Identify Your Money Management Problems

The first step to fixing your finances is being totally and completely honest about your relationship with money. What's holding you back from being financially fit doesn't just have to do with overspending or being unable to save, it's about understanding the underlying reasons why you might having problems with money. Add these money hang-ups to the stress of raising a family during a recession and it's enough to make you not want to deal. But you have to! And I'm here to help!

So, honesty time here: What are your money problems?

• Do you spend more than you have?
• Do you have loans with balances that never seem to go down?
• Do you live paycheck to paycheck?
• Do you stress that you won't be able to provide for your kids?
• Do you have too many credit cards?
• Do you not balance your checkbook and are constantly overdrawn?
• Do you find yourself spending money on things that you know you shouldn't?
• Do you not know how to invest your money?
• Are you too overwhelmed to deal with your money issues so you avoid them?
• Do you constantly wish you had more money?
• Did how you grew up affect the way you view money now?

By writing down and facing your fears, anxieties, and tendencies surrounding money, you give yourself the power to change bad financial habits—habits that are holding you back from achieving your money goals.

Find out how to solve your money management problems with more financial advice from our personal finance expert, Carmen Wong Ulrich!