All too often, it’s at the end of the holiday season when the money worries really start to sting.
The gifts have been given and the gatherings have started to peter out. But in the slower stint between Christmas and New Year’s, the stress caused by looking back on financial choices begins to collide with that linked to planning ahead.
“It’s almost like a hangover,” says Brandon Welch of Newport Wealth Advisors in San Diego. “You’re left in this kind of limbo where the fun is over and now you’re thinking about New Year’s, and resolutions are top of mind.”
The economy hasn’t helped. It’s been a year dominated by fears of recession, interest rate risk, layoffs and a stagnant housing market. While 2024 looks like it has the potential for a turnaround, political and economic uncertainty loom.
To help tackle some of the financial stress that can creep up at this time of year, Bloomberg News asked financial experts for their best tips on dealing with triggers relating to past, present and future money worries. Here’s what they said:
Grapple With the Past
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One of the most important first moves involves figuring out what sort of financial stress you’re feeling in the first place. This is deceptively challenging because we typically aren’t taught to identify the complex emotions money can trigger, says Kristy Archuleta, a professor of financial planning at the University of Georgia. We know we feel “good” or “bad” or “jealous” about money, but these broad labels can obscure more complex emotions, especially when we’re around family and outside of our normal routines and comfort zones. Failing to identify what we’re feeling makes it hard to find solutions.
Take financial jealousy. Archuleta points out that at this time of year, we might be home looking at our richer neighbors thinking we feel jealous, but are unable to mitigate the emotion.
“Actually, you may not be feeling jealous. You may feel resentful of your neighbors because they have something you don’t have and you’re trying to play that down,” she says. “And when you try to play that down, you’re actually disappointed in yourself that you feel that way.”
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A part of breaking the cycle involves being honest with yourself about what you’re feeling, even if you wouldn’t normally consider yourself the type of person who feels resentful.
Another very common emotion around year-end is regret. Karen Ogden, a partner at Envest Asset Management in Dorset, Vermont, says it’s crucial not to dwell on feelings that arise from decisions you wish you hadn’t made but now can’t reverse.
“It’s easy to ‘Monday morning quarterback’ and say, ‘I shouldn’t have done that,’” she notes. “But it’s wasted time.”
Instead, Ogden recommends trying to find lessons learned from past mistakes as well as taking solace in at least some of the positive financial developments this year. For instance, higher interest rates mean your savings will likely have gone up at least a little, she says. And many 401(k)s performed well.
Do the Boring Stuff Now
It’s a common frustration for people who finally decide to get their accounts in order ahead of the new year. They clear a few hours, grab a cup of coffee, and sit down ready to put together a financial plan, only to spend the whole time trying to find their retirement-account passwords or old tax documents.
Advisers say the often slow period between Christmas and New Year’s is a great time to set aside for the boring but important administrative tasks like downloading or updating financial apps, registering for accounts and getting referrals from friends and family for professional help.
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“Just compile all the things you own and owe and where they are,” says Brittany Brinckerhoff, a financial adviser at Hilltop Wealth Advisors in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. “I would suggest doing that before you even start thinking about what you want to accomplish next year.”
Brinckerhoff also says late December can be a good time to take stock of subscriptions you haven’t used or that have raised their prices lately.
She notes that some credit card companies and budgeting tools can help you find recurring charges and cancel those you no longer need.
For the Future, Think Small
Having big goals is all fine and well on the couch during vacation, but advisers say you’re more likely to stick with smaller, more tangible targets in the year ahead.
“Come up with a plan and break big goals down into smaller pieces,” says Carla Adams, founder of Ametrine Wealth in Lake Orion, Michigan. “Put reminders on your calendar, including a reminder mid-year to check in and see what you’ve accomplished thus far and what you need to do to get or stay on track.”
Adams also recommends people act fast if they want to improve their savings habits before the year begins in earnest. Those who were lucky enough to get pay raises or bonuses would be wise to stash them away early, she notes, so “it's out of sight, out of mind.”
