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My Organized Family
This is a month we have lots of family gatherings, family reunions, camping trips, vacation planning and celebrating the month of freedom.
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Tips, Checklists & How-To's |
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Are Your Finances Making You Sick?
Vickie Hansen
Founder and CEO of Organizing Network, Inc.
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According to the National Institute of Health, 80-90% of all illnesses are caused by stress. Money is a major source of stress. Some people are stressed because they dont have enough money, while others are stressed because they fear losing the wealth theyve amassed. With a sluggish job market and an all-time low in national savings, its no wonder individuals and families are stressed out.
Financial stress can lead to heart disease and high blood pressure. Stress also contributes to significant costs for American industry in the form of absenteeism, reduced productivity and workers' compensation benefits. It is estimated that stress-related disorders cost American businesses over $150 billion annually. [Stress is Problem for Most Americans, Research Alert 1996; 14(21):1.]
I had a client who wanted my help getting her finances in order. She told me she had all her finances in a filing cabinet, so I told her to bring all the files she had. She was stressed and embarrassed about her mess of papers. I told her my story about an accumulation of medical bills I had in the past and I could relate to her pain. With a hug and smile, we went to work.
Each file was sorted. She had lots of statements of one bill and about ten envelopes for the same bill. I consolidated one statement and one envelope that was due and tossed the rest. Previously when she looked at all those envelopes she thought she had to fill each one. As I threw old statements and old envelopes away I could see the relief on her face. She knew she had debt, but now she was beginning to feel in control. She was finally forming a picture of exactly how much debt she had, and then she could set goals for becoming debt free.
There is too much stress for one person alone to manage the household finances. Couples or families should work together as a team. Share the finances and set goals - weekly, monthly and yearly goals for purchases that you or your family will make.
Getting organized helps you understand your current financial situation, which is key for reaching your financial goals. But doing it together is better than tackling it alone. Financial communication in a marriage and family is vital in getting organized, removing financial stress and making life easier.
Working on your finances together, as partners and families, is a great way to learn, communicate, and grow together. When partners share the same wants, it is easier to accomplish the needs to get you there. Finances can often become the greatest source of difficulty and stressful in any relationship. I challenge you to prepare together, work together, organize together, and ultimately achieve your goals together.
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