We need to rethink everything!

How tired are you of hearing the word "unprecedented"? Do you wish you had never heard the phrase "social distancing"? Remember when one of our biggest concerns was cutting back on the use of plastic straws?

As surreal as this new world is, we are all learning that our lives won’t go back to how they used to be, but that we will need to move forward into a new way of living. We are not quite certain if face masks will become a casual and expected part of our outerwear, like hats, or gloves in winter. Or, what if we continue to have dedicated tape lines on the floor to stand on when we are waiting in line? Will we always need reminders not to get too close to one another? How quickly our lives have changed.

So how do we navigate this new world? I’m sure you’re as concerned about the economy as I am, and more so, your personal finances. We need to rethink everything, but especially our financial plan, starting with what is most important for us to survive in these trying times.

Let’s take a deep breath and realize that there are a lot of things that are not within our control. On the flip side, we ARE in control of so much still. As women, our minds automatically go to the health and safety of our families. I have some suggestions for how we can get through this, and it boils down to controlling those things that are most important to us. Here are some ideas you can implement to create a sense of normalcy for your family.

Stick with a Routine

Establishing a routine is so important, especially when you have children. It helps them know what is coming next and gives them a feeling of security in their day.

Prioritize Healthy Meals

Coming together at prescribed times of day gives us the opportunity to make healthy eats, chat with one another and provide sustenance that will nourish our minds and bodies.

Share Your Feelings and Your Time

I shared with my husband that I’ve had a headache almost every day – and I never get headaches. He suggested we turn off the news (which I have on all day, every day) and we started doing 20 minutes of yoga and 10 minutes of meditation. We are both fairly new to this, but we know we need to take actionable steps toward managing our stress. That and watching HGTV together are currently working for us! What can you do to share more with your family?

Make the Most of Your Money

Many of us received a stimulus check; others applied for small business loans (some were lucky enough to get them, but many were not). We need to look at our own finances and minimize expenses so that we can stretch our incoming funds as well as emergency funds or savings we already have. We must do this until we learn more about the future of our jobs, income, schooling, childcare, healthcare…everything that has been tossed into the air like a 52-card pickup game. Except that this isn’t a game.

Draw on Past Experience

I have been through a lot of periods of uncertainty in my life. There were times when I’ve not known where my next meal will come from! Long story short, I worked through it and survived. If I can get through that, I know I can work through this. So, fall back on those times you’ve worked through struggles and came out on the other end. How can you apply what you learned before to what is going on with our finances during coronavirus?

Here are some actionable steps you can take right now:

• Get a solid understanding of the money coming into your household and the bills you need to pay. Here's a tool to determine Where's Your Money Going?
• Review this list of 50 Things You Can Do Now To Minimize Expenses
• Schedule dedicated time to sit down with your partner or others in your household who have a role in financial decisions and decide where you can cut or limit expenses.
• Put a monthly financial plan in place, work the plan and then come together to see how the plan is working and if you should make additional adjustments.
• Food, shelter, healthcare and transportation costs are the primary expenses that should be attended to first.

We got this – one day at a time!

Follow Purse Strings on all social media (@pursestringsco) to get tips and tricks that will help you feel financially fearless.