10 Ways To Cope As A Breadwinner
10 Ways To Cope As A Breadwinner. Being financially responsible for the family’s survival can be daunting. Unfortunately, many people find themselves in this situation for some reason or another. If you’re one of these people, the following tips can be your survival mechanism.
1. Discuss Your Financial Goals
Making more money doesn’t have to cause frictions in the family. Make sure everyone discuss their financial goals and what they want. Money is simply a tool to help you achieve those goals, so make sure you get on the same page financially and feel comfortable in your roles.
2. Come Up With A Financial Plan
Draw a financial plan that respects everyone’s work and income. As the breadwinner, it may make sense that you pay a higher proportion of the bills, if not all of them. Whatever situation you and your family come up with, make sure you are all happy with it.
3. Budget Properly
Your expenses might exceed what you earn. So learn how to do proper budgeting, smart spending, as well as practical ways of saving and stretching your monthly income.
4. Borrow Responsibly
As a breadwinner, it easy to become over-indebted because whenever something unexpected arises and you don’t have money, you might be tempted to borrow. When the need arrives, borrow responsibly and make sure you can afford to pay back that money come month end.
5. Don’t Overwork Yourself
Some sole breadwinners have been known to work themselves to death, signing on three or more jobs at a time for true enough. There are those who are able to pull it off, while the more ordinary human beings succumb to human limitations like fatigue, stress, over-exhausted mind and weary soul.
6. Be Clear With Your Family
Talk to your family about what you need emotionally and financially and set expectations about housework. Whatever it is you need and want, these roles need to be clearly communicated. Remember, your family members are not mind readers.
7. Ask For Help
Present dependents must be proactive in assisting the sole breadwinner as soon as they are able. In some cases, the breadwinner might be forced to ask for assistance here and there. You need to be helped in putting food on the table and keeping everyone safe and warm.
8. Know Your Limits
Being the sole breadwinner for the longest time and not foreseeing a change in your situation will eventually lead to a breaking point. Playing the hero all the time comes with a price, which is true not just in movies and comic books, but more so in real life. Sit down with all family members to make a plan with the goal of initiating change in the financial status.
9. Don’t Use Money As A Form Of Power
When you make more, it can be easy to feel like you have more power when it comes to decisions. Wrong! If you want peace in your family when you make more, you can’t use money as a form of power when it comes to decisions, purchases.
10. Don’t Neglect Yourself
Being selfless isn’t a bad thing, but only if it doesn’t get in the way of self-care. You should always try set aside whatever time you can in your day to make sure you’re getting the care you need. Reserving time to do this can also help you keep a clear mind so you can deal with everything else you need to.
