From Nathan Dungan creator of Money Sanity U®
Wind the clock back three months and the concept of receiving a stimulus check due to a global pandemic would have been something out of a sci-fi movie. And yet, this is our current reality.
Before this event, the only time most of us received unexpected money was landing on Treasury Chest while playing Monopoly. The concept of a stimulus check can trigger a range of emotions, often influenced by your current financial and vocational status: still employed, furloughed, or unemployed.
For some people, this stimulus money might come at just the right time to help cover basic needs. Others may have more freedom about how to allocate these resources.
Your first impulse on how to use extra cash might not be your best choice. It’s good to step back and consider how you can use the stimulus money to reduce anxiety and improve your wellbeing.
Your best decision will be based on the facts of your current financial circumstances. In these uncertain times, there are important questions to ask:
-
What’s your current “money-in, money-out”? In other words, how much do you make and where does it go?
-
Since the coronavirus pandemic began, how have those numbers changed? How might those numbers change in the future?
When you know where you stand with your money, then you can begin to prioritize how to best allocate resources.
If you and others in your family receive stimulus checks, now is the time to begin discussing possibilities. We all have patterns in how we talk about money, and often we live in the extremes of SILENCE or LOUD VOICES around money. This is a great opportunity to find the sane middle and step into a positive financial CONVERSATION.
Consider these three options:
Spend
Create a list of ways you might spend your check. You can include immediate needs like food, mortgage/rent, or other bills or wants, non-essentials. If you’re discussing this with a partner or family, it might be helpful for each person to create a list, then compare results.
If you decide to spend some or all of your stimulus money, fine-tune your plan. For example, are you able to purchase items from local businesses to help them in this difficult environment? Consider buying meals from nearby restaurants hit hard by the economic downturn. Or what about purchasing gift certificates from your favorite local businesses?
Save
Think about what future needs or wants might motivate you to save your stimulus money. Perhaps you will want to invest in a longer-term goal like a college fund, retirement, car, or vacation.
If you choose to save, consider the best place to safeguard your money so you aren’t tempted to use it for non-essentials. A savings account is likely better than a checking/debit account.
Share
A final option is to donate some of your stimulus check. There are needs everywhere, but you might choose to create impact nearby. Give to charities providing food for local families or to other organizations providing much-needed resources in your community.
To further your conversations, use these questions:
How confident are we about our money-in, money out? What additional information do we need?
What financial adjustments have we made because of the coronavirus? What changes do we anticipate in the days, weeks, or months ahead?
