5 Powerful Money Moves to Feel Safe in a Crisis
The Day My City Went Dark: Facing Hurricane Helene
On the evening of Thursday, September 26, 2024, I didn't sleep a wink.
For the previous two days, every time I looked outside my window, all I saw was rain. As I watched the creek behind my house fill up, I felt sick to my stomach thinking of my entire back yard and home flooding. I felt helpless and knew there wasn't anything I could do to change the outcome.
The next day, my city lost power, water, and the internet. My home was spared but so many homes were not. Most stores and gas stations were closed and those that were open only took cash as payment. I had no idea that day how the trauma of Hurricane Helene, that began on Friday, September 27, 2024, was going to unfold and affect me and thousands of others in the coming months.
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How the 2024 Election Changed My Perspective
Fast forward to Election Day on November 8, 2024. I went to bed that night hoping with every part of my being that this country would elect the first black American female president in history. Instead, on the 9th, I woke up to a different truth. The truth was that 77,302,580 people voted for a man who lies, cheats, has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honor and no grace.
Now, on March 5, 2025, I find myself moving through fear and anxiety on a daily basis as I read about how our government is being dismantled at break neck speed. It's too much to take in. My nervous system is stressed daily and I do the best I can to keep it regulated.
Our landscape is shifting faster than ever before. I recently had a dream where I was worried that the water spots on my living room ceiling were growing so fast that I thought my roof might fall in. When I woke up, I looked up at the ceiling and everything was fine. But I felt nervous anyway.
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How do you prepare for economic security during uncertain times when all you see is chaos around you?
How do you create a feeling of safety and resilience when you read about millions of people who aren't going to receive the aid they need or that civil servants are losing their jobs for no apparent reason and with no notice at all?
As of late, I've had people reaching out to me asking what they can do to feel more safe and secure in these unprecedented times.
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Financial Resilience in Uncertain Times: 5 Actionable Steps
If you're looking for ways to practice resiliency during these times of uncertainty, I've got a few ideas.
These tips are in no particular order. In my opinion, they all equally matter. Take the ones you like and leave the rest.
Take a break from doom-scrolling - Let's face it, with a full 24/7 news cycle available to us, we are taking in WAY too much info on a daily basis. Our nervous systems were never meant to deal with this much information download, let alone when we find ourselves unconsciously doom scrolling.
Set a daily time limit for your news intake from credible sources and then let it lie. Trust me, you're not going to miss much if you take off a few days. Your spirit and mind will thank you.
Financial resilience tip: Secure your money in local banks and credit unions for better access in times of crisis. Why this matters - if things go bad, and our world closes down, you'll want access to your money. The closer you are to your money, the better. Hometown banks, or community banks or credit unions, tend to be more locally focused, understand the needs of their communities economic situation, and are less likely to take on risky investments.
Also, ask your bank about their 'off-banking' process. This is a process where banks are temporarily unable to operate normally often due to a large number of withdrawal requests (bank runs) that threaten the bank's solvency. As a customer, you deserve to know how this process works. If they don't have an answer immediately, keep asking them.
Focus on what you can control. How you begin and end your day matters. How and when you move your body matters. The food you feed your body matters. You have more in your control than you realize. It's up to you to prioritize your own mental and physical health and wellbeing.
If this feels hard, it's ok. Start with the basics. Choose one thing a day to focus on. For today, practice saying out loud one thing you have in your control and commit to it for the rest of the day.
Stay connected with loved ones. As a single woman, I regularly reach out to my friends, family and network to help me keep my brain above water. Shoot, everyday we are presented with a thousand new things to worry about. When I talk to people who care about me, it helps me feel connected to them and I realize we are all in this together. That gives me a sense of belonging and it soothes my stress.
Prioritize quality sleep. No matter how stressful your day is, the one thing we all have in common is we must sleep and allow our bodies to rest. We've all heard the experts tell us why it's so important.
Let me offer my reason. When I put on clean pajamas, slip into bed, and feel my toes gently rub across the soft sheets, I immediately begin to relax. It sends the signal to my brain that I'm safe, warm, and supported by the lovely springs in my mattress. When you go to bed tonight, let your senses of touch, feel, and scent waft you to sleep.
The list of tips is endless, so just for today let's focus on these five and see how it goes.
Remember, the only thing we truly have control over is how we choose to react to the world and situations around us. Nobody ever won an award for “BEST HANDLER OF ALL THE SHIT THAT HAPPENED TODAY”. At least, not that I know of yet. Maybe tomorrow will prove me wrong.
None of us know what the future holds. My favorite saying each day is, “one moment. one day.” Honestly, that's all we have. This minute right now is the most important minute of my life. How could it be any other way?
Happy resilience practice, my friend!
💡 What's one thing you're doing right now to build resilience?