Depression is a major health issue that can impact all areas of our lives — including how we feel about and manage our money. Given that estimates of depression rates run as high as one out of three U.S. adults, this is surely an important topic to consider. If you or someone close to you is dealing with money depression or has mood issues that interfere with their financial management, you know how challenging this situation can be.
Keep reading for insight into how to manage finances when feeling depressed or stressed about money. Among the topics considered:
• Is there a correlation between money and depression?
• Tips for handling your finances when you are dealing with depression.
Is There a Correlation Between Money and Depression?
There’s the old saying that money can’t buy happiness, but there actually may be a correlation between having less money and experiencing depression. Depression is a mood disorder that involves constant feelings of sadness and can make a person experience a lack of interest in and enthusiasm for life.
Studies have shown that having a lower income is a risk factor for depression and that having a higher income can protect against depression. How? When someone has a higher income, they can reduce stressors. They likely don’t have to worry as much about paying bills and managing debt as those who have less money do. They also have the financial resources necessary to pay for the healthcare and treatment that can help with depression.
Tips to Manage Your Finances When Dealing With Depression
If you are experiencing depression, it may make it difficult to focus on managing your money. That symptom described as lack of interest in life may make it hard to prioritize finances or focus on wrangling them.
What’s more, financial worries might negatively impact your mental health. In these situations, you can consider taking the following steps to manage your money better when dealing with depression.
Apply a Helpful Budgeting Model
Budgeting can be a way to take more control of your finances and can help you figure out what your next steps can be to meet your financial goals. To create a budget and stay on track, you can tally up how much you typically spend in a month and subtract that number from how much you earn after taxes. You can then create a spending plan that helps you spend less than you currently do. Or you might integrate financial goals like saving for a down payment or paying down credit card debt. Having a strong budget in place can make it easier to know where you stand money-wise and keep finances organized. You’ll have a good idea of exactly where income is coming from and where spending is going.
There are different types of budgeting methods that can work well, but much depends on what will suit you personally. There are pros and cons to budgets, so if one method doesn’t work for you, don’t feel defeated. Instead, see if another budgeting method might work better. One to consider is the 50/30/20 rule.
Talk With Financial and Health Specialists
No one has to navigate depression or manage their finances alone — it’s always a good idea to ask for help if you feel you need it.
If you need help with your finances, you could work with a financial advisor to help you manage your money and make the right decisions to meet your financial goals. Delegating in this way can be helpful if you are feeling as if you don’t have the focus or expertise to do this yourself. It might be a positive move to let someone else handle these functions. A certified financial planner (CFP) is a great option as they can help you create a budget and make long-term plans for your financial life. If you are looking to invest, you can work with an investment advisor or a certified financial analyst (CFA). All of these professionals can help you learn the most important finance concepts needed to better understand how to manage money. It’s easy to feel like you are “bad” at managing money, but the truth is no one teaches us how to handle our finances. It’s not as if we’re taught any money management tips as a college student. Bringing in a trained professional can help.
Another important angle is to consider consulting your doctor or health insurance provider about mental health resources that may be available. These services may help you manage and improve your mood. There are mental health specialists who focus on helping people who are depressed about money. If this describes your situation, you might search for a therapist with those qualifications to get help with your money depression.
Another option: Contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline which is a free, confidential treatment referral and information service that is available 24/7, 365-day-a-year.
Tackle Your Debt
It’s easy to see how having debt can bring a lot of financial stress and anxiety into your life. Not only can debt result in high interest charges, it can hurt your credit score. When creating a budget, going beyond just minimum credit card payments and making extra or higher debt payments can help pay down debt. It’s possible to work with a credit counselor to make a plan for getting out of debt. This may help alleviate depression about money to some degree.
Employ an Emergency Fund
Having an emergency fund at the ready when unexpected expenses arise can make those moments much less stressful. Medical bills, car issues, and home repairs can come out of nowhere. If possible, it’s a good idea to carve out a little extra room in a monthly budget to contribute to an emergency fund. That way, if emergency expenses do arise, turning to a credit card or loan won’t be necessary. Experts recommend that people aim to have several months’ worth of basic living expenses in an emergency fund.
Utilize a Savings Account for Future Progress
Alongside an emergency fund, it’s wise to work on building up overall savings. Making financial progress feels good; it also helps us work towards larger future goals and provides a buffer if and when a budget feels a bit tight. It’s possible to open a high-yield bank account that offers interest on savings, so your money can grow over time.
Take It One Step at a Time
Navigating managing money while struggling with depression can be challenging. In this situation, it can be helpful to be patient with yourself as you work through your mood and financial goals. Taking things one step at a time can help you make steady progress without feeling overwhelmed.
The Takeaway
Struggling with feelings of depression can be challenging, especially when you are trying to navigate money matters as well. Take small steps towards gaining financial control by creating a budget, working with financial and mental health professionals, and creating an emergency fund. These moves can help alleviate financial stress that can contribute to depression and also help you manage your money wisely.
To make managing money easier, consider banking where product features are designed to help you get the very most out of their money. That’s what we offer here at SoFi. Open our Checking and Savings with direct deposit, and you’ll enjoy access to your paycheck up to two days early, plus earn a competitive APY. Your money will make more money, and you won’t pay any account fees either.
FAQ
Is it normal to get depressed over money?
It can be quite normal to experience money depression because of financial issues. Studies have found that having a low income is a risk factor for depression. Having a higher income has also been found to help protect against depression by reducing stressors and providing social resources. Plus financial resources may also be used to pay for treatment for existing cases of depression.
What does financial stress look like?
Financial stress can look like other major forms of stress and can impact someone’s physical and mental health. This, in turn, can diminish their relationships and quality of life. Someone experiencing financial stress may feel ashamed, scared, or angry, and they may lash out at their loved ones. Financial stress can lead to feelings of depression as well.
What do you not say to a financially struggling person?
There are no hard and fast rules for what someone should or shouldn’t say to someone feeling depressed about money. Try to be sensitive to their situation. Don’t diminish their emotions and make it seem as if it’s simple to overcome their issues. Be compassionate, and offer support when possible.
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