Managing Money Stress

Life is uncertain in today's world and uncertainty breeds stress. The most prevalent stress revolves around money and only the top 1% earners don't have to worry about it. Everyone else has issues with it.

Donald Trumps states, in an interview with Robert Kiyosaki, "If you can't handle stress, you will never be successful." I think we can both agree, that neither of them will ever have to worry about money.

Fifty years ago an average family got along on one income. Usually the father had a full time job and the mother stayed home and raised the children. That was great back then, and our society was built around that model, where one parent would stay at home and look after the children until they were ready to go out and make their own way in the world.

However, times have changed. No longer can families survive on one income. In fact, it can be hard to survive on two incomes in some areas. We now see mothers with very young children going back into the workplace, having nannies raise their children, or leaving them in a daycare.

Schools are aware of working mothers but still operate on the expectation that a parent can help with homework on a daily basis; participate in school activities as chaperones and help round up exhaustive supplies for projects at a moments notice. (Children of stressed parents often procrastinate telling the parent that they need supplies for a school project because they are trying not to add pressure to their parent's life, thinking that somehow they can find the item(s) needed without bothering Mom or Dad who have enough to worry about, however, invariably they can't find what they need, and end up telling their Mom or Dad that they need something desperately "today for school" or they will lose marks... midnight trips to the superstore or drug store are a common occurrence in our household. Sound familiar?).

A vast number of families in today's world operate on a two (or three) income basis, but they are finding that that a double income is not enough to pay for children's sports, artistic endeavors, camps and healthcare. These extras have become a necessity to keep our young people involved in positive activities and off the streets. However, costs are rising for everything and the frugality of the 30's and 40's are not feasible. Remember when Mothers used to have time to garden, make preserves, sew, and even volunteer in the community? With both Mom and Pop at full time jobs, how do these things get done? They don't.

So, with no volunteers, services cost more. More income is needed to pay for these things. Who has the energy or time to take on a (another?) part time job to fill the slack? No one.

Not to mention with the uncertain times we face today, who feels secure in their job? Who doesn't experience stress?

Do you find yourself in this position? Don't despair. There is a solution.