Money ranks as one of the top stressors for people, so we tend to take it as just a consistent part of life. But dealing with finances does not have to be a battle with a scary money monster. Below are a few simple habits you can choose to start today to help reduce money stress.

The first step is to understand when and where your money is coming and going. You can review your income, bills, and monthly expenses in minutes to help keep track of your finances. Try doing this every week and see if it helps with stress. You could invest some of your time in writing a budget in a notebook, spreadsheet, or free budgeting app. Then, the information is easily accessible whenever you need it.

Go slow and controlled. Hurrying your steps or trying to change everything all at once may make things more stressful and could increase the chance of errors. Focus on practical and realistic goals. Small steps are the way to go. A small win or a big win is still a win!

Here are a few suggestions to get you started on goal setting:

• Balance your bank account

• Create a weekly finances appointment with yourself

• Find one idea to save money this month (I skipped Door Dash deliveries)

The word “budget” gets mentioned a lot when trying to figure out finances, and that’s because it works as long as you work it.

Again, start off with a simple spending plan and leave room for flexibility within your budget. We all know that surprise expenses can pop up at any time, so don’t box yourself in with a restrictive plan just yet. First, lock in your priorities like rent, utilities and essential bills. Then you’ll have more of an idea of what you can spend on entertainment, savings, or even an emergency fund.

You don’t need to flip your world upside down to create a money plan that will work for you and keep stress at bay. Keep it simple, take it slow, and make manageable and intentional changes to build a foundation of consistent and healthy money habits.