It’s difficult right now. Whatever country you are in, family and loved ones are feeling the effects of the current pandemic. Many have lost some they know or are battling the virus personally and employment and income are threatened.
During this trying time, we’re here to offer practical and grounded advice on how to do your best with your finances. While circumstances may be beyond your control to some extent, there are still practical steps you can take to make the best of what is before you. Let’s get to it.
One of the biggest things any person should do during the pandemic is to accept the reality of their situation. While it’s easy to talk to others about positive mental attitudes, which do have tremendous merit, it’s not enough by itself. We’re right in the middle of one of the most trying times we are likely to face as a global community – and that’s OK.
You’ll find a sense of relief wash over you when you accept that things are difficult right now. Does that mean falling into a pit of negativity? No, far from it: it means being comfortable with the challenges laid before you.
By doing this, you no longer hide mentally from the world around you. By accepting it for what it is, you are better equipped to deal with it. We’re not sure how things will unfold and develop over the next few months – and that’s OK.
You’re not going to be firing on all cylinders during COVID-19. This is fine.
In the early months of the pandemic, it was very common to hear people talk of plans of using their free time to learn a new instrument, excel in business or perform successfully in some other endeavor. While this is admirable and great to say, it has led many to feel like a failure as the months unfolded.
Stress isn’t always something we can perceive. Much of it lurks in the background behind our consciousness, affecting our actions and reactions to things subconsciously. The pandemic is an excellent example of this, with many adults struggling suddenly to simply get through each day and each week.
Therefore, it’s important you forgive yourself and that you plan according to the situation you are in. Make your plans modest and oriented around wellbeing and survival – and don’t beat yourself up if you don’t achieve lofty goals during one of the hardest periods in your life.
Speaking financially, it’s also important to do all you can to get a plan in place to weather this storm. Whether you’re a family or a single person, it’s vital you have some kind of structure in place to help you get by.
There are many kinds of plans you can consider, such as safety nets and methods of investing savings you have available. Instead of recommending a specific one to you, however, the team here at ELL Lending want to encourage you to plan for redundancy.
We don’t know quite how long this pandemic will affect us for. It could be a few months more, it could stretch into next year. Because of this, it’s best you plan for worst-case scenarios and build some redundancy into your financial planning.
Instead of working towards a best-case scenario, try to make arrangements that ensure your best chances should the worst happen. This may include you or loved ones becoming ill and should address the possibility of your income being limited for prolonged periods of time.
We hope you’ve found this short article helpful and informative. The team wishes you the very best for the future and commends you for taking the subject of your financial and mental wellbeing seriously during a difficult period.
I am an author at selfgrowth