If you’re in the U.S. (or anywhere, really) and feeling anxious about the economy, you’re not alone.
Lately, something I say to myself almost every day is:
“Your mental health is more important than your financial health.”
Because when your mind isn’t steady, your decision-making, especially around money, starts to fall apart. The truth is, poor mental health leads to poor financial choices. I’ve lived that truth more than once.
This post isn’t about solving everything. It’s about the small, low-cost things I do to stay grounded when things feel out of control. A lot of this I learned from my dad, who was surprisingly good at keeping his head clear while also watching his wallet.
Be Selective with Your News
The way you consume news matters. A lot.
- Stick to fact-based sources like Marketplace on NPR
- Avoid rage-bait or endless hot takes
- Limit yourself to 1 hour of economic news per day
- Never consume it right after waking up or before bed
I used to listen to economic updates during my morning runs, thinking I was being productive. But I realized it was actually triggering me, and I’d carry that stress into the rest of my day. Now I just listen to the birds and catch up later.
Build a Simple Spending Plan
Stress makes it hard to think clearly, so make your plan before you hit crisis mode.
Here’s what our current plan looks like:
- We write our daily spending on the fridge
- We summarize each week
- We audit how we can reduce spending
- Then we rinse and repeat
That’s it. Super simple, super visual. And it helps.
Reintroduce Free (or Almost Free) Fun
Cutting costs can be demoralizing, especially when most of the "fun" things in your life require money. That’s why it’s so important to keep joy in the mix.
What’s worked for us:
- Drive or walk somewhere we’ve never been
- Pack lunch and bring our own drinks to a park
- Hike with the dogs
- Go out with friends, but eat beforehand and just order an appetizer
- Shop secondhand or go to garage sales instead of the mall
Honestly, I pretend I’m back in college sometimes. I think, what did I do for fun then? The answer is almost always: cheap stuff with good people.
Celebrate Small Wins
This part is so easy to skip, but don’t. Progress counts, even when it’s quiet and unsexy.
- A week of mindful spending? Celebrate that.
- A single day where you stopped yourself from stress-spending? That’s a win.
- A month of tracking spending on the fridge? Treat yourself.
Bonus Tools
A few more tools I’ve used at different times:
- Cash envelopes by category (food out, groceries, entertainment)
- Pocket notebook to track every dollar
- Sell unused stuff around the house
- Side hustles if you have time
- Meditation at least 3x a week
Final Thought
This isn’t a guide to building wealth. It’s a guide to building resilience.
None of this is easy. But there’s peace in knowing you’re doing what you can, with what you have, where you are.
“Take care of your mind, and your money decisions will follow.”