Advice for When Money Stress Feels Overwhelming
Here are ways to help keep yourself calm in spite of it all.
Living paycheck to paycheck is stressful. You worry that even a routine financial hiccup—car breakdown, dentist’s bill—will be another five-alarm fire. And you’re not alone. Surveys consistently show that money is a leading source of stress ¶ for Americans. (Read more about money habits here.)
The problem is that stressing about money challenges just makes things worse. Stress can make problems seem bigger and more unsolvable, and it’s linked to sleep problems, overeating, and high blood pressure‡.
But there are inexpensive things that can help make you feel more positive. You don’t need to do a lifestyle 180. You may be able to ease at least some of your stress with a few lifestyle tweaks.
Don’t forget the physical.
Changing your physical surroundings and habits can affect your stress level. Exercise can reduce stress§, so try to fit some movement into your day. It reduces stress hormones in your body like adrenaline and helps you sleep better, which may also help reduce stress**.
And no, we’re not talking about budget-busting gym memberships or pricey yoga classes. Almost any extra physical activity will help. Walking is free, whether it’s in laps around your office with a work buddy, or across a nearby park on the weekend—it helps lower stress, can fit into your busy day, and can help improve your mood††.
While you’re at it, another stress fix is food-related. In fact, research shows that stress can drive us to overindulge in unhealthy “comfort” foods‡‡. That’s not a recipe for feeling better in the long run.
Fortunately, you can eat better while saving money. Keep lower-cost snacks like carrots around for those cravings, switch to sugar-free instant oats for a filling breakfast, and try sites like Budget Bytes for inexpensive, healthy recipes.
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We know expected and unexpected expenses can put you in a pinch. That’s why Huntington created Standby Cash†, a line of credit available to Huntington checking customers. Eligibility is based primarily on your checking and deposit activity, not your credit score. Open it instantly online or in the Huntington Mobile app, and immediately access the cash you need.
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Aim to shift your mindset.
Even though talking about financial stress can be difficult, keeping it to yourself makes financial stress even more isolating. Strengthening your support network can help§§.
In fact, according to a Swedish study, social support was an effective reducer of financial stress***. Share your challenges with someone you trust, whether a friend who’s been in a similar situation, a clergy member, or a debt counselor. You may even pick up practical tips to help your budget like these. It’s all part of focusing on what you can control.
Financial stress grows when we imagine worst-case scenarios, but ask yourself how likely those scenarios actually are. Remember that you’ve successfully solved problems in the past.
Divert energy from worrying toward things that are within your control, such as building and sticking to a budget (see more about creating a workable budget here). Setting a modest financial goal and making small, steady progress can restore a sense of purpose and instill confidence.
You can find a host of smart money tools on The Hub. And consider stopping by and visiting with a Huntington banker, who can help you move toward better financial habits, today.
¶ "Stress in America™ Generation Z," American Psychological Association, https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2018/stress-gen-z.pdf.
‡ "Stress symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior," Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-symptoms/art-20050987.
§ "Physical Activity Reduces Stress," Anxiety & Depression Association of America, https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/other-related-conditions/stress/physical-activity-reduces-st.
** "Exercising to Relax," Harvard Health Publishing, https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax.
†† "Exercise and stress: Get moving to manage stress," Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/walking/art-20046261.
‡‡ "How Stress Can Make Us Overeat," Harvard Health Publishing, https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/how-stress-can-make-us-overeat.
§§ "Manage stress: Strengthen your support network," American Psychological Association, https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/manage-social-support.
*** "The buffering effect of tangible social support on financial stress: influence on psychological well-being and psychosomatic symptoms in a large sample of the adult general population" in International J Health Equity, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25260355.
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† Standby Cash is subject to terms and conditions and other account agreements. A cash advance fee equal to 5% of the amount of the cash advance will be collected from your Eligible Deposit Account immediately after the cash advance is deposited in that account. A 1% monthly interest charge (12% Annual Percentage Rate) will be added to outstanding balances if automatic payments are not scheduled. Available through online banking or the Huntington Mobile app to individuals with an active Huntington consumer checking account with at least three months of consistent deposit activity of $1,000 or more, and an average daily balance of $200 or more over the last 30 days. An active or recent bankruptcy or other legal process may disqualify you. Other eligibility requirements apply, including your recent overdraft and/or return history, regardless of whether you are charged overdraft fees or have transactions returned or they are waived with our 24-Hour Grace® and $50 Safety Zone® services. We reserve the right to change eligibility criteria at any time. Line amount and/or ongoing availability may vary based on changes to your deposit activity, average daily balance, and number and length of overdrafts and/or returns on any of your Huntington deposit accounts. When any of your Huntington deposit accounts are in an overdraft status for more than one day, your Standby Cash line will be suspended until they are no longer negative. If 90% or more of the approved credit line is drawn three months in a row, Standby Cash will be suspended until it’s paid to a zero balance. Business checking accounts are not eligible for Standby Cash.
