Most (if not all) of us look forward to our monthly paychecks, that commission, bonus, and extra funds. But as we think about how much we earn and the subjective luxuries we buy, how many of us pause and wonder if we’re spending wisely or recklessly? Because it’s true what they say – the more we earn, the more we spend.
More and more individuals are walking around with designer handbags, wallets, and clothes, but beneath those high-end purchases, how financially stable are they? Countless people who seem like they have life figured out may be on the brink of bankruptcy. Even the rich and famous, who always look glamorous, have money issues, often due to excessive spending.
If Nicholas Cage, Mike Tyson, and Donald Trump – who earned millions of dollars throughout their careers – can declare bankruptcy, the average Joe and Jane can, too. Fortunately, there are signs indicating when our finances are veering off track and heading toward instability.
Warning Signs of Financial Challenges Ahead
Here are hints your finances are entering rocky waters:
1. You spend more money than you earn
If your monthly expenses always exceed your income, you are steering yourself toward financial difficulties. While it’s okay to treat yourself and your loved ones once in a while, the reality is that frequent overspending beyond your means can be a result of inadequate budgeting, a lack of discipline, or emotional spending. Succumbing to societal pressures or using shopping as a coping mechanism further fuels this habit.
Unfortunately, aside from the immediate monetary implications, overspending can make achieving your long-term financial goals difficult. For example, keeping up with unhealthy spending habits may delay your early retirement plans.
Recognizing and addressing this issue is paramount to your financial future. Establish a realistic budget and minimize reliance on credit mechanisms, ensuring your expenses remain within your earnings.
Helpful resources for overspenders:
- Are You One of These Five Types of Overspenders?
- How to Stop Spending Money (Unnecessarily)
- Budgeting 101: How to Budget Money
2. You always borrow money or rely on credit to pay for bills
When borrowing money becomes a monthly ritual to cover your bills, it’s a glaring indication that your financial situation requires urgent attention. This scenario demands a critical evaluation of your financial strategies or an immediate outreach for professional financial assistance. What might have begun as a mistake, such as opting for consolidation loans or transferring balances to lower-interest credit cards, can evolve into an inescapable cycle as you continue struggling to make financial ends meet.
Your financial freedom depends on you putting an end to this cycle. Push to restore balance between your income and expenses without resorting to extreme “all or nothing” changes, which can be challenging to sustain long-term. To initiate change, consider cutting your discretionary costs by half, as you adapt to living within your means. Although this adjustment may seem daunting, delaying action may make it more challenging to break free from debt or escape the toxic cycle of borrowing money to make ends meet.
Helpful resources for cyclical borrowers:
- Effective Ways to Get Out of Debt Within a Year
- Foolproof Ways to Thrive Before the Next Recession
3. You can only afford to pay the minimum amount on your credit card
Another example of an alarming financial situation is the inability to pay more than the minimum on your credit card or line of credit. When you stick to minimum payments, it could take between two and three decades to clear your credit card debt.
Aim to settle your credit card debt or overdraft balance each month. Although some exceptions may arise, avoid using more credit than you can repay within three months.
Helpful resources for the ‘minimum amount due’ payers:
- How to Get Out of Credit Card Debt in Four Steps
- What to Do With Your Credit Card Debt Now That the Fed Raised Rates Again
4. You don’t have savings for emergencies
Having no safety net when life throws a curveball – be it a medical emergency, home repairs, or sudden unemployment – forces you to scramble for funds, often resorting to high-interest loans or credit card debt that may take several months or even years to repay.
Building an emergency fund can soften the blow of unforeseen situations. Starting small and consistently setting aside a portion of your income will eventually accumulate into funds that shield you from financial surprises.
Helpful resources for non-savers:
- 12 Consequences of Not Saving Money
- How Much Money You Should Save Every Paycheck
- Emergency Fund: What It Is and Why It Matters
5. Your money problems are taking a severe toll on your personal life
If financial worries are causing sleepless nights, physical and mental health issues, relationship conflicts, or if you find yourself concealing debts from your family, these are clear warning signs of poor financial health. When circumstances have reached this extent, it may be time to seek help.
Helpful resources for the financially and emotionally burdened:
- What is Financial Coaching, and Why Do You Need It?
- How to Deal with Financial Stress in Your Marriage (or any partnership)
Don’t Ignore the Signs of Financial Trouble
If you find yourself in any of these cautionary signals, you must give them the attention they deserve and take proactive measures before they escalate beyond control. Addressing warning signs head-on allows you to reclaim control of your life, build resilience, and establish a foundation for a financially stable future.
Unlock Financial Freedom: Turn Unwanted Valuables into Debt Relief
Escape the shadow looming over your financial peace. Leveraging your unused valuables — forgotten designer handbags, jewelry, watches, and other collectibles — can pave your way out of debt and financial hardship.
Consider this your invitation from Biltmore Loan and Jewelry to transform clutter into financial liberation. Sell those untapped treasures and unlock a fresh chapter of financial stability. As you bid farewell to the unused, you are saying hello to debt relief and a renewed balance in your finances. Bring your items to our office in Scottsdale, AZ, to determine how much cash you can receive outright. You can also click this link for an online appraisal.