Changing your financial mindset.....

I believe this is a great topic follow-up to your feelings about yourself and your debt.  I say that because many times when people feel so ashamed of debt they will not ask for help or they have a difficult time receiving the help.  When the mortgage crisis started many people had to ask for help who never experienced a financial hardship before.  People from all walks of life were on the same page of confusion as to who to pay, what to pay, and how could I have made such a bad decision.  People who made more than enough money were living on credit, based on choice and now they are trying to figure out what to do now.  There were also those who now depended on their credit cards to maintain a standard of living.  Your FICO is a very important number, but it is not worth more than you, you are more than your score.  Your score can always be changed with time, but if you think less of yourself for it you will have a more difficult time resolving the issues.  When you have a decrease in income, but the bills remain the same you have to make a decision based on priorities.  If you are a parent, the priority is your family and you make decisions based on their needs.  Being a good parent, but not being able to pay all yours bills, doesn't make you a bad person.  You have to check pride at the door, accept where you are and move forward. Your priorities should be based on your needs not wants.  If you can survive without it, that is not a need.  You must change your spending habits to match your current financial status and not remain in the previous financial world.  You must shrink your budget immediately.  When you do better you can get those things back, but also think do you really want or even need them back, in an effort to begin saving.  We were on this earth a long time before we got all these new technical things and luxuries.  Remember I am here to help your along every step of the way at Renew Financial Consulting!