6 Do you worry about money? More than eight in 10 U.S. adults do, the American Heart Association reports. And too much stress can affect your physical and emotional health, as well as your bottom line. When financial worries overwhelm Overwhelming stress, no matter the cause, takes a toll on the body. It can cause physical and emotional symptoms, including: • Sleep problems and fatigue • Headaches • Gastrointestinal issues • Increased risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease • Depression and anxiety • Anger and irritability Unchecked, these symptoms can damage your relationships and lead to unhealthy coping strategies, like drinking alcohol, gambling, or overeating. Save more, stress less: Strategies for financial wellness Have a long-range savings goal. Setting aside six months of living expenses as an emergency fund is a good goal. Consider having a portion of your money automatically deposited to a savings account each month. Set small goals. Small changes can add up. For example, removing one nonessential expenditure, like a daily stop at a coffee stand, can give you a few extra dollars each week to put toward a debt. Make a realistic budget. You’ll want to prioritize essentials like housing, groceries, and healthcare, of course, but it’s OK to allow yourself a few extras, if you can. Reducing extra spending is often crucial to improving a financial situation, but a toostrict budget may backfire and lead to impulse spending. Track your finances. Carefully examine your income, spending, and debt for at least one month. Review your bank and credit card statements and keep notes or receipts for everything you buy. This step will give you a better sense of where your money goes, as well as help you start to feel more in control. Boost your financial wellness Financial worries may not always be avoidable. But there are strategies you can use to make your finances — and your stress — more manageable. Whether you’re dealing with last holiday’s credit card debt or other money problems, these tips can help get you started:
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