How Do Finances Affect You?
Allison Pawlowski
Money can be a taboo subject, too sensitive for people to talk about. Even if you are close to talking with others, money is not a subject people tend to discuss. As a student moving out of home though, it can be hard to figure out how to be in charge of your finances. Without talking about it, you start to stress and feel like you are struggling through alone.
But you aren’t the only one feeling stressed about money. The American Psychological Association did a survey in 2018 to see the stressors of Americans and found money as being the most common. 72% of Americans have stressed out about money in the past month. Part of the stress is because many people don’t have retirement savings or emergency savings. Some people avoid going to the hospital when they are sick or injured because they know they cannot pay for the service or medication. 31% of people have trouble in their relationships because of money. Being financially unwell can be damaging to other aspects of your life because of the large impact on your attitude, abilities, and health.
Finances should be treated like your health. If you are feeling shaky with your situation, find trusted help to look and see how you can feel better. Financial wellness is being financially healthy and making responsible/knowledgeable decisions to decrease stress. Finances are a major part of life, and becoming independent is difficult. The balance between the two is a challenging transition. But there are people around to talk about how to ease the stress about finances. The UNT Student Money Management Center helps students understand their financial situation and gives advice of how to be more financially responsible. Money shouldn’t be a taboo subject, it is something that brings us all together. Talking to someone at the UNT Student Money Management Center or with someone you trust is the beginning to take control of your financial situation and increase your financial health.