One should be prepared for bad times. Nothing in this world stays the same as you desire. Many of us face life's hardships and unseen challenges and suffer from financial instability. No one has ever seen the future, but at least we can prepare for such uncertain times.
This article will help you manage emergency funds and stay in debt with professional guidance.
Be honest with yourself and consider your current financial situation
Assessing your current financial status is one of the most important steps to stabilizing your finances and preparing for the uncertain times and scenarios ahead. By analyzing and calculating your current situation, you will know which area of your life you need to focus more on, whether it is paying off debt, topping up your credit score, etc. Once you have a clear window on your assets and liabilities, it will be easy for you to manage your funds.
How to calculate and evaluate these numbers now? You don't have to mess with the calculations. Start by calculating your source of income. Are you an earner who lives paycheck to paycheck, or do you have a side job and an extra source of income for your cash flow?
The next step is the cost analysis. Now expenses can be of different kinds. First, there are basic expenses, no matter how much you must pay them, such as bills, kitchen expenses, fuel, etc. The second type of expense is spending money on meetings, parties, etc.
This will help you take a closer look at what you spend your hard-earned money on. Once you understand this, eliminating unwanted expenses and managing your finances will be easy.
How can you protect yourself from bad times
Time never stays the same, so be practical and don't think about having a fantasy life if you live paycheck to paycheck. Here are some ideas to help you stay energized and funded even in the worst of times
Get ready for the upcoming battle
Only God knows what will happen. Then you can win the lottery, become a millionaire, or be tested by God and go bankrupt. Always hope for the best, but you should prepare for the worst. You should build up your emergency funds.
Most people think that keeping 2% of your salary next to a jewelry box in your closet is an emergency fund to help you out in bad times. It is not. Emergency funds are built by opening a new bank account that no one can access and knows about except the person making the deposit. This emergency acts as a protective shield in uncertain events.
Look for investment opportunities
Don't be confused by the word "Invest." We do not provide any financial advice on investing your entire income in stocks or cryptocurrencies. Try to research the market and news daily; some new currency or store will take advantage of it. The company that owns the new coins offers airdrops for people, sometimes, they are free, and sometimes they cost as little as 0.000001 per token. If you see potential in cash or stock, you can invest $50-100 in it, and who knows what you'll get in return in a few years.
Build different streams of income
If you rely on only one source of income, you are one step away from poverty. Uncertain times and unpredictable moments can change everything for you forever. In the worst cases, people must sell their assets, even houses, to escape the mess.
So don't wait for something bad to happen. You should start the hustle on the side and do what you want to do. Create a YouTube channel, create Facebook reels, and explore Forex, Crypto, and stocks.
Reduce your credit score and pay off your loans
In the US and many European countries, borrowing is expected. Even students are offered loans for further studies but do not know that they are dragging them to hell. Interest rates and hidden fees make it difficult for a person to repay. If you are in this situation, your best bet is to flatten your debt before investing in building emergency funds. Glad you cannot repay the loan or maintain your credit rating; start investing your money instead of buying clothes on credit to look fake rich.
Getting help from a financial adviser
Feel confident in seeking help from others or financial advisors. The role of a financial advisor in your life can have a huge impact on your financial decisions. You should contact a financial advisor who will protect you from bad times. But if you're stuck in some problematic financial situation, there's always time to ask for help. The basic function of the advisor is to protect the person from paying unwanted taxes and to provide him with an appropriate financial plan with a limit to cover his income stream.
Plan a few years from now
Investing and planning are two different terms. People invest in stocks, hold them for a few years, and call it a long-term plan. Unfortunately, long-term planning means where you see yourself financially after 2-4 years.
For this, you don't need to invest money if you don't have any. You can use your resources and income stream to achieve your goal. You can start doing side business based solely on commissions. You don't need to own the product; you can do affiliate marketing on social media platforms. You can even rent an extra room in your home. No energy is required to perform these activities.
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Whether rich or broke, bad things and uncertain times may knock on your door before you realize it, but don't worry. This article describes ways to save lives and help build financial security.