Financial health can be as important as physical health when determining your well-being and happiness. Financial health is defined as “the dynamic relationship of one’s financial and economic resources as they are applied to or impact the state of physical, mental and social well-being.”
Many have been dealing with the loss of income during this time. Some of us have been decreasing our spending with more time at home, less outside entertainment and dining, and lack of work commute. However, some people have noticed an increase in their spending habits due to more online shopping.
So how can you better manage your finances with all these changes? Here are a couple of ways to improve financial health:
- Learn to monitor your credit – the website annualcreditreport.com is now offering free weekly online credit reports from all 3 credit bureaus until April 2021. Usually, this is only offered once per year, so this is a great opportunity. Checking your credit report does NOT affect your credit score. This site does not provide your credit score; however, with online shopping increasing and identity theft rampant, it is good to get in the habit of monitoring your credit report at least once per month. It’s a perfect time to learn how to read your credit report and see changes over time.
- Budget – in order to effectively save money, you first need to keep track of your income and spending. There are a variety of free online tools and apps to assist you with your budget, such as NerdWallet and Mint. Sticking to a budget can help you eliminate debt and have an emergency fund on hand. If you are feeling overwhelmed with information, a great place to start is Money Smart KC and this article.
The library has lots of amazing books, ebooks, and magazines on finances for all ages, knowledge levels, and stages in your financial health. Access Hoopla and Flipster for literature on many financial topics. It’s never too late to start minding your money!
Ellen’s picks:
- Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine on Flipster
- You Need a Budget by Jesse Mecham
- 5 Laws of Credit by Brian M. Clarke
Have Questions? Want more info? Contact the West Wyandotte Library’s Education Librarian, Ellen Collins, at ecollins@kckpl.org.