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Got Money Stress? These 5 Financial Habits Can Help You Feel More in Control

If money is the universal language, then you definitely want to speak it fluently. But to master the most important verbs — like “budget,” “save” and “invest” — you first need to get comfortable with the basics of money management.

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Learning the fundamentals of managing your money — from building a workable budget to understanding essential personal finance concepts — will help you feel less overwhelmed and more confident about your financial future. Think of it like learning any language: Before you can dazzle a crowd, you have to master the basics.

If you’re feeling stressed about money now, these five habits will help you gain control and reduce that stress.

The idea of a “relationship with money” may seem odd — after all, don’t you simply want more of it? Not so fast. The messages you received about money growing up can continue to shape how you think about it, spend it and save it — or don’t.

If you watched your parents play fast and loose with their finances, you might have adopted the same approach. Or perhaps you veered in the opposite direction, becoming so tight-fisted with your funds that you avoid even productive risks, like investing. Maybe your household had very gendered expectations about who earned and managed the money, and you’ve internalized these roles more than you realized.

Regardless, understanding your financial mindset is the first step toward changing unhealthy patterns and reducing stress.

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Stress often comes from the unknown. The more you know about money, the less intimidating it becomes, and the better equipped you’ll be to make smarter choices and feel in control of your money.

Got a library card? A favorite podcast app? A social media account? Then you have free ways of accessing financial experts and information, from basic terminology to step-by-step guidance on budgeting, saving and investing. You can learn at your own pace and on your own terms, making the process far less overwhelming.

You might think that a budget is simply a spreadsheet that tracks your expenses or an app that tells you what you’ve spent. It can be those things, but it can also be so much more: a powerful tool for achieving your financial goals.

To create an actionable budget, you’ll want to first calculate your income, including earnings from your main job, freelance work or side hustles. Then categorize your expenses into fixed costs (which stay the same every month) and variable costs (which fluctuate, like groceries and entertainment).

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