Money on your mind? How to tackle financial anxiety

Published: 19 Dec 2022

Meet our Aviva Expert: Debbie Bullock

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Transcript 

Hi, I’m Debbie Bullock, wellbeing lead at Aviva.

Managing your money can go a long way to helping deal with rising prices, but it’s not uncommon to worry about money issues. So, here’s a few ways you can deal with both:

First, managing your money

Stress and mental ill health can make it harder to look after your money. Avoiding looking at your finances can be a coping mechanism. Instead, make sure you know how much you’ve got coming in and how much is going out. A budgeting plan can help you understand your spending so you can take control.

Secondly, speak to the companies involved.

Sometimes the best way to confront a problem is head-on. If you’re struggling to pay bills, rent or make credit card or loan repayments, then speak to the providers. They may be able to compromise and come to an arrangement with you.

You should also seek help with debt.

If you’re in debt, then form a plan to manage it. There are free debt advice services such as Citizen’s Advice Bureau, and some are available online. These are friendly, non-judgemental and could suggest ways to deal with debt that you might not be aware of.

Remember to consider mental health support.

Just like we can get professional money advice, we can also get professional support for our mental wellbeing. This can help you with anxiety over money or any other worries. Your GP is a great place to start – they’ll be able to point you in the direction of these services or talk you through other options such as medication.

Finally, speak to friends and family.

Bottling things up only makes things worse. Try speaking to a friend or a loved one if you’re worried about money. You might find you feel a lot better, and they can help you work out some potential solutions. There’s no shame in talking - remember, a problem shared is a problem halved.

Return to helping you manage your money

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Debbie Bullock – Head of Wellbeing

For Debbie, workplace wellbeing means the physical, mental, financial and social wellbeing of colleagues. And understanding how that’s affected by a workplace’s culture and the ways people are allowed to do their jobs.

Three things Debbie couldn’t live without:

  • Family and friends (“I’m lucky that my family are close both geographically and relationship-wise, and that I have top-notch friends”)
  • Live events (“I love theatre, comedy and particularly live sport – rugby league’s my thing”)
  • Baking (“I’m a keen amateur baker, and I find it helps my mental wellbeing. And I love sharing food with others as an expression of care and love.”)