Coping with Financial Stress as a Family

What can families do to emerge stronger than ever during these difficult financial times?  The families that tend to do best discuss their problems openly and work together to find solutions.   

Have family meetings.  Share ideas on how to economize within your own family.

And then, help each other to learn to live within the family budget.

Find age-appropriate ways for children to contribute to the good of the family. Let them help out with household chores.  Continue to make sure that they do well in school.  Keeping family rules and routines are especially important during stressful times as they provide stability and reassurance to children.

Let this be an opportunity for the family to come together to explore options and solve problems for the benefit of the family.  Working together will help to relieve emotional distress, increase a sense of control over the situation, and bring families closer together.