When the budget plunges, anxiety arises! Any soothing ideas to cope with the excess worry brought by financial stress, especially at times when you needed money the most.
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When the budget plunges, anxiety arises! Any soothing ideas to cope with the excess worry brought by financial stress, especially at times when you needed money the most.
Work harder
1: Discipline your mind. Worry does nothing to help dig you out. It's a waste of precious energy. Worry about the bills on payday when you have the means to do something about it... otherwise don't dwell upon them.
2:Keep it real. We all make poor choices sometimes. Sometimes those poor choices will put us in a financial bind.
Acknowledge that a poor choice was a poor choice and try not to keep making the same mistake over and over again.
3: Work smart .... not hard. Hard work is useless if you keep repeating the same mistakes in managing your finances.
Take the time to appreciate what you do have right now, even simple things like shelter, running water, electricity, and access to internet. You have the ability to work so don't take that for granted, dig deep and appreciate that. I know it sounds goofy or "motivational speaker ish" but it helps, it really does. Focus on what you DO have maybe including your health.
Find different and/or an additional source of income.
Stay calm, don't panic or get desperate because it won't help. If you stay calm and relaxed and think clearly, you will figure it out make a plan and recover soon. If you put your mind to it you truly can accomplish anything - believe it cause it's true.
Definitely smokes and booze.... Definitely
Don't drink, don't smoke, don't chew, so.....Xanax. Doctor prescribed.Quote:
Originally Posted by NHscrapman
Find the wife a job and send her out to work.
I would echo this strategy and go one step further, write it down. There is something to the process of writing it down and seeing it in hard copy form. It allows you to experience the gratitude in more detail than a fleeting moment will provide. In addition you will be able revisit the list during hard times and even add to it. Exercise, white noise, and meditation are methods to deal with stress and anxiety. Caution to avoid making emotional decisions during this time is recommended by the professionals.Quote:
Originally Posted by SKWrapper
Weed is legal in this state. I wouldn't recommend it to anybody but others claim that it helps.
Much as anything ... it's a crutch. You'll be better off if you can learn how to deal with the things that life throws at you without the aid of crutches.
It's likely that you've got bill collectors calling if you've got financial stress. In fact ... they may be the biggest reason why you're feeling stressed. It's their job to motivate you to pay the bill and some are very good at it.
Try not to talk with them any more than you have to.
Talk is cheap ... action is precious !
I actually meant to type that! I agree 100%Quote:
Originally Posted by Patriot76
try to live a simple life- stop looking at what others have & stop basing your socalled necessities on the standard of living they enjoy.
we all know that theres hundreds of millions of people in the world today who are earning far less than us & live a much lower standard of life but many of these people are content.
so look at what God has blessed u with already and still go out there & do your best but dont kill yourself chasing the dream.
i see so many wealthy guys who worked so hard to amass their fortune & then because of neglecting their health, all that money is spent on hospitals & medical care.
the harder you work is NO guarantee that you will make MORE money- u will only get what is destined for you.
it sounds nice when motivational speakers say u must make your own destiny etc but i believe that destiny is in Gods hands alone- we can only put in our fair share & pray for the best.
I typically don't talk religion or politics on a forum like this but I can't help respond to this...Quote:
Originally Posted by msmoorad
Based off of bible teachings, he created us as free moral agents with free will. No destiny. You reap what you sew. (Galatians 6:7) Things good and bad just happen. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) He doesn't "take" people (death) or cause them to be poor or rich.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jimicrk
Get a pot prescription. Better for your body. Don't even gotta smoke it. You can eat it, drink it, apply it as a topical...etc. ;)
An not addicting like the pills.
Xanax in particular. People do some crazy **** for that stuff.
@ the op... You got some good advice above. Worrying about your situation wont help you any and in fact may even do more harm. Ulcers bleeding or not are common from stress. Don't ignore your troubles but also don't beat yourself up over it 24/7. Done is done. Own it an then move on an don't allow your past mistakes to become your future.
Good luck.
Edit: Just saw Hills beat me to the one suggestion. You can also try out CBD candies an the like. Legal just about everywhere, at lest I've yet to hear of any bans state wide. CBD candies an stuff you find in places outside of WA or CO do not get you high. Hence why you can buy it just about anywhere. An not it's not like spice at all. It's not some synthetic drug made in a lab.
