Debt stress relief?

[liveandchi]

When your finances are completely stressing you out, what do you do to get relief? I need to find something to help counter this stress or I'm going to die from the stress.

[Tree0164]

My main stress reliever is exercise.

Try going for a walk, taking a nice relaxing bath. Listen to your fave CD and dance like crazy. Don't think about money or your finances during that time.

I know you have been going through a very rough patch with your finances-so major hugs to you. It is not easy. How about posting your goals and budget again.

[PrincessPerky]

Well aftert I throw the checkbook and rant and rave, then I go find a free fun activity with the kids, and maybe remind myself how I really have it good.

Restarting the prayer before meals helps me keep in mind that yes lots of people do not have food period, so even if it was only a 1$ and I had to work on it (ugh cooking in heat!) it was better than many.

If you have a positive budget, then a splurge may be in order (small splurge) I think we have a thread about home spa type stuff, most of that is rather low cost so you can do it even if the budget isn't positive yet. (Mine is in the black, but all extra loot goes to the CC)

I also stop saving in one spot, like computer, I know having it on for most of the day costs, but.... I like my computer! In the winter it was my shower, every time I took a super hot not to short shower I knew I was splurging . Gotta take joy in the little things, that and my family is all I have.

[pennywise]

Stay focused on your goal; to be debt free. Ben Franklin said "let the borrower go sorrower". Did you know that Ben also said "it is better to go to bed hungry than to wake up in debt". He would eat 1/2 his ration to save a penny. In fact, that is what I did, focused on my pennies. Can you get another part-time job to help pay off debt faster? Get the family on board and run the house efficiently. That is where most waste comes from. Do you NEED cable? Remember, NEEDS VS WANTS. WANTS tend to have us justify. You CAN do it, hang in there.

[Bluezy]

Hug a baby. The love of a little one cures everything.

[esmeralda]

Do anything that is free and have an absolute blast. This proves to me that I'm not tied to my debt and that I can have a life without paying for the activity. I feel like I'm bucking the system in a financially subversive way. Usually, the best solution is something physical to get me out of my head and back to planet earth. Something that gets me away from the computer and out of the chair in the office.

I focus on my pets, talk to them, brush them, whatever works. Think about cleaning the house. Taking a nap. Organizing all the stuff I currently own and vowing not to purchase more. This helps me take inventory of what I already have while calculating how much time I've spent acquiring and maintaining it. (But then my blood boils sometimes. Not good if you have hypertension. Might want to avoid.)

Above all, just have faith that somehow it will all get better if you are working on it. To quote a cliche...time heals all wounds....

[singinjeannie]

I found some relief by making a get out of debt plan. It is going to take me a long time - i.e., 3 to 5 years, but I will be out of debt one day. This gives me hope and helps me know I'm going in the right direction.

I'm very broke now, but I won't always be!

[Jorge]

Write it down. EVERYTHING... so that you don't have to carry it around in your head and then go do something for you - just you. Buy a box of baking soda to put in your bathwater with one or two drops of essential oil (make sure it's a type that can be put in bathwater safely) or go draw something - explore your artistic self ... it's something you can do really cheap. Create a mural out of stuff in your house.. focus on creating and then your left (worrying) side of the brain gets shut out of the picture.

[pennywise]

Jorge: great idea on the drawing. Any other suggestions. I suffer with constant worry and fear of being poor (silly with the money I have, but it can be lost in a flash). I never thought of that as a cure for depression, worry, fear, social phobias, etc. Keep up the good work on suggestions. This can be done on an envelope that will be thrown out from junk mail.

[Jorge]

Oh man. That's quite a lot to carry around. Why are you so afraid? I mean, what's the worst that could happen? I understand, though, I worry about our economy going down the tubes and having to go through the Depression all over again, or I think about the folks on the street, but I think if we work at keeping up friendships and create a support network, some of that worry goes away. Finding people that one can depend on takes effort and there are only a handful of people I KNOW I can count on, but I get a lot back in return.
Do what you can do to protect yourself: umbrella policy that covers any gaps, life insurance, disability insurance, will or trust, etc., etc., but we all have to live for today. Even if we HAVE money, WE may not be here tomorrow, you know? Better to live each day to its fullest. Easy to say, I know. You'll be great, I know it.