7 Ways to Come Back after a Financial Setback ...

To come back after a financial setback, you need to get organized and assess the damage. Pull out your credit card bills and other statements to see where you stand. This is an excellent way to determine how much you owe, and once you have these figures, you can determine the best way to get your finances on track.

Different things likely contributed to your financial crisis. To get on the right foot, review your current budget. Determine how much you're bringing in, as well as your expenditures. Getting on track may involve cutting expenses from your budget. This way, you can free up cash and put this money toward any debt. Consider where you can cut expenses, and then establish how much you will spend on categories, such as transportation, groceries, entertainment and miscellaneous shopping.

What are your financial goals? For example, if you accumulated a lot of debt during your financial crisis, you might develop a debt elimination plan. This might involve negotiating a lower interest rate with your creditors, paying more than your minimums and cutting up your credit cards to avoid future charges.

Keeping your creditors in the loop is another way to overcome a financial crisis. If you cut the lines of communication and stop paying your bills, creditors might take legal action. They may send your accounts to collections or seek a judgment against you. However, explaining your situation and working out a new payment arrangement might keep your account in good standing, wherein you can avoid collections or a judgment.

After you cut unnecessary expenses from the budget, take steps to build your cash reserve, if possible. Ideally, you should set aside at least 10% of your pay. But if you need to, you can set aside less money. Building an emergency fund can help avoid future financial crisis. If you lose a job or have another unexpected expense, money in the bank can keep your head above water.

The truth is, your salary might not be enough to come back from a financial setback. Therefore, explore additional ways to bring in cash. Maybe you can work overtime at work, or get a part-time job after work. Also, you might explore turning a hobby into a side business. Options might include a babysitting service, lawn care, freelancing, office cleaning or completing other odd jobs around your neighborhood.

In most cases, you didn't get into a financial crisis overnight. Therefore, you shouldn't expect overnight relief. It takes time to bounce back. So, don't get discouraged. Realize that it will take time to truly get your finances on track. Stay focused and determined, and you can reach your goal.

A financial crisis can be devastating, especially if you've always been responsible with your money. Unfortunately, life happens. And despite your best efforts, situations beyond your control can occur. Just know that with a doable plan you can overcome a setback. What steps have you taken to overcome a financial setback?