Hemp plants are used to make CBD. An that means they are not your "normal" pot plants. Hemp will not get you high. THC is what gives you the high an alters your mind. CBD doesn't do that. In CO an WA you can find CBD/THC combined candies and other edibles. Outside of the two states where it's legal for recreational use, you can't buy it that way an it's illegal to be sold that way outside of those states.
Anyhow...YMMV. I would prefer as natural of a drug as possible if it was something I needed to take often. Not a fan of pills or anything else that considers things like..anal bleeding, death, cramps, etc a mild side effect. Plus...I've seen first hand what a Xanax addicition can do to someone. Not picking on Xanax, I've seen it with other pills to.
Sirscrapntruckalot - I think I need to ban Jimi to the midwest again. He seems to happy. ;)
Thanks for all that you shared. Medications can aid in anxiety but be sure they are prescribed to not add to the problem :lol: Doing counseling can also help one focus on the positive things (work, things you have, family that loves you, and friends that support) and not on the bills to pay. This can help you be inspired to work smart and earn the money you need to pay the bills.
For me the very best way to resolve finical problems for life is to follow Dave Ramsey's teachings. Free easy to learn online at his web site and/or his books which are available at the library.
He offers both short and long term solutions. 73, Mike
To the OP if your debt load is high and unmanageable contact a debt counsellor as for me I'll live life by my rules.
Don't know if it's still regarded as good or not but I recall when I was working at a book store....Rich Dad, Poor Dad..I think it was. It was rather popular. Whenever a new version came out it sold out. Anyhow...here's some info on it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Dad_Poor_Dad
Good luck.
All else fails...get a cooler. It'll comfort you in your time of need an not judge you. Like a bartender...that doesn't get you drinks, or give you advice, or...yea..so not really like a bartender, but at lest it won't tell you how to live your life!
Screw it. Get a goat. Goats will help you take your mind off your troubles. Plus...you can feed them the over due bills! BONUS!
Hey, look at how happy this goat is after taking my medical advice..
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/63/9f/ac/6...g-pictures.jpg
Sirscrapalot - I've decided to forego a quote and give you all this..Your welcome.
https://i.chzbgr.com/full/8269805568/h36EAE0F5/
Difficult financial times require drastic measures. I see too many people get behind on their credit card, mortgage, vehicle, etc. payments.
1. Cut unnecessary expenses. Cable, Dish or other non essential TV. Get a library card and checkout DVD's at the library.
2. Reduce unnecessary travel. Write down your travel plans. Get groceries, run errands and other trips altogether. This should help save on fuel costs.
3. Shop for sales for groceries. Simpler meals cost less. Avoid eating out. That will reduce expenses. Taking a sandwich or two will reduce your craving, so you do not end up eating out.
4. Look for extra work. I have always done janitorial work when I was underemployed or needed more cash. Hard work but readily available.
5. Explain to everyone in your household what is going on and urge them to save money. Turning off light switches and taking shorter showers saves on the utility bill.
6. Avoid using credit cards. Especially if you cannot pay them off every month. Credit card interest is going to cost you. Paying with cash allows you to see where your cash is going.
7. Avoid snacks, sodas, etc. This will save you cash, when you avoid the convenience stores. Buy oranges, apples, bananas, etc. for snacks.
Good luck in your endeavors!
Google Dave Ramsey
Cut any unnecessary expenses
Save up until you have a $1000 emergency fund and don't touch it unless it's an emergency
Pay off everything starting with your smallest debt first and work your way up to whatever you owe most
Once you have everything but the big ticket items (house, student loans, car etc) start growing your emergency fund to 3-6 months expenses
Then start throwing everything you have at the house student loan car etc.
Then finally...stay out of debt forever and never buy a **** thing on credit again for the rest of your life.
Lots of really good advice in this thread and some really funny replies to boot!
My addition to those nuggets would be this: Get a night job. I have delivered pizza for years to make extra money. I have found that it goes farther than just "extra money". I don't know how old you are, but when I was in my twenties, I looked at the night I delivered as doubling the money I made because as well as making a bit of bank, I was not out spending money, and I also got to eat. I also made pretty good money with near zero responsibility....
