change (in exchange for 11.9% currently) and gives you a receipt to take to the till in exchange for cash.
Do you have a store loyalty card with rewards to spend?
Is there a talent or expertise you can monetise? Have you had a business idea but haven’t had the time or opportunity to go ahead with it? Could now be the time?
How can you save money right now?
I think we will all be saving money on entertainment and socialising at the moment but you can also have an immediate effect on your finances when it comes to grocery shopping.
- Meal plan for the week, check your cupboards, fridge and freezer and use what you have first.
- Write a list and stick to it
- Shop online or at least check out the supermarket deals before you go
- Eat less meat. Plan a meatless meal per week
- Don’t waste food, use leftovers for lunches the next day
- Reduce takeaways, make your own healthier fakeaways
Once you have made a plan hopefully you will feel less anxious and a little relieved, you should be proud of yourself for tackling this head-on.
Make sure that you look after yourself during this time. Have a little fun:
- If you are out of routine, create a new routine, this will give you control of what you are able to affect
- Exercise daily – there are loads of free online classes out there at the moment or get out into the fresh air for a socially distant walk, I always think nature helps clear your mind.
- Plan healthy meals and snacks for your household to protect your immunity as well as your waistline!
- Connect with friends and family through social media apps such as WhatsApp or Zoom.
- Get out into your garden if you have one, tidy up, plant some seeds, start a vegetable patch.
- Learn something new, cooking skills, a language, Thai Chi – Whatever takes your fancy!
- Play board games or cards
- Read a book, or two
Final thought, protect your bubble. Keep up to date with the news once a day from a respectable source, don’t get pulled down the rabbit hole!
If you would like to chat with me about your unique menopause transition, book a Wild Well-Being call and come away inspired and motivated to begin your journey to optimal health.