Topic: How do you deal with financial stress? - page 16. (Read 2164 times)

I used to be like that in my "youth" and it was a good thing to be stressing about these things, at least for me. It made me learn the value of money and most importantly to plan ahead financially speaking.
You've already the first step correctly by thinking about these things but of course you have to try not to get overly anxious. Don't worry about making mistakes, after all you're at the beginning of your journey in life and even mistakes are a valuable experience.

I can't tell you what to do because the situation is different in different countries and different times. But I can tell you what I did.
I basically went on a very "strict financial mode" where I wrote down all my little expenses and little incomes. I worked hard and earned as much money as I could then made wise investments while controlling my expenses. That helped me maximize the amount of money I saved up (income, interest, passive income, profit).

I have to emphasize that writing down stuff helped a lot, as it is not enough to just be "careful about expenses". It helps a lot to be able to visualize and analyze your expenses (and incomes). For example at the end of the month you can look back and see for example you wasted money somewhere that could be avoided or better spent. I even have a little excel file that dates back 20 years
Not to mention that it helps you to stay organized a lot better and if you set targets for yourself, it also helps you reach those targets and feel "optimistic" about your future as you would be going through life according to your plan or at least closes to your plan as possible.

Speaking of planning ahead and setting targets one of the things I did was to figure out what would be the biggest expense I would have in my life and in my country it is rent. For example today as an engineer if I had to rent an apartment specially in the capital, that would eat at least 50% of my salary.
Knowing that, my goal became to eliminate that cost. The solution was to buy a house so that became the plan. I eventually saved up enough money to be able to buy my first apartment. It didn't have to be a fancy one or a big one but it helped me eliminate a large expense. That's extra money in my pocket which I were able to save or invest to improve.

That's not new though. "Economic hardship" has been part and parcel of our world, even though from time to time we see a longer period of stability (eg. after 2008 disaster up until 2019-ish) which makes people forget what's happened before and what's coming (or rather repeating).
You also shouldn't expect to become wealthy in short time, as I said nothing has changed. It just takes hard work and wise decisions.

Housing has become a really big problem. It is now very difficult to find a place to stay and everything is very expensive. Many landlords are opportunistic. The state has tried to intervene in the renting out of houses at very high prices, but without success. Landlords set the price at which they want to rent their houses.

I am glad the forum has helped you, but you still need to find a job. Even if your income is low, you still need it. It is really hard to be a student in such an economy. But don't stress yourself. Many people are in this situation and you seem determined to do something about your goals.

When it comes to accommodation you have to choose houses that you can afford because it is a recurrent expenditure. Some persons make the mistake of borrowing to get a house only to struggle later to renew the rent. The only option you have is to increase your income or manage what you can afford. I had to move to another house to reduce my cost of living.

You are not alone in these terrible times. COVID-19 made things complicated and the war in Ukraine is now making things worse.  This has led to an increase in the price of fuel, electricity and some basic grains. I was considering moving to Europe but the stories I am hearing from my countrymen over there have made me reconsider. It is better to suffer only economic hardship than to combine it with racism and xenophobia. Many online jobs have been replaced with Artificial intelligence making the few available jobs very competitive.  Some of us are not technically inclined so we have to still fight for less technical jobs.

The increase of these natural disasters makes life very uncertain. The Libyan flooding gives me so much concern because it was caused by negligence and my country has some dams that have not been maintained for a long time. It will not be a surprise if such a disaster occurs.

It is natural to worry about the future but we shouldn't stress ourselves much because it will not help us. I always console myself with the fact that my condition is better than some people so am always grateful to the creator.

Staying without a job is one of the reasons I have been against courses that can allow you to survive on your own like engineering courses because business courses are very competitive and will require you to have lots of experience which many don't have today.

With time things will be okay, hang in there buddy  

Public transport is done by busses, which I not only find inconvenient, but also cost €1 to €2 per trip, which would ultimately cost more than using my motorcycle. I'm planning to commute by bike too, providing that I have enough space to store my two bicycles.
Other EU countries have way more expensive rents, however, the supermarkets or petrol isn't as expensive from what I've observed, or at least, at similar levels. And indeed, the issue isn't that they're taking someone else's jobs, even if that statement was true, it's not my issue since I'd supposedly look for something that requires a degree, due to my education. The main concern is that whole parts of cities have become ghettos and are suffering tremendously. Sweden used to be one of the safest countries, well, not anymore. Poland on the other hand, which I visited in 2021, doesn't have a immigrant-friendly policy, is one of the safest.

Military enlisting is mandatory for up to 9 to 12 months in Greece (unpaid), which is the reason I'm out of the job market now. I've considered it but I generally don't like the whole concept of the army. On top of that, entering isn't as good as it might look. Salaries aren't anything special nor do they provide housing etc. It only secures that you'll have a job, which for the first few years will only pay an above average wage.

