Coping With An Unexpected Expense

Being in control of your finances gives you a feeling like no other. It allows you to enjoy financial freedom. Boy, it's a nice feeling! You can buy the things you want without worrying too much about whether it will leave you broke or not. It also means you can bring up your children in a more stable environment. You won't be counting every penny or have to scrounge for rent money. Remember, college is crazy expensive these days and when you have several children it's astronomical. So, when something happens that shakes up your finances, it can be a pretty stressful time.

These unexpected financial burdens can come in many forms. Perhaps you have an accident and are unable to work for some time, or maybe an old bill you never paid has come back around to bite you. Whatever it is, you may find yourself going into panic mode desperately trying to rectify the situation. The important thing to remember here is not to panic. Everyone has financial difficulties at some point in their lives, and this unexpected expense is just one of yours. Here are a few ways you can avoid falling into the financial rabbit hole and get you and your family back in the clear.

Dip Into Your Emergency Funds

If you are someone who is good with their money, chances are you have an emergency fund stored away somewhere. Dipping into it might pain you, especially if you have a healthy sum of money in there. But ask yourself what else you were going to use it for, if not for this purpose? 

If you don't have an emergency fund saved up, things can be a little more complicated. Check with family members and see if they may be willing to loan you money. It's not ideal but when push comes to shove it may be your last resort. 

Find A Way To Make Some Extra Cash

One way to get back into the clear is to find another way to make some money. If taking on more hours at your day job isn't an option, why not look into some side hustle options you can do from the comfort of your home?

Taking online surveys is one way to do this. There are plenty to choose from that pay quickly and upfront. Or, you could try renting out household items to local people who need them (think cameras, lawnmowers, etc.) or even selling crafted goods online.

Make Sure It's Something YOU Have To Pay

When something expensive happens, such as your car breaking, it can be easy to just rush to fix it so you can get back to normal as soon as possible. But, this can also mean that you end up paying for something you shouldn't. 

Before you hand over any money, check with your insurance company exactly what you need to pay for. The company or another third party could actually end up being the ones to foot most of the bill, so don't rule this option out.