How To Tame Financial Fears

Some days, like today I wake up in a mood. (okay well most days I do, I’ll admit I’m not a morning person anymore) I have been looking over the next few months of bills/budgets and trying to figure out where our “extra” money should go. When I look at the numbers all tallied up the financial fears make me want to put my head in the sand. But then I remember that’s what got us into these shoes in the first place.

Learn more: 7 Ways To Start Making Money From Home Today

Review what you have accomplished

I’m always looking at what is next and wanting to get there NOW, so on mornings like this it is helpful for me to look at what I’ve accomplished. I plan on working this afternoon on a collage that will show all our/my recent accomplishments. I need a visual or physical reminder so I can SEE the progress, otherwise my brain starts on this loop of lack.

Practice Gratitude

I have to remember too that we have it pretty good. We can pay the bills, we eat well, we do a lot with our money, and we’re paying back the money we’ve borrowed at a really good pace.

Learn more: How To Eat Organic On A Budget

There’s not a switch but I find that after years of listening to my “self-talk,” I can hear what I’m saying and change my mind. Every once in awhile it takes a firm discussion with my spouse to put my head on straight again. I don’t really feel the gratitude right now, but I can start talking and thinking about the things I am grateful for, and the abundance in my life.

This morning it was the little guy’s laughter over a joke he made that broke my bad mood. I wish it was always so easy.

Remember that it is a long journey

Taming my fears is not an easy task, it’s one I have to work on daily. I have to remind myself that every small gesture and setback does not mean that my fears are real. It’s just a setback, and a reminder that though this journey to being debt-free is tough the rewards will be amazing.

Learn more: One year after this post we became debt free!

I’ve decided to forget my financial fears for now. I’m off to enjoy a nice, long shower and then outside with the kiddos to enjoy the beautiful weather. I’ll just have to keep going like the Little Engine That Could, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…”

Kelly

About Kelly

Kelly Whalen is the founder and editor of the Centsible Life. She started the blog in 2008 as her family faced a mountain of debt and the fixer upper they purchased became a FIXER UPPER. The website was born out of her desire to share what was working (and what was not) on her family's journey to financial security. Kelly lives in Minneapolis with her family.

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