I'm already careful when it comes to expenses, the issue is that having a comfortable life is way too complicated anymore. I'm not talking about being wealthy, but being able to afford going out to dinner and going on a vacation, without money being an issue.
Certainly, if things go well with Bitcoin, I'll double my money in no time. I'm expecting to have a decent sum of savings by 2025.

Here in my country, it's not just the price that kinda screwed me up when COVID-19 was still like widespread around here. It was also lack of access to needs due to how hassle access to the needs are due to restrictions to certain areas. I was like preparing myself mentally that I won't be able to afford such needs due to how limited suppliers also arrived here in my area.

What I did was trying to freelance so that I wouldn't have to work so much outside other than my usual 9-5 job and it went just fine in my end.
How did I stay optimistic? By not being too positive minded since it will disappoint me in the end for sure. I know I am gonna screw up anytime and whatever happens, happens. It is somehow pointless in controlling things that you cannot control. For example, there's no point for me stressing out the cost of goods these days. I can just budget my stuff, but that's all.

COVID was hell, but at least it taught us including you OP on how to get past with that.

The solution is as simple as spending less than you earn, which is sometimes difficult, but you can always spend more than you think you can. Normally people focus on saving but in an inflationary environment like the one we are in it may be more difficult as the OP says, so there is the option of trying to increase income.


I hope, then, that you have at least saved a part of what you have earned here. In the next bull market you will be able to spend more and worry less.


You are the example that nowadays there are many possibilities to earn income with the internet. If you are in the OP's situation, if you put your mind to it, in the end you will find a way to earn extra income, and an example of this are also signature campaigns.

The effect of COVID-19 across the globe has really done damage to a lot of countries.
A lot of person's are still yet to recover financially, while some countries have gone into acute borrowing for the last three years, just so that they could at least keep their economy afloat.
Ordinarily for you to survive this situation is that, you have to double your hustle, by sourcing for other means to generate more income for yourself and also diversify your income. Doing so will make you a bit stable, hence you can have  enough money to beat the inflation and have some reserve for any financial emergency.

OP, one thing you should understand is that, you're not the only one caught up in this situation, but the unique thing is, you're ability to surmount these economic hurdles and come successfully at the end.

Don’t overthink! I experienced same stress before during pandemic since my job becomes temporarily close while I have a lot of fixed bills on monthly basis that need to be paid especially insurance.

I focus on my current resources and try sellings goods on social media which helps me a lot to get extra income. I live near the manufacturing area of goods which I resell it on lower price compared to retail. I will not overcome this stress if I will just overthink about the problem and stop finding solutions. Check what resources you have and capitalize on that to get extra profit that will cover your expenses.

Have you perhaps thought about not using your own car, but perhaps looking for an alternative in public transport (if it exists), or perhaps checking whether it would be feasible to travel to work (in the city) with an electric bicycle or an electric scooter? Their price (if you're looking for something above the average) is around 700 EUR or more, but they use very little electricity with solid autonomy in better models.


If your goal is to live exclusively in the city, then you have to accept that the cost of living anywhere in the west of the EU will be even higher than what you are paying now, but there is more than enough work, especially if you are a highly educated person.

As for the migrants, you are absolutely right, they have literally flooded all the countries that have a friendly policy towards them, but the problem is not that they take someone's job (there are plenty of jobs), but that they have become a big security problem in all the countries that you mentioned, but also in many others where there are more and more of them.


Have you thought about getting a job in the army? I know it may not be the most popular option, but the military generally takes good care of its members, and that includes housing.

Fortunately, I don't have such problems like you, but everything you mentioned certainly affects me personally, because climate change is something that I feel on my skin, considering that I am very closely connected with nature. The stories I heard 20 years ago and more have started to come true, and it seems to me more and more that we are going down a one-way street in the wrong direction.

However, the worst thing you can do to yourself is to give in to pessimism, and you should always find small things that you can enjoy, and sometimes they are even completely free. Imagine that tomorrow you go to buy a lottery ticket and they draw your numbers - a few million euros would erase all the problems you have, right?

Everyone goes through stress related to money after all over the past few years millions of people have faced financial difficulties due to various problems around the world, including epidemics and wars. Since life is unpredictable, a monthly budget check up is critical to improving your financial health. Set aside some time to schedule organize and cancel all payments from your bank account to regain control of your finances. The more control you have the less stressed you will be if your money worries you're probably sure that increasing your income can help you deal with financial stress and prepare a budget create an emergency fund.

I think the situation will be the same everywhere. I also feel the same way where I live. However, I am grateful that my family and I can still eat. I live in the village and I don't worry about food as our prestige and lifestyle is simple.

It may seem that the crisis caused by Covid is serious, but if we are patient and continue to fight against it, I am sure we can rise again.

