3 Proven Ways to Stay Positive About Your Finances

It’s Look on the Brightside Day. Sometimes, the best way to approach a situation is with positivity. This is especially true when facing money issues. A defeatist mindset won’t necessarily keep you from reaching a financial goal like paying down debt or saving for retirement, but it can hinder you along the way through discouraging thoughts. Below are a few ways you can stay positive and motivated about your finances.

How to stay positive about money matters

1. Have a plan

A journey can seem daunting if you don’t know how you’re going to reach your destination. This same logic applies to financial goals. Say, for example, you’re living paycheck to paycheck and want to break the cycle. There are many steps you can take to accomplish this, such as evaluating your spending habits to see if there are opportunities to cut back. Brainstorming these steps will help you visualize a path forward and hopefully reduce any anxiety you may be feeling.

2. Get help

Don’t go it alone if you don’t have to. There are tools and resources available to give you a leg up as you work to change your circumstances.

General Electric Credit Union (GECU) operates under the philosophy of Improving the Quality of Financial Lives, which is why we offer the following to members:

• Skip-a-Pay. This program allows you to skip two loan payments per calendar year. When you opt to skip a payment, its due date gets pushed one month forward, giving you more time to come up with the money. Full details can be found here.
• Debt Management Assistance. Our professionals will analyze your situation to determine if debt management assistance, offered through a local partner, is the best choice. These services come at no cost to members.
• Balance transfer. Consolidate high-interest credit card debt onto one of GECU’s low-rate cards. In doing so, you’ll gain access to 0% APR for 12 months and simplify the debt payoff process.¹
• Money Management. This budgeting app helps you see how much you’re spending and in what categories.

3. Shift focus

Fixating on things out of your control won’t get you anywhere. If you aren’t where you need to be on retirement savings, focusing too much on how behind you are will only make you more worried. Instead, direct your attention toward what you do have control over: your finances moving forward. It’s never too late to start toward a better future, and you can take the first step today.

With the right tools and support, you can successfully reach financial goals. Take advantage of all the resources GECU has to offer by becoming a Credit Union member today. You’re eligible for membership if you live, work, worship, or attend school in select Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana counties.