money worries

[Ballerina123]

I'm currently have some financial difficulties.

Does anyone else get really stressed out about money and not having enough?

Sometimes the stress can cause me to be mentally unwell and triggers my depression and psychosis.

Anyone else get this?
Any ways of dealing with it?

[HildaOgden]

Hi,

I get stressed about finances and not having enough.
Do you know what your exact income and outgoings are? May be you could do yourself a budget?
Or could you ask your CPN for help with this?

[lozza]

I often find myself in the same boat. I find making budgets helpful and also having accounts where I cant get money out of instantly unless I go online and transfer the money.

thinking of you

[Angelina]

Definitely YES.

I have 2 bank accounts, one for Rent money to make sure I have enough and another for living money. It helps me know exactly what I can and can't spend because I used to find myself 'borrowing' from my rent money and paying myself back with living money but obviously this kept me falling short and in the end turned out to be a terrible idea - so 2 bank accounts it is.

then i figure out how much i have a week, sometimes i am still crap about finances lately so sometimes i have to be mega strict. In these instances I will get $20 for the week. (cant find the pount sign on keyboard), anyway, this helps me see EXACTLY what I've got.

I've also started doing stuff like little life hacks of a stingey person.

When i go to the park now, I fill a flask with tea or coffee from home so that I dont need to buy any from the park.

rollie are cheaper than cigarettes if youre still struggling with smoking.

The library is a good place to go and hang out if you want to go out but dont have the money for Costa. I just read or sit in the window seat and look out.

My hobbies are pretty cheap in that I bought some cheap books to read, and a drawing book and a sudoku. It's one out payment for entertainment, BUT thats me sorted now for like 3 months. Amazing.

I walk everywhere i can, or if im goign into london i try to avoid the tube and just walk everywhere from the main stations that means one train in and out for the whole day out.

---
My main way of combatting the effects of financial issues on my health is by organisation - and being a cheap skate!!! I find the withdrawing a cash allowance for a set amount of time the most useful method though.

we also used to 'borrow' toilet rolls from public toilets like Tesco or shopping centre when we were desperate money wise. (they never got them back lol)

[Crazy Cat Lady]

Hi,

You are certainly not alone. I'm 23 and still live at home with my parents; they still support me, pretty much in everyway and due to the fact I'm unable to work, it makes me feel useless for not having money to contribute to the running of the house. I am on ESA and that helps slightly but as I'm sure you know, it doesn't go far at all. I often feel very stressed about money.

Can you talk to your therapist about this?

x

[Patent Pending]

Hi there,

Yes, I get very stressed about money - I'm 25, live on my own and haven't worked properly in over a year.

As others have said, budgeting and planning are the only things that get me through it might help to search online for organisations in your area who offer budget and money advice.

I also find getting a set amount out each week allows me to know how much I have to spend.

I also find it difficult that when I get stressed about it I tend to get impulsive about spending money and spend more of it, which gets me more stressed :P

x x x

[Ballerina123]

Thanks guys that was really helpful. I think im gonna have to only take out what I can afford for that week/day in order to manage my funds.

Sorry you all struggle to.

[Pi.R^2]

I'm a massive money flid, even now when I have no legit money woes, I still can get myself into a right state about it and no one is allowed to speak to me about money for like a day :P

What helps me is planning out the next couple of months and working out what money will be coming in, what definitely needs to go out, and what is left over, then plan what I'm going to do with that.

In terms of saving money, I think everyone else has said all the things I would have said!

[Enthused]

I can't even check my own bank account for fear of what is in there, money is evil

[Ballerina123]

I'm going to start money planning tonight thanks. I think if I know where I stand ill be ok.