As inflation continues to rise, crypto markets crash and filling up at the gas pump makes you cringe, it’s no wonder almost all of us are experiencing some level of financial anxiety. But external factors aside, you may be practicing habits or thought patterns that make that anxiety worse. Are you contributing to your financial anxiety? Let’s find out.

Not Adjusting Your Budget

If you’re used to coasting with your budget on autopilot, it’s time to adjust it to reflect the current financial realities. Depending on how your budget is structured, you’ll probably need to allocate more for food and transportation and cut back on entertainment and discretionary spending. Once you have a clearer picture of where your money is going, you’ll feel more in control of it.

Not Keeping Track of Payment Dates

If you’re scrambling to make an online payment before the clock strikes midnight on your due date or missing payments all together, you’re putting yourself under unnecessary stress. The easiest way to manage recurring payments is to set everything up on autopay. If that’s not an option due to fluctuating income, sign up for payment reminder emails or text messages. Or set up your own calendar reminders to pop up a few days before payment due dates.

Over-consuming Financial News

It’s important to stay informed. But being on high alert to every market fluctuation or news story about inflation and gas prices is anxiety provoking. Stop doom-scrolling or seeking out news that confirms your worst financial fears. Instead, set up a designated time once or — at most — twice a day to check in on the news that’s important to you. There’s very little you can control other than your own personal finances, and getting upset, angry or frustrated about the state of the world multiple times a day doesn’t help you do that effectively.

Looking for Quick Fixes

When you’re struggling to make ends meet, it’s tempting to look for ways to make some quick cash or add valuable points to your credit score. Scammers know this, which is why financial scams multiply during troubled economic times. But remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

There are legitimate ways to make extra money or improve your credit score, such as Experian Boost, but you’ll want to be careful, do your research, ask questions, and listen to your instincts before committing to any new financial endeavors.

Not Saving for Emergencies

Much of our financial anxiety comes from fear of the unknown. You can ease those fears by setting money aside for emergencies. From vehicle and home repairs to losing a job, worrying about how you’re going to pay for the unexpected will always be stressful. Setting aside money to help pay for those unexpected events can help ease those fears.

The ultimate goal is to have enough money saved to cover 6 months of living expenses. But that will take some time and effort. If you’re just starting your emergency savings journey, focus on reaching the $500 mark, which is enough to cover many common emergency expenses, such a  minor home or car repair. Once you’ve saved $500, keep going. Knowing you have money set aside as a cushion is extremely helpful in easing financial anxiety.