How stressed are you about money?
About one in five Americans would forgo sex for six months in exchange for having someone pay their bills. With Valentine's Day having just passed, worrying about rent and calculating your credit utilization rate certainly can kill the mood.
A recent survey asked Americans what they were willing to give up in exchange for having their bills paid. One in four Americans would turn off the TV for a month, one in five would sacrifice sex for six months and another one in five would kill their cell phone service. Only about one in seven Americans were willing to give up Internet access. We are more willing to give up sex for six months than cut off access to email -- is this really what money stress has come to?
While experts report sex can be a stress reliever, stress is oftentimes the elephant in your bedroom.
For example, one out of two married women report that stress reduces their desire to have sex. Money is also one of the most common reasons couples fight, and one of the top three issues that eventually leads couples to divorce court.
While unemployment rates are slowly declining and income is increasing, we are still far from recession recovery. Which explains why money is still the number one concern among stressed-out Americans, reports the American Psychological Association.
How do you keep stress from debilitating your love life? Here are some strategies for dealing with money stress to take the burden off of your life and your mojo.
- Let your employer help. Inquire with your human resources department if your company offers any wellness programs, such as gym reimbursements, yoga classes and even stress management sessions. Your health insurance may also cover counseling or therapy sessions; instead of expensive regular sessions, just a few visits could provide effective coping techniques. Check your HR department or health insurance to see what you qualify for.
Remember that money, while important, shouldn't impede you from enjoying the pleasures of life. Whether it's your sex life or your hobbies, dialing down money stress can help you focus on the positive aspects of life while still prioritizing financial responsibility.
Now pay down those debts, build that credit score and turn on the Barry White.
Justine Rivero is the Credit Advisor for CreditKarma.com, a free credit management website that helps over four million consumers access their truly free credit score and free credit monitoring.