No one likes discussing their financial woes, but April is Financial Wellbeing Month and Gaia Workplace Wellbeing founder Samantha Langford urges you to have a word with yourself if no one else
We’re not very good at talking about money in the UK. In fact, it can make us feel downright uncomfortable. You may confidently guide a family through funeral costs and payment options but hesitate to admit that worries about our own finances keep you awake at night. As such, when we are struggling with the rising cost of living, we can feel alone, isolated, and with no one to turn to.
The truth is that anyone can struggle with wellbeing linked to financial worries. Financial wellbeing does not refer to the size of your income; it’s about the relationship you have with money and whether you can balance your income with your necessary outgoings. Anyone, in any role, can be affected by financial worries, and they are known to increase the risk of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Across all forms of bereavement services, there are additional layers to these worries. You’re regularly alongside families who may be quietly anxious about how they will afford the services they need. In addition to the emotions associated with grief, you may also absorb anger, guilt, or distress about money. All while
perhaps navigating your own rising household bills, higher food prices, mortgage renewals or the pressure to make ends meet.
When we worry about money, it shows up in the body and mind. Trouble sleeping, persistent tiredness, difficulty concentrating, and irritability, are all common. While families rely on you for compassion, strength, and attention to detail, this can feel more challenging, and you may notice yourself less patient than usual.
There are small practical steps that can make things feel a little more manageable. A good place to start is with getting some clarity by reviewing what is coming in and where it is going out. Uncertainty breeds anxiety.
Exploring whether there is support through workplace benefits, salary sacrifice schemes, hardship funds, or employee assistance programmes (EAP), can help. If your organisation offers financial education sessions or signposts to external advice, allowing yourself to use them is not a sign of failure; it is a sign of strength.
There are several places for advice, including StepChange, and MoneyHelper, which both provide practical, non-judgemental support around budgeting and debt. April is Financial Wellbeing Month, and you’ll find information on their websites to help you understand the link between money and mental health, and where
to turn for help. Finwell offers each company a free place on its Financial Wellbeing Training: www.finwell.training/financialwellbeingmonth
You may not be able to remove the economic pressures we face, but you can take daily steps to calm your nervous system. Try allocating a specific time to look at finances, rather than worrying about them constantly, or having a conversation with a trusted colleague, EAP or other support service, instead of
carrying the weight alone. These small steps reduce the sense of isolation that often makes financial strain feel heavier than it needs to be.
If money is not a current worry for you, look at this month as an opportunity to review your budget or take a look at savings. I will be taking that nudge myself and reviewing my own budget using the free tools at MoneyHelper.org.uk.
Next month we look at understanding and dealing with stress