End Financial Stress Now: Immediate Steps You Can Take to Improve Your Financial Outlook

by Emily Guy Birken

Overview

End financial stress for good and learn how to manage your money—without a change to income!

Studies have shown time and time again that money is a leading cause of stress—but a life free from financial worry isn’t exclusive to the rich and powerful. End Financial Stress Now gives you practical, actionable instructions you need to improve your money management—no matter what your income level is. You can learn how to achieve the mindset of financial flexibility, which can help you navigate any money issues you face.

These practical, step-by-step instructions on budgeting can help you track expenses, pay off debt, and save money. Featuring straightforward advice on how to increase self-discipline so you can stick to your budget as well as techniques to help you identity misinformation and false beliefs you have about money, you can follow this guide to create a fulfilling life free of financial stress.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440599132
Publisher:	Adams Media
Publication date:	05/09/2017
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Emily Guy Birken is a finance writer who writes the “Live Like a Mensch” column for The Dollar Stretcher. She is also a contributor to Wise Bread, PT Money, Money Crashers, Yahoo! Finance, and Business Insider, and many other personal finance sites. She edits and writes for the FinCon blog, an annual conference for financial bloggers. She is the author of The 5 Years Before You Retire, Choose Your Retirement, Making Social Security Work for You, and End Financial Stress Now. You can visit her at SAHMnambulist.blogspot.com.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 7

Introduction: The End of Your Money Worries 9

Part 1 Redefining Money 15

Chapter 1 What Does Money Mean to You? 17

Chapter 2 Understanding Opportunity Cost 27

Chapter 3 Understanding Your Mental Accounting 41

Part 2 Economic Reasons Why We Struggle with Money 57

Chapter 4 How Scarcity Affects Your Decisions 59

Chapter 5 The Cognitive Biases Causing Your Financial Stress 73

Chapter 6 Our Fear of Loss 91

Part 3 Psychological Reasons Why You Struggle with Money 109

Chapter 7 Money Scripts 111

Chapter 8 The Destructive Nature of Should and Deserve 131

Chapter 9 Small Barriers 143

Part 4 Achieving a Stress-Free Financial Life 155

Chapter 10 Finding Your Breathing Room 157

Chapter 11 Budgeting with Your Psychology in Mind 173

Chapter 12 Increase Your Level of Self-Discipline 193

Chapter 13 Letting Go of Financial Resentment 209

Conclusion: There Is a Path Out of Financial Stress 219

Further Reading 221

Index 232

Editorial Reviews

"Emily Guy Birken tackles the reasons why money matters are often so stressful and provides straightforward, practical advice for improving your financial outlook — without increasing your income."

HuffPost LIFE

"What Emily will help you do is make peace with money. And that’s priceless. You’ll reduce stress levels and improve your health and relationships. It’s a realistic plan that doesn’t make big promises, and that’s why I like it. I appreciated the very specific advice Emily gave readers on what they could do to reduce their stress ... Everything she suggests is doable and will have an immediate impact on how you feel. If you’re ready to do the work to understand why you are stressed about money, pick up End Financial Stress Now and give it a read. Better yet, read it and do what Emily suggests. Turn off the TV, stop scrolling through social media and devote some time to taking care of you. Invest in yourself because you’re worth it."

Women Who Money

"End Financial Stress Now ... proposes a reassuring remedy for any cash-related worries that may be haunting your thoughts ... .An eye-opening new take on an age-old subject. Instead of dispensing one-size-fits-all advice ... Birken offers a variety of possible ways to approach this important task ... .Birken’s book may be the solution you didn’t know you needed to avoid stress in the first place. As a bonus, it also doubles as a fantastic introduction to the basics of personal finance for teens and young adults."

Better Investing Magazine

"Emily takes you on a journey to really understand where your financial stress comes from, and how to overcome it. This book has the answers. Even if you’re still working through some of the basics, this book is worth checking out. You’ll learn more about the reasons behind your behavior and feelings, and this book will help you gain control over your financial life."

Chief Mom Officer

"This is a super interesting read for those who like psychological hacks. If you want to get out of your own way and fix your money, pick up a copy today."

Femme Frugality