Regulate Your Personal Finances During COVID-19 Pandemic

May 18, 2020

The spread of Covid-19 and the lockdowns that have followed have thrown the economy and government finances into turmoil causing them financial stress, and people are worried about paying their bills. The pandemic has cast a long shadow of uncertainty. It is unsure how long it will take to restore normalcy plus revive the economic environment. Though COVID-19 will continue to have an adverse impact globally, a few smart decisions may help common people maintain healthy finances.

Re-assess your budget

Every well-managed household works on a pre-set budget. Usually, budget changes with changes in household income to ensure that expenses do not increase. They need to discern between needs and wants. It is crucial for households to take this decision for financial stability until the threat subsides.

Consider moratorium?

Take into account the fact that if one opts for the moratorium, the interest on their loan will continue to accrue, which will lead to increased EMIs or additional instalments at the end of their loan, or both. This is why, only those people who have significant cash flow constraints currently, should opt for a moratorium.

Avoid delay in credit card payments

Do not delay your credit card payments even during an economic full stop. Credit cards charge a high rate of interest on pending payments and directly affect your credit score. Hence, if there is a liquidity crisis, at least the minimum payments must be paid to avoid exacerbated bills later along with bad credit score.

Store but do not be extravagant

The lockdowns have made stocking up critical. However, hoarding and overspending on groceries is not a good idea. While it is wise to avoid supermarkets and crowded places, just buying enough supplies for a month should suffice. Governments across geographies are ensuring that there is no restriction on the flow of critical items and hence their availability will not be an issue.

Avoid panic selling

The freefall in global stock markets is making investors uneasy. As portfolios tumble, there is a strong impulse to sell stocks and minimise losses, but this is the worst possible course of action. By selling equities at a lower price, paper losses become real. The value of most stocks will stabilise when normalcy returns. Hence, they should hold out and wait for the volatility to end.

Save for rainy day

It is always advisable to have savings and an emergency fund. This fund can provide a cushion in trying times such as these. Households should immediately start creating such funds once the epidemic is over so that they are ready for any hardships in the future.

Following these few simple tips can help households weather the current storm and emerge from it unharmed. More importantly, when things get back to normal, they will find themselves in a stronger position with no extra liabilities. Furthermore, some of this advice can be helpful even in stable times. It is important to prioritise your expenses, focus on the ones which are an absolute must, and postpone any discretionary ones until the lockdown is revoked.