Quote:
Originally Posted by NHscrapman
Oh the joys of drinking and smoking, and if you can do it while trying to double your money at the local pool hall, you.... are on the road to success!
Who can afford a doctor?! Downtown. Back alley. Pill Bill. I also hear he plays pool and will let you shoot games for free pills... Tell him t00nces2 sent you.Quote:
Originally Posted by jimicrk
Quote:
Originally Posted by Proton
Yeah, tell her that. Tell her that while you drink your booze and smoke your butts. Nothing worse than having carping, nagging ball and chain around while you are trying to get your head together drinking and smoking and twisting a spleef.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hills
Okay, the weed thingy... Speaking from experience, and the experience of others.... Pot has a side effect called "the 'noids". Doesn't happen all the time, but it can happen anytime, and seems to happen more if you are worried. You smoke and you get paranoid, and not just a little paranoid. You start to worry to the point you start questioning your entire life. The 'noids can really become a black hole and the paranoia can keep eating away at your mind. If you are not a pot smoker now and know the pitfalls, I would not recommend taking it up for help on this problem (I actually would not recommend pot for "solving" any problem. It will help about as much as the booze and cigs.).
I have good insurance so my Dr. visit is a 20 dollar copay every 6 months. My wife is another story. After 9 back surgeries and her no longer being able to work, things can start to pile up.
Dave Ramsey is a great resource and his strategies can be life changing. Another one that I have a great deal of respect for and would highly recommend is Clark Howard. His emphasis is more on how to save money while Dave Ramsey's focus is money management. If a person were to combine the philosophies of both individuals you could live a very comfortable life regardless of income.Quote:
Originally Posted by miked
Just wanted to highlight a couple of differences between Dave Ramsey and Clark Howard. I am not trying to say one is better than the other and believe the right answer will depend on your personality and circumstances. The strategy of paying off your smallest debt first is based on the concept of success breeds success. It is motivational and highlights progress quicker. Clark Howard recommends paying off debt with the highest interest rate first to save more money in the long run. Dave Ramsey's position on credit cards is the same as his belief about debt in general, do not purchase anything (exception is a home mortgage) on credit. If you cannot pay cash, you cannot afford it and do not need it. Clark Howards position is to freeze your credit card in a freezer. When you think you need it, you will need to thaw it before you use it giving you more time to decide if the purchase is a need or a luxury. Personally I use credit cards to track expenses and for the cash back options, but I pay off the balance every month. The security of having a credit card for emergencies is very appealing to me as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by 520
The ratio varies from day to day but we're running about 60 / 40 between cash and plastic. Some days it's 60% cash and other days it's 60 % plastic.
The plastic transactions are running somewhere around 70 % debit cards and 30% credit cards. Credit cards seem to be more in the realm of the upper middle class and the wealthy.
If i boiled it all down : It seems that most folks are working with cash they have on hand or in their checking account.
=================
I was talking with one of the local lobstermen last night. He's well into his 50's and owns just about everything outright. They had a bad year with lobstering in 2017.He had to replace his truck in 2017 because the frame broke but he didn't have the cash on hand to pay for it so he took out a loan.
He explained that it took a bit of doing to get that loan. He had no credit history or credit score. Here he is ... the most responsible guy in the world. Always paid his bills on time, raised a family, and lived within his means for all of his adult life.
Not saying that it's good or bad. Just an observation that a good credit score might have more to do with the potential money that a bank could make off someone in the form of interest with the least amount of risk. It probably has less to do with the wise money management decisions that people make.
Thanks. It's a good read, will definitely will make time for this.Quote:
Originally Posted by miked
Having been quit the...ah...enjoyer back in the day, I will have to say...never had that happen, an lord knows I had a ton of stress back then an caused a bunch. Nor have I ever met anyone who has had such.Quote:
Originally Posted by t00nces2
Pot for some folks COULD cause mental issues. My experience it's folks who are at risk already for such things. I have a friend who is schizophrenic, I could blame it on the pot but I'm sure it was the fault of both pot an the stress he was under when he got diagnosed. I have no statistics to back it up, but I would bet money the majority of people who smoke, use edibles have no issues with it.
