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1. Face your fears

man fighting with his shadow, facing fears
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Orman says she hadn't taken the time to deal with her health because she was afraid to find that something was wrong.

"It’s the same thing with your wealth," she says. "You don't want to know how little money you have in a retirement account, or you don't want to know how much money you owe on your credit card, so you just don't open up your statements."

Your financial well-being is very similar to your physical well-being. In Orman's words: "You can't just put it off."

You have to be in tune with your financial situation, and if you’re struggling with debt, you need to "face it to erase it," she says.

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2. Confront your financial compatibility

Young family discussing family finances
Elnur / Shutterstock

When you’re single, you don’t have to depend on anyone else or worry about another person's financial habits. But once you meet someone, you'd better make you've found a true financial match, Orman said during the event on Tuesday.

What does that mean? "That they respect money and don't spend it frivolously — that you have the same financial values," she says. "Because if you don't, all the hard work will absolutely go down the drain if you marry a financial loser."

Orman adds that you need to have a difficult conversation with yourself if you’re already in a relationship with someone who isn’t the right financial fit.

Arguments over money are the No. 1 cause of divorces, she says. But a split is no magic fix for your finances: 40% of respondents to a MoneyWise survey said divorce had saddled them with more than $5,000 in debt.

3. Take control of your bills

Happy family is sitting on porch of their modern private house, smiling and looking at camera.
4 PM production / Shutterstock

A monthslong break from federal student loan debt is coming to an end soon. Borrowers will need a plan when that government COVID relief program runs out and payments start again after Jan. 1.

Orman says she hopes people were able to stockpile as much cash as possible while the feds were handing out stimulus checks and helping Americans postpone bills. Otherwise, you may need to work with lenders on repayment plans.

If you have a lot of college debt, you also should look into refinancing your student loans, because interest rates are lower than ever.

In today's low-rate environment, it's a good time to refinance other debt, too. Some 18.5 million mortgage holders are in a prime position to refi their home loans and save an average of more than $300 monthly, the mortgage data firm Black Knight said earlier this month.

Good refinance candidates include those with solid credit scores and at least 20% equity in their homes.

“But there’s nothing wrong with selling your home right now if you’re having trouble meeting your mortgage payments,” Orman says. “Downsize if you can. The more money you save today, the better your tomorrow.”

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About the Author

Ethan Rotberg

Ethan Rotberg

Former Reporter

Ethan Rotberg was formerly a staff reporter at MoneyWise. His background includes nearly 15 years as a writer, editor, designer and communications professional. He loves storytelling, from feature writing to narrative podcasts. His work has appeared in the Toronto Star, CPA Canada and Metro, among others.

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The content provided on Moneywise is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter.