Last week we talked about celebrating financial victories. Unfortunately, the flip side of the coin is financial missteps. Our debt counselors know that a bad decision or a lack of knowledge can snowball into a big financial disaster. Let’s take at a look at how to evaluate financial mistakes and move forward in the right direction.
Follow ACCC’s tips to fix financial mistakes.
Making a Plan After Big Financial Mistakes
Most people can look back in their life and spot the times when they made some mistakes regarding their finances. It can range from failing to budget, not saving enough or relying too heavily on credit cards. Don’t feel too bad about this- it happens to everyone. However, the real test comes next: how can I recover and avoid this in the future? Not only is there a need to resolve the immediate aftermath, there is also an equally important need to correct whatever led you to that mistake. So if you have lots of credit card debt, you’ll need to stop using them and create a debt management program.
If you find yourself in debt or not where you want to be, take some time to look at your habits.
- Do you have a budget that you follow?
- What about specific financial goals and the steps to get there?
- Does your income cover your monthly expenses? Do you supplement your lifestyle with credit cards?
- Do you know how much a new roof or car will cost? Are you saving for it now?
- Are you trying to keep up with the Joneses instead of living within your means?
A great way to help evaluate your financial situation is to go through a free credit counseling session. This session, led by a certified credit counselor, will go through your entire budget. As a result, you can see where you are overspending and what you can do to get your finances in order. They can create a get out of debt plan for you using a Debt Management Plan (DMP).
Whether you do it on your own or seek out a professional, it will help to identify areas of improvement. If you struggle to save or struggle with shopping, this is how you can start learning more about yourself. The more you know, the better prepared you will be to fight those impulses and bad behaviors.
Finally, once you can recognize your missteps, you can now move forward with good financial habits and a clear path.
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
