Today is a time of great uncertainty in our world. This situation is stressful, daunting and uncertain. It is easy to get stuck in a news cycle loop and when when the fog lifts, wonder where the time has gone. I have all those feelings too. We are a double-Boeing family. Our industry has been completely disrupted. The company, the airline customers and the people who's livelihoods are tied to travel and aviation.
At times it feels heavy.
These are uncertain times. You can worry or you can make a plan. You can spend all day reading the news, or you can take one or two small steps today towards your future.
Like I tell my children, every day we are presented choices. Today we have the choice to panic and worry, or dream and plan for the future. This is your life, your path. So you get to choose.
Today, more than any time I can recall before, there is an abundance of time. Time for your family. Time to cook a meal. Time to bake cookies. Time to plan for the future or learn a new skill. Time to read a book. Time to work on your resume.
When the realities around you are overwhelming, remember to plan your itinerary. What are the one or two small things you can do today?
Need help getting started? Here are some ideas below.
Start by managing your finances from your home:
Start with the big drivers.
Refinance your mortgage: rates are at all time lows. You can save hundreds of dollars per month. With compound interest and a 30 year period, you can save tens of thousands of dollars. Drop me a note if you need a name (no affiliation just the name of the guy that keeps winning our business). Are you a renter? Think negotiation and see if you can get a better rate. If they won't budge? Maybe they'd agree to it on a temporary basis.
Insurance expenses: see if you can get a better rate on your insurance package. Compete it.
Evaluate your subscriptions: Everything these days is subscription based. Netflix, Spotify, wine delivery, clothing, online storage. These things all add up. Decide what you do and don't use first. Then when you look at what you don't use, decide what you do and don't need. Differentiate between the must haves and nice to haves. Make like Marie Kondo and keep the little luxuries that spark joy.
Big purchases: put most big purchases are on hold (sorry neighbors, we are our own landscapers...). But if you have a solid rainy day fund, it might become a good time to find good values. For example, it is notoriously difficult to buy a house in Seattle, but if your finances are still rock solid, you likely have less competition when we can leave our homes again.
If you have lost your income: call your credit card companies and ask for deferred payments on and temporarily waive interest. Here's an article to help. Take note of the credit card company responses and who you want to keep doing business with in the future.
Like these ideas?
Come back tomorrow for ideas on developing a new skill. Better yet, subscribe.