My favorite place to work these days is our (the company that I work for as an RN) free stand ER (Emergency Room).
It is so different from the main ER in so many ways!
I feel right at home.
One of the things I like best about this free-standing ER is the opportunity to work with both kids and adults.
I also like to start IVs.
I’m one of those nurses who’ll be checking out the veins on your hand and wondering which size needle I use!
Recently though, I got the chance to start an IV on a child but chickened out at the last minute!
I lost my nerve.
It’s almost 8 years since I started an IV on a child!!
And it would be traumatic to miss on my first “pedi” patient.
I was really scared.
Sometimes we do the same with our financial challenges.
Worse yet, we pretend they don’t exist!!
In my previous blog, I wrote about the first step to financial success: setting up an emergency fund.
The second step to financial fitness is attacking each debt from the smallest to the largest.
Quite a number of people I know have debt in collections and are avoiding calls from these collectors.
Since launching my financial coaching practice, I’ve received several calls asking for direction on how to handle collectors and bills in collection.
These clients want to know if they should just avoid the collectors and wait for the debt to fall off their credit report in 7 years….
Absolutely not!!
The best thing to do is to over-communicate with your creditors and collectors.
Debt is not cool.
And it’s not a tool.
And if you’re having trouble managing your bills, it’s something to address…. sooner than later.
The pressures of debt have many ill-effects on your quality of life:
Anger, resentment, fear, conflicts, sleepless nights, anxiety, and depression.
While the opposite happens with freedom from debt:
You’ll experience relief, feel more accomplished, see relationships improved, have more cash flow, and be able to give more.
Since I declared war on debt late last year, I’ve knocked out 3 so far and should erase all but 2 by the end of this year.
That incredibly motivating!
Another thing I do is, set aside money for vacations, and pick up extra shifts at work to help cover the cost of travels.
Getting physically fit requires discipline and sacrifice.
Expect the same with getting financially fit!!
Don’t put off getting started on your debt snowball, AFTER securing at least $1000 in your emergency fund.
Getting started now will make a tremendous difference in your life!!
“Doctors know needles hurt. They give shots nonetheless. Why? Because they know that a little bit of discomfort up front leads to miracles down the road.” – Don Connelly
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Until next time…..
I look forward to hearing from you!!!
Althea
I help Busy Nurses & Professionals Become Good Stewards of Their Financial Resources, and Show Them How to Practice Wise Financial Discipleship to Create an Amazing Life and Thrive!
P.S. Financially, most of us know what to do; we just have trouble doing it. That’s where a coach can help. CONTACT ME for a FREE 15-minute consult.