I have another buddy who can't even smell it. When he was younger someone gave him laced pot. Ever since he will pretty much throw up. I tested the theory once, it's true. LOL he thought it was funny to after he was done cussing up a storm. lol.
To each their own though I say. I'd rather risk being paranoid, then become a addict to opiates, or any other pill for that matter.
Sirscrapalot - Puff puff give.
Dave Ramsey is the best for all around great advice. My personal advice is to also be active at the polls. James Carville was infamously quoted as saying "the economy, stupid" when discussing the messages that Clinton wanted to get out. After 8 years of an underperforming Obama administration, it became and is one of the most important things happening now. A strong economy fixes many ills. Ya ya, we can discuss all the negativity about Trump, but his numbers are way up due to the booming economy. Now if we can just keep him off of Twitter.....
"I'd rather risk being paranoid, then become a addict to opiates, or any other pill for that matter."
Just to be clear, you're admitting to being paranoid about opiates?
The problem is that the economy doesn't turn on a dime. We might not see the full effect of economic policy put into effect today .... for another ten years yet. Thus ... Clinton enjoyed the effects of Reganomics during his administration. Perhaps Trump will get the credit for the good that came from Obama administration economic policies. ( A stronger and more sound U.S. dollar. )Quote:
Originally Posted by Ecycle Atlanta
Bush jr ??? He was a two termer. We saw firsthand the result of economic policy he put into place during his first term. ( Massive inflation and the big bank meltdown. )
It's really more a matter of being in the right place at the right time with a first term president.
This was a great idea for a posting!
You can get pretty creative when you REALLY want to save money. For instance, I purposely drove out of my way into a big rainstorm knowing I'd get a free car wash out of it. I wait for the $5 off coupons in the mail from Supercuts before I get a haircut. Lots of places offer senior discounts for people who are only 55-60 years old. I love going to movies, and go to many for free since I do my internet searches with Microsoft Bing instead of Google- the Microsoft Rewards program offers you points that can be used for all kinds of stuff.
Also, think about all the vices that can be cut out (lotto tickets, playing a lot of golf, cigs, smokes, etc.). I have a friend who doesn't make that much money yet he confessed that he paid over $200/month for cable. I get everything I need with Youtube and the radio. On the rare occasion that I really want to see something, I can go to someone else's house or a sports bar and watch it there.
Consider renegotiating with those you pay bills to. I got a "loyalty discount" of about $19 a month just by calling the phone company and asking what was available. Be careful how you do this- if you tell someone you are nearly bankrupt and they agree to a concession, it could affect your credit rating. On the other hand, if you pay cash for everything, what does it really matter?
Another thing I remember hearing a while back- think about the items you are buying. Where will they be 10 years from now? With the exception of items like food and gasoline, many things will likely be gone to recycle heaven or in a landfill. Is that something I really must have?
For those who are single and looking, consider one thing that will be a big deal and that is the person you choose to be your life partner. If you are super frugal and marry someone who wants to own 200 pairs of shoes, then you have a serious financial issue that will need to be hammered out. I remember when my college age daughter was younger and she gave away a pair of shoes she had because she realized they were knockoffs of the real brand. Now that same daughter goes by herself to Goodwill to shop and save money. Also, she didn't scoff at all when I found furniture for her to use at Curb Co. She even spray painted some of the stuff herself so that her room could be that all white decor that she will get sick of in a few years.
Also, in some cases you might consider bartering to save money. I remember when I needed a new roof that a contractor quoted me a price and then quoted me an alternate price in ounces of silver if I agreed to pay him that way. Unfortunately, he wasn't even in the ballpark with either of his quotes, but that's not the point.
This last one may sound a bit extreme, but here goes. Back when I was a stock broker (was in the biz for almost 20 years) I had a client who had about $5 million or so with my firm. He told me he absolutely LOVED Costco. So much so that he said he'd gone virtually every day for the past five years and eaten free samples for his lunches. Even at their food court you can get a hotdog and 20 ounce drink for something like $1.65 or so, a price that hasn't changed since the mid-1980's. I remember thinking that it was odd that a person many would consider to be rich was so super frugal when it came to eating lunch.
Even with all the creative responses here, I'm sure we have just touched the tip of a very big iceberg! I look forward to the new stuff that will be added. Maybe I can save even more money...
I dunno if this is the right thread to post this in, but it's a potential side earner with little overhead costs.
First it starts when I was 12, that's a while ago... I broke a small window at home when a stepping stool I was getting off slid & it's leg slid into the glass panel on a door.
Dad said "You broke it. You fix it". Wise words.
So I had to ask him how, to pick the putty out with a shield, the little metal stars were in the putty (why?) "To hold the glass in place before puttying"
Then find a panel of glass, then figure out how to cut it.
Fit, space, nail, putty, smooth & paint it..
So I did all that, not bad for a first timer (untill I saw it again years later.. ouch)
But since then I have cut & fixed a few windows with that knowledge.
Lately, because I fixed a person's window after I mentioned "I can fix that"
I have been asked to fix a bunch of people's windows, about 7. Normally front door windows ( lol )
I have just used glass I cut from pieces I got from old window frames, free windows, the woods good for firewood.
I have never got cut, I think that's due to ingrained safety sense. Others seem to do something stupid in 7 seconds given the chance... But I never force anything & work 'with it, not against it'.
Now the last 2 panes, they were quoted NZ$140+ to fix.
(Ok, I have not been paid for it , but I got $20 for one pane elsewhere. Rippled glass, it looked even better than the broken original glass, my ripples were vertical & went with the wood panelling around the door)
But, I just realised, for near no expenses (putty & petrol) I can fix smallish broken windows, even for a small fee of say $20+ a pane, it's some side money. It' sorta just happened since this one person started saying "I know somebody who can fix that". ( Yeh, Me!)
Then he put a $ figure on it..
Uh huh, there's $$ involved now.
I tried using the Chinese glass cutter, with a sharpened diamond point in it. Don't.. They are useless.
You have to use the sort with the tiny wheel on it & the clear plastic handle with oil inside it.
I'm guessing YouTube would show you anything else you need to know.
I use safety glasses all of the time, and no force either. Put down a old sheet to catch paint/wood chips/glass fragments & putty.. Putty sticks to everything, it's easy to miss, stand on a bit & you leave some with every footprint.
But it washes off tools & hands easy with warm soapy water.
I also found that ( I love angle grinders ) a 4 1/2 inch grinder with a cut off disc in it is the best tool for removing old putty. It does not damage the wooden frame & makes a nice smooth sharp edge. Less force, but more dust & noise. And a lot quicker.
So, if interested. YouTube it. Practise on your own house or such first. Learn exactly how to 'Cut' glass. (It's easy once to get the idea of it) I spray some CRC ( WD40 ) on the line before I cut, so it gets into the crack & holds it open. There's a knack to it.
I use some fine sandpaper to take the sharp edges off.
I got some smaller panes of microwave oven doors, and last week some thicker plate glass from a entertainment system cabinet door. Even easier to cut & solid too. I first wondered if it was safety glass because the edges were smooth, rounded. But it was normal glass. Safety glass near explodes if you cut or break it.
If I was getting money for it I would get some spray paint to finish the job off too.
But, hopefully this is helpful. If not your sort of thing, maybe a good read instead. Maybe insightfull.
On the other hand, a home fixit can develop into a few $$, help others out, maybe even the start of a job.
One thing I have noticed, teach a kid a skill & 5 years later it's often their occupation.
It's a different situation here in the states. Most of our glass windows are double or triple pane units filled with an inert gas like argon to block heat transfer. You just order a new sash unit from the manufacturer if there's a mishap and one gets broken. Door glass is required by law to be safety glass. Vinyl windows are huge right now because wood units are so expensive.
I still get a call to replace single glass from time to time with the old houses. In fact ... i've got a couple of sashes in the shop right now. What i like to do is remove all of the glass then prime and paint the wood part of the window. Next, i run down to the hardware store and have them cut the glass to the exact size i need on their machine. The cost for new single pane 1/16" glass here is negligible.
Once the wood panel is prepped and painted i like to use a high quality clear silicone caulk as a bed to set the glass into. It acts as an adhesive and rubber shock absorber so the new glass is less apt to break. Makes the entire panel much stronger too ! I trim off the excess " squeeze out" with a utility knife once the caulk has set. They have a special " Glazing caulk " that comes in a caulking tube for finishing the back side. It gives you a nice 45 deg angle from the glass to the wood stile on the side. No glazing points or cans of putty need to be used anymore.
