I recall a sustained period of financial struggles this year. Nothing really severe but one that required personal discipline and some strategic thinking to overcome. I fell into some mandatory obligations that needed to be met and couldn't quite wriggle myself out of it in one fell swoop. Currently am completely out of it but the experience has left behind some lessons.
One thing that I found uncomfortable is how disruptive debt and obligations can be, even the mild ones. It presses makes us completely abandon other interests until we are off it. For me it meant really cutting down on expenses and choosing instead to prioritize fixing my finances to a position I was more comfortable with and settling off hanging obligations. It was no small sacrifice and lasted for almost four months. With each month there was the temptation to simply break momentum splurge.
Now that am out of it the goal is positioning to a stage that such an experience does not reoccur. It's not the first time I've experienced financial challenges but I believe each phase serves as a reminder that finances are no joke. I love the independence that comes with it and would not trade that off for some social welfare program. Yet I also admit the many heartaches and anxiety that accompanies our everyday choices.
My conclusion is that unless you've managed to find financial freedom, money will always continue to be a source of anxiety. It does not necessarily get better as we age also, and acquire responsibilities along the way. The solution is not to live in anxiety, or pause living and give up quality of life but to have a silent regard for money as an important tool that must be understood for the stability and prosperity we seek.