A recession can cause layoffs and market volatility, so it’s normal to panic a bit.
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That said, letting fear take over can also lead to money decisions that hurt you in the long run. So here’s what Dave Ramsey thinks you should do during a recession so that you can stay in control of your finances.
Keep Investing
“If you’re a real investor, you don’t make decisions based on headlines. You think long-term,” Ramsey said in a recent Facebook post. “The only people who get hurt on a roller coaster are the ones who jump off in the middle. Stay in. Keep investing. You’ll be just fine.”
Instead of panic selling your entire portfolio at a loss, use dollar-cost averaging to keep investing through market ups and downs. Of course, everyone’s situation is different. If you’re in your 20s, a downturn can actually work in your favor. But if you’re planning to retire soon and are worried about your life savings, you may want to talk to a financial advisor for more personalized advice.
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Get On a Budget
If you don’t have a plan for how you’re spending your money now, a recession will decide for you later, and it’s typically not in the way you want. On the Ramsey Solutions blog, Ramsey suggests that you start by listing out all your sources of income and subtracting your monthly expenses so you know how much you’re working with.
If you don’t have enough left over each month to cover the basics, see what spending you can cut to get more breathing room in your budget. And if you haven’t already, start tracking your spending using a budgeting app so you know where your money is going each month.
When you can live on less than you make, you’ll be much more prepared in times of crisis, whether that’s a recession or a job loss.
Try Not To Panic, Focus on Your Finances Instead
It’s natural to worry about how a recession is going to affect your finances. But constantly panicking won’t do you any good. Rather than get worked up, channel that energy into action.
Ramsey believes the angst you have about the economy stems from watching the news too much.
“The worry is real, but there’s no sense in just bathing in the blood every night,” he said in a YouTube video.
So turn off the news channel and spend that time getting your finances together. If you’re worried about potentially losing your job in a recession, start exploring different ways you can make money online now. And if you have several high-interest debts that you’ve yet to pay off, now is the time to explore debt repayment strategies like the debt snowball method or balance transfer credit cards.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Dave Ramsey Says You Need To Do These 3 Things During a Recession
