by | March 30, 2023
Self-care may be equated with doing things to recharge, like exercising and getting rest, but two other aspects of life can benefit from some TLC too: your home and your finances.
Focusing time and energy on these areas can help you feel more comfortable and secure, and ultimately happier — and all it takes are a few updates or habit changes. Read on for tips on how to refresh your home and establish a healthy money mindset.
Money can be one of the biggest sources of worry and stress, especially if you’re having trouble keeping your finances balanced. A good first step is getting organized and setting yourself up with simple systems to track your spending and saving. It’s helpful to enlist a financial planner you trust, who can guide you in making money moves focused on increasing income, paying down debt, building wealth or protecting your assets.
Your net worth is an accurate measure of your wealth. You can calculate it by subtracting your liabilities (what you owe) from your assets (what you own). Once you have this number, calculate it quarterly or every six months. Seeing how this figure increases or decreases will help you make smart financial decisions.
Eliminating uncertainty around your credit score can give you peace of mind, which is why it’s a good idea to look at your annual credit report, a compilation of your history of managing credit and paying off debt. It includes information such as how much debt you've accumulated, how you pay your bills (on time or partial payment, for example), whether you've filed bankruptcy, whether you've had a home foreclosed or vehicle repossessed, or if you have a lawsuit judgment entered against you. Once you have this, you’re able to verify the information or dispute inaccurate data. This is key because banks, retailers, potential employers and landlords may review your credit report and score to evaluate your creditworthiness before they do business with you.
One way to protect your wealth is to create a plan and an estate planning team. You’ll need at least three pros:
A fresh coat of paint or a new accent piece can be an easy, wallet-friendly way to give your home — and your mood — a boost. Color psychology has shown that the shades we choose in our homes impact our emotions, feelings and actions, so be strategic.
Houseplants not only beautify our rooms and potentially improve air quality but, according to studies, they may also deliver health benefits like reducing stress, increasing productivity and improving memory retention and concentration. If you’re new to plant care, you may want to choose low-maintenance greenery like a snake plant or pothos. Anyone with animals at home should look for pet-safe options like a Boston fern or a ponytail palm.
Taking stock of your stuff is a feel-good activity; it’s satisfying to purge all the items you no longer need. Even better, it’s also a chance to return borrowed items to owners, donate to charity or make extra money reselling the unwanted clothes clogging up your closets.
— With additional reporting from Life and Money by Citi editors.
The content reflects the view of the author of the article and does not necessarily reflect the views of Citi or its employees, and we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information presented in the article.
