Financially Frazzled?

Yes, gas prices are high. Yes, your utility company is raising its rates. And yes, your paycheck is and will remain the same. We’ve all seen it before and sadly, I must say, we will all probably see days like this again.

I would absolutely love to tell you that the financially frazzled mindset you have will magically disappear when you actually do find that winning lottery ticket. There’s just one problem. The odds of you winning the lottery are so slim…well, I won’t even go into it.

So, as I’ve said before, here’s the deal. You can either grab the bull by the horns (not literally people…this could be detrimental to your health) or you can sink even deeper into a hole of financial distress and well-being (actually this could be detrimental too).

The point is, if you don’t do something about your financial state, no one will. And that could cause you more problems like late fees, a bad credit rating, and possibly higher interest rates.

So, here are three things I always keep in mind when life’s nasty bumps get in my way:

1. Perspective. Be honest with yourself and put everything in perspective. Look over all the things you’re paying for and see what you can temporarily do without. Movies are great, but do you really need to rent one or two movies every week? Girls night out is even better, but do you really need to go to a bar once a week?
2. Practicality. If you’ve read previous postings, then you already know that I’m a straight shooter when it comes to advice. So, be level-headed about your spending. Don’t go out and buy something out of anger or on a whim…especially if you know it’s not something you really need. Be patient and practical, and this will pass.
3. Position. Now, once you’re halfway through your crisis, just remember to position yourself for future hurdles. Always have a game plan in place, just in case the unexpected comes up. As my grandfather once said, “you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Now, here’s the tough part. Let’s say you went through the three P’s and you’re still not out of the water. Well, guess what? I have been there too. And, now I think I understand what my grandfather was talking about.

Fortunately for me, I have online loan companies. Yes, I’ve done it and I’m proud of it. And, contrary to popular belief, I had no problems whatsoever. I got the cash advance I was looking for, paid the bills I needed to pay, and was… footloose and fancy free (okay forget I wrote that…bad, bad cliché) …more than relieved that I had found a solution to my financial problems. And, you know what? I am no longer financially frazzled. Woo-hoo!