Life is full of setbacks, and in these uncertain times having just one thing go wrong can set everything off the right track. Whether you’re just starting out after graduation, or you’re a fully established presence in the business world, a financial disaster can impact both your personal and professional life. When these setbacks occur, it’s important to stay calm and assess your options. Different situations have different solutions, so here are a few examples.
Divorce
Even if a separation is amicable, making it official is costly, and emotionally draining. But once everything has been divided, and you are certain about what is yours, you need to reestablish credit in your own name. First, ward off any potential credit problems by getting rid of all joint accounts you had with your former spouse, and build up your new credit by making sure to pay all your bills on time. If you don’t have a lot of credit in your own name, try building it up by applying for a secured credit card, which requires you to pay cash upfront for a credit line.
Find out where you stand financially by getting reports from the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — via the government-mandated site, AnnualCreditReport.com. If you spot any credit errors, write to your creditors or the credit bureaus and dispute any mistakes.
Debt
Having a lot of debt is probably nothing new to a Millennial, but that doesn’t make it any easier for anyone to live with it. Fortunately, if you’re patient and you stick to a thought-out plan, you could eventually free yourself from the grip of debt. Ask yourself the following questions to assess your situation:
- What are your remaining assets?
- How much money do you owe?
- How much income do you bring in each month?
- How much do you spend?
- What is your credit score?
- Are they any long term implications to the financial disaster (alimony, health issues, I.R.S. liens) that must be included in your recovery plan?
Once you’re familiar with your situation, you can begin to make a realistic repayment plan. If you need some help with this, get in touch with a money mentor who can point out other solutions. T may also be a good idea to set aside some emergency funds in case another setback occurs while you’re making progress with your repayments. Even if it takes you years, you can use these steps to free yourself from debt.
Medical Bills
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Medical problems can come in a variety of forms. If you work as a self-employed freelancer, or in hospitality, taking a few days off sick can set you back in shifts and leave you short of your rent for a month. More serious injuries and illnesses that lead to hospital stays will certainly lead to unexpected bills.
Recovering from these bills will put a strain on your finances for a while, but if you tighten your belt and employ the same steps you use to recover from debt, there’s a good chance your finances, and your health, will recover. Sometimes it helps to reach out to your bank and asking for a short reprieve. If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no.
If you have an ongoing illness or handicap, and feel you need more aid to recover financially, you could find a disability lawyer to help explain your options.
Unexpected Job Situation
Jobs aren’t as dependable as they once were. Sometimes you chose to leave your job, and you have emergency funds in place while you job hunt. Other times, you find yourself without a job, just when you’re starting to get your finances back into order.
If you’re in the latter situation, you really have no time to wallow in your disappointment. Clarify with your soon-to-be-former employer, how much longer you will be staying on, and if you will be paid for the time you are still an employee. Once you know how much longer you will have money coming in, spend your free time sorting out your resume and securing references. In this case, the best way to financially recover from losing your job is to make sure you get another one lined up as quickly as possible.
Bankruptcy
Nothing feels quite as shameful and humiliating as having to declare bankruptcy. There is a horrible stigma attached to declaring bankruptcy, as though you were solely to blame for not paying your bills on time. But unfortunately, despite our best efforts, sometimes it’s impossible to pay off your debts. You’re not alone. A May 2011 survey from FindLaw.com indicated that one in eight adults in the U.S. — about 13 percent of the population — say they’ve contemplated bankruptcy.
However, instead of wallowing in feelings of failure and disappointment, you need to start looking into how you can turn your situation around. As difficult as it may be, you have to look at your situation objectively in order to identify what led you to this point. Only by understanding how you got here, can you begin to make an effective plan to recover from bankruptcy. Set a budget and stick to it, avoid payday loans, find a way to rebuild your credit, and be sure to monitor your credit reports regularly.
Foreclosure
Between 2007 and 2011, a record number of homeowners went through foreclosure, and there are currently 798,495 properties in the US that are in some state of foreclosure. If you’ve recently lost your home, you’ve probably gone through most of your savings. Once you’re set up someone, either with family or in rented accommodation, the best way to recover from foreclosure is to rebuild your savings by creating a ‘rainy day’ fund. Even if you’re happy to be renting for the rest of your life, having an emergency savings account can go a long way to helping you gain back some financial stability in case of other setback.
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