Cutting old glass and getting a clean break can be difficult. It gets more brittle with age. It's better to work with new glass if you can.
There's a small market here for the old wavy glass. They like to use it in kitchen cabinet doors for the design effect.
Easiest way i've found to cut safety glass to size is with a diamond tipped wheel for your 4" grinder. Just run a number of successive passes along a straight edge till you cut completely through the glass. No scoring and breaking involved. You might be able to do this with old glass as well ?
Anyway ... just my experience for whatever it's worth.
Much like you eesa ... it all started out ages ago as a kid and a broken window pane. We just went down different roads and had different experiences along the way.
Sometimes it's fun to compare notes. :)
I liked Reagan and actually subscribe to the trickle-down methodology. However, Clinton was good with the economy and I'll give him the credit for that, except he was also instrumental in creating the Bill that actually started the housing crisis in 1999. Bush should have stopped that bill, but he cant take the blame for causing it. I dont give Obama much credit, as I think the economy improved despite his efforts to sabotage it including trillions added to the debt, stupid Gov programs like cash for clunkers, billions lost to fraudulent enterprises like Solyndra, massive health care program that would bankrupt the country and lopsided foreign agreements due to "global warming", or whatever they call it now. I'll try to find the quote, but back in 2008 Obama said he would turn the economy around and if he didnt he should not be elected to a second term....well, neither of those things happened. Trump is a buffoon, but at least he is focusing on things that are improving the economy and American jobs (in between silly tweets).
I see it a little differently on some things.
You might think of the president as being the front man for the band. He has the cabinet beneath him and they all sit around the table and hash things over on a regular basis. Each of the cabinet members has their own specialty. For example : One is the head of Health and Human services and another is the head of the Department of Defense.
Where the economy is concerned there are two major players to look for. One is the head of the Department of the Treasury, but most importantly you want to look at the Chairman of the Federal Reserve.
There was a very talented gent by the name of Alan Greenspan who served with distinction across many presidential terms in office ... both Dem and Rep. You might check out his bio on Wiki.
If not mistaken ... Mr Greenspan left the job in George junior's first term because of very deep seeded differences between the two that couldn't be worked out. It's after he left that things started going very wrong with the economy. I would put GWB and his new chair of The Fed as being most responsible for:
Massive currency inflation in Geroge's first term that overheated the housing market.
The economic recession that hit in the winter of 2007-2008.
The big bank meltdown that happened late in George's second term.
The necessity of adding trillions in debt at the beginning of Obama's first term to stabilize the banking system aka "The Big Bank Bailout."
Let's not overlook the fact that GWB, Cheney, and Rumsfeld sent American troops into Afghanistan to fight on a battleground that no invading force in history was ever able to conquer. It was a grave tactical error that swelled our budget deficits and debt to all time highs. The Islamic Nation fought back with one of the best weapons they had ... the price of oil ! That's probably what triggered the recession of 2007-2008. Wars are fought on many fronts. Destroying your adversaries economy is one of the objectives in winning a war.
Cash for clunkers was an effort to stabilize the big three American auto makers and keep them from going under.
Solyndra was Obama's screw up.
I would put ObamaCare squarely on congress and most especially Nancy Pelosi. The Dems had been pushed off to the side by a republican dominated congress for many years. They were itching to push their agenda once they gained a majority. Another one that i would put ObamaCare squarely on would be Olympia Snow. She was a Republican Senator from here in Maine that crossed party lines and gave the Dems the majority vote they needed to push ObamaCare through.
To be fair ... Obama's name was on that mess but he wasn't the person most responsible.
Anyway ... it's not cut and dried. I think you have to look at the bigger picture when you're assigning praise for good work and the blame for terrible economic policy.
Personally ... if i were George junior ... i would stay on my ranch and never show my face in public again.
I don't really have an opinion on Trump. He comes across as being a narcissist. That's a pretty serious character flaw in a leader. Additionally,he doesn't have any experience is public service. He's getting up there in years and probably won't have the stamina to serve a second term so maybe he won't do too much damage.If he's a smart cookie he will stay on twitter as the front man and appoint really talented people to key positions within government. It could play either way over the next ten years or so.
I say hope for the best. :)