Feeling Powerless in Your Finances - Rising Costs
Feeling powerless around money is hard, especially when life throws challenges you never asked for. Rising daily costs, medical and insurance bills, job loss, caregiving and family, inflation, and unexpected emergencies can create a sense of panic. You may feel like you are drowning no matter how hard you work or how careful you try to be. But feeling powerless does not mean you are powerless. It means you are overwhelmed, and you need clarity, support, and structure, not shame.
There were seasons in my life where financial powerlessness felt like my default state that I would never dig out of. When I became the daily caregiver for William, everything changed; his medical needs, nutrition, routines, and overall well being depended on us. That added emotional and financial weight. Some months were steady. Others were unpredictable. A new medication, an unexpected doctor visit, or a shift in his health could alter our entire routine and our entire budget. There were times when I felt like no amount of planning could keep up. Those seasons taught me that powerlessness often comes from trying to handle too much alone.
Feeling powerless grows too when your nervous system feels unsafe. When bills stack up, income changes unexpectedly, life is loud; your brain goes into survival mode. Survival mode will not help you in strategic thinking. You begin reacting rather than planning and this is your brain protecting you. To take back power, you have to create financial structure that allows your nervous system to settle, and be able to take a deep breath.
Awareness, even when uncomfortable, gives you back control. Write down exactly what you’re facing. List your bills, income, debts, priorities. Seeing this prevents your mind from creating exaggerated worst case scenarios. Fear grows in the dark, but Awareness brings light.
Power can grow through micro margins. Tiny places you can shift and bring about change. Even five dollars that you saved is power, canceling a subscription, saying no something you don’t truly need, and even asking for help. You do not reclaim control of everything all at once. You reclaim it piece by piece, breath by breath, decision by decision. Small margins can rebuild your confidence faster than big changes.
Support will help to bring calm steadiness and begin to change your feeling of powerlessness. Whether from a partner, a trusted coach, community, support turns financial chaos into manageable steps. You should not have to do everything alone, you can have guidance and you deserve clarity. You can ask for help in carrying your financial load so you can show up fully for your life and your loved ones.
-Amanda Butler - Steel Peace
