The pandemic was hard on almost everyone’s finances. From job loss to accruing additional debt, we’ve really gone through the wringer. Now on the other side of the pandemic it’s important to re-evaluate our financial health.

If you are struggling with making your minimum payments on your credit cards or paying down your student loans, here are a few tips to get your finances back on track.

1. Develop A Financial Growth Mindset.

Fostering an abundance mindset around your finances, by reading books and listening to podcasts, can help debunk your money blocks. If you’re looking for a good read, Rich As F*ck: More Money Than You Know What To Do With by Amanda Francis is a good starting point. She helps you overcome any beliefs around money that aren’t serving you and open your mind to energetically attract abundance.

The Lucky Bitch Podcast by Denise Duffield-Thomas, author of Get Rich Lucky Bitch! Release Your Money Blocks and Live a First-Class Life, has nice short episodes if you want a five-minute fix.

2. Sell Things You No Longer Need and Marie Kondo Your Life.

It’s easy to accumulate a lot of stuff and maybe you don’t really need it. Start with your wardrobe and see if there’s some clothes you can sell on Poshmark, or maybe you have some old furniture you could list on Facebook Marketplace. Not only does it feel good to de-clutter, you can use the money you make to put towards debt or things you actually need. If you need help with de-cluttering, you can read, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art Of Decluttering and Organizing”, by Marie Kondo. Or, If you aren’t a big reader, Marie Kondo has a series on Netflix.

3. Explore A Minimalist Lifestyle.

After you de-clutter, instil a minimalist mindset when you are shopping and re-decorating. When you are buying clothing, look for good quality basics and build a capsule wardrobe with pieces you can wear over and over. Not only will it be easier to get dressed in the morning, but having less really is more. If you haven’t yet seen the documentary, The Minimalists, Less Is Now, on Netflix– go watch it! Here’s a peak at the trailer. Not only can you save money, having less makes you happier too.

4. Cultivate A Side Hustle.

Do you have a hobby that people would pay you for? I have multiple side hustles. I do photo sessions, background acting and writing blogs to name a few. What talents and hobbies can help you earn a little extra income? If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a list of 50 side hustle ideas.

I also recently discovered an app called Instawork, where you can book shifts for anything from manual labor, warehouse work and bartending.

5. Pay Cash or Debit For Everything

This might seem impractical, but when you can pay for something without going into debt, you will be more conscious of your budget. That can also mean waiting until you do have the dollars in your account before you make a purchase. This can eliminate a lot of unnecessary spending and make you value what you do choose to buy. The pay later plan is a slippery slope and interests rates on credit cards are so high it makes it almost impossible to pay off.

If you do need help managing your debt, you may need to speak with a debt counsellor. Click here to learn more.