I tried from morning till night to work in a restaurant and earn extra money by selling small amounts of home-cooked food to continue living with my family. I also worked in the city as a salesperson but the cost of living, apartment and time was not worth what I was doing and I decided to return home.

I do feel the same, especially after Covid-19. I feel anxious sometimes and it's normal. Tho I don't stay optimistic, I don't do that. I think of the worst thing possible and try not to be on it. To start, I think what you can try is to learn to let go of the things you can't control, like the war, natural calamities, and inflation. Try to put your energy towards the things you can control. Start with small steps, like if you have debt, prioritize paying it down, starting with those that have high-interests. Reducing your debt can reduce financial stress, you'll feel a relief. Slowly, educate yourself on how you can earn money and wisely spend it. If you find it hard to land a job, it's entirely normal. Keep refining your approach, do something that you haven't done yet.

What's important is you breakdown your big problems into smaller ones and solve it step by step. Take a breath and give yourself permission to have doubts and anxiety, then have time to work on it. Maybe ask for help. You are not  alone in this. There are people like you and there are people who cares for you I believe.

The impact on the economy since the world outbreak of this disease was declared a pandemic, almost everyone feels how difficult the economy is. I think almost everyone in all countries feels the hardest impact on the economy. How could it not be, everyone is required to stay at home as long as their status has not changed. In many countries, to earn daily income you have to sell in traditional markets.

With the implementation of having to stay at home, the income to meet your daily needs will not be sufficient. Maybe for one week you will still be able to survive with the savings you had saved before the pandemic. If you continue to have to stay at home for more than one month, there is no other way but to sell existing assets.

A little convenience for those whose monthly salary goes into their account because they work as government employees. I think the impact is also the same as for those who do not work as government employees because many government employees have their monthly salaries cut by banks because of the credit they take out.
For the moment I don't know what to say so that we remain optimistic in facing such an economic situation.

Before Covid19 came, my economy was actually quite good. But I am a person who always approaches everything in life in a relaxed manner. But after Covid19 came and the Pandemic started. So I began to realize the importance of building our financial strength as strongly as possible. Making preparations before unexpected things happen is a necessary step. Previously I didn't think about it but now I started thinking about it and started doing it too. That is, currently I am trying to get out of my relaxing zone into the zone of working hard to make more money and learn more things that I have been ignoring.

But if we talk about the economic situation after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, I also feel that the world economy is getting worse day by day. Because as you said, currently the prices of all things are increasing due to inflation caused by war and the increase in fuel prices.

But what I'm thinking right now is that no matter what, I won't be able to avoid the current situation. So I have to face it, adapt and be the best that anyone else can be.

The cost of living will always increase. So like it or not, we have to adapt and think about how we can also increase our income. If we already have a business, we must continue to work hard to make our business more advanced and not lose out to competitors. Because I think currently natural law is returning to ancient times. If previously the strong were in power, now the rich are in power. So improving the standard of living seems to be an obligation in the current era.

I hope that you too, OP, can adapt and keep fighting and never give up. Stress is a common thing that many people experience. and I hope you quickly find a place to live that suits what you want.

The past few years after COVID-19 have been the absolute worst; everything keeps rising—petrol, daily groceries, electricity, housing—to the point where you're barely making ends meet. Just to imagine, I've been looking for an apartment for over 6 months and haven't found anything yet. Not only is there a very limited supply, but those available are either too expensive, poor, too small, or everything combined. Thus, this is creating a huge feeling of uncertainty, as time is running out and I need to get settled down. Renting outside of town in the nearby villages isn't ideal either, because petrol is way too expensive.

I'm not sure if anyone else feels the same, but this uncertainty with the increasing living costs and the ongoing rat race is causing me excessive stress. On top of that, moving out of the country doesn't seem ideal either, because most European cities are also suffering similar conditions, along with an extensive immigrant crisis (see France, Italy, Germany, and the UK). I'd be interested in remote working, but the economics field I've studied at university isn't in high demand for remote working, which often recruits IT workers and generally fields that require hands-on experience. As soon as I'm settled down, I'm considering taking up a data analysis course and finishing my master's degree in order to look for more opportunities abroad.

I don't know, but each year seems progressively worse. It wasn't that bad before COVID-19; now it's the ultimate worst I've seen, and it's about to deteriorate even further. Thankfully, this forum has been a blessing and probably the only thing giving me hope, as it has resulted in me making a decent sum of money in the process. I'm yet to start looking for a job, but salaries are relatively low, despite the increased cost of living. To make matters worse, excessive weather conditions due to climate change are happening way more often now, causing floods and wildfires and destroying everything in their path. See Libya, Greece, Italy, Spain, and many more examples.

Maybe I'm stressing out too much because I'm yet to find proper housing to establish myself again after being away for over a year in the military. I'm generally an anxious person myself, but does anyone else feel the same, and how do you deal with it? How do you stay